The Hawaiian Home
Window Types

For those who speak Latin among us the manufacturing world sometimes refers to windows as fenestration. The home window has (3) duties it may perform at the same time.

For most people the first is to let in air but keep out weather. Starting sometime in the 1940’s the jalousie window began to replace the double hung sash windows and wood sliding windows that were installed in homes right up into the 1960’s. The jalousie windows advantage is full opening of the “fenestration” and some help in keeping light rain showers out. The majority of residential jalousie windows in Hawaii are of aluminum. Aluminum strip jalousies are inexpensive but the new and improved jalousie hardware is a combination of vinyl and stainless steel. They cost more but have eliminated aluminum greatest weakness, its malleability. Vinyl clips hold there shape which make’s it difficult to remove the glass vane, as well the close tighter and hold the weather out much better than aluminum.

Aside from jalousie there are awning windows which open like large jalousies though there size means they stick out beyond the house wall. Casement which open like doors will also protrude beyond the exterior wall. Sliding windows and single/double hung windows operate within the wall cavity. Awning and casement windows give you full opening while sliders and single/double hung windows open up half way. With larger sliding windows they are sometime available with (3) or more operable sliders though this makes the frame deeper, it achieve a two thirds opening ratio.

Windows are in vinyl, aluminum and wood ideally with vinyl or aluminum exterior cladding for durability and low maintenance. Vinyl is generally in white though other colors may be available depending on manufacturer. Aluminum is best chosen with high grade manufacturers finish electrolytically applied. Clear anodized aluminum reacts with moisture and forms aluminum salt which is the white substance so often seen around decay point on aluminum windows. Custom homeowners often want a wood interior look which can be painted or stained. The exterior cladding is available in a variety of colors to coordinate with exterior house colors.