Category: Windows

How to Clean and Maintain Residential Windows

The windows provide you with a view to the outdoors. They are the only connection your home has to the outside and as such, it is very important to make sure that they are clean and well maintained all year. Windows are an important part of your home because they complement its outside look. However, if they are not maintained well, they can easily turn into an eyesore. In addition to this, windows will bear the brunt of tough weather conditions. Whether it’s dust or snow, they will face it all. Regular cleaning can ensure that even with such weather the panes remain sparkling and beautiful as always.

The following are a few simple DIY tips that you can explore today for effective window installation.

Clean the Glass Regularly

The glass is the most important part of the window. It’s the center of attraction and the window draws most of its beauty from it. Therefore, cleaning the glass is essential. The great thing is that the process is not really that hard. If you can do this with a dry cloth and some water once a month, then your home will look stunning from the outside. There are a number of things you must look for as you clean the glass. Dust and debris are the least of your concern. Pay attention to fingerprints too and cracks.

In order to have a better view, open up the drapes and curtains to view the window in sunlight. This will make it easier for you to see any issues that need to be fixed. There are also modern glass cleaner detergents that can offer great results. Although you can still use water, the special glass cleaning agents are far more effective.

Always make sure that the glass is properly rinsed after every cleaning job. The last thing you want is to have dry soap stains form on the panes. They will not just look bad but all the work done in window repair would have gone to waste.

Deep-Clean with Vinegar

Deep cleaning with vinegar is not something that can be done daily. But if you can do it once or twice a year, it will be great. Simply fill a spray bottle with distilled white vinegar and add some hot water. Spray the vinegar on the glass to form an even layer. Wipe off the vinegar gently using a dry and clean sponge. Don’t forget to cover the window seal with some paper towels to avoid any spillovers from above.

Protect the Glass

The glass on your windows is very delicate so you have to protect it. As you work on other home improvement projects, make sure there’s as little contact as possible with the glass. Things like paint can really put a stain that will take a lot of time to clean.

Proper window cleaning can make your windows look beautiful and sparkling.  The simple tips above will help you out a lot.

10 Beautiful Sunroom Design Ideas

Sunrooms are magical spaces which are constructed on the side of the house with the most sunlight, and they typically have floor to ceiling windows or glass walls in order to fully let in the light and warmth of the sun. The best part about window cleaning is that they allow you to enjoy panoramic views of the outdoor setting of your home while remaining completely protected from the weather elements.

There are as many different sunroom designs as there are people who own them. Some have glass roofs while others don’t; some prefer them with rustic brick pillars while others favor a contemporary minimalist design where the focus is more on the setting and the light than on the décor.

However, what makes sunrooms so appealing and unique is their ability to welcome the sunlight in such a way that you feel as though you were outdoors while maintaining the comfort of being indoors with relaxing furniture. And the best part is that you can incorporate blinds to cool certain parts of the room while still enjoying the outdoor-like feel of the space.

If you’re thinking of including a window installation into your home’s design, then you’ll love our list of top 10 inspiring sunroom design ideas.

1 – Use it as an alternative dining room: While most homeowners prefer to have their sunroom as the main or second living room, others use it as a second dining room during the summer time.
2 – Incorporate a fireplace: Installing a modern fireplace in the sunroom is a great way of keeping it warm and cozy, even during the cold winter months.
3 – Skylights: Skylights can enhance the feeling of being outdoors, as you’re able to enjoy panoramic views of the surrounds and the sky at the same time.
4 – Bright curtains: Light-colored curtains help to maintain the light-filled ambience of the sunroom, while still providing protection from the sun when it gets too harsh.
5 – Add some flowers: There’s nothing better than some vibrant plants and flowers to bring the outside in and enrich the experience of a sunroom.
6 – Use it for entertaining: The sunroom can also be used as an entertainment area for your guests, complete with comfortable chairs, maybe a piano, and a useful coffee table with some books perhaps.
7 – Large windows are a must: As the name implies, the whole point of a sunroom is to enjoy the sunshine, which makes large windows an ideal way of making that happen.
8 – Comfortable furniture is essential: A sunroom is for relaxing, so you want it to have comfortable furniture for you to sit and lie down in while enjoying the surrounds in absolute relaxation.
9 – Try a glass roof: Allow light to come in through the walls and the ceiling by opting for a glass roof in addition to glass walls.
10 – Work from your sunroom: Some people install a small working desk in the window repair to create an inspiring and light-filled ambiance in their working environment.

A Window Above the Bathroom Sink: Feature or Flaw?

I believe it’s safe to say that most men and women love a window over the kitchen sink. But place that window over a bathroom sink, and that I believe most people would find this to be a defect. A mirror directly above the sink is pretty convenient — you can see exactly what you’re doing when you brush your teeth or shave your face. So if you’ve got a window instead, what can you do? Check out 16 baths where that window over the sink is not a flaw, but a feature.

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Jerry Jacobs Design, Inc..

This marble vanity stands within a bay window, and the mirror was designed to be suspended in the front of this window. What an impressive and luxurious space. The window is definitely a characteristic of the toilet, and functionality is handled beautifully.

MN Builders

Are you ready for some imaginative genius? This mirror slides on a track so that when it is positioned over the sink it reveals that a medicine cabinet. Developed by Malcolm David Architecture and constructed by Mueller Nichols Cabinets & Construction, this can be a totally custom piece.

Hugh Jefferson Randolph Architects

This long, horizontal window operating over the entire counter area lets abundant light into the toilet while mirrors are placed at intervals in front of it. Fluorescent lights inset into the mirrors provide light at face level.

Moroso Construction

This round mirror is held in place by a metal pole attached to either side of this window. In the morning, you’d have wonderful natural light emitting your face from all over, so you can see yourself while enjoying the view, too.

These mirrors are attached above and under the top of the backsplash and a customized header. See that the electrical has been run through the header, and wall sconces are dangled out of it involving the mirrors. So, they have ample natural light during the day and extra lighting around the face level when it’s needed.

Bosworth Hoedemaker

There’s something to be said for its simplest and low-tech approach. A freestanding makeup mirror keeps this window completely unobstructed for sun and the opinion. What a cheerful place to start the morning.

Powell/Kleinschmidt, Inc..

A large freestanding mirror solves the problem by standing directly behind the vessel sink. The faucet is offset to the right.

MN Builders

This easy swing-arm mirror is simple to pull into place when it’s needed. And it can be pushed out of the way when you’re more interested in gazing off into the distance during your morning ablutions.

David Howell Design

Attached to the side wall, that this mirror does double duty as a practical piece and sculptural accent. Oh, I would love standing there looking out at the greenery.

Northbrook Design

Hanging a framed mirror from the ceiling is befitting the conventional style and Old-World charm of this bathroom vanity.

John Lum Architecture, Inc.. AIA

This bath is firmly tucked into one of my own inspiration ideabooks for favored baths. A massive field of glass block allows in abundant light while maintaining privacy. Flat metal bars running from backsplash to ceiling hold the mirrors set up.

John Lum Architecture, Inc.. AIA

In the front of the glass block in this toilet, medicine cabinets with mirrored doors and lights are attached to a metal frame at the ceiling and countertops. Not only do you’ve got the light and mirror, but your toiletries are within handy reach too.

Jim Tetro

Shoji screens gently filter light in this modern Asian-style bathroom. The mirror is placed inside the window frame, and pendant lights dangled from the ceiling put the light directly where it’s needed to either side of this mirror.

RenovateKate

Here’s another great example of a traditional bathroom with an oval mirror hung in the front of the window. Simple is good.

David Vandervort Architects

A toiletry shelf over the vanity is the best place to prop a tiny mirror and enjoy sunlight in your face.

Inform us Do you have a window over your bathroom sink? Do you like it? Share your own photos!

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Here's Why You Need A Residential Window Tint

As energy prices increase year after year, more and more homeowners are now on the lookout for good ways to save money on utility bills. Most of them opt for the addition of insulation in their homes. Some also replace their old appliances with newer ones which are already made to be eco-friendly. Another option is to switch to light bulbs that are considered as “energy saving.” However, not a lot of homeowners realize that they actually lose a lot of money because of the energy that’s lost through their window companies.

At least 30% of the heating and cooling of a home is lost through an ineffective window treatment or the window itself. A portion of the loss may be due to air leakage through the window installation. But, a huge portion of the loss is due to the heat that constantly flows through the windows’ glass and frame. You can reduce the energy loss by replacing your windows with energy-efficient ones. However, not all of us can afford the replacement of windows as it surely costs thousands of dollars. A good alternative that’s already a good solution would be the addition of a residential window replacement.

Window Tint – Insulation

In colder months, residential window tinting can help prevent heat from escaping your home through your window cleaning. A tint acts as a layer of insulation as it prevents heat loss while still allowing visible light to get in. You won’t have to worry about your home getting dim because a window tint can still be able to make your home’s interior bright.

During warmer months, the sun’s heat will enter through the many windows of your home. This will cause your AC to work even harder just to keep you cool inside your home. A window tint will block no less than 99% of the UV rays of the sun. With the window tint’s insulation effect as well as its ability to ensure UV rays won’t be able to enter you home, the heat from outside won’t enter through your windows’ glass. Cool air that’s from your AC will also be kept inside.

The insulation properties of a window tint greatly help in equalizing your home’s temperature. In turn, the heating and cooling system that you use in your home won’t have to work hard just to maintain the temperature that you want. You won’t just be able to reduce your energy costs but you’ll make your home much more comfortable as you’ve eliminated large temperature fluctuations.

Additional Benefits

By blocking the harmful UV rays of the sun, your possessions such as your valuable pieces of furniture will have less chances of getting damaged. Direct exposure to sunlight can cause fading, premature aging, and disintegrating for some materials. For sensitive electronics, UV rays will cause damage. With a residential window repair, you’ll preserve the quality and condition of your household items.

If you are ready to benefit from a residential window tint, then don’t hesitate to seek the help of professionals. They will ensure that you will enjoy all the advantages that a residential window tint brings about.

No-Neglect Window Shades

When is comes to dressing my windows, I do not mind allowing the pictures are called by character. Natural woven shades are among the long-lasting and least expensive window coverings in the marketplace. After I do not have the plan for for a window therapy that is fussy, this is a goto appear that operates without fail. Usually produced from bamboo, a resource that is sustainable and readily accessible, they can be eco friendly and simple to set up. You’re trying to to create more of nature in your house in the event that you are like me. Woven woods really are an excellent way alter your decor up. Let us take a look.

SDG Architecture, Inc.

To get a contemporary look that is streamlined, choose a roller protection that is woven. It retracts into a clean roll on top of the window-frame, when lifted.

The juxtaposition of the wall colour that is intense as well as organic materials makes this chamber immediately captivating. The power for the wood protections to magnificently coexist using the Louis XV sofa shows this window covering can enhance any decor fashion.

Tracery Interiors

When decorating with bamboo shades include other wood components including storage baskets and shelving to strengthen an organic appearance.

Introduce a hue that is coloured neutral colour palette, right into a lotion. It supplies an under-stated sophistication to the the room and provides texture.

Hugh Jefferson Randolph Architects

Do join protections that are woven with metallics. The pairing retains a white space from experience infertile and provides dimension to your clean canvas.

Rachel Winokur Interiors

Join a matchstick protection that is fine with panels for still another tier of curiosity.

Dunlap Design Group, LLC

Woven protections can be found using a practical upgrade called top down/bottom up which gives mild get a grip on and mo Re privateness.

Select an in mounted shadiness whenever choosing a window covering to get a chamber having a view. Unlike curtain which obstructs the view that was total when retracted, elevated protections give the full view of the outside.