Your windows are one of the most visible and important parts of your exterior. In fact, certain window designs can be a hallmark for certain architectural styles. You need to keep this in mind when choosing your replacement windows. Choosing a replacement window that clashes with the rest of your home’s design elements can make your entire home look bad. Fortunately, there are a wide range of example houses found on the internet, magazines and elsewhere. You can also ask your window replacement contractor for help.
In today’s article, we want to do our part and help local homeowners by discussing a few of the many home styles that are present in our region. Clear Choice Exteriors Findlay is the leading window and roofing company in Fostoria, OH so we’ve worked on many kinds of homes. We will give you some recommendations on matching windows to certain styles and we’ll discuss the many ways you can customize your replacement windows.
1. Ranch
This is a one-story design that flourished nationally in the 1950s and the 1960s. This style takes it cues from prairie, Spanish colonial and craftsman style homes. It is characterized by its single-level low-pitched roof, abundance of windows, wide eaves, minimal orientation and asymmetrical layout. Ranch homes also usually have a built-in garage and sliding doors that lead to their patios. Since ranch homes are low and only have one-story, your replacement windows should be longer than they are tall. They should also have large glass areas because the interior of a ranch home benefits from plenty of natural light.
Ranch homes have minimal orientation, so if possible your replacement windows shouldn’t have any grilles. Avoid replacement windows with novelty shapes and stained glass windows. For ranch style homes we recommend casement, picture and sliding windows. When ranch homes were first built, they used aluminum and steel-framed windows. These windows were notoriously leaky and cold, however. Don’t feel that you have to stick to metal windows for your project. As the top window and door replacement service in Fostoria, OH, we recommend choosing window materials that look like metal instead.
2. Craftsman
Craftsman-style homes are inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement. This movement focused on simple forms, high-quality craftsmanship and natural materials. The goal was to give a house a character that’s so natural that it can blend with any landscape. Homes with this style displayed qualities like knee braces, exposed rafter tails and low-pitched front-facing gable roofs with project eaves. Other features include wood or stone facades, wood details and front porches that are supported by thick, tapered columns.
Craftsman homes look great with double-hung windows because of its elegant and functional design. Windows for a craftsman home should be rectangular, but you can also add visual interest by pairing the main window with eyebrow windows. As an expert in home window installation in Fostoria, OH, we also recommend using transoms as an accent. Craftsman homes like to emphasize the beauty of wood, so choose materials that can mimic the appearance of wood for your replacement windows.
3. Contemporary
Contemporary homes reflect the architecture of today and have tweaks from postmodernism and deconstructivism. Contemporary homes are not defined by a single shape or style, which makes them incredibly flexible. These homes borrow what works from previous styles. Many contemporary homes have odd or irregular shapes in their architecture and an open floor plan. They are also don’t have a lot of ornamentation. Instead, a contemporary home lets the home’s materials shine. A contemporary home usually uses sustainable materials and recycled non-toxic materials for its structure. A contemporary home’s design also emphasizes energy efficiency.
The flexibility of a contemporary home will allow you to use practically any kind of window design, from casement windows, double hung windows, bow windows, bay windows, picture windows and more. You have the freedom to choose replacement windows based on your individual sense of style. Typically, however, a contemporary home often has plain windows with large glass areas. The windows are also often tall, allowing for a lot of natural light.
4. International
International style homes are called that because they first became popular in Europe during the 1920s and 1930s. It can be seen as a rejection of the trends of its time period. This style introduced the idea of exposed functional building elements like smooth facades and ground-to-ceiling glass windows. This style come to the US with the advent of World War II. International style homes have a boxy appearance that uses a lot of different utilitarian materials like steel, glass and concrete. They have a flat roof and smooth, untextured surfaces all over. An international style home’s exterior also has a weightless quality, as if parts of it are floating.
Like ranch homes, international style homes used metal windows. Instead of metal, we recommend using replacement windows that have a dark color. Windows for international style homes tend to be large and rectangular which complements the boxy exterior. The windows don’t have any ornamentations or coverings to allow a lot of natural light to enter the interior. Make sure your replacement windows are energy-efficient.
5. Colonial Revival
Colonial Revival homes typically have two or three stories and high-pitched roofs. They also have one or more dormers and many chimneys. A colonial revival home can be easily recognized by narrow clapboard siding and a decorative crown over its front door. This style was also a reaction to the popular trends of its time. In contrast to Victorian architecture, colonial revival homes are more structured and ordered. That’s why it has a symmetrical facade and evenly spaced windows.
Double-hung windows are the best choice for this home style. Your replacement windows should have grilles that give the windows the appearance of multiple panes. Windows for colonial revival homes tend to be tall and flanked by shutters. To add visual interest, they also have half-circle windows on top. Colonial revival homes tend to have either a white or brick exterior, so you can’t go wrong with choosing white as your window color.
Ways to Customize a Replacement Window
Many replacement window manufacturers offer a wide range of customization options for their products. We’ll discuss a few of them. For example, you can customize a double-hung windows’ window frame color, hardware, hardware finish and grille pattern. Some manufacturers also allow you to choose different grille types so you can choose between ease of maintenance and historical accuracy. Ask your window contractor if their window manufacturer also offers custom window sizes. A window that’s custom-fit to your exterior looks better and performs better.
These are just a few of the various home styles you can find in our region. If your home does not clearly fit one particular home style, then you can just choose the style that most resembles your house. Alternatively, you can consult a professional window company and ask for their opinion on the best replacement window styles for your home. A good company will use their experience good judgment to recommend a window that meets all of your needs and enhances the curb appeal of your home.