Windows and doors are the eyes of a house - they give it character to the outside, let light into the inside and are style-defining elements in themselves. But: Unfortunately, from an energetic point of view, they are also a large “hole in the wall” through which expensively produced heat can escape to the outside in winter, or heat can penetrate into the interior of the house in summer.
However, modern techniques also make it possible to achieve the balancing act and thus produce windows and doors that, on the one hand, represent a real visual enrichment for the entire building and, on the other hand, insulate so well that they are not a gateway to a poor energy balance. And perhaps best of all: Even beautiful old windows, perhaps with decorative lattices, can be brought to an acceptable energy level by a specialist - provided that they are willing to invest the appropriate financial resources.
Style-defining elements
Also a stylistic element: If the door is made of solid wood, the natural lighting of the hallway can be achieved through a skylight.
The door – the business card of the house
The first impression is crucial, and this wisdom also applies to the front door. It is usually what a visitor sees first and is also a safety-relevant component.
Stylistically, the door should definitely match the rest of the outside of the house: if you were to use an ultra-modern looking door made of glass and brushed steel in a wonderfully patinated old building, you could, in the worst case scenario, ruin the entire look of the house.
Sometimes essential: light
A lot of glass means more light in the entrance area, but also easier visibility and less protection against burglary.
One focus of planning should be on what the hallway looks like behind the door: Does it get natural light from windows? If he doesn't do this, the door must be covered with glasspassagesbe equipped so that the light inside does not have to be on all day long. Even the smallest windows with a side length of barely more than ten centimeters are enough to let in enough light.
At the same time, such “windows” do not compromise burglary protection: ten percent of all burglaries occur at the front door of single-family homesin third placethe most popular portals for criminals. The more glass the door has, the greater the likelihood that a burglar will simply break it down. Anyone who is concerned about maximum security should therefore follow this maxim when it comes to door glazing“As much as necessary, as little as possible”.
Energetic: New is better
An old front door is a real feast for the eyes in the right house, but it presents the residents with energy problems that can only be solved with difficulty.
On an energy level, new doors are usually absolutely harmless: they are...Sandwich constructionmanufactured so that many air pockets are created inside, through which heat and cold can only pass through very poorly. Any existing windows then work according to the principle of double or triple glazing and leave no room for heat loss.
However, it is important that the door is installed in such a way that it sits in the frame without distortion and there are no gaps there -this videoshows how it works. With old doors, however, it is precisely the lack of distortion that is often a problem. Unfortunately, there is very little that can be done about the insulation itself. At best, with branded products, the specialist can install improved insulation inside. If you still don't want to do without your beloved door, you can, for example, add a second one directly behind itGlass doorwhich separates the door area from the rest of the hallway.
Windows and doors at an energetic level
The larger the windows, the more light in the interior - but if you use glazing as generously as in this picture, you have to dig deep into your pockets for appropriately insulating glass.
Windows as an insulating miracle
In earlier times, a phenomenon could often be observed on the then single-glazed windows in winter:Ice flowers. Because the heated room was only separated from the outside world by a millimeter-thick pane of glass, the humidity in the room first condensed on its ice-cold surface and then increasedfreeze. The windows in old buildings are evidence of thisguttersat the bottom of the window frame is still there today.
As with the doors, the same applies here: If you buy modern, you have no problem with the energy system. Has a contemporary triple glazed windowaccording to this reporta heat transfer coefficient of just 0.8 W/(m² K). This means a little less cryptically: only as much heat escapes per year and square meter of window surface as can be generated with seven liters of heating oil.
But it is also important when choosing windowsFrame. And today there is an absolute variety on the market for every conceivable design: If you like the look of wood, for example, you can get plastic windows whose frames look deceptively real - but have all the advantages of modern plastic - they do not warp and do not have to nor should they be painted regularly.
Make new from old
In addition, it can also be beneficial for the look of the house to simply modernize old windows.
If an old window has unusual formats or its appearance cannot be reproduced, a specialist needs to get involved.
Of course, it is ideal if the window already has double glazing. In this case, it is often even cheaper to simply have new glazing, perhaps even triple, installed and thus bring the windows up to contemporary energy values, rather than replacing them completely. But it is also cheaper to do it yourself: for example, there are so-called insulating films. These are applied inside and reflect heat back into the room - and although they do not reduce the brightness of the glass itself, they do reduce UV rays: the insulation films, which cost around 25 euros per square meter depending on the manufacturer, also prevent ultraviolet radiation gets into the interior - and thus protects furniture, photos and more from fading. Some products even noticeably reduce the audible street noise and turn the old window into a new oneSoundproof glass.
In the past, lattice windows were necessary because large glass surfaces were expensive to produce. Today they are just decorative accessories - and this look can also be achieved simply by installing strips on the outside of the glass.
And even with very old, single-glazed windows, a specialist can often save a lot: by applying a second layer of glass, which is certainly possible depending on the construction method. If the frame is then adjusted with new seals, even decades-old windows can achieve modern energy values - however, this approach is not cheap and should therefore only be used if there are serious reasons that do not allow replacement.
And one more tip at the end: It is important that new windows and doors do not insulate better than the walls around them. Otherwise, mold growth can quickly occur.
Image sources:
1) Tiberius Gracchus
2) Spiro himself
3) Matthias Buehner
4) Buffy1982
5) Dimitry Koksharov
6) maresescumarc
7) How-to Photos
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