Wood best for making windows attractive

Dear Jim: I need to install replacement windows and I like the appearance of wood windows. Is wood an efficient window frame material? What style is best for efficiency and the least amount of regular maintenance? – Jack W.

Dear Jack: Wood frame replacement windows are generally considered to be the most attractive, particularly if you prefer a stained or natural wood interior. It also is easy to machine contours into wood, so very intricate details are possible. If you later want to change the color of the window frame, wood can be painted.

Although wood is a fairly good natural insulator with its millions of tiny air pockets, its insulation value is not as high as some foam-filled vinyl or fiberglass window frames. The species of wood used does not affect its insulation appreciably.

Wood is a very strong frame material allowing for smaller frame cross-sections. Since the glass is the greatest percentage of area for the entire assembly, good-quality wood windows can be as energy efficient as any other type. Always compare the efficiency specifications for the entire window assembly, not just the center-of-glass insulation value.

There are many wood frame options depending upon the appearance and the amount of regular maintenance you desire. All-wood windows are probably the most attractive. Newer exterior paints are durable, but over the life span of a window, you should expect to do some exterior maintenance. With proper care and cleaning, the interior should require little maintenance, if any.

Western pine is the wood most commonly used for replacement window frames. It is very strong, durable and reasonably priced. Other, more expensive woods, such as oak, maple, fir, teak, and cherry, are sometimes used, particularly when the interior frames are going to be natural or just stained.

Vinyl- and aluminum-clad wood window exteriors are virtually maintenance-free. These materials protect the wood surface and retain their color. Aluminum-clad wood windows, because the aluminum is painted, typically offer many standard and custom colors to match your house exterior.

The most efficient style of window is not dependent upon the window frame material. In general, casement or awning windows, with compression weather stripping, are slightly more efficient than other styles. If cleaning windows, especially second-story ones, is an issue, tilt-in double-hung windows are a good choice. Marvin has a unique new casement window hardware design which swivels in for easy cleaning.

Get quotes from several contractors for different window manufacturers. There are different features which may make one better for your job than another. For example, Peachtree aluminum-clad wood replacement windows offer several sill angle options to cover various-width gaps. The following companies offer replacement wood windows: Hurd Millwork, 800-223-4873, www.hurd.com; Kolbe & Kolbe Millwork, 715-842-5666, www.kolbe-kolbe.com; Marvin Windows, 888-537-7828, www.marvin.com; Peachtree, 800-732-2499, www.peachtreedoor.com; and Weathershield Windows, 800-222-2995, www.weathershield.com.

Send inquiries to James Dulley, Bangor Daily News, 6906 Royalgreen Drive, Cincinnati, Ohio 45244 or visit www.dulley.com.