Replacing Storm Windows with Modern Fiberglass Replacement Windows

Built in 1962, this Denver home still had its original three-panel windows with exterior storm windows. While the storm panels had once served their purpose, they had gradually become a drawback. They obstructed the view, allowed significant solar heat to build up in the home's front rooms and no longer met the homeowners' expectations for comfort. 

Rather than simply replacing the existing windows with similar units, the homeowners wanted a solution that would brighten their living spaces, improve energy efficiency and modernize the home's appearance while respecting its mid-century character.

One of the homeowners' biggest priorities was improving the view from inside the home. The original three-panel windows and exterior storm windows created multiple layers of glass that distracted from the landscape outside while allowing excessive heat and ultraviolet light into the front rooms. 

The replacement project simplified those openings with large fiberglass picture windows, creating cleaner sightlines and allowing more natural light to enter the living spaces. Throughout the kitchen and bedrooms, sliding windows continued the updated look while providing ventilation where it was needed most. 

Removing the storm windows also gave the home's brick exterior a cleaner, more contemporary appearance without changing its original architectural style.

The replacement design paired large fiberglass picture windows in the living room with coordinating sliding windows throughout the kitchen, bedrooms and bathrooms. The combination maintained a consistent look while providing ventilation in the rooms where it mattered most. Large picture windows were installed in the living room, while sliding windows were used throughout the kitchen, bedrooms and bathrooms to create a consistent appearance across the home. 

Every replacement fiberglass window included Low-E SunDefense™ insulating glass filled with argon gas and engineered for high-altitude applications. These features help reduce unwanted solar heat gain while allowing natural light into the home, making them well suited for Colorado's sunny climate. The windows also feature Duracast® fiberglass frames and were specified without grilles to maximize visibility through the glass. 

For homeowners replacing older windows with storm panels, selecting larger uninterrupted glass areas can make both the interior and exterior of a home feel noticeably more open.

Although the project focused on improving comfort and visibility, it also required thoughtful planning behind the scenes. 

The existing patio door openings featured uncommon dimensions that required custom sizing, and one replacement window needed to satisfy local emergency egress requirements while fitting within the home's existing opening. Working within those constraints allowed the homeowners to improve functionality without significantly altering the home's structure. The completed kitchen window meets minimum egress opening requirements while blending seamlessly with the rest of the replacement windows. 

Projects like this demonstrate how custom-sized replacement windows can solve practical challenges while preserving the character of an older home.

The finished project addressed each of the homeowners' original concerns without changing the home's overall design. 

The front rooms are now more comfortable during sunny days, the views are noticeably clearer without the storm windows and the updated windows give the home's exterior a cleaner, more refined appearance. By pairing large direct set windows with coordinating sliding windows throughout the home, the project modernized a 1962 home while preserving the qualities that made it unique.