Residential Windows: Important Considerations for Four Specific Rooms

Form follows function for each room's windows. Among decisions for building, residential windows are a vital topic.

Questions About Residential Windows

  • What window types are best for the whole house--vinyl, aluminum, wood clad, fiberglass?
  • What are ENERGY STAR windows tax credits?
  • Should your contractor hire AWDI (American Door and Window Institute) certified installers?

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These questions relate to new construction windows for all rooms. There are also considerations for individual rooms. Here are ideas for four special situations.

1. Kitchens

Kitchens accumulate heat, humidity and grease from cooking.

  • If kitchen windows face east or west, they gain additional heat from direct sunlight. Triple-pane windows are an option.
  • Grease and smoke adhere to kitchen surfaces. With multi-pane windows, choose models with the muntins (dividers) sealed between the panes for easier cleaning.
  • Ventilation is crucial. Windows may not extract cooking outputs. Your stove hood should vent to the outside, not back into the kitchen. A ceiling ventilator combined with an open window helps prevent kitchen air from wafting through the house.

2. Living and dining areas

These rooms may be adjacent, but on opposite sides of the house. New construction windows should be planned to avoid problems.

  • Views are important for both living and dining rooms. They may face a park, patio, neighboring apartment house, or the prairie. One room may need privacy, another a picture window. Windows obscured with stained or textured glass solve privacy issues. Gas-filled large windows offset heat or cold from huge view windows.
  • What direction will the windows face? Will dinner guests roast in evening sunlight? Guests seated with their backs to bright windows become silhouettes. Use triple panes for heat or tinted windows for brightness.
  • Remember that furniture placement is more difficult in rooms with very low windows.
  • Ventilation from low awning windows takes advantage of convection currents.

3. Bedrooms

Bedrooms need a combination of light for activities and insulation from thermal extremes.

  • Windows placed four or five feet above the floor allow flexible furniture placement and increased privacy.
  • Minimize east and west facing windows for temperature control. South-facing windows are ideal.
  • Place windows to take advantage of cross ventilation from adjoining bathrooms.

4. Bathrooms

Bathrooms need ventilation for humidity and odors.

  • Plan one or more high windows with obscuring glass for privacy.
  • Use glass block or stained glass windows from tub deck level to a height needed for privacy.
  • A big window that overlooks a private mini-garden turns the bathroom into a spa.

All rooms can have considerations regarding compass orientation, privacy, view and ventilation. Fortunately, there are windows that solve every need.