You now know from our last posting that replacement windows can save you 20% or more on your energy bills. But wait, there are even more benefits.  New windows can also improve your home’s appearance, comfort and re-sale value. In fact, window replacement has proven to add more value than many major home improvement projects and typically comes with an ROI of 70% or more. So don’t make the mistake of overlooking your windows when it comes to adding to that all-important curb appeal of your home.

Your Home is Your Sanctuary!

Here are three ways to ensure a comfortable home has privacy and safety using window glass.

1. Obscure (“Frosted”) window glass is perfect for your bathroom. It lets in plenty of light to boost your mood, yet provides the privacy you need to feel safe. Obscure door glass for entryways into your home does the same, but also comes in various texture patterns and colors to add style and grace. It can be translucent, permitting light to pass through but diffusing i t for privacy. Or it can be semi-opaque, allowing very little light to pass through for even more privacy.
2. Tempered glass is the epitome of safety for the sliding door onto your deck and for side lights, the windows next to your doors and doorways. It is extremely strong, and if it is broken, it breaks into small pebble-like pieces with no sharp edges.
3. Laminated glass, two or more panes bonded together with plastic or resin, is great for reducing exterior noise. Most noise comes into homes and buildings through the windows. While exterior noise can never be totally eliminated from any interior environment, the bonding material between laminated panes has a superior noise dampening effect for a quieter experience. And, laminated glass can prevent intrusion (even bullets and bomb blasts) if necessary, and still beautify your home.

Let the sun shine in?

Yes, there are places you do want lots of sunlight to enter your home.  Skylights are a good way to do this. They brighten up your home and can make a big difference in the way your rooms look and feel. They come in venting and non-venting models, but before you buy the venting type, give some thought to how you’re going to reach them and where you’re going to keep the long-handled rod needed to operate them. You can save some money if you buy the fixed unit model. And just like window glass, they are available with laminated panes, tempered glass and tinted coatings to control UV and heat penetration. Even though they do come with tinted glass, you might want to consider buying the less expensive clear glass to let in the most light and then use shades or screens for heat and light control.

Don’t want a big hole in your roof? Missing rafters? And worse yet, what do you do if you have a truss-supported roof?

Solution = Tubular Skylights.

Tubular skylights capture natural light with low-profile roof lenses outside and “tunnel” it just about anywhere inside your home. They are less expensive and don’t present the installation challenges of the much larger skylights. Skylight tubes let you switch off your lights during daylight hours and save electricity while reducing the carbon footprint of your home as well. Besides, you and your family will reap the benefits that natural sunlight brings to your health and well-being.

Interested in learning more?

Our professionals at AROCON Roofing and Construction can help you create an individualized solution for your home.

Doors and windows carry a heavy workload. Not only do they play a significant role in the aesthetics of your home inside and out, they also shoulder the responsibilities of keeping people out, keeping your family safe, keeping your heating and air conditioning in, and keeping the weather out. With that much responsibility, we believe doors and windows deserve your respect, and maybe some love, when is comes to upgrading. Whether you’re looking at updating your interior doors, replacing your exterior doors, installing or repairing a garage door or even adding new windows and skylights, these projects can be sound investments if done correctly. They key is planning. Below, we have compiled information for you to consider to help make the planning process easier.

Exterior Doors

Exterior doors must be durable enough to withstand wind, rain, sun, and potential intruders, yet also attractive to enhance the overall look of your home. Most doors combine several materials. For example, many fiberglass and steel doors have wood frames, but it’s the surface material that most affects appearance, durability, security and price. Wood doors are the most common, but we also provide other great alternatives like steel, fiberglass composite, and aluminum. Steel doors are best in security and durability, fiberglass composite doors are maintenance-free and are great in humid climates, and aluminum doors are entirely custom built. Choosing the right exterior doors for you will pay off in smoother operation, less maintenance, energy savings, and the safety of your family.

Interior Doors

Installing new interior doors is a sure-fire way to brighten your home. If the existing door jambs are ruined, out of alignment or are just plain unattractive, you may want to consider installing a pre-hung door unit which comes attached to its jambs with the hinges already in place. These are a slightly more expensive option, but usually includes all necessary components which means a quick and easy installation and less time in your home. If your door jambs are in good shape and the door itself is all that needs to be replaced, you can choose to purchase a door blank or slab to replace the one you’re removing. This is just the door itself with no associated extras and is a less expensive option. The type of door, whether hollow-core or solid-core, is another aspect you may choose, each with its own benefits. Hollow-core doors are the least expensive and solid-core doors are great for sound-proofing and fire retardation.

Windows and Skylights

Conventional windows come in many varieties. The most important factor is weather resistance. More than 20 percent of the heating and cooling losses in the average home can be blamed on windows. Look for windows with the Energy Star label, indicating that they are energy efficient. Windows are rated by U-Factor. U- Factor measures the rate of heat transfer between the indoors and the outdoors and tells you how well the window insulates. The lower the U-factor, the more insulating it will be, but is often more expensive. Paying more for energy-efficient windows will make you more comfortable in your home year-round and should save you money on your utility bills, which could be significant over time. For added reassurance, new windows generally come with warranties.

Skylights add architectural interest, inside and out, and allow natural light to come in through the ceiling. A skylight can be installed just for looks or as part of a passive-solar heating strategy. Do some research and you’ll find a wide variety of designs, materials and other added components. However, if installed incorrectly or with poor materials, skylights can leak around the edges and the glass can crack. For that reason, if you’re going to have a skylight installed, choose a quality skylight installed by a trained, experienced, and quality company like us.

Our trained professionals will explain every option and brand to you in detail and walk you through the entire process.