If you're a homeowner who wants to make a dramatic change or difference in their home there are number of things you can do. Many of these things also improve the quality of your home's appearance and can be accomplished at wide variety of prices. The one way to both improve the appearance and make a difference inside of a home is to work with your home's window frames.
Believe it or not homes with window frames that are worn or damaged can actually allow wind and rain in and they let all the heat and cool air out. New windows frames can cut air infiltration down to almost zero and when installed with advanced glazings, these new windows can slash nearly 40% off of heating and cooling bills year-round. Furthermore many new windows can free a home from its periodic painting and even rival the fine craftsmanship found in cabinetry.
When it comes to choices for window frames, homeowners have a bigger selection than ever to choose from. Manufacturers have given homeowners more choices through framing materials, different types of glazing, and of course installation options. A good example of this is window replacements. In years and decades past replacing window frames simply meant replacing an old or damaged frame with a new one of exactly the same kind, shape, and design. In more modern times however homeowners looking at window replacement can select from virtually any style, material, and installation. Speaking of installation, homeowners are no longer limited to the old-fashioned "rip out and replace" technique.
The materials used in the construction of window frames has grown exponentially in recent years. No longer is wood the only choice for homeowners. These days homeowners looking at replacing their frames or adding new ones to their home can select from vinyl, aluminum, fiberglass, and even composite plastic. Each of these materials carries pros and cons and selecting the right one can be difficult for some homeowners. Vinyl window frames for example are the most affordable and one of the most durable though they aren't always the most aesthetically pleasing. Wood frames on the other hand are far more expensive and look great but are hard to care for and can begin decaying rather quickly. While the choices are many and will remain so for the foreseeable future, many window frame manufacturers now offer vinyl replacement kits as those types of frames are far more durable than they wood counterparts.
When homeowners begin shopping for window frames they should look for uniform color throughout the frames they are interested in. Also important is to look for joints that are welded with heat instead of joints that are held together with screws and fasteners. While the more affordable screw and fastener joints might seem like the economical way to go, these can easily begin to fall apart and look ragged after only a short time around a homes windows. Homeowners should also take careful notice of blemishes on the frames they are interested in and try to purchase window frames whose finger joints are invisible.
Homeowners interested in completing a window frame replacement project on a small budget might also wish to consider aluminum frames for their windows. Many aluminum frames carry a cost that's comparable to vinyl frames but aluminum remains slightly more durable than vinyl. The only real drawback to using aluminum window framing is that they conduct heat very easily and can be dangerous in homes where careless people and children reside. They're also prone to condensation which can cause wear and tear which is something many homeowners might want to avoid lest they don't mind replacing their window frames at regular intervals. Aluminum frames should essentially be the choice for homeowners who live in warmer climates were cooling bills are far more expensive than their heating bills.
One type of window frame that homeowners often overlook but are pleasantly surprised by is fiberglass. Fiberglass and composite window frames are the newest options on the market and are made from materials very similar to those found on car bumpers. Additionally these types of window frames are both strong and maintenance free just like their vinyl counterparts. If that isn't enough to convince a homeowner to go with fiberglass or composite window frames, their energy efficiency exceeds that of even vinyl and they're extremely affordable too.
Homeowners who want to replace their window frames or have new ones installed will likely be working with a professional as installation alone is backbreaking work that requires precise measurements and fittings. While homeowners may feel there are too many choices available for them after digesting the information in an article such as this one, a professional will help them determine what works best for their home and for their budget.
Golden West Shutters Specializes in Orange County shutters, Los Angeles shutters, and San Diego shutters.
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Saturday, April 28, 2012
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Beautiful and Affordable Plantation Shutters
You rarely, if ever, see the words beautiful and cheap when describing plantation shutters. They are available, and all you have to do is search for them. When you find those that are beautiful, and expensive, keep looking.
The varieties are too numerous to count in both materials and color. The interior shutters will be cheaper than those installed on the outside of your home because you won’t have to deal with the weather. Normally their use is strictly to control the light and heat or cold from entering your home. The cheaper shutters open or close by turning the louvers by hand with the shutters in the desired position; and you will not need a remote control because they are so easy to move, and one louver controls them all.
There will also be an element of privacy and security when the shutters are in their closed and locked (from the inside) position. Possibly when a person is looking to break into your home, they view the interior shutters as an additional barrier, they will go onto your neighbor’s house where only glass prevents their entrance.
So the most important decision you’ll have to make will be to buy ready-made shutters from the local hardware store, or shop the local professionals who know the ins and outs of custom shutters. The professional will tell you what will work for your area, and also what is not suitable.
If wood is your choice and your shutters must follow the décor in your home, there are still many choices. Shutters painted or stained with simple or elaborate modern designs are there for the asking. There are shutters that need assembling and installed by the homeowner, and they normally come with instructions.
When you want a finished look without looking like those old venetian blinds, with the louvers controlled by cords running through the existing louver that is where the similarity ends. The louvers on most shutters are wider, easier to clean and adjust.
So choose wisely, go online to see pictures and see what you like and how the shutters will change your entire room. Guests will believe you changed your entire home, when in fact you only dressed the windows. Intelligent choices are wise because those shutters will last much longer than curtains or drapes.
However if you still want additional coverage, side drapes or curtains add dramatic tributes to your windows without covering your plantation shutters.
Golden West Shutters Specializes in Orange County shutters, Los Angeles shutters, and San Diego shutters.
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The varieties are too numerous to count in both materials and color. The interior shutters will be cheaper than those installed on the outside of your home because you won’t have to deal with the weather. Normally their use is strictly to control the light and heat or cold from entering your home. The cheaper shutters open or close by turning the louvers by hand with the shutters in the desired position; and you will not need a remote control because they are so easy to move, and one louver controls them all.
There will also be an element of privacy and security when the shutters are in their closed and locked (from the inside) position. Possibly when a person is looking to break into your home, they view the interior shutters as an additional barrier, they will go onto your neighbor’s house where only glass prevents their entrance.
So the most important decision you’ll have to make will be to buy ready-made shutters from the local hardware store, or shop the local professionals who know the ins and outs of custom shutters. The professional will tell you what will work for your area, and also what is not suitable.
If wood is your choice and your shutters must follow the décor in your home, there are still many choices. Shutters painted or stained with simple or elaborate modern designs are there for the asking. There are shutters that need assembling and installed by the homeowner, and they normally come with instructions.
When you want a finished look without looking like those old venetian blinds, with the louvers controlled by cords running through the existing louver that is where the similarity ends. The louvers on most shutters are wider, easier to clean and adjust.
So choose wisely, go online to see pictures and see what you like and how the shutters will change your entire room. Guests will believe you changed your entire home, when in fact you only dressed the windows. Intelligent choices are wise because those shutters will last much longer than curtains or drapes.
However if you still want additional coverage, side drapes or curtains add dramatic tributes to your windows without covering your plantation shutters.
Golden West Shutters Specializes in Orange County shutters, Los Angeles shutters, and San Diego shutters.
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Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Plantation Shutters Date Back Further Than You Think
When you think of Plantation Shutters, you probably think of the first ones used in the mid 1800’s and they did use them on their plantations. However there is evidence that the shutters were around in 3000 B.C. in Greece and they were made of marble.
It’s hard to imagine marble plantation shutters because they would be so heavy and the frames to hold them up would outlast the house. Why they called them shutters is also hard to believe because they didn’t open or close like those we use today. Possibly they had to remove them entirely to open the window. Glass too was in its infancy so they may have one or the other, but rarely both. Considering the cost of marble and the effort to carve the shutters, only the rich could ever afford them.
Even in the plantation days only the rich could afford them, and their slaves installed them. They would have installed them on the exterior window that provided privacy and security when they closed them across the window. Those shutters are still available today, but you may never see them in a state like California, except in the mountain areas unless they mounted them directly onto the house.
Interior shutters are highly valued and open and close easily. In the closed position the louvers can slant to allow light in or closed to keep the light out or any position in between. Privacy, security and the ability to control light, and the weather offer selections as well as beauty. They never refer to Interior shutters as plantation shutters.
Plantation shutters normally swing open or closed and once in the desired position, they lock them in place to keep them stationary. Marble is never part of the equation, but the availability of various types of materials and colors are, and the homeowner makes those selections.
You’ll also find exterior shutters that attach directly to the home. They are there to give the home a uniqueness that no other home in the neighborhood shares. They don’t swing open or closed, and the louvers don’t move either.
When you decide to have plantation shutters installed on your home, you may want to contact a professional who is versed on all types and colors to match or contrast your home. There are ready-made shutters available at hardware stores, or if your windows are custom, the professional, with his knowledge, will fill the bill.
Golden West Shutters Specializes in Orange County shutters, Los Angeles shutters, and San Diego shutters.
orange county shutters, los angeles shutters, san diego shutters, orange county window treatments, plantation shutters los angeles, los angeles shutters, window treatments orange county, window treatments san diego, san diego plantation shutters, lake forest shutters
It’s hard to imagine marble plantation shutters because they would be so heavy and the frames to hold them up would outlast the house. Why they called them shutters is also hard to believe because they didn’t open or close like those we use today. Possibly they had to remove them entirely to open the window. Glass too was in its infancy so they may have one or the other, but rarely both. Considering the cost of marble and the effort to carve the shutters, only the rich could ever afford them.
Even in the plantation days only the rich could afford them, and their slaves installed them. They would have installed them on the exterior window that provided privacy and security when they closed them across the window. Those shutters are still available today, but you may never see them in a state like California, except in the mountain areas unless they mounted them directly onto the house.
Interior shutters are highly valued and open and close easily. In the closed position the louvers can slant to allow light in or closed to keep the light out or any position in between. Privacy, security and the ability to control light, and the weather offer selections as well as beauty. They never refer to Interior shutters as plantation shutters.
Plantation shutters normally swing open or closed and once in the desired position, they lock them in place to keep them stationary. Marble is never part of the equation, but the availability of various types of materials and colors are, and the homeowner makes those selections.
You’ll also find exterior shutters that attach directly to the home. They are there to give the home a uniqueness that no other home in the neighborhood shares. They don’t swing open or closed, and the louvers don’t move either.
When you decide to have plantation shutters installed on your home, you may want to contact a professional who is versed on all types and colors to match or contrast your home. There are ready-made shutters available at hardware stores, or if your windows are custom, the professional, with his knowledge, will fill the bill.
Golden West Shutters Specializes in Orange County shutters, Los Angeles shutters, and San Diego shutters.
orange county shutters, los angeles shutters, san diego shutters, orange county window treatments, plantation shutters los angeles, los angeles shutters, window treatments orange county, window treatments san diego, san diego plantation shutters, lake forest shutters
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