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Simonton grids or clear glass for a mixed-style neighborhood?
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I’m comparing Simonton replacement windows for a house with a traditional brick front, fairly simple siding on the sides, and several newer-looking homes nearby. The order would include double-hungs in the bedrooms and living areas, plus a larger picture window in the main room.
The main decision is simulated-divided-lite grids versus unobstructed glass. The grids might suit the brick facade and help the windows look more consistent with the older homes, but I’m concerned about losing daylight, cleaning around the pattern, and making the larger picture window look dated.
For those who’ve specified Simonton windows, how do these options look in practice?
- Between-glass grids seem easiest to maintain, but do they look convincing from outside?
- Surface-applied grids appear more authentic, though I’m wondering whether the extra detailing is worth the cleaning and upkeep.
- Clear glass would give the rooms the most open view and a more contemporary appearance.
Would you use grids on the front-facing double-hungs but clear glass on the rear or on the picture window? I’m especially interested in how the choice affects curb appeal in a mixed-style neighborhood, rather than window performance.
2 replies
I wouldn’t assume surface-applied grids are automatically the more authentic choice. On a large picture window, the extra muntin shadow lines can make the pattern look heavier and emphasize a layout that may not have been historically appropriate in the first place.
For the brick-facing double-hungs, grids can help tie the facade to the older homes. I’d lean toward between-glass grids there if low maintenance matters. They’re less convincing up close than surface-applied grids, but they preserve the proportions without adding exterior ledges and cleaning around each section.
Clear glass is still the better choice for the picture window, especially if it’s meant to be a broad view. Mixing the two is reasonable: more traditional treatment on the front-facing double-hungs, unobstructed glass on the large opening and less formal sides.
The front-facing double-hungs may look more coherent if their grid pattern follows the proportions of the existing brick facade’s windows, rather than putting the same grid on every front window. A six-over-six look, for example, can feel intentional if it echoes the older openings, while an arbitrary pattern may look like a retrofit.
Would the existing brick windows give you a clear pattern or sash proportion to copy? That might also help decide whether between-glass grids look convincing enough from the street.
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