Increase Curb Appeal

Changing out your windows or doors can make an immediate and stunning impact on your home’s exterior. Our vast selection of windows and doors offer you options that compliment either a contemporary or traditional style home.

Resale Value

More home buyers are paying closer attention to the condition of the exterior envelope of a home. The energy efficiency of your home is becoming just as important as the layout of the kitchen or the comfort of the master bedroom, for example. With energy prices continuing to soar, home buyers are factoring in the quality of the windows and doors in their buying decisions. As competition rises for home seekers, improving your home’s exterior envelope by  upgrading to an Energy Star window can help separate your home from others on the market.

Good for the Environment

Whether you believe in the greenhouse effect or not, or believe that our environment is heading towards a disastrous outcome, replacing your inefficient windows and doors has a positive effect on our earth. When you can use less energy to heat and cool your home, it means you’re tapping less into our natural resources and reducing the processing of those resources that often cause harm to our environment. This is a great resale point to be able to say the house is more environmentally friendly.

Return on Investment (ROI)

What is the return on my investment for upgrading my windows and doors? This is a question that is frequently asked by our clients. Several sources indicate that the return on investment can range from 80% to 90% and many reports show that window replacement ranks in the top 5 for highest return on investment projects.

A verison of this article was originially published by LakeWashingtonWindows.com

Windows are an extremely important element in the overall structure of your home. They let light and air in, of course, but they play a critical role in both interior and exterior design too. Replacement windows can transform your home from a classic to modern style, neutral to vibrant color, or dark to light ambiance. With all the new styles, materials, and colors now available, there are virtually endless design options to choose from. But whether you’re shopping for new windows to improve the look of your home, reduce utility costs, or to replace broken or severely weathered windows, the benefits are numerous …

Interior Comfort
Window replacement can eliminate air leakages that produce unnecessarily high utility costs. And with the energy efficient options available in today’s windows, your home can better retain heat in the winter, and reduce harmful solar radiation in the summer months.

Energy Savings
Today’s windows are far more efficient than older wood windows. The insulated glass, solid construction, and technologically advanced materials allow your furnace and air conditioning system to conserve energy by working less during seasonal temperatures changes.

Environmental Protection
By creating more stable temperatures inside your home, new windows allow heating and cooling systems to use less energy, helping to better preserve the environment. Window replacement is an environmentally responsible home improvement project and offers significant ROI compared to other structural renovations.

Security
If you’re concerned about burglaries and break-ins, new windows are a great option to improve the security of your home. The newest locking mechanisms and security features prevent replacement windows from being forcibly opened and offer better protection from glass breakage.

Noise Reduction
With properly insulated replacement windows, you can block a significant amount of outside noise from entering your home – and even better, you can make plenty of noise inside your own house without disturbing your neighbors!

This article was originially published by WinduraSolutions.com

Many people have become fans of storm doors because the new models are energy efficient and provide a layer of protection between your home and outside elements. The last think you need when a storm hits, is debris to fly and crack through into your home. Versatility has also become important when It comes to the changes of the seasons. Newer models allow for you to swap out glass inserts with ventilation bug screens, for warmer weather. Before, you begin picking out the storm door that may be right for you, you must first select a reliable home improvement company that will help you with all of your storm door needs.

Graboyes Window & Door allows their customers to balance the quality of storm doors they need against their budget. If there is a certain feature you like on a storm door, you will not need to compromise your budget. There are many factors that come in to play when looking at specific features you may be interested in. Where you live would probably one of the most important things to look at, when choosing new storm doors.

Insulated doors, with double-paned windows would be appropriate if you live in an area that usually brings a harsh winter. Living on the east coast my whole life, I understand the necessity of having double-paned windows during the colder months of December, January and February. However, if you live in a temperature climate, it may be wise to install storm doors with a quick-change insect screen/glass window system. Speaking of storm door installation, here are just a few tips on the process:

Before you even think about installing new storm doors by yourself, you should probably ask yourself if you have the home improvement skills necessary to get the job done. If you think you do, than you should probably ask yourself if it would be cheaper for you to install the doors by yourself.

If the answer to both of those questions is no, then Graboyes Window & Door will complete the installation process for you. Given the wide variety of materials, colors and designs, Graboyes will find the right storm door that will protect you against the frigid winter months.

Here are a few tips to get you started.

When you see NFRC Certified this indicates that the National Fenestration Ratings Council has licensed the window’s manufacturer and certified the window’s performance in accordance with NFRC’s standards. On the upper right corner it identifies the window’s manufacturer, model, style and the materials used in its construction.

Energy Performance Ratings include the following:

The U-Factor ratings for windows generally fall between 0.20 and 1.20. The lower the U-value, the greater a window’s resistance to heat flow and the better its insulating value. Keep in mind that the window’s insulating value is indicated by the R-value.

In addition, the solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) specifies how well a product blocks heat from the sun. The SHGC is expressed as a number between 0 and 1. Once more, the lower the number the better. A low SHGC means the window transmits less solar heat.

Visible transmittance shows the amount of visible light transmitted. VT is expressed as a number between 0 and 1. The higher the VT, the more light is transmitted.

Air leakage is expressed as the equivalent cubic feet of air passing through a square foot of window area. Heat loss and gain happen by infiltration through cracks in the window assembly. The lower the AL, the less air will pass through cracks in the window.

Condensation resistance is the ability of a product to resist the development of condensation on the interior surface of that product. The higher the CR rating, the better that product is at stopping condensation formation.

The most vulnerable areas of the house for warm air to escape and cold air to come in are the windows and doors. There are a few things you can do in these areas to prevent this from happening apart from getting a storm door in Philadelphia.

Inspect your home for leaks that will let in cold air, so feel for cold air coming in around doors, windows and electrical sockets, and seal off leaks or cracks. Recognizing that windows are the least insulated part of the home it is a good idea to seal off gaps with caulk, weather stripping or applying plastic to the windows in Philadelphia can stop cold air from flowing in.

I personally used to apply plastic to my windows in college. I was so surprised how well it worked.  My room was freezing and with old windows in the apartment it was no mystery where the cool air was coming from.  They used to be so cold I would but my drinks on the windowsill to keep them cold.  But once I realized how much money I was spending on heat that I was not even feeling I needed to do something about it.  Being the broke college student I was I needed a quick and cost efficient way to keep the heat in and cold air out.  Through some research I found the plastic sealers that were available for windows.   They kept my room warmer and my drinks found their way to the fridge.

Entry doors must be tough enough to withstand wind, rain, the scorching sun, and would-be intruders, yet attractive enough to make a good first impression. Older doors are made of wood or wood veneer, both of which warp, crack, and delaminate after years of exposure to the elements. Also metal doors don’t last forever, since the surface on some older steel doors can peel. There are new wood doors that resist the elements better than earlier versions, as well as metal and fiberglass doors that look like wood, but provide greater security and often cost less.

Here are a few tips in choosing your next front door, since all doors are the same.

1) Choose the correct architectural details: Match the architectural details of your home with the door. If your home has a Craftsman, Victorian, or contemporary style choose the door that is made of the same architectural style. Choosing the door with correct architectural details can make your house look more put together.

2) Choose the right finish: This depends on your preference of choosing a painted door or a wood stained door.  Painted doors do not show the wood grain as much as stained doors. Just make sure to refinish it every few years to maintain its beautiful look.

3) Choose the right material: Some doors are made of solid wood, steel, glass and come pre-painted. If you would like to choose strength, choose the one that is made of steel. Solid woods are also durable and timeless. Glass doors can be made with double layered glass to add strength, just make sure to consider privacy when you are deciding on this type of door.

4) Choose custom made or pre-made: The pre-hung or pre-made are readily available in most home improvement stores as long as you have the standard size measurement. The custom made ones take longer to make. One advantage of custom made, is that they can be built to the design that you specify.

5) Choose single or double doors: Depending on the size of the entrance you can either choose a single or double door. Double doors can be very attractive, and add more light and space especially when you are moving big things in and out.

6) Check out and compare prices: Custom made are more expensive than the pre-made doors. Also prices vary by materials and finish chosen.

7) Ease of installation: Some doors come pre-hung and are easier to install than those that are not.

Keep the following tips in mind as you examine your windows and doors:

Begin by inspecting your window panes for cracks. If there are any, it’s time to replace your windows, preferably with energy-efficient models.

You can examine your windows, doors and skylights for air leaks, foil water drips, and gaps by performing a home air pressure test. A home air pressure test sucks air into the house to reveal air leaks that increase your energy bills. To inspect windows and other openings do the following:

-Seal the house by locking all doors, windows, skylights, and shutting all vents.

-Close all dampers and vents.

-Turn on all kitchen and bath exhaust fans.

-Pass a burning incense stick along all openings including, windows, doors, fireplaces,

and outlets to detect air rushing in from the outside.

Air and water can also seep into closed windows from gaps, rot in frames, deteriorating caulking, cracked glass, and closures that don’t fully close. In addition, check doors for cracks that weaken their ability to stop air leaks and water seeps, by looking for weather stripping that causes peels and gaps, and making sure all hinges are tight and doors fit securely in their thresholds.

Brown stains on walls under a skylight are signs that water is invading and air is escaping. Cut a small hole in the stained drywall to check for wetness, which would indicate rot, or gaps in the skylight.

By caulking, you are able to seal up any gaps where air may be leaking out of or coming into your home. Who knew that by simply sealing these areas around your doors and windows can help you save money on your energy bill. In addition to these money saving tactics it can also prevent any moisture or water damage around these entryways of the home.

This DIY project makes it easy to take advantage of energy savings tips, and here is how to get started:

1.  First, detect where the air leaks are coming from and choose the correct sealing weapon of choice. It is good to be educated on the various options when it comes to choosing a caulk, such as water based, silicone, spray foam, rubber based, etc. So for a longer lasting seal, waterproof, or silicone would be the best options. This way the caulk is flexible and crack proof to prevent any future leaks.

2.  Second, make sure you clean the surface prior to caulking. When applying a substance that you want to last long, it is crucial to get rid of any excess dirt or old caulk followed by wiping the surface clean.

3.  Then prepare your caulking gun or whichever applicator you chose. If you wish to cut the nozzle to a desired size, do so as needed. (This may be useful depending on how big the gaps are) Load your caulk cartridge into the gun and begin to evenly seal any cracks or gaps in your windows and doors.

4.  After applied, it is important to wipe down any excess caulk with a wet rag or simply use your hands if you wish. Be sure to do this before the caulk has dried.

5.  Now you may clean up your work area by sealing your caulk gun. Wipe any lose remnants with a clean rags so your project looks professional. By cleaning your caulk gun it will make it much easier the next time you need to use it.

Remember, when caulking around your windows or doors allow time for it to dry before painting any woodwork. This way the bristles from the paintbrush won’t remove any caulk from the gap you just filled. By doing this it will minimize more work down the road!

When deciding on a front door purchase you need to consider certain requirements that suit you. Whether you choose to go with French doors, sidelights, decorative hardware, etc. they all play a crucial role in the homes over all look. It is extremely important you are happy with your decision, because changing the design can be costly to fix later on.

While the most attention goes into the look of the new front door, it is important to consider energy-efficiency as well. Any doors or windows can be a prime location where energy is lost, so it is important that your front door contains any from exiting the home. There are many things to factor in when purchasing a new front door such as, price, color/design, energy-efficiency, whether it increases the value of the home, is it appealing to potential homebuyers and more.

The first thing you want to do when deciding on a front door is choose a material that will make your home pop. One of the most popular door choices are wood, simply because they are classic and give the home an elegant touch of design. They also have the ability to come in a variety of colors, styles, and grains which makes for a wide selection to choose from.

You may also want to consider architectural details that match your entire homes style. For example, if you have a Victorian or contemporary home stick with those styles to give it an over all, put together look. You wouldn’t choose a steel modern door for an older home with charm. So, by selecting a cohesive look it will enhance your home and your neighborhoods curb appeal.

Next, would be deciding on single or double doors. However, this does depend on the current entry size. Some homeowners may decide on widening the entryway, so that the option of installing a double door is there. They can also add more space, which can be handy when it comes to moving things in and out. By now you know there are many types of doors, some are more readily available than others. For example, home improvement stores have standard doors available for purchase as long as your doorway is the standard size. Whereas, custom made doors take long to make, considering your measurements must be specified. Keep in mind custom doors will run up the price but can be specifically designed to your taste.

A front door is a big purchase so buy smart and compare prices between finishes, materials, and customization. Make sure to take into consideration how long the project will take as well, especially if time is an important factor in face lifting your home.

For starters, they decrease the amount that your heater or air conditioner will have to work in order to fulfill the set temperature on the thermostat. If you have windows that were not energy efficient they could be leaking air whether it may be cold for the summer months or heat for the winter. With air seeping through the non-energy efficient windows this makes your heating and air conditioning unit work harder, therefore increasing your utility bill.

How do products earn that Energy Label star? They need to meet certain requirements set in place by Energy Star. A few examples of qualifications that need to be achieved are that the product must contribute significant energy savings nationwide. Also, if the product in qualification costs more than a traditional window, the consumer has to be able to recover their investment from the increased energy savings within a certain period of time. One requirement that would seem most relevant is that the “Energy Star” labeled product has to be able to be measured with testing. By this we mean the window should be able to show significant results that it are indeed effective. However, these are not the only factors that go into consideration when deciding if the product can be labeled as energy efficient.

Consumers tend to think energy efficient windows or even appliances are more expensive. Having higher quality windows often means a high price, but remember one of the qualifications is if the product costs more than a traditional window, you will recover your investment in energy savings. Having premium quality materials and windowpanes are costly, but in the long run your energy savings can be greater. Not only will you be helping the environment and adding value to your home, but your heating and air conditioning unit will work less. With energy efficient windows you will no longer have to dread your monthly utility bill!