JLC • JUNE 1994
S H O P P I N G F O R
WOOD WINDOWS
BY CHARLES WARDELL
Windows have come a long way from a
single or double pane of glass let into a
wood frame. The last decade has seen
an explosion of styles and accessories, along
with more efficient frames, sashes, and glazings.
These advances have made windows the most
complex parts of the building shell — and the
hardest to specify.
To sort through all
of the options, we
spoke with dozens of
window companies,
waded through reams
of product literature,
and surveyed hundreds
of contractors
about what makes a
good window. Here
are the results.
Glazings
Most people want
windows that are as
energy efficient as
possible. The two most