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. 

Easy Ways to Check for Leaky Windows and Doors

By Gates Dearen

Courtesy of HomeRite

If you have ever owned a boat, then you know how even a tiny leak in the hull can quickly sink it.  While leaks in boats are generally easy to detect, since stepping into 6-inches of water is sure to get your attention, this isn’t the only kind of leak that can cause problems that cost money to fix. 

Given enough time and weather, air can begin to leak into your home.  Over time, these leaks can become more prevalent until they cost you serious money.  Unlike a leaky boat, where water sloshing around in the bilge is easy to spot, the signs that your house has sprung a leak only become apparent when the utility bill arrives.  Before your wallet springs a leak, allow me to show you the easy ways to check for leaky windows and doors.

Understanding “Window Speak” - a Buyer’s Guide

By Gates Dearen

When it comes to shopping for replacement windows these days, it almost seems as complicated as shopping for a new car.  Just as with the auto industry, modern windows come in many makes and models, and they offer a number of optional extras.  Everything from the hi-tech materials used in frames and panes, to attachment and pivot points - all have a nomenclature of their own.  If you don’t know a “head jamb” from a “Muntin Bar”, let me help explain.

The Lowdown on Low-E

By Gates Dearen

Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

When it comes to windows, the glass is where the rubber meets the road, but when it comes to window panes, not all glass is equal.  Whether your windows are single-pane, double pane or triple pane, the formula used in the production of the glass and the glass coatings used in their manufacture have a direct bearing on their ability to stand up to the elements.

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.