Window grilles can add a touch of architectural interest to your home. But choosing the wrong grille type or installation can leave your windows looking awkward, and can detract from your home’s curb appeal.
We tell homeowners who visit our Cary, NC window replacement company to avoid these three grille mistakes when updating a home’s windows.
1. Mismatched Grille Patterns
When we see a house with mismatched grille patterns, we often wonder if this was done on purpose or by oversight.
Take the example above. Both of the half round windows have arched grilles dividing the window into fourths horizontally and into thirds vertically.
But the spacing between them is inconsistent, and this creates an overall sloppy look.
Our guess is that the top window was the original, as it matches the lines of grille pattern in double hung below it. When a replacement window was needed for the lower window, this pattern continuation wasn’t accounted for.
While a little variety might seem appealing, resist the urge to mix and match different grille patterns on your windows. This creates a visually jarring effect and disrupts the overall flow of your home’s exterior.
2. Grille Misalignment Between Windows
We hate to see a row of windows with grilles that are all slightly askew. It’s a recipe for visual disaster!
Even a minor misalignment can make your windows appear crooked and detract from the clean lines of your home.
The home above is a great example. The lowest grille in the second floor picture window does not alight with the middle grilles in the two windows flanking it. It’s probably about a half inch out of alignment.
It’s unfortunate, because it’s a simple error to avoid, but one that can have a major impact on the finished look of your home.
There are two ways that this error can happen.
When ordering your windows, the company you order from should inform the manufacturer if certain window grilles need to be aligned along an elevation (or a side view of your home).
This is especially critical if windows are slightly different sizes, say because they are in different rooms. You still want the exterior view of your home to appear cohesive.
However, even if the windows were ordered correctly, you can still wind up with misaligned grilles. This is indicative of an installation error.
When you have a professional installing your windows, they should take care to ensure that the windows are installed at the proper heights to create consistency in the grille heights when viewed from the exterior.
3. Grilles Too Thick for Your Windows
While grilles offer a touch of elegance, excessively thick ones can become a barrier to the natural light and scenic views you crave.
We find that grilles too large for the window’s glass space most often happens when homeowners opt for pocket insert replacement of small windows, such as dormers. This type of replacement results in a smaller amount of glass than the original window had. Using the same thickness of grille on reduced glass space can make the grilles seem too large for the window they are dividing.
Better options might be to forego grilles completely, or to opt for a thinner grille piece.
Summary
When you’re spending a lot of money to replace your windows, you want to be certain that the final result will look sharp and not sloppy. It’s important to avoid these grille mistakes when updating a home’s windows. Of course, there are many other design and installation pitfalls to avoid, too.
If you want guidance from pros who have served thousands of Triangle homeowners, look no further than Window Works Co.!
Use the calendar below to set up a free consultation call and tell us about your window replacement project. We’ll be happy to help you find the perfect replacement windows for your home.
