Bedroom Window Replacement Meets Vermont Safety Codes

Vermont, known as the Green Mountain State, offers homeowners rich traditional architecture while preserving their beloved natural landscapes. Residents prioritize sustainable practices and energy conservation, making them number one in the country for the greenest state. When looking to build or remodel a home in Vermont, products must be environmentally friendly, keeping the original integrity of the land and complying with state regulations.

This traditional home needed a bedroom window replacement to improve its energy efficiency. Originally, these windows were drafty, making the homeowner uncomfortable in their own bedroom. The homeowner called our team to increase comfort and find an energy-saving solution, while meeting the fire and safety standards enforced in Vermont. We recommended Pella Lifestyle Series windows to enhance overall performance of the home and adhere to codes.

Keeping in mind Vermont’s fire and safety building codes, our team needed to install at least one operable window with a large opening per bedroom, acting as a secondary form of escape. The sash of a casement window opens fully, whereas a double-hung window can only open half at a time. The ability to be fully open, allowing occupants to exit the room in an emergency, made the casement windows a perfect solution for this project.

To fulfill the requirements, we installed one casement window per bedroom. These windows emulate the look of double-hung windows, keeping the traditional style intact. To create this look, we added two-inch applied grilles inside and outside. This selection ensures the new windows seamlessly blend in with the existing style. Our wood windows feature distinct grilles, finishes and hardware to preserve the traditional design aesthetics. The homeowner loves the upgraded windows and the consistency of their overall curb appeal.

To increase energy savings, our team installed Lifestyle Series windows with dual-pane Advanced Low-E glass. Our team recommended this glass option to help reflect heat, keeping the home comfortable throughout all seasons. Since optimizing energy efficiency was a priority for the homeowner, this glass option was an excellent choice to help lower annual heating and cooling costs. As an additional benefit, the glass coating helps keep bedroom furniture from fading by blocking the sun’s harmful UV rays. Now, these homeowners can enjoy their replacement windows and save money on their utilities.

We suggested upgrading the replacement windows with argon gas between the panes to act as an insulating blanket. This addition helps improve energy usage by eliminating drafts and reducing heat transfer. The new windows will hold in heat during the winter and keep it out during the summer. Just weeks after the installation, the homeowner contacted our team to praise the significant improvement in performance of the new windows compared to the old ones.

As part of this window replacement, the homeowner wanted wood windows to complement the traditional style of their home. To deliver beautiful new windows matching the existing white trim, we used the pocket window installation method. This process allowed our installers to keep the interior colonial trim and maintain the original style. On the exterior, a white aluminum-clad wrap is used to match the existing window. This extra protection helps keep the wood exterior trim safe from the harsh Vermont elements, making it a great low-maintenance option.

Our team carefully recommended selections with high performance and style, seamlessly blending modern functionality with a traditional look. After the window installation, the homeowner was thrilled with the quality of the new windows. We look forward to working on the rest of this Vermont home in the future.