Pros and Cons of Floor to Ceiling Windows
Floor-to-ceiling windows have become an interior design must-have across the world in recent years. From penthouses to two-storey homes, there isn’t a shortage of admirers for these windows despite the type of living space. Floor-to-ceiling windows are windows that span the entire vertical length of the wall. Sometimes, they can span the wall horizontally as well if you want it to open up to a scenic view. If you’re thinking of making a huge home renovation decision to get floor-to-ceiling windows, then this is everything you need to consider from the good to the not-so-great to make your decision easier.
The Pros
Here are all of the perks and positive features that come with floor-to-ceiling windows.
- Natural Light
If you love the feeling of warm sun rays beaming into every corner of your home, then these windows maximize that. Whether the windows are directly facing the sun or not, they will certainly soak in more of the natural outdoor lighting into your home compared to smaller windows. Keep in mind that traditional hanging windows are about 1-2 times smaller in size than floor-to-ceiling windows, which is how much of a natural light increase you’ll notice.
- Enlargement of Space
Many homeowners will agree that these exceptionally large windows make the entire space feel larger. That is especially the case if you choose to cover a whole wall with tall windows. Instead of having a thick and overpowering wall, you’ll have thin glass that opens up to the view outside, making the indoor space feel less claustrophobic. It’s similar to the effect of having many mirrors in a room since that, too, makes the space feel larger than it is. You’ll see many penthouse apartments use this method to make the apartment feel significantly larger, almost as big as an entire house.
- Connection to Outdoors
Not only will your space feel larger, but you’ll have a closer connection to what’s outside the window. Whether this is a beautiful lake view or your backyard, floor-to-ceiling windows can bring some of the essences of the “outside” indoors. It’s great to consider a whole wall of these windows against your backyard so you can incorporate a sliding door to the backyard if you would like to open up the space even more.
The Cons
The pros aside, keep these disadvantages in mind as well:
- Difficult Upkeep
Walls require minimum to no maintenance but even a few tall windows already require your attention more. Cleaning those windows and making sure they don’t crack or break due to negligence. You may need to hire additional helping hands for cleaning the windows, especially if there are many floor-to-ceiling windows in the house.
- Pricetag
Traditional windows can range from $300-600 but floor-to-ceiling windows can go up much higher than that price point. Floor-to-ceiling windows typically start at $700 per linear foot and can go up to $1200. Custom sized and full-wall windows will drive up the price range even more. You’ll certainly need to evaluate your budget if you want to include these in your home renovation project.
- Security and Privacy Concerns
Unless you live in a fenced or gated home, you may be reluctant of having too much open glass in your home. If the glass is fully transparent, then your windows will provide a clear view of all the corners of your house. Tinting the glass or opting for two-way glass can be a solution to this. Many homeowners typically increase their home security in some way before opting for floor-to-ceiling windows.
Don’t forget to browse our selection of ready-made and custom windows that will light up your home.