Window Function
The windows of a house are the most critical components when it comes to ventilation and lighting. Large windows, when oriented in the correct way, can provide more than enough ventilation to efficiently cool a home. When exterior air is allowed to come in and exit freely in a home, the result is a well ventilated home. On the negative end, small and inefficient windows can make a house very warm in hot weather and very dark even when the sun is shining.

Natural light can come in through the windows however there are other means to get natural lighting inside the house such as glass blocks, skylights, concrete vents, etc. A big window allows light to get in and brighten every corner of a room throughout the day.

Window Choices
There is an abundant supply of windows and the common types are made of:

Steel - A favorite of many developers, steel windows are practical in the sense that these provide security at the same time. This is one of the common types because of its ease of fabrication and installation.

Wood - A favorite in old homes, they can give a lot of native look into your home. There are in fact century old homes with wooden windows that are still intact and functioning as new. If you would decide on a wooden type of window, make sure that it is adequately treated and prepared for exposure to termites and the elements.

PVC - Plastic based windows are becoming popular these days for they provide a rust and termite free material. These types come in single or double glazed windows that provide very good insulation characteristics. They are however more expensive than the other types.

Aluminum - Commonly used as sliding windows, aluminum based window frames are pre-cut at the fabrication yard and then assembled and installed at the site. They come in a variety of colors and you may simply select them from a color chart. The more common ones are the anodized type or the analok types. Powder coated types can be fabricated for various colors.

Important Features in Selecting
In selecting windows for your home, you may want to check the following features:

Durability - The window that you should use should be durable enough to stand the all year weather. If your house is in the cold mountain region, then make sure that it would not rust and rot because of the constant moisture that it is being exposed to. If you are building a beach house, then your steel windows should be adequately rust protected or better yet, use another material.

Cost - A certain type of window is more expensive than another so it really depends on your budget.

Energy Efficiency - The window should keep you cool during summer and warm during cold weather.

Fire Escape - Many fire victims have died due to the absence of fire escapes. So make sure that for every room of the house, there should be an escape route if the unfortunate event of a fire happens to your home.

One actually has a wide range of choices when it comes to the windows that are to be installed in your home. Each one has advantages as well as disadvantages over another. The type of window that suits best the house is dependent on many factors such as the architectural theme, color, location and orientation. It is always best to consult your builder and design professional regarding this matter.