September 2022 - Advanced Window Products

Replacing windows offers you an exciting opportunity to change styles in some areas or throughout your home. A basic consideration when you choose your windows for each room is whether you want fixed inoperable styles or operable models that can be opened and closed. As with any other kind of choice in life, there are advantages and disadvantages to either option. Below is a look at what you can expect from choosing operable windows, inoperable models, or a mix of both in some rooms or throughout your home.

Why are Inoperable Windows so Popular?

Most fixed window types for residential use are custom shaped and typically used to bring in natural light or picture windows used to showcase an exterior view. These inoperable window types are installed in spaces where such opportunities are prioritized over the freedom to open windows for ventilation. The single disadvantage of fixed windows is that you simply cannot open them, so they do not provide the benefits of an operable window, such as those listed in the section below. Some benefits of fixed windows include:

Fixed windows typically require less framing because they don’t need to accommodate the movement of sashes vertically or horizontally to open and close them.
They don’t need to maintain sufficient rigidity to prevent glass breakage during those motions. That means inoperable windows can have narrower frames and larger glass areas for better views of outdoor spaces.
Fixed windows also avoid any potential security or child safety risk inherent in windows that can remain open or closed but unlocked.
An inoperable window may have a longer lifespan because there are no moving parts to wear out.

Operable Window Types

There are various window types to choose for different functional needs and aesthetic preferences in each room of your home. These are the essential options for sliding windows most frequently installed in residential properties:

Slider windows
Double hung windows
Casement windows
Awning windows

All of these styles have their advantages and disadvantages compared to others on the list. Deciding which type is best for any particular room, the location within the room requires some consideration of how you want to use that section of the living space. You’ll also need to take a look at a real window of the type you want and open and close it to see how it will operate in that space.

Benefits of Operable Windows

Some of the benefits that motivate many property owners to install multiple operable energy-efficient replacement windows during their home renovations include:

Reduces heating and cooling costs: Open windows allow natural airflow, which reduces electricity costs, wear on the HVAC system, and HVAC repairs.
Increases home comfort: Brings natural seasonal breezes and refreshing seasonal conditions indoors.
Improves home safety: Provides necessary, sometimes legally required emergency egress.
Improves indoor air quality: Natural airflow through a home helps reduce indoor pollution and may relieve allergic reactions by enabling much greater air exchange.

Are There Any Disadvantages to Operable Windows?

The disadvantages of operable models should also be considered in choosing the best windows for your needs and preferences in each room of your home:

May cause higher HVAC costs: Allowing heated or air-conditioned air to escape by forgetting to close windows, extreme heating and cooling costs. It also strains the HVAC system and can cause the premature need for equipment repairs or replacement.
Potential security risk: Leaving windows unlocked in unsupervised areas of the home or when no one is at home can invite intruders.
Potential safety risk: Leaving upstairs or even downstairs windows open can be a deadly safety hazard for children and pets.
Structural damage risk: Moisture leaks that can weaken the structure or promote mold are more likely around operable windows as they age or if they are not securely closed.

Mixing Operable and Inoperable Window Styles

Having a combination of both operable and fixed windows types may best accommodate all your functional needs and aesthetic preferences for your home. It may also be the best solution for meeting overall safety and security needs. Think about your intentions for the ways you plan to use your living spaces and your vision of how you want your home to look.

There are comfort and safety benefits in having multiple operable windows in your home — natural airflow, superior ventilation, and emergency egress. There are benefits of having fixed windows — optimal sealing, broader views, and alleviated concern about uninvited entry or falling accidents, home invasion, or another emergency.

Often, homeowners elect to combine the two options to allow natural airflow while also minimizing security risks. You may even consider creating insulative zones in which HVAC can be used in some areas while other areas of the home have open windows for natural airflow.

Ideal Window Planning By Advanced Designers

We are a top manufacturer of energy-efficient replacement windows. Our expert team of window designers, engineers, and certified installation specialists provides the best window products, installation, and warranty service in our industry.

For information about energy-efficient replacement windows for your home, call Advanced Window Products at (801) 505-9622, or contact us here online!

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Replacing old, drafty, poorly functioning doors can make a home more comfortable, increase its value, and make life more enjoyable for the people living in it. After all, doors should open and close without a struggle and prevent drafts from forcing you to bundle up in sweaters and mittens to stay warm. Further, your home energy bills shouldn’t be eating away at your savings due to inefficient doors. But, with weather exposure and constant use, glass doors naturally deteriorate over the years.

Here are some of the more obvious signs you need a new door:

The Door is Visibly Deteriorating.

If a door frame finish is peeling or bubbling, or the frame is warped or malfunctioning in the track, applying regular maintenance may not be cost-effective. It may cost more just to refinish or replace a door frame than it’s worth at a late stage of its lifespan. If it’s starting to become harder to open and close, there may be a basic problem with the track or sliding door rollers that can still be cost-effective to fix. But, especially if the door is old and there are multiple issues, it may be more practical to order a sliding glass door replacement.

The Door is No Longer Functioning Properly.

If you’re having problems closing or opening or locking a door, that’s often a sign that the door needs to be replaced. If the door sticks when shut or must be slightly lifted to close it, or must be slammed shut multiple times to make it stay closed, it may be time to replace it. If the problem is just that an adjustment is needed to realign the strike plate for the latch bolt or the deadbolt, that’s a minor maintenance problem. But, many years of weather exposure can cause wear that impacts the form of the door and diminishes its general functionality.

Drafty Old Doors Reduce Your Home Comfort.

Old poorly performing doors with air leaks and possibly water leaks can make a home much less comfortable for a family. They also cause a lot of wasted heating and cooling costs. The rate of heat transfer between the interior and exterior of a home with drafts around doors typically shows very poor energy efficiency. In extremely cold or hot climates, replacing drafty doors can transform a home that is too hot or too cold into an ideally comfortable retreat from the outside conditions.

The Door Style is Outdated.

Of course, vintage doors are ideal for retro home decorating. But that’s not the same thing as an outdated door. An outdated door is one that is made obsolete by a better option for style and function that has replaced it in the market. For example, in sleek, modern home styles, wood-look vinyl doors are less expensive than wood-frame doors yet offer a longer life expectancy and much better insulation value. They’re also virtually maintenance-free, compared to the labor-intensive maintenance required for modern wood options.

Old Doors No Longer Provide Noise Insulation.

If you’ve lived with the same doors for many years, you’re likely to notice that your old doors do not serve as well as they once did to insulate against outside noise. As door frames age, cracks, crevices, and leaking seals let in external noise as well as outdoor air and moisture. For homeowners in urban neighborhoods or near busy roadways, it can be very distracting when you’re trying to relax or work at home. Today’s high-performance, energy-efficient doors are exceptional noise insulators and outstanding dust and temperature insulators.

Deteriorated Door Frames Can Damage a Home’s Interior.

Old windows and glass doors, such as sliders or French doors, are common spots for air leaks and moisture to enter homes. Water leaks can be extremely damaging to a house, causing warping or splitting of the structural supports. It can also foster mold growth that can cause structural damage and present a serious health hazard for building occupants. If the frame is water damaged, softened, or chipping around the edges, the door probably needs to be replaced.

The Door No Longer Provides Adequate Safety Protection.

Old glass door frames can become weakened and/or loosened over decades of use. They may no longer fit snugly in the track and the lock may no longer latch tightly. Some old glass doors can actually be lifted easily from the track with little effort. This, of course, presents a serious safety and security problem. Unwanted entry into your home is easier. To protect your family and property, you should probably consider a slider or French door replacement in this situation.

Poor Door Quality is Worse After Years of Wear.

Earlier designs for glass doors did not include the elements for high energy efficiency that today’s models offer. As the doors age, condensation problems become worse. The glass and frames and tracks may become covered with a layer of frost or even freeze with a layer of ice in winter because the seals are no longer working. The door and the area of your house’s structure surrounding it are increasingly exposed to water, potentially causing more and more damage to walls and floors and promoting mold spread. Corrosion, rust, insects, and dust encroachment may all become issues.

Benefits of Replacing Your Doors

Replacing a glass door with a high-quality energy-efficient model means making a significant investment. But, it’s an investment that pays off in the money you can save on heating and cooling costs and reduced repairs and maintenance work. You also recover the cost of your investment by the increase in property resale value.

Adding a more substantial glass door also increases home security and the safety of your family and possessions. At a minimum, old doors should be tested for energy efficiency, basic functioning, and security and replaced as needed.

Why Choose Advanced Window Products?

We are a leading manufacturer and installer of high-performance, energy-efficient doors, and windows in the western United States. Our team of top-quality door designers and engineers, manufacturing experts, installation specialists, and customer service professionals bring many years of experience to our processes.

For more information about replacing glass doors, call Advanced Window Products at (801) 505-9622, or contact us here on our website to schedule a free onsite estimate!