Home Improvement Tips & Contractors
June 12th, 2006 — Replacement Windows, Windows
So, when replacing the windows on your house, what exactly is the best route to go down?
Vinyl windows, composite windows, or aluminum replacement windows?
I was sifting through Yahoo Answers today and found this very same question. Here is the answer as provided by BearDown (I’m guessing BearDown is a windows expert given the name, as in “Bear Down the Hatches”) : Continue reading →
January 23rd, 2006 — Interior Design, Decks and Patio, Windows, Kitchens, Flooring, Bathrooms
From CaymanNewNews.com, Here are 10 ways homeowners can make their homes easier to maintain:
1. Urethane Products : Accessorize the exterior of your home with durable urethane products. Easy-care shutters, window and door trim pieces, louvers and balustrade systems resist warping, weather damage and insect infestations. Products are longer-lasting than wood products because they don’t absorb moisture and are weather resistant.
2. Composite Decking : Tired of termites feeding on your deck? Try composite decking. Made from plastic and wood fibers, this low maintenance product installs and cuts like wood, but resists rot and insects. There’s no painting or staining required and in many cases fasteners are hidden. The investment in composite decking pays back during the resale of a home… and during all those weekends you’re not forced to strip and reseal a wood deck.
3. Vinyl Siding : When it’s time to reside your home, invest in vinyl siding with insulator boards behind them to create the most energy efficient and low maintenance exterior possible. According to the Vinyl Siding Institute, there are a wide variety of vinyl siding textures and colors available, including woodgrain replications. Visit www.vinylsiding.org to locate certified vinyl siding products and for answers to your questions on vinyl siding.
4. Acrylic Block (Italian Glass) Windows : Forget about hanging shades or blinds in areas of the home where you desire privacy. Instead, install obscure acrylic block windows that guarantee privacy. Both the blocks and vinyl frames are easy to maintain with mild soap and water. Acrylic block windows come in operable casement and awning styles along with large, fixed picture windows – ideal for use in the bathroom.
5. Tilt-In Easy Cleaning Windows: When ordering windows for your home, make sure to request the tilt-in sash option. This feature eliminates the need to clean the outside of your windows by standing on a ladder because you can use the tilt-in feature to quickly and easily clean the glass from
the inside of the house.
6. Fiberglass Columns : Add decorative style and maintenance ease to your home with fiberglass columns. Available in both round and square profiles, the columns are insect, weather and decay resistant so they can be used both for interior and exterior applications. Versatile and elegant, can be load-bearing and can be accented with decorative capitals and bases.
7. Mouldings : Install moisture resistant urethane mouldings and decorative millwork in extremely humid areas of the home, such as bathrooms and kitchens. No matter how much steam is produced from showers or cooking, these products won’t warp like wood mouldings.
8. Vinyl Replacement Windows : Replace existing windows with low-maintenance vinyl framed windows. Easy to clean with mild detergent and water, windows with vinyl frames never have peeling paint that needs to be stripped and replaced. As a bonus, vinyl is an excellent insulator, so vinyl-framed windows are extremely energy efficient.
9. Countertops : Invest in a solid-surface countertop for your kitchen. This man-made material can have the look and feel of stone or marble while offering the advantage of needing only soap and water for cleanup. Most solid-surface countertops are seamless and resist stains, chemicals and scratches. Color and style options are almost limitless and there are no veneers to chip, crack, peel or wear out.
10. Acrylic Block Showers : Save time and effort every time you shower by installing an acrylic block shower surround. The easy-care blocks don’t require you to squeegee them after every shower to remain clean and attractive. As an added benefit, the obscure blocks provide privacy in the shower while adding a stylish look to the bathroom.
November 14th, 2005 — Windows
When planning to replace the windows in your house, you may think that vinyl replacement windows are the easiest or only option for fast, energy efficient window replacement. However, the Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy branch of our US Government has released a list of different types of window frames which give you more of an option as a consumer :
There are advantages and disadvantages to all types of frame materials. Overall, vinyl, wood, fiberglass, and some composite frame materials provide greater thermal resistance than metal.
Aluminum or Metal Frames
Although very strong, light and almost maintenance free, metal or aluminum window frames conduct heat very rapidly. Because of this, metal makes a very poor insulating material. To reduce heat flow and the U-factor, metal frames should have a thermal break—an insulating plastic strip placed between the inside and outside of the frame and sash.
Composite Frames
Composite window frames consist of composite wood products, such as particle board and laminated strand lumber. These composites are very stable, they have the same or better structural and thermal properties as conventional wood, and they have better moisture and decay resistance.
Fiberglass Frames
Fiberglass window frames are dimensionally stable and have air cavities (similar to vinyl). When these cavities are filled with insulation, they offer superior thermal performance compared to wood or vinyl (similar to insulated vinyl frames).
Vinyl Frames
Vinyl window frames are usually made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) with ultraviolet light (UV) stabilizers to keep sunlight from breaking down the material. PVC is a very versatile plastic with good insulating value. Vinyl window frames also do not require painting and have good moisture resistance. However, at high temperatures, they may expand and warp; at extremely low temperatures, they may crack. Also, if sunlight hits the material for many hours a day, colors other than white may tend to fade over time.
Insulated vinyl frames are also available. Unlike standard vinyl frames, their hollow cavities are filled with insulation. This makes them thermally superior to standard vinyl and wood frames. Usually these high-performance frames are used with high-performance glazings.
Wood Frames
Wood window frames insulate well, but they also expand and contract according to weather conditions. They can also be quite heavy and thicker than other frames. This can make storage difficult, reduce the view out the window, and reduce the amount of natural light in the room. Wood frames also require the most maintenance. There are, however, aluminum- or vinyl-clad wood frames that reduce maintenance requirements.