What Are the Best Windows to Put in Your House?

The best windows for your house depend on what matters most to you, whether that’s looks, security, or energy efficiency. In Houston, the glass and frame need to handle heat, sun, and humidity. The Window Source of Houston is family-owned and veteran-owned, and we replace windows in homes across Greater Houston from our office in Tomball.

Signs it’s time to replace your windows include a draft that new weatherstripping doesn’t stop, a window that’s hard to open or close or won’t lock, and damage to the frame or glass beyond cosmetic wear. Fog or condensation between the two panes means the seal has failed, and you can read about argon leak signs.

Replacement windows or new-construction windows

We remove the old window and its frame, then fit a new window built to your opening’s measurements. We keep the opening the same size, so the job takes less labor. It’s a good fit when your opening and trim are in good shape and you like how they look. If we find rotted framing or old water damage, we fix it before the new window goes in.

New-construction windows fit projects where you change the size or shape of an opening. A contractor builds the new opening before the window goes in. The window costs about the same either way, so the extra labor accounts for the cost difference. If you’re putting on an addition, we can help you find new-construction windows through our window installation services.

Window styles and how they open

Choose a window style based on what each room needs, whether that’s fresh air, a view, or a window you can reach and open easily. We install every style as an energy-efficient window, and you can see them all on our types of windows page.

• Single-hung: The bottom sash, the framed glass panel, moves while the top sash stays fixed.
• Double-hung: Both sashes slide, so you can open the window from the top or the bottom. Both sashes also tilt in for cleaning.
• Casement: Hinged at the side, it cranks outward for airflow from top to bottom and has no rail across the glass.
• Awning: Hinged at the top, it cranks outward from the bottom, and the open glass sheds rain so you can leave it open in a rainstorm.
• Slider: One panel stays put while the other glides left or right on a track, so you don’t need to lift it when reaching up is hard.
• Picture: One large pane gives you light and a view, and it doesn’t open or have moving parts to wear out.

Frame materials for Houston heat and humidity

We install vinyl, composite, and aluminum replacement windows. Vinyl frames insulate well and need little maintenance, and you don’t need to paint them. Some vinyl frames also have foam-filled sections.

Composite frames combine different materials in one frame. They’re durable and well insulated, and they need little maintenance.

Aluminum frames are durable, recyclable, and low maintenance. They usually have thermal breaks, barriers that cut heat moving through the metal. At your consultation, we’ll show you how each frame holds up in Houston heat and humidity and what each costs. You can read more about window materials.

Wood frames are strong and insulate well, and they’re often the choice in historic neighborhoods, so read about historic home window replacements if you have an older house. Many wood windows have aluminum or vinyl covering the outside to cut maintenance, while bare wood needs more upkeep and can rot in a humid climate.

Fiberglass frames are strong and durable. They need little maintenance and insulate well.

Glass that keeps out Houston heat

Energy-efficient windows have two or three panes of glass with a gap between them. Argon or krypton fills that gap, and these nontoxic gases insulate better than air. A Low-E (low-emissivity) coating blocks radiant heat while letting visible light through. We use Low-E coated, double-pane glass in our energy-efficient windows.

On a window label, the solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) tells you how much of the sun’s heat gets through, so lower means less heat. U-factor tells you how well the window keeps heat from passing through, so lower means better insulation.

Harris County is in ENERGY STAR’s Southern climate zone, where window limits are a U-factor of 0.32 or lower and an SHGC of 0.23 or lower. For homes in the South, look for a low SHGC. Extra Low-E coatings and triple-pane glass are upgrades that add to the price of each window. You can read more about energy-efficient windows.

We include our sound reduction package with all our standard windows at no extra cost. We use glass panes of different thicknesses to break up incoming sound.

Impact windows for storm season

Impact windows use laminated glass made of two sheets bonded to a tough plastic layer, and the glass sits in a reinforced frame anchored to the house. Debris can crack the glass, but the plastic layer holds the pieces together so the window stays closed. The Window Source of Houston installs impact windows that undergo ASTM E1996 testing with a nine-pound 2×4 fired at the glass, followed by thousands of pressure cycles. Impact-rated glass adds to the price of a window.

Brands, series, and prices

At The Window Source of Houston, we carry Pella, ProVia, MI Windows, NT Window, and Alside, and we list them on our window brands page. We also offer our own TWS 3000, 6000, and 9000 vinyl series. The TWS 3000 fits when budget comes first, and the TWS 9000 has upgraded glass and frame features for homeowners focused on comfort and energy savings. We show the price range for each series on our pricing page.

Questions about choosing windows