While developments of similarly-styled homes and uber modern architecture have been popping up around Denver in recent years, the classic Craftsman is still popular with buyers. And for good reason.
From a comfy front porch framed by sturdy columns to original built-ins for your fine china, this style of home is packed with appeal. But, it requires a bit of thought when it comes to renovations or updates. Sure, you want it to function well for your family’s lifestyle, but you don’t want to lose all that charm.
One important aspect is the windows on a Craftsman house. Choosing the right shape, style, and even material is all crucial in preserving the past while creating a strong visual impression.
At Paramount Siding and Windows, we can help you choose the perfect windows to complement your Craftsman. Let’s break down everything you need to know.
What Material Should I Use?
Traditionally speaking, windows on a Craftsman house are solid wood windows. This style of home truly incorporates natural materials and earthy tones, often seen in exposed rafters and beams.
Using all wood windows ensures a consistent look within the home, and creates a warm atmosphere. Wood windows can be expensive, but with the right maintenance they’ll last the longest of any window material and prove well worth the investment.
Wood windows also offer the advantage of being easily personalized. Depending on your style and budget, your wood windows can be made with decorative detailing and hand-carved ornamentation. This gives your home the one-of-a-kind appearance that is especially valued in Craftsman homes.
It is also possible to use vinyl or fiberglass windows in your Craftsman style home, once you ensure the shape and style match the existing architecture. This material is energy efficient, low maintenance, and is a great option for homeowners on a budget. If you stick to natural colors and incorporate a wide trim around the window frame, a non-wood window will blend better with the architecture.
Does Shape Matter?
The shape of windows on a Craftsman house needs to accent its traditional style. Vertical rectangular windows are the most common shape featured in Craftsman type homes. However, smaller square windows are often used in upper story rooms.
The low-pitched gabled roof of a Craftsman style house lends itself well to wide dormer windows. Dormer windows and others are sometimes accentuated with an eyebrow window. This is a window with a flat bottom and rounded top forming an arch.
The size of your windows can depend on the climate you live in and the amount of natural light you want to allow to enter your home. Often, Craftsman homes feature large porches, sometimes wrapping all the way around the house. The porch combined with overhanging roofs means that less light can naturally enter the ground floor rooms through the windows. For this reason, homeowners often try to maximize the size of their windows on the ground level to counteract the reduction in natural light.
Choosing a Style for Windows on a Craftsman House
There is some flexibility in style when recreating the Craftsman look in your home. Most historic homes use double hung windows. This style of window incorporates two moveable sashes, where a single hung window has a fixed top sash and only the bottom sash can be slid upwards to open the window.
Double sash windows give a classic look and are characteristic of the Craftsman style. In addition to creating the right aesthetic, double hung windows are very practical. Both sashes are moveable, meaning they are easy to clean and give excellent ventilation when required.
To adhere completely to the right windows on a Craftsman house, you should choose double hung windows with muntins separating multiple panes in the upper sash. Usually, the top sash will have four to six individual window panes divided by wood or metal muntins. The way to describe this window configuration would be 4-over-1 or 6-over-1. The first number indicates the number of individual panes in the upper sash and the second number indicates the number of panes in the lower sash. Typically, in Craftsman style homes, the lower sash has just one unbroken pane, offering a clear view from eye level.
Some homeowners may prefer a casement window, hinged at the side in order to fully swing open. These can be useful for hard to reach locations and for providing maximum ventilation. If casement windows are chosen, it is best to keep in line with the Craftsman style by opting for multipaned windows divided by muntins on the top half of the window. This gives the illusion of a classic double hung window with Craftsman style finishing.
Transom windows on a Craftsman house are also popular. The transom is a thin, horizontal rectangular window found over another window, as well as both interior and exterior doors. These usually do not open and are purely decorative. You can find them as a solid pane or divided into sections by muntins.
What Else Do I Need to Know?
The windows on a Craftsman house are just one piece of a big puzzle. For best results, integrate the architecture of your home with your choice of doors, windows, and siding in addition to the final decorative touches. The Craftsman type home relies heavily on the presence of a few key features.
Square external pillars, wraparound porches and exposed wooden beams and supports are typical of Craftsman type homes. Characteristic wooden clapboard siding in natural earthy tones accented by stone or brick detailing are just as important as the window style when designing your ideal Craftsman style home. These homes are recognized for their artistic elegance and hand-crafted charm, so once you have the basic architecture covered, don’t forget to pay attention to the finer details.
If you need help finding the right windows on a Craftsman house, feel free to contact Paramount Siding and Windows. We offer a wide range of made-to-order windows with the option of unique finishes and detailing. We’ll incorporate architecture with your personal tastes, needs and budget. Let’s get started.