Home Improvement Blog

Check whether the windows in your home are really suitable, since they should be functional as well as decorative. Are they the right size and shape, do you have enough of them and are they in keeping with the style of the building? If you decide to add extra windows, you must first obtain planning permission; this is not, however, necessary if you are changing one window for another (for example installing a wide shallow window instead of a tall, narrow one). But you must make sure you comply with the Building Regulations governing the number and size of windows.

A number of factors must influence your choice, such as in which direction the window in question faces and whether the room is used mainly during the day or in the evening. Does the window face north and therefore let in little sun or is the window in a south-facing room and therefore likely to create a greenhouse effect in the summer? The latter problem may be solved by using internal aluminium Venetian blind or Milium curtains, but external shading is more effective. Do you want a large panoramic window to make the most of pleasant views from the house, or one just large enough to let in sufficient light? Is privacy a major consideration, and how much of the interior can be seen from the outside?

While you are considering which windows to renew, remember to bear in mind the practical problems such as the way the window opens and how easy it will be to clean.

The size and the shape of a window should relate to several things: the size, shape and use of the room, and the other windows and architectural proportions. Decide first what type will best suit the room, depending on whether it is deep and narrow or wide and shallow. Tall, narrow windows give deep penetration of light, but leave areas of wall in darkness on each side.

A shallow, wide window is ideal if there is a workbench or sink beneath it, but elsewhere in the room you may find yourself squinting because of the contrast between the large area of bright sky seen through the window and the indirectly lit walls.

One common error is to put windows too high up the wall. If you want to see out when sprawled in one of those low modern chairs, don’t fix the sill height more than 610mm (24in) from the floor. If you are placing a bench or sink under the window which then requires a minimum sill height of 900mm (or 3ft), bear in mind whether there is any danger of children falling out.

The greater the height of window, the deeper the penetration of light. But if the top of the window is less  than 1700mm (or 5ft 6 in) from the floor, you will not be able to see out when standing. If it is too high, you may have difficulty cleaning the window or reaching to open it.

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