3 Tips for Choosing and Installing Windows for Outdoor Playhouses

If you want your children to be able to develop their unique potential and learn at a much more rapid rate, you must fully acknowledge the importance of play. Opportunities to play are abundant and everywhere for children, but you can still contribute in creating a positive and creative environment. One of the best things you can do is to design and build an outdoor playhouse for your children, so that they have their own space to let their imaginations run wild. No playhouse is complete without windows, and this article will look at 3 important tips regarding how to choose and install the right type of windows.

Opt for Plastic Windows to Lower Expenses and Improve Safety

While glass windows are great for residential buildings, there's really no need to splurge when building and designing outdoor playhouses. In general, vinyl or plastic windows are considered a better option. These windows function identically to glass windows but tend to be more energy efficient and can be customized to work with just about any type of frame. They are much less expensive and will help lower the overall cost of building an outdoor playhouse. You can also better customize the color of the plastic to make it more aesthetically pleasing.

In addition, in a sense vinyl or plastic windows are much safer for outdoor playhouses than glass windows, as they will not crack nor shatter even when you throw something at them. You will never have to worry about glass shards. Plastic windows also require very little maintenance and cleaning throughout their lifetime.

Install Weatherstrips Around the Windows to Insulate the Inside of the Playhouse

When installing windows to outdoor playhouses, don't skimp out on proper weatherstripping. The weatherstrips are installed at the outer edges of the windows and will help to insulate the playhouse so that the temperature inside the playhouse stays relatively constant. Without weatherstripping, cold air from outside can easily enter the playhouses and create a less comfortable environment for your children to play with. Basically, weatherstrips reduce drafts and energy loss caused by heat exchange from the windows.

There are plenty of different types of weatherstrips that you can choose from. You don't have to go with anything fancy. In fact, you can easily get away with installing self-stick weatherstrips for outdoor playhouses instead of nail-on weatherstrips. Self-stick EPDM rubber weatherstrips are generally the most popular for outdoor playhouses, as they can maintain their insulating qualities even in environments with sub-zero temperatures.

Choose Playhouse Designs with Lots of Windows for Natural Light

When designing and building your playhouse, look for designs that allow for the greatest number of windows possible. You should also install large windows rather than small ones to let in the greatest amount of natural light possible into the playhouse. This will not only make the inside of the playhouse appear more inviting and open, but it'll allow your children to make the most use out of the playhouse, as they will be able to spend a significant greater amount of time in it.

Fortunately, since outdoor playhouses are significantly smaller than residential buildings, you don't always have to custom order the plastic windows. Designs and styles that are created for residential buildings can be used in the outdoor playhouses and will easily take up the majority of the wall space.

Conclusion

Encourage your children to play by designing and building them an outdoor playhouse. Don't just put several walls and a ceiling together and call it a day. Take some time to install windows. They absolutely will make a huge difference to the playhouse and will create a more inviting and positive environment.