The Pros of Large Picture Windows in Canada

You’ve sat in a Canadian house with a snowy backyard or a ridged mountain or suburban neighborhood of maples to glimpse through if you ever have. Picture windows are large, unobstructed, and architecturally significant, and generally a very popular element in Canadian homes ranging from the West Coast modern on Vancouver to the Victorian brick colonial house of Ontario.

As with any large home renovation or update, however, there are truly tangible pros and cons to installing picture windows or replacing windows with picture windows. It’s important to learn before committing all you have to deal with the amazing landscapes and the costs associated with them – energy!

Picture Windows: The whole picture, literally, covers all the reasons why a home might have picture windows, the reasons why not, which can be replaced, replacement recommendations and the different varieties of picture windows available – including picture window with double hung flankers – and the most frequently asked questions the Canadian homeowner has about picture windows!

What Is a Picture Window?

A picture window is a large, unframed window, without any openings to open or close. It’s designed with one purpose and that is to present a viewpoint, like a painting hanging on your wall, but the painting is your actual backyard, street or skyline. Picture windows create clear sight lines, provide minimal framing and have a sleek, modern look due to no moving parts.

They are frequently located as showpieces in living rooms, dining rooms, or hallways, and are frequently paired over a pair of releasing side windows, which is known as a picture window with double hung flankers.

The Pros of Large Picture Windows

1. Unmatched Views and Natural Light

That being the obvious choice – and it really is quite difficult to overstate. The large window opens onto the outside. If you’re in Canada and have a landscape from pacific seashore to prairie skies to thick boreal forest then one or over size window can renovate your living room into an extraordinary room. Natural light also means you can use less artificial lights throughout the day, thus costing a bit less on electricity bills.

2. Energy Efficiency (When Properly Glazed)

An excellent quality picture window (double or triple pane glass, low-E coated, and filled with argon or krypton gas) can, in fact, be better insulated than older operable windows. Picture windows do not break, fail weatherstripping or experience wear points. This gives them a greater degree of airtightness that no other type of window has, which is important in cold Canadian winters.

3. Low Maintenance

Less parts moving implies lesser parts to break or to be cleaned, less parts to be maintained down the road. No cranks, balances or weatherstripping will be replaced. There’s no hardware maintenance associated with operable windows like with these windows.

4. Architectural Appeal

Big windows facing the outdoors make an impact from an aesthetic perspective. If you view images of luxury Canadian residences (particularly modern Canadian and west coast home designs), windows will invariably be picture windows. They increase open space, elegance, and weight by simply being bigger and more segmented than smaller windows.

5. Cost-Effective Per Square Foot of Glass

Single, large picture windows are often more cost effective than having a bunch of small operable windows all around the same area. You would only be paying for one frame, one installation and one unit – not several separate windows and their associated hardware.

The Cons of Large Picture Windows

1. No Ventilation

This is its one drawback. Picture windows are not provided with openables. Picture windows do not catch a breeze in the summertime – which is a time of the year when it is hot in most areas of Canada, from southern Ontario to the interior of BC. This is why often a picture window with double hung flankers or casement windows on both sides are chosen for many homes: the large pane in the middle will be the window to see through while the side windows will be openable for ventilation.

2. Heat Gain in Summer

Numerous large windows (glass) to the south or west can create a greenhouse effect on hot summer afternoons. With low-E coatings, the heat gain may be high if the window loophole is too big, resulting in a significant increase in room temperature and additional pressure on the cooling system. It’s important to strategically place glazing and use the right specs to control this.

3. Condensation and Moisture Concerns

Passive air infiltration on surfaces like window glass can cause condensation in Canadian winters, especially if your window is not rated for your climate zone, or if there’s high humidity inside the house. This is not always a problem with newer triple pane windows, but can be among the problems with older or lower quality picture windows.

4. Privacy

A large, unobstructed window is a large, unobstructed view – in both directions. With street lighting and interior lights turned on, you might feel at risk during the evening depending on your lot, proximity to the street and density of the neighbourhood. This is where images of stocked windows with shutters come in handy: Shutters on windows, whether they be plantation shutters or roller blinds, or sheer window curtains can provide both a way to see out of the window and a way to block it out during daylight hours.

5. Difficult Egress

The Canadian building code makes a requirement for a window in bedrooms and some other rooms that can be easily opened to allow escape from a fire.The building code in Canada mandates egress windows for fire safety in bedrooms and in other rooms as indicated. Picture windows are not openable and, therefore, cannot be used as fire / egress doors. This restricts the places where they can be installed without managing to include other operable nearby.

6. Replacement Can Be Costly

Combustion-often more expensive than other replacement window options, especially for oversized custom windows-can be a big investment. Expensive due to labour charges larger glass panes need specialised handling, if rough opening requires changes, structural change might be necessary. However, picture window replacement, too, is a chance to cover the old window glass with more energy-efficient glazing that will more than pay for itself in the long run by cutting down on heating expenses.

Picture Window with Double Hung Flankers: The Best of Both Worlds

Picture window/Double Hung flankers are very popular in Canadian residences. In this type, there are double-hung windows on either side of a large fixed sash window. A large fixed sash window is surrounded by double windows in this type.

This fireplace arrangement produces the look of a large picture window plus the cross-ventilation and egress of double sash’s. It is a very popular option for living rooms and master bedrooms, where style as well as utility is taken into account.

Pictures of Shutters on Windows: Styling Your Picture Window

A homeowner’s most asked question is how to dress a large window that has no boundary other than the elevation of the glass. Design with rich drapes happens to be a tendency to overpower the room and strip the window of their function, but there are elegant alternatives.

Images of window shutters – especially plantation shutters with large loucés – demonstrate the elegance that can be achieved on a window’s large picnicol window. Shutters offer precise light and privacy control, and enhance the architecture’s design to match traditional and contemporary interiors. White- or light wood-colored shutters complement the natural light that enters through a home’s northern windows exceptionally well for Canadian homes.

More popular choices are: – Sheer roller window blinds where light can pass through red abbreviate light – Roman shades that come in different neutral linen colours to create a soft layered effect and fill in between the sash – Motorised window blinds for floor to ceiling windows where manual operation is unpractical

Picture Windows Replacement: What to Know

When considering picture windows replacement, there are several factors to consider:

Glass Package: 

There, a minimum of 2 panes of glass with low E and Argon gas would be standard in Canada. Triple pane is highly recommended in colder climates, such as northern Ontario, the prairies and the Yukon.

Frame Material: 

Vinyl frames provide good thermo-insulation and are easy to maintain. For stability and durability quality fibreglass is the best choice. The beauty of a wood frame comes with some maintenance considerations in Canada, where the weather is wet and the extreme temperature differences.

U-Factor and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC): 

These ratings will indicate the window’s insulation properties and solar gain. In cold climates, it is more important to have a lower U-Value. Lower SHGC keeps warmer regions from overheating, in west or south-facing windows.

Installation:

The window is as important as its installation. Long-term performance should be achieved by air sealing, flashing and proper shimming. Always use a certified installer who is aware of the Canadian building code and climate requirements.

Final Thoughts

One of the best additions to a Canadian house is large picture windows. They also contribute to the illumination, overall framing and architectural detailing which are simply impossible to duplicate with smaller or utilitarian windows. They need careful designing, however: the right glass package for your climate, the right orientation to protect optimum sun exposure and the right companion windows for ventilation and egress.

The choice between installing a picture window in an old home or when constructing a new home is one where you must weigh the beauty of the picture window with the realities of Canada’s climate, energy costs, and building codes. When done properly, a picture window is not so simple as a window; it’s the focal point of the room.