Windows with Mutins (Grids) or Not?

[jserr68594]

We are putting new windows in the front of our Brick House. My wife and I are debating between casement windows with clear glass or casement windows with mutins. What do you guys think?

Edit: One thing I should add, this is a waterfront home, so the windows on the back of the house will not have mutins. Also, we will not be concerned about the view out of the front windows as the view out back is where it is at!

 

[Improved700]

With.

My wife wanted them. I did not.
As usual, she was right.

I think it makes the house look better with them.

 

[58Yeoman]

I had a house built in '74, and it had removeable grids, which were nice. My present house was built in '79 and no grids. We just had all the windows replaced, and no grids. It's nice having unobstructed views out the windows.

 

[Wiz02]

Muntins (sp) says the old pita that thinks spelling matters and prefers modern look.

 

[jserr68594]

One thing I should add, this is a waterfront home, so the windows on the back of the house will not have mutins. Also, we will not be concerned about the view out of the front windows as the view out back is where it is at!

 

[Jeff C]

My personal preference is with grids.

 

[APEowner]

I'm thinking without mullions to make the house looke a little more modern and less busy.

 

[The Cobbler]

I like the grid look . makes it look richer . some shutters on the LH side would look nice too

 

[nadogail]

My home has mullions in the street facing windows, and has since the house was built in 1988, I feel they fit with the architecture of the house. As built the mullions were glued to the glass. When the windows were replaced the mullions were moved to both sides of the outer pane of glass, making the cleaning of the windows easier. The glass facing into the rooms have cosmetic mullions.

 

[quickfarms]

The first mention of my house is 1878 so I have them in all the replacement windows.

We replaced the windows from 1938

The original windows that remained are still in use

 

[HenryAZ]

Though I favor the look of traditional divided lites, they can be a pain to clean. Snap-in grids provide the same look (unless you are close), without the cleaning hassle.

 

[Walkers]

Without. I believe in honesty in materials when dealing with architectural details. If you want divided lite windows, then put in true divided lite windows (you will stop wanting them once you see the price for real ones). They can be some very beautiful windows, and are absolute must have when working on some type of houses.
The aluminum or plastic mounting bars are just a fake way of imitating the look of the real thing. They are the first thing to start looking dated too. Skip them and enjoy your new thermal pane windows for what they really are, nice, new, large, unobstructed views.

 

[dfiler2]

With muntins, most patterns are available between the glass so they are easy to clean.

 

[firebirdparts]

I admit they look good but fundamentally that is just so dumb. I couldn’t make myself vote yes.

 

[jar944]

Today they are almost only grids (applied or inside the insulated glass) but for those getting technical.

Mullions separate doors/windows and are part of the jamb.
Muntins are non continuous bars inside the field created by the rails and stiles.
Bars are continuous (running either rail to rail or stile to stile)



Back to the op. What is your house supposed to look like? Most grids are "colonial" (6 over 6 or 9 over 9) if your house is supposed to be a colonial revival then that makes sense.

Personally I think without would look more appropriate on that house.

 

[16again]

I prefer clear, no grids.

 

[CTyankee]

I had a house built in '74, and it had removeable grids, which were nice.

This. Besides making cleaning easier, if you change your mind remove them permanently.

 

[Cairo94507]

Funny, in September we bought a "new" home, built in '99 with grids on the entire front of the home. We ordered all new glass for the front of the home and hopefully by the end of the week they will be installed. We do not like the grids as they break up the views out our front windows.

 

[Toomanytools?]

Hopefully your wife is on the "Knitting Forum" or some such equivalent of GJ. Where she is getting the public opinion on "muntins" yes or no vote. Otherwise your time here is wasted. LOL
I prefer no grids, I don't like looking through them like a cage, but on the right house it does look nice.

 

[K'ledgeBldr]

The house has a bit of a modern look to it- I’d go just clear IG.
As was lamented to earlier, mutins/grids/grills tend to be more of a colonial look.

 

[MattN03]

We went without when we installed new casements during a massive remodel/addition on our house. We're surrounded by farmland out the front and a river out the back so we wanted nothing blocking our views. The house originally had grids in the single hungs.

 

[dcg9381]

No grids.. (I'm not considering your existing architecture). Casement windows are great.. Picture windows are the shiz if you don't need to open/close them (less expensive also).

 

[Jayman17]

Definite no to muttons

 

[CN Spots]

House with solid glass:

 

[jar944]

House with solid glass:

Might want to add a center divider since they should probably open.

 

[CN Spots]

House with divided glass.

 

[charbar]

With. We have the removable type ones that snap in from the inside. Makes the house look better IMO. Without them just looks plain/boring/unfinished to me.

 

[oldmachinenut]

Definite no to muttons

They may look Baaaad

 

[Bert_]

The fake ones that are only between the glass look obviously fake. I would never recommend these.

Real divided lite windows can look very good depending on the style of house

 

[Ak Jim]

Back in the day when you could only get small pieces of glass they made sense, but not anymore. Sure if it’s a super old house maybe.

 

[kaymccampbell]

I have the muntins and bars in my windows. They are in between the panes. The maintenance is easy and they look just fine. After half a century of homeownership, I will never go back to true divided glass. Too much fiddling around.

 

[gahrajmahal]

Thanks. To CN Spots for the nice photoshop work! As the OP said the view from the back is where it’s at. Views from inside are always best uninterrupted, so no dividers at all (clear glass). Get awning type windows hinged from the top which are great as you can leave them open without the rain getting in. We have a large awning window over the kitchen sink. It’s about 3’ square.

considering the looks of the home front, you have a large amount of concrete there. Plantings will be a challenge with the small beds available. The light colored single garage door makes your eye go to the right. I think I’d try painting the garage door to match the bricks. Bring all the window frames and front door to one color. Not sure what the upper dark areas are. Louvers? Windows? Possibly create full height vertical slats in center section to match slender posts. You could also try some cultured stone in the center section to strengthen the front door area.

 

[mike93lx]

I dislike them. When we remodeled our last house, we went without and it was so nice having a clear, unobstructed view out.

Unfortunately, my current house has them and the windows are too good to replace just for that. I hate it. When I look out a window, I want to see out. I care way less about what others think when looking at it from the street

 

[CraigStu]

Our 2019 built house has mostly 3' x 5' windows. They have the between the glass grids. We think they look nice w/ them. A previous house the old snap into position grids on the inside of the window. They were a pain in the a$$. Just difficult enough to install that the little tips that should fit into the holes in the wood frame sometimes missed so the wood was beat up around the small holes. I like these new windows much more.

 

[1MtnGoat]

Use "V" grooved glass. You get approximately the same look as grids but you can see out most of the window with no obstructions. The "V" is on the inside of thermal pane windows. Makes for easy cleaning.

 

[CN Spots]

Trim adjusted to match front porch. Garage door painted darker per gahrajmahal's recommendation.

It's fun spending other peoples money!