Should You Use Wood Windows And Doors For Your Home?Wood is perhaps the most traditional and the oldest material used in making furniture. Since ages, doors and windows have been made of wood. It is only recently that materials like vinyl and metals are making their appearance. But, even then, the wood products are retaining their share of the market. There is no sign of wood window and door usage beating a retreat just yet. There is certainly something in wood windows and doors that people find irresistible. First and foremost, there is a common notion that furniture means wood. The two terms are almost synonymous in most people's psyche. Wood has always been used for furniture and for nothing else. Over the ages, wood has proved to be remarkable in this purpose. Wood is a very tough material. Its high intrinsic strength is what makes it such good furniture material. With most options available today, the innate strength of wood cannot be found. Vinyl might crack under pressure and metals may develop ungainly dents. But wood will retain its shape even if high pressures are applied on it. This is why wood can last for several decades without changing shape. Wood doors and windows are immensely popular in home improvement because wood can take several shapes. Wood can be carved artistically, which is very difficult to do with a material like vinyl. There are many molded shapes made with wood, and highly decorative carved patterns, that are impossible to imagine with other materials. Wood doors and windows can also take a very high finish, and it can be made as smooth or as rough as needed. In addition, there is a very large range of polishes and paints that can go on wood. No doubt then, wood is the popular choice of the architecting connoisseur. Though wood succumbs to temperature and climate, the newer varieties of wood are made resistant to such excesses. Today we have heatproof and even waterproof wood doors, where the external finishing does the trick. A case in point is the popular vinyl doors and windows with an internal wooden core. This helps the doors and windows to retain the toughness of wood with the external protection of vinyl. Though vinyl doors and windows are not as good-looking as pure wood doors and windows, they have become very popular choices due to the combined benefits of both materials. However, wood is an expensive material. It is much more expensive than vinyl, and also fixing of wood windows and doors requires much more expertise. That means, wood is an expensive but beautiful choice to make. If it can be afforded, though, it will lend good elitist grace to the home. Another disadvantage with wood is that it is not a good choice for replacement windows and doors. Fixing replacement windows and doors made of wood will require professionals and will also be much costlier. These doors and windows are also not suitable for external conditions. However, wood has really withstood the test. Despite its limitations, there are loyalists of this material who will see that it never goes out of vogue. |