Garden windows add a stylish touch to your home that you can grow with. Their trapezoidal framework creates a mini greenhouse, bathing your flowers, vegetables, or herbs in light from multiple angles. The window's side panels flip open from the outside to promote airflow. Garden windows are most regularly found above kitchen sinks.
If you're looking to add a splash of color or flavor to your home, consider installing garden windows with Hodges Windows & Doors today.
Weep holes are vented slots that allow water to drain out the bottom of an exterior window frame. Maintain a garden, not a swamp.
Cultivating a vegetable or herb garden year-round can save big money on produce at the grocery store. Use your garden windows to showcase colorful floral arrangements even in the dead of winter, creating appeal for both your houseguests and outside passers-by.
Garden windows are sturdily constructed with vinyl frames, fiberglass screens, and energy-efficient glass panels.
Are garden windows worth it?
For many homeowners, yes, garden windows are well worth it. Beyond providing a nook for plants to sun themselves, garden windows can greatly increase your ability to sun yourself by admitting an abundance of natural light — potentially cutting down on your electric or/and heating bills. The extended sill can also be used as a shelf for other decorative items, such as glassware, mugs, pottery, or vases. If you have kids or pets, you'll love the garden window's three-dimensionality — with its enhanced sightlines, you'll have better angles to see exactly what they're up to.
Are garden windows energy efficient?
Yes, with the proper construction, garden windows are energy efficient. The first thing to pay attention to is the framing material — fiberglass has the most superior insulation qualities, but vinyl or wood can be quality choices as well. Equally if not more important are the glass panels themselves — after all, a garden window is essentially a glass box! Look for a low U-Factor, or lower rate of heat transfer, and a desirable SHGC (solar heat gain coefficient) for your climate — in Northern Virginia, less than or equal to 0.40. Low-e coated glass might be worth considering for peak energy efficiency.
Do garden windows leak?
Garden windows, like other window types, may be susceptible to leakage over time as a constant cycle of thermal expansion and contraction creates gaps. Garden windows may need a little extra care because of its three-dimensional shape — not only is there possibility for leakage around the rough opening, there is also possibility for leakage where the glass panels of the garden box meet one another. To offset this, be sure to follow our weatherizing tips.
What are the differences between garden windows and bay windows?
The differences between garden windows and bay windows are size, shape, and cost. Garden windows are about half the size of bay windows, and thus cheaper — although still more expensive than other window styles due to the need for additional framing and support. The sides of a garden window (which are venting casement windows) meet at 90 degree angles (rather than 45 degree angles) for a boxier shape than bay windows. A sloped pane forms a roof over the box to create a mini-greenhouse.
What is the best place in my house to install a garden window?
The best place to install a garden window in your house is an area that receives a good amount of sunlight — particularly if you are using as intended for indoor gardening. By far the most common installation site, however, is in the kitchen behind the sink. The kitchen garden window can be used to cultivate fresh herbs for cooking, store decorative mugs or glasses, and keep an eye on kids and pets while you're at work whipping up your latest piece de resistance.
How do I maintain and clean my garden window?
Maintaining and cleaning a garden window is a little more involved than, say, a more conventional double-hung window. First, you'll have to clear away any obstructions (plants or other items) and remove the shelf from its brackets. Vacuum or wipe away debris around the window base, then wipe down the interior panes. Clean shelf separately. The trickier part will be cleaning from the outside, which may require a ladder if the window is located on an upper story. Spraying down with a hose and/or scrubbing with a sponge is recommended, as there will likely be more buildup on the exterior. Maintain operation of the venting windows by oiling the hinges with a spray lubricant after cleaning.
What kind of plants can I grow in a garden window?
The kinds of plants popularly grown in garden windows include:
Before, we could never keep up with the cold. Now we just turn the heat on, and it stays in the building. Complaints are way down, and we're very happy.
The deck door is fabulous and the installation is super!!! I love how wide it is, and how easily it opens and it actually locks! thank you for the expert product and installation.
The installer, who I think was Tom Langworthy, did excellent work. He was respectful of our space and cleaned up after himself. He always conducted himself in a professional manner. He seems highly competent and he engenders confidence in his workmanship.
We are so very, very happy (once again!) with the Hodges Company....this is the third time we have had a project completed, and each time we've been so pleased.
Thank you so much for fixing my window today! Thank you for coming even though these windows aren't yours......No wonder the management office here thinks you guys can do anything and are the most helpful window company around.
I wouldn't deal with anyone else. Working with Hodges, I know I can get anything I want, and my imagination can run wild.
We will definitely be using Hodges again when we look to replace some windows in our house
Tom is definitely a master craftsman and did an excellent job. Just want you and the company to know that both Tom and Larry did an outstanding job and we are very pleased with the results.
We love our new door. The installation work was timely, quick and well-done.
The whole process from initial meeting to installation was painless and quite surprisingly, a lot less expensive than we thought it would be... Thanks again for taking such good care of us. If anyone I know is looking for new windows, I will certainly recommend your company.
Your guys did a great job. The temperature in the house is up by 3 degrees and the heat pump is running half as much.
I just wanted to express my appreciation to the team your company sent to install a few doors and repair windows in our house. They were professional, caring, cooperative and extremely courteous. They are a major asset to your company. On the whole, our experience with the Hodges Company has been very positive and we happily recommend your services to others.
All in all a really fantastic company - they've been in business a long time and it shows based on how they treat the costumer. Am planning to do windows next year, and they will be my first phone call.
I couldn't be more pleased with both my windows and the installation and now "on a clear day I can see forever". If you would like to use me as a reference I would be more than happy to cooperate.
I must tell you that Mark Russow and everyone at The Hodges Window Company are nothing less than a great representative/distributor for your company and we will not hesitate to recommend both companies to our friends and family.
Everything was excellent. The salesman offered good advice and provided examples of how the end result would look. Hodges' workers arrived on time and worked quickly. The lead installer was quite knowledgeable as well, so the job was done neatly and without incident.
Your craftsmanship made all the difference, and it was nice getting to know you. We hope to hire you again.
Hodges had very knowledge salespeople, highly skilled installation crews, and the product lives up to expectations. You can't ask for better than that.
I think they did a very good job. I will go back to them in a heartbeat.
I want you to know that your two colleagues who installed the windows did an outstanding job...Jean and I could not be more pleased.
Throughout the entire process - from our first meeting to the on-going daily supervision - by you of the job, the professionalism, the quality of the products, and the workmanship
I am so pleased with my windows, your installers and staff. I would indeed recommend your company to anyone and everyone. They were quick, efficient and very polite.
We enjoyed meeting with Brian Whitehouse and were impressed with his ability to explain our options, always respecting our wishes and never annoying us with hard-sell tactics...It was such a pleasure to deal with people who know their job and do it well.