How did you decide on the windows—larger panes or more standard, smaller ones?
A bright house is nice, but large windows come with downsides like cleaning, shading, and curtains, all of which require more effort. On the other hand, I can’t imagine my house with conventional windows, looking like a punched-hole facade.
What’s your experience? Any tips for cleaning or managing these issues?
A bright house is nice, but large windows come with downsides like cleaning, shading, and curtains, all of which require more effort. On the other hand, I can’t imagine my house with conventional windows, looking like a punched-hole facade.
What’s your experience? Any tips for cleaning or managing these issues?
I like a mix. Small windows facing the street, large ones facing the garden, as long as no neighbors can look directly inside. It almost feels like being close to nature when the living or working room has large, floor-to-ceiling windows.
As for cleaning the glass, we don’t take it too seriously; it’s less noticeable than you might think.
As for cleaning the glass, we don’t take it too seriously; it’s less noticeable than you might think.
M
MODERATOR3 May 2013 17:19Hello everyone,
Since windows define a house like few other details, you have to look at the whole picture. Does the window size fit the room, is the orientation correct, does the ratio of the wall openings to the wall surfaces make sense – things like that. But an architect should take care of these aspects.
One more thing to consider: windows can bring heat into the house, even in winter. Large windows facing southwest, ideally not shaded by trees, can help save heating energy when combined with heat-retaining floors. Tile, natural stone, and even hardwood floors store the solar heat and release it back into the room with a delay.
A fixed shading device above the windows ensures that the high summer sun does not shine deep into the interior.
Since windows define a house like few other details, you have to look at the whole picture. Does the window size fit the room, is the orientation correct, does the ratio of the wall openings to the wall surfaces make sense – things like that. But an architect should take care of these aspects.
One more thing to consider: windows can bring heat into the house, even in winter. Large windows facing southwest, ideally not shaded by trees, can help save heating energy when combined with heat-retaining floors. Tile, natural stone, and even hardwood floors store the solar heat and release it back into the room with a delay.
A fixed shading device above the windows ensures that the high summer sun does not shine deep into the interior.
You have some issues. Do you know the price difference between large windows (I’m thinking of 4–6m² (43–65 ft²)) and standard ones? It’s not just about the glass area; it also involves hinges, lift-and-slide fittings, and so on. It’s not just a few cents difference.
Sunlight is great, but it should come at reasonable costs, and after all, you also have the garden.
Sunlight is great, but it should come at reasonable costs, and after all, you also have the garden.
H
Hubertus-16 May 2013 18:56Don’t be so harsh with others. People have their preferences. It’s not just about the money. We live in a fairly normal house. The living room windows are large, the rest are below-window panels with windows above. It is bright enough. Still, sometimes I wish there wasn’t a wall between the winter garden and my desk. And I love Japanese-style houses. It must be a pleasure to live in harmony with nature, simply sliding the wall away.
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