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.
