Oak windows – tips for choosing, comparison with other windows
Despite the great enthusiasm among domestic consumers for PVC frames, the advantages of wooden windows remain undeniable. Their main advantage is environmental friendliness. The atmosphere of home comfort is best created by buildings made from natural materials. They look like living frames and seem to really “breathe”. Conifers also enrich the air with plant bones. Therefore, wood is not only harmless to health, but also helps to improve the well-being of the inhabitants of the house. This is a resource that provides “warm” contacts.
Contents of the article:
Should I choose oak in this case?
Oak occupies a special place among various types of wood. If funds are available, this type of lumber is an ideal solution for glazing in the private sector. Country houses with such windows look very status.
Windows with oak frames harmonize perfectly with interiors decorated in a classic style. They can be installed in rooms for a variety of purposes, including living rooms, bedrooms, offices and kitchens. Modern oak windows perfectly complement parquet, doors, furniture and wooden decorative elements. They decorate the outside of the home and emphasize the good taste of the owner. Such windows are indispensable if the facade of the house is decorated in a style that does not accept white PVC windows. For example, fakirk (frame structures are used during construction).
Oak is famous for its unique aesthetic texture. Therefore, instead of painting, frames made from this type of wood are varnished with a sufficient degree of transparency.
If necessary, oak windows can be given non-standard shapes, such as arches, circles and hexagons.
Main advantages and disadvantages
The disadvantages of the old “carpentry” are a thing of the past. Today, such structures confirm their high energy-saving properties and are equipped with sealed double-glazed windows and high-quality accessories.
Oak windows have many more important advantages.
- Rich color palette;
- Long service life;
- Lack of hygroscopicity, resistance to rotting and damage by bugs (these qualities are achieved by special impregnation);
- High resistance to microorganisms;
- High density;
- Smooth texture;
- Inappropriate temperature fluctuations and other environmental influences.
Defects
As you can see, the structure of the oak is close to ideal. However, some disadvantages can be found.
Weight
The main disadvantages are the significant weight and high price of oak windows. The large mass of this type of wood makes the production of thick profiles and large structures unacceptable.
Deadlines
The disadvantages include the far from fastest production of oak windows. Drying these raw materials requires the use of special equipment and storage and transportation processes – compliance with special conditions.
The heterogeneous structure of the material complicates the process of selecting slabs of uniform texture in order to obtain a harmonious appearance of the window block.
Like other types of wood, oak is characterized by flammability. However, they have learned to overcome this drawback by using fire-resistant impregnation when processing the material.
Cost
The price of oak products is the highest, but this is justified by its unique properties.
Overall, oak windows have many more advantages than disadvantages. Figuratively speaking, they are acquired for centuries. Therefore, despite the high price, the purchase of such structures is a profitable investment in home improvement.
Comparison with other varieties
As already mentioned, conifers (pine, larch) release useful substances into the air.
Pine can be used to create windows of various configurations. However, the ease of processing and sawing also has a downside. Careless use of the frame can damage it and leave traces of consumption. Pine is susceptible to dents and scratches. On the contrary, oak is resistant to deformation and mechanical damage to the surface.
Improper processing of the material makes it susceptible to climatic conditions. Increased air humidity can lead to swelling of the fibers, and excessive drying can lead to shrinkage of the wood. Proper care can provide 70 years of trouble-free operation.
Luggage is more durable than pine. Accordingly, this material is more expensive. The luggage has an attractive texture. This type of wood has good strength. The material is resistant to moisture, frost, temperature changes, rotting and pests. The annual rings form a distinct pattern. Windows made from such raw materials have a pleasant reddish tint.
See prices for oak windows on the website of the Moscow manufacturer “Windows Forester”.
Compare with pine and larch.
Over the years, thanks to the gum content, larch only strengthens its strength qualities. At first, oak has an enviable density, but the “aging” process also has a very positive effect. Over time, such wood takes on an even more noble and aristocratic appearance. However, under equally unfavorable conditions, the fungus is affected by products made from larch, but from oak. Mold does not even affect such windows.
Oak has a very dense structure and the most impressive appearance. It gives interiors a luxurious, aristocratic and sophisticated color palette. Oak is significantly superior to pine and larch in durability. If such windows are installed, the homeowner will not have to replace them during their entire service life. They will also serve their descendants. The approximate service life of wooden structures made from these species is as follows.
- Larch – 50 years;
- Pines – 55-60 years;
- Oak – 90 years old.
Window structures made of oak can be twice as long as their pine counterparts, and twice as long as those made from larch. Pine is distinguished by the fact that it is the most affordable.
Design
The offer of individual design in wooden structures allows you to choose the original color of the profile.
- Brushing – removing soft fibers from the top layer with a brush gives the product a pronounced texture. As a result, veins and annual rings are clearly visible;
- Intonation – gives frames an antique look with the help of special compounds that do not interfere with the performance properties of the product (the reagent is deeply absorbed into the wood, so its structure appears more clearly);
- Cracking is the artificial aging of window frames by applying a layer of cracking varnish, which produces the effect of forming a web of cracks on the surface of the product;
- Glazing is a painting technique that allows you to give a surface a lighter shade or slightly reduce the intensity of the base color.
You can also create patterns on glass, for example, stained glass, to diversify the decor of the product.
Modern manufacturers can realize customer wishes regarding the shape of future windows. Therefore, you can safely give preference to original design solutions.
Popular colors
The window frame market offers today’s buyers a wide selection of shades of this wood species. Some colors are natural, while others are the result of chemical treatments. For example, bleached oak produces a range of shades when artificially treated.
This type of natural wood color is not fixed. The window frame shade is initially light brown, but over time it changes to “dark oak.” Considered more refined and almost black, it is a very subdued brown compared to the richer swamp oak. These differences are clearly visible in photographs.
To achieve a golden oak hue for window sills, you can use translucent varnishes and some specialty paints. This dark color is very popular among lovers of frames made from this type of wood.
Shades of Golden Oak and Compatibility
The soft golden hue of oak windows is slightly reminiscent of light walnut and adds a sunny scent to the room. If you prefer this color, remember that there are several shades of this color.
- Rustic – with a special frame treatment, you can achieve an aged effect and highlight the texture of the frame. This option is especially appealing to fashion designers, as the honey tones smoothly transition into a burnt caramel hue.
- Sedan is another result of the artificially expanded oak color palette. This golden hue pairs well with interiors decorated in warm, tonal tones.
Since the house’s façade is painted in a wide variety of colors, this should be taken into account when choosing the frame color. For example, golden windows complement the exterior lighting design. To make the right choice, look at photographs of golden oak windows and imagine how they will look from the street. It’s equally important to imagine how the above-mentioned and other shades will “unfold” in the interior of your home.
Price
Future costs will depend on where you order the oak windows themselves and their installation. Products from manufacturers will be less expensive than those offered by intermediaries. Therefore, the price of oak windows with double-glazed windows may vary depending on the company you choose.
Remember, quality remains the most important consideration. Otherwise, drafts, condensation, cracks in the frame and many other problems may occur.
Try to choose a product with an optimal balance between price and quality. To do this, pay attention to important details. For example, the actual production time for such double-glazed windows is about one and a half months. Therefore, the company’s promise to produce double-glazed oak windows in just a few weeks should be questionable. Such haste leads to a violation of product quality. Waiting longer is more advisable but will produce the best results. In this case, the longer operation of the windows justifies the higher financial costs.
Factors influencing price formation
Oak windows are expensive, but the price is justified by objective reasons. The high cost is due to the complexity of processing this material.
Modern wooden windows are made of laminated eurobrass, but the facades are made only in single solids.
The raw materials are cleaned, treated with preservatives, primed, varnished, but, most importantly, completely dried. Under natural conditions, this process lasts at least three years. They rely on electric drying for production. Many technical nuances must be observed so as not to spoil the wood. As a result, the drying speed of raw materials increases several times, but the cost of finished oak increases.
