How New Windows Can Make Winter a Pleasure

Courtesy of Pixabay

By Gates Dearen

With winter being just around the corner, I thought I would take the time to tell you what you need to do to keep Jack Frost at bay.  When it comes to keeping your home warm and snug when it’s cold outside, your home’s first line of defense is its windows.  That being said, if your house was built 20 or more years ago, this is also the place that is the path of least resistance for winter to get an icy grip.

Windows are not like wine. They don’t improve with age.  As the years go by, the environment takes its toll on windows.  Everything from windowpanes to sills and weather stripping slowly but surely gets eroded by wind and weather.  If you find that you frequently need to apply paint, putty, and caulk to keep out drafts, it’s time to think about replacing your windows.

Protecting your windows during Hurricane Season

Courtesy of  commons.wikimedia.org

It’s July in Florida.  That means Independence Day to most.  To Floridians it also means Hurricane Season, when the next named storm could come to town to ruin your holiday spirit.  While most Floridians are well aware of the danger that summer storms can bring, what many don’t know, is that it isn’t the high wind that causes most of the damage to homes and businesses during a hurricane.  It’s the water.  While the wind can tear off shingles and break windows, the most severe structural damage comes from letting the rain inside.

Specialty Windows, Casement Windows, and Window Terminology

By Gates Dearen

Courtesy of HomeRite Jacksonville

Of all the parts of a house, windows frequently affect our daily lives the most. Outside, they give architectural style to the home. Windows play a big part in the first impressions people have about homes. For example, in Jacksonville, when you see old aluminum windows that were installed fifty years ago, you may tend to think that the house is old and run-down.

Inside, windows frame up the view to the world outside. They also provide natural light which can completely transform the appearance of a room. A room’s colors and textures can be dramatically affected by the light coming in from the outside. Even the appearance of furnishings is affected by light coming through the windows.

Hot Weather is Coming: Is your house ready to beat the heat?

by Gates Dearen

After the Winter, when people no longer need to run their AC unit so much to heat their homes, many start thinking about how to reduce their energy consumption through the Summer months. Nobody wants to spend more on energy than they have to. Along with the AC unit, windows and doors are key components for keeping a home cool. Spring is a good time of year to check them out to see if they need cleaning or repairs, or to determine if they need to be replaced.

How to find a window and door contractor you can trust.

by Gates Dearen

Satisfied HomeRite Windows
and Doors Customers

Someday, after you’ve thought about getting replacement windows and doors for a while, you’ll probably decide that it’s time to move forward. You have a good idea of what you want and you also have an idea of how much you have in the budget for this home improvement. The next thing to think about is how to find a good contractor.

A company’s reputation is one of the things most people take into consideration when selecting a contractor of any kind. Most people want to deal with a company that has been in business for a substantial period of time. A company that opened three weeks ago may turn out to be very successful with a great reputation in a year or two. However, customers are usually skeptical of companies that haven’t been around for very long. Most people realize that when a company has been around for a while, it’s probably because they’re good at what they do.

Distinguish your home and enhance the curb appeal

by Gates Dearen

Add distinctive style and increase the value of your home.

“Almost no other part of your home gets as much exposure as the front door. It’s where you greet friends and family, serve (or scare) trick-or-treaters, and enjoy the songs of holiday carolers. A front door says a lot about who lives inside.” Bob Villa

Entry doors are the most significant element for the curb appeal of most homes. A new front door can instantly enhance the appearance of a home. It can also significantly increase resale value. In fact, it’s one of the few home projects that can add more value to the home than the cost of the project.