Are Sliding Windows A Good Option For Your Home
It’s time to buy some new windows, and boy are you in for a long ride.
You don’t realize how complicated window buying is until you start the process. You thought it would be a simple case of picking some windows and installing them – but it isn’t. Instead, you have loads of different window styles and designs to choose from, not to forget the materials they’re made out of. Then, you have to pick the way the windows open or shut, presenting a series of possibilities.
One of those possibilities is sliding windows. These windows open by sliding one pane either up or to the side. This window variation has become very popular, but is it a good option for your home? If you’re searching for new windows, here are some key points to think about…
The best air ventilation
If you care about air ventilation – particularly in some parts of your home – then sliding windows are a worthy contender. They probably top the charts in terms of ventilating your home. The reason is they can slide all the way open. This literally gives you a big hole in your wall for air to come blowing through.
Similarly, you can alter how much of the window is open or closed. But, the design of these windows means they still offer better ventilation than other types when partially opened. A typical hinge window will be hinged at the side and open outwards like a door. When this is opened just a crack, air can come in, but it’s harder for it to enter your home because of the angle of the opening.
With sliding windows, there is no angle. It’s just opened with a gap, perfect for air ventilation to keep your home cool and fresh.
Better natural lighting
Another benefit of sliding or gliding windows is that they do give you better natural lighting in the home. The design of this particular window type is usually quite plain. It features two big panes of glass with limited framing around them. There’s usually one line in the middle, separating the panes.
As such, you get big windows that let in a lot of light. If your home feels quite gloomy, this could be the option that illuminates it.
Must be closed when raining
Moving onto some of the bad things about sliding windows. One negative is that they have to be closed when it’s raining. Other windows, like energy-efficient awning windows, can still be left slightly ajar when it rains. This lets you keep getting air into your home, without worrying about rain coming in.
The nature of sliding windows means you have that opening we spoke about earlier. Sure, it’s wonderful for ventilation when it’s dry, but even a slight opening can allow lots of rain into your home when it’s wet. If you live somewhere that gets a lot of rainfall – particularly in the summer – these windows might not be a smart choice for you.
Some possible safety concerns
Opening and closing your windows should be very easy and safe. With the majority of options, the windows are attached to hinges. So, it’s easy to control the window as it swings open or shut. You can leave a window in a fixed position, and you won’t have to worry about it slamming shut by itself – unless there’s a gust of wind.
Another concern with sliding windows is that they could be a bit unsafe. Compared to other window types, sliding ones do have the potential to slide shut. They should stay in place when you slide them open, but over time the mechanism can wear down. If there isn’t a safety lock in place, it is pretty easy for a window to slide down on your hands if you’re not careful.
Also, you could argue that these windows are less safe because they’re easier for people to climb out of. If you have kids, other windows might be better because you can control the gap better and they come with safety latches that stop them swinging open beyond a certain point. Sliding windows don’t always have these, so a child might be able to open one and injure themselves by falling through.
Overall, sliding windows aren’t always the best choice for homes. There are many other window types that offer similar benefits but without the cons. If you do want the sliding variants, you need to spend money on high-quality products with lots of the latest safety features. Do your research, then pick the windows that have more pros than cons.