Can You Use Commercial Windows on a House?

In planning your new home build or renovation, one of the first decisions you’ll make is your preferred design or style of the house overall. Whether you admire an old-world Tudor style, a fun Craftsman, or an industrial modern design, this decision will lead all the other decisions you’ll make in choosing your materials. And when it comes to selecting window styles, if you’re a novice to planning a new home, you may believe that a window is just a window, right?

Not at all. Windows come in various sizes and styles and are chosen for their specific type of building and purpose. And one option is to use commercial windows on your residence.

If you’ve heard of some residential designs choosing commercial over residential windows and wonder in which direction you should go, let’s take a closer look and help you make that decision.

Differences Between Commercial and Residential Windows

Frame and Sash Sizes

As you might expect, commercial window frames are typically wider, bulkier and have a more structured and industrial look than what you see in standard residential frames. It’s a matter of taste – for some, this doesn’t work with the traditional style of house they like; but for those who prefer the more modern and industrial look, it’s the wow factor that makes it just perfect.

Window Opening Size

The standard residential windows used in many homes are not very large. Compare that to the large and bulky windows you typically see in office buildings and retail spaces, which often span wider openings than a residential window. Yet, some new homes are specifying larger window openings in their design to achieve their overall look.

Thermal Insulation

You may not realize that windows for commercial spaces are designed to limit the amount of heat coming in from sunlight. Commercial windows require special coatings, high-performance glazing, and other measures to limit the amount of solar radiation that enters the property. Imagine all the heat that’s generated from an office or a store’s lighting, computers, electronics, and crowds of people. No one wants to shop in a sweltering store, or work in a sweaty office, so thermal insulation is critical here.

Higher Wind Ratings

Similarly, commercial windows must be ready to help control the effects of nature to protect the people inside, so they require higher wind ratings and often higher quality hardware to support it.

Why Choose Commercial Windows For Your New Home Design

Aesthetics

If your new home construction is going all-in on the modern and industrial architectural style, then commercial windows with squarer and bulkier frames will fit right into that design aesthetic.

Size

Along these lines, your preferred size of windows should compliment your design preferences. A stunning modern home can be designed around the wider frame and sash sizes of larger commercial windows as an artistic feature. Plus, larger windows will allow more ventilation and natural light into the home, brightening the interior. This compliments an open floor plan beautifully.

Performance

The larger framing of commercial windows allows for the installation of thicker glass in single, double, or triple glazing. Thicker glazing means optimal thermal performance, saving money on heating and cooling. While the larger windows will cost more up front, their performance will save your home money in the long run.

Residential or Commercial Windows?

The choice is ultimately up to you, but if you want to make the choice that suits your project perfectly, the team at Suburban Glass and Mirror will work with you from design concept to installation. We’re no strangers to this type of project – just ask and we’ll get it done expertly and efficiently.