Double Pane Casement Window Replacement

Casement Performance

• Casement windows usually open out, exposing them to the weather. This can cause them to fail decades before double sash windows if not properly painted and maintained. Failing paint causes rot and wood swelling, making closing them difficult. If glue fails, the window becomes loose. If the windows are steel, rust is their main enemy. Extreme rust can freeze windows shut, push out glazing and keep them from fully closing. Single pane windows, especially steel casements, quickly conduct heat and make the house cold.

Double Glazing

• Double-paned -- or double-glazed -- windows save energy by slowing the transfer of heat through the glass by means of a vacuumed space between the glazing, which conducts heat less efficiently than glass. The space is often filled with argon gas, which conducts heat even more slowly than a vacuum. Boosting the efficiency of double glazing are low-e coatings and UV film that further slow infrared (heat) and ultraviolet penetration. Reducing infrared and UV radiation reduces heat loss and interior color fading, respectively.

Casement Options

• Two materials rule in new windows. Wood, the traditional option, is an excellent insulator and can be sanded and painted. Vinyl is less expensive. Low-e and UV film add cost, but save on energy bills. Wood windows are available with vinyl or enamel-coated aluminum cladding. In this, you get the insulating benefits of wood, while still enjoying a maintenance-free exterior. New casements can have decorative muntins between the panes. More realistic and expensive muntins are glued inside and outside the window, with a spacer bar between, for a true divided light window appearance.

Tips

• Examine your needs and spend time on research. High-end, traditional-looking wood casements may be appropriate on historic or architectural gems, but probably not for a rental property, where vinyl would be the more affordable and maintenance-free option. You get what you pay for. If you skimp on UV or low-e coatings, for instance, your energy bills will be higher. Look for a professional window installer with an excellent reputation who has no strikes against him with local regulatory authorities.