Here's one of those home renovation situations where it's perfectly fine to have your cake and eat it too. You're taking steps to upgrade the energy efficiency of your home through replacement windows. It's very practical, a great investment, but you're itching to do something else... something special.

Though it may seem like replacement windows are purely utilitarian, they can pair beautifully with a stained glass window. You get the low-E coating, the double or triple panels with an insulation sandwich of inert gas--all the stuff that keeps your energy bill down--with the beauty and unique design statement of stained glass.

Replacement Windows and Stained Glass: A Lovely Marriage

As it turns out, many window and door manufacturers are wise to this trend. When you're shopping for your replacement windows, you can opt for a variety of stained glass upgrades. But if you really want something special, you can go for custom fabrication. Many custom fabricators apply tried and true craftsmanship that will give your new stained glass window all the charm of those made in ages past.

Installing the Stained Glass Window

If you want to get the most out of your stained glass window and the energy efficiency boosters on your replacement panes, you should have the stained glass window installed after the replacement windows. Because your custom fabricator will have to be carefully measured to make sure the stained glass window is a perfect fit, the installation should be relatively simple. In fact, un-installing the window will be simple too--if you decide to move one day, you can simply run a knife through the caulk holding your stained glass window in place and take it with you. No one would be the wiser.

Source

• Stained Glass Windows

About the Author
Ellen Foster is a freelance writer and teacher. She has taught students aged five to forty-five.