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Build Your Own Garage Workbench
A garage workbench is an essential piece of equipment in any home workshop. A workbench will allow you to complete projects easily and with greater accuracy. A variety of pre made workbenches are available to fit your needs. If you...
Getting Started in Real Estate!
A Single’s Game of Real Estate
(Getting started in your twenties)
By Dan Auito
This discussion leans toward answering questions asked most often by our youthful men and women in there early twenties. They often begin to ask themselves the...
Humidifier or Dehumidifier-Which is Right for You?
The humidity level within our homes is very important to our
health, too much or too little humidity can cause everything
from condensation and mold to dry skin and respiratory issues.
Our homes and our bodies depend on the right humidity levels...
The Container Vegetable Garden
If you live in an apartment or town home, you probably think you don’t have enough space to grow vegetables. Lack of space is no longer an excuse since many modern vegetable varieties are perfect for growing in containers on a sunny window ledge or...
Water, Water Everywhere on the Waterfront!
Waterfront living is among the most desirable of locations in our area. The views and vistas are fantastic, not to mention the ability to walk out one's door to drop a line to fish or untie a line to enjoy boating. However, all this joy is not...
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Technological Advances in Windows and Doors
Over the course of the past three decades, there have been many
advances in the exterior fenestration industry. One might argue
that window and door innovations have helped set the pace for
today's increasingly "maintenance free" home improvement
products. With the introduction of exterior cladding and
insulating glass, today's consumers are faced with many new
options designed to increase the efficiency and aesthetic of
their homes.
Historically speaking, windows and doors were primarily
manufactured using wood materials. While wood is strong and
looks great, it also requires a great deal of maintenance. If
wood isn't treated properly, moisture will eventually begin to
penetrate the surface and more likely than not, cause it to
break down and rot. Typically speaking, wood windows and doors
should be re-painted every 3-5 years. Depending on the size of a
house, this can be a costly and time consuming process.
Unfortunately, when this maintenance schedule is neglected, the
associated costs increase exponentially.
This is why home improvement industry experts agree that
selection of windows and doors is one of the three most
important decisions a consumer makes when restoring an older
home, or building a new one. Choosing the right window can
increase the life and energy efficiency of a home dramatically
and at the same time creating a unique and awe-inspiring look.
Today's window marketplace offers more choices than ever before
and it is important to understand the advantages and
disadvantages of each. In order to combat the maintenance issue
of wood materials, window and door companies began offering
units with a clad exterior during the 1970's. Exterior cladding
covers and essentially protects exterior wood from the elements.
Clad exteriors can be made using Vinyl, Aluminum, Fiberglass or
other composite materials. Each material has its advantages and
disadvantages.
Vinyl, or plastic cladding, offers an inexpensive solution to
the problem and a long life. Additionally, thermal properties of
vinyl are great for colder environments because it's a weak
conductor. Simply put, it doesn't aid in the transfer of heat or
cold from the exterior to the interior of a building.
Simultaneously, vinyl has a downside. Vinyl cannot be painted
and color choices are often limited. Also, the strength of the
cladding is arguably the weakest option. Lastly, when used as
cladding, vinyl often (not always) must wrap the interior and
exterior of the window and therefore the traditional aesthetic
of a wood interior can be lost.
Aluminum cladding, while often more costly than vinyl, offers
more flexibility and typically more strength. Roll form aluminum
is a thin sheet which is bent to cover and protect the exterior
of the window. Extruded aluminum is heavier weight and doesn't
"wrap" around the window. Instead it often fits the wood it
protects like a puzzle piece. Both aluminum options offer many
more color choices because aluminum can be painted. Today, many
major aluminum clad window and door manufacturers offer 20 or
more exterior colors with a few offering greater than 60.
It
would be hard to argue that aluminum isn't the strongest
cladding material we've mentioned. Additionally, aluminum
cladding is applied only to the exterior of the window which
preserves the rich and traditional wood interior. This isn't to
say aluminum cladding doesn't have its disadvantages. First,
aluminum transfers far more heat and cold than vinyl. However
because the aluminum fits the exterior like a puzzle piece, the
interior wood often breaks the thermal transfer and these
windows can be considered equally energy efficient. Another
disadvantage is that as a metal, certain elements will begin to
break down (or pit) the aluminum. Historically speaking, it was
a bad idea to install aluminum windows within a close proximity
to the ocean. However, many of today's aluminum window
manufacturers have made advances by offering a higher nickel
content to the aluminum and reduced the risk of corrosiveness
dramatically.
Exterior cladding isn't the only advance revolutionizing the
window and door industry. Insulating glass is now available.
With two layers of glass protecting an inner layer of argon gas
(high insulating values), heat transfer though windows has been
reduced significantly. Many window companies also offer a
coating on the glass which can further reduce thermal
transmission as well as block out harmful UV rays. In addition
to obvious benefits, this coating can also reduce or slow the
fading of carpets and furniture. Insulated glass increases
energy efficiency and decreases the cost to heat or cool your
home by keeping warm air in and cold air out (and vice versa).
Today's energy companies see the value in energy efficient
windows and doors. Many even offer rebates and discounts for
installing energy efficient windows. The advantages don't stop
there. Insulating glass also eliminates the need for storm
windows in most cases. This improves the appearance of a
building from the exterior and also the view from the interior.
Many advances have been made in the world of windows and doors
over the course of the past 30 years. They've become largely
maintenance free and energy efficient while maintaining a great
look. Today's consumer who is remodeling or building a house has
thousands and thousands of options regarding windows and doors.
It is important to do an ample amount of research before
deciding which type is right for you and remember... a window
and door are only as good as their installation. Make sure the
contractor you select possesses extensive experience and a solid
technique. While it is important to consider all options before
making your final decision, this is often easier said than done.
Companies such as http://www.1-800-Fixed-Up.com exist primarily
to assist in connecting you with pre-screened and qualified
contractors in your area. Their professional industry knowledge
and experience can help guide you through the delicate process
About the author:
Scott C Chase writes about residential contractors
and other home improvement tips and ideas for www.1-800-Fixed-Up.com
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| Lowe's Home Improvement |
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| "Home Improvement" (1991) |
| Home Improvement on IMDb: Movies, TV, Celebs, and more... |
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| Hometime: Home Improvement, Remodeling and Repair |
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| www.morepower.com |
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| Home Improvement Encyclopedia |
| Home repair, do-it-yourself and improvement advice for hundreds of home improvement projects. |
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| the home depot |
| www.homedepot.com/ - 2k - Cached - Similar pages |
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| Home Improvement - Do It Yourself - Home Remodeling | BobVila.com |
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| Research do-it-yourself improvements with home improvement information from our website. Search home repair articles by subject, task or location. |
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| Energy Star Home Improvement Toolbox |
| Improve Your Energy Efficiency at Home. Use our Home Improvement Toolbox to save money and help protect the environment without sacrificing comfort. |
| www.energystar.gov |
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| Home Tips: The Web's Most Helpful Home Improvement and Repair Site |
| Free home improvement advice, great remodeling tips, and appliance buying guides by leading home improvement authority, DIY expert and HGTV personality, ... |
| www.hometips.com |
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| HGTV : Decorating, Remodeling, Home Improvement & Gardening Ideas ... |
| Take a fresh approach to the way you live with HoFind ideas and inspiration from HGTV's videos to transform your home through decorating, home improvement, ... |
| www.hgtv.com |
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| Do-it-yourself home improvement projects and home improvement videos for decks, flooring, lighting, tiling, renovations and more, plus tips and step-by-step ... |
| www.diynetwork.com |
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| Home Improvement TV Show - Home Improvement Television Show - TV.com |
| Home Improvement TV Show, TV.com is your reference guide to Home Improvement Show. Episode guide, photos, videos, cast and crew information, forums, ... |
| www.tv.com |
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| Home Improvement - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia |
| From the outset of Season 2, Tim and Al would make a theme of a particular home improvement project or item on Tool Time by hosting a week long "salute" to ... |
| en.wikipedia.org |
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| Home Improvement Archive |
| Home Improvement Archive -- Episode Guide, scripts, articles, and much more! |
| www.hiarchive.co.uk |
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| Free Home Improvement Contractor Matching Service and Resources ... |
| Be matched with qualified and screened, expert contractors in your area in seconds with no obligation now. Improvenet offers the largest free contractor ... |
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| DIY Home Improvement, home repair Tips |
| DIY home improvement, remodeling, house repairs and maintainance Help Center...How To instructions for all your projects. |
| www.alsnetbiz.com |
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| Amazon.com: Home Improvement: Electrical, Plumbing, Hardware ... |
| Online shopping for Home Improvement from a great selection of Tools & Hardware; Electrical, Plumbing, Hardware, Heating & Cooling, Building Materials ... |
| www.amazon.com |
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| Home Improvement |
| AsktheBuilder.com: Build and remodel your home the right way. Learn how the master craftsmen of old built things to last. |
| www.askthebuilder.com |
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