The Replacement Window Style Guide

By Gates Dearen

Courtesy of HomeRitejacksonville.com

So, you’ve finally decided it’s time to replace your home’s windows with new, more attractive, more energy efficient models.  Bravo!  Now you need to decide the type and style of windows.  The past few years have seen great development and evolution in window construction and features, so it helps to understand the current vocabulary of the window industry. Not only do they have their own lingo, there is a wide variety of products and styles and features to choose from. Everything from double and triple panes, to Low-E and impact-resistant windows, are available today.  Just as importantly, there are a number of style elements that can be incorporated into windows to make any home or room a work of art.  To help you sort out what’s what in the world of window styles, I have created the quick reference guide below.

Vinyl Window

How to Improve the Security and Safety of an Older Home

Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

By Gates Dearen

They don’t make them like they used to.  That’s the catchphrase that is used by realtors to make any older home seem more attractive to buyers.  The truth of the matter is that there’s a reason why they don’t make houses like they used to.  That’s because building codes have been updated and improved.  For example, nobody wants lead pipes in their home for a good reason.  They’re toxic.  The same goes for asbestos roof shingles.  And nobody wants aluminum wiring in their house nowadays, because it’s a fire hazard.  I could go on and on.  There is a host of building materials that have come and gone over the years, mostly due to the fact that they were either hazardous or ineffective at fulfilling the function they were created to achieve.