Large window fronts in the facade and skylights in the attic are almost standard features of modern houses. Nobody wants to live in dark rooms anymore and that is understandable for many reasons. Daylight has a direct impact on people's physical and mental health. It not only brightens the mood, but also increases well-being and performance. The larger the windows, the more open, bright and homely the room appears. Today we will tell you what other advantages large windows have and what else you should consider when designing them.
Large windows have a lot of advantages
Modern houses such as zero-energy and passive houses not only impress visually, but also in terms of energy efficiency. Excellent thermal insulation of house walls and windows underlines this trend and ensures optimal use of energy. This brings significant savings in the long term and protects the environment. When planning modern passive housescardinal directions the window arrangementso that the interior spaces can make optimal use of the sunlight and light. In the north, large windows are hardly worth it, but in the south you can use the free solar energy as an additional source of heat. Technically, it is also possible to retrofit a window front in any house. However, if you want to replace an existing wall with large insulating windows, you must apply for a building permit.
Large windows insulate
For large windows, the use of triple insulating glazing or thermal insulation glazing is definitely recommended. Your advantages: low heat loss and great savings potential. These thermal insulation windows are made with triple glazing and also contain noble gas fillings in the gaps. When buying a window, the U-value (heat transfer coefficient) must be taken into account. The U-value indicates how much heat is released from the inside of the room through the window to the outside. The smaller the U, the better the insulating effect of the glazing. In contrast to old windows, new energy-saving windows have a significantly better U-value between 0.6 - 1.5 W/(m²K). When choosing new window glazing, you should definitely find out about the g value. The g value ranges from 0 to 1.0 and indicates the permeability of the glazing to solar energy. The ideal window therefore has a high g-value and one that is as low as possible.
Old and leaky windows in old buildings give off a lot of heating energy to the surroundings and increase heating costs, which is why you should consider possible insulation measures. Several alternatives to replacing old, single-glazed windows are available here. The compression band, for example, is forSealing the window frameswell suited because it expands from 2 to 10 mm after attachment and at least eliminates the draft. However, comfort depends primarily on the temperature of the pane. In order to save energy and feel more comfortable near windows, the window panes should be well insulated. Cold protection films can be attached to the window from the inside and reflect the heat back into the room, providing effective protection against the cold.
Shading
A window front should allow light and warmth into the room, but also offer the possibility of darkening and privacy. However, what is desired in winter can quickly be too much in summer. If you are not entirely sure about your selection, you are welcome to seek advice from your specialist retailer. However, below we give you a few ideas.
It's not just small windows that can be fitted with roller blinds. Even very large window fronts of up to 4.5 m wide and 4 m high can be covered with a maxi roller blind. They are an attractive alternative to classic curtains and can also become a decorative eye-catcher with photo printing. A practical solution would also be blinds that are made to measure and can be perfectly adapted to any classic or modern window front. Structural requirements such as sloping ceilings and bay windows also do not pose a problem.
Vertical blinds, also known as slat blinds, are usually the first choice when furnishing offices, but they are now also finding their way into private rooms. Many kitchens and living rooms in modern houses, for example, offer lots of daylight through large window fronts and direct access to the terrace or balcony. Thanks to their flexibility, slatted curtains can be opened quickly to allow access to the outside. The incidence of light and the view outside can also be flexibly regulated.
Sliding curtains are a great design option, especially for wide window fronts. Panel curtains perfectly combine functional privacy and sun protection with creative interior design. Sliding curtains are hung on trolleys in multi-track curtain rails and provide glare protection exactly where it is needed. Up to five tracks can be run one behind the other in the rail system. This results in great variants and possible combinations: transparent and opaque materials, plain and patterned fabric panels as well as entire window pictures with individual motifs. There are no limits to creativity!
Image sources: © Photographee.eu
