by ReadyWindow | May 26, 2021 | Windows
A window offers more than just ventilation and privacy to your home. With the right style, it can also lend a touch of elegance to any room, making it an important architectural detail.
That being said, there are many kinds of windows that you can install in your home. But if you’re looking for one that offers both excellent style and functionality, it’s hard to go wrong with a double-hung window.
In a nutshell, a double-hung window has an upper and lower frame that can be opened or closed independently. This unique feature offers several advantages to homeowners like you.
Excellent Ventilation
Summers in Miami can get very hot and humid, which makes a double-hung window an excellent option. You can open both the top and bottom frames part ways to improve airflow inside your home. The top opening will draw out the warm air, while the bottom opening draws in cool air, making your home more comfortable without using any electricity.
Easier to Clean
If you own a multi-story home, you know how hard it is to clean those windows in the upper floors. Fortunately, you won’t have any of those troubles with a double-hung window. Slide the top or bottom panes all the way down and you can easily wash the outside surfaces. No need to drag out the ladder when it’s window washing time!
Safety
Safety is an especially important consideration if you have young kids. Luckily, double-hung windows offer excellent safety features such as the ability to open the top pane and leave the bottom one closed to prevent any mishaps from happening.
Energy Efficiency
You can also have the windows weather stripped to ensure greater energy efficiency. Such a treatment will make the window glass and frame more efficient at preventing heat and cold from seeping through, allowing you to save money on your utility bills.
Indeed, with the benefits mentioned above, a double-hung window is a great choice for your home. What’s more, you can source them from companies that offer impact windows in Miami if you need your double-hung windows to be extra durable.
Such windows are made from reinforced materials that allow them to withstand a stray baseball or even hurled debris flung by hurricane force winds— a common concern for many Miami homeowners.
Of course, be sure to only with work with trusted supplier so you can enjoy beautiful, functional, and durable double-hung windows for your home.
Sources:
What are Double Hung Windows?, Modernize.com
The Benefits of Double-Hung Windows, DoItYourself.com
by ReadyWindow | May 26, 2021 | Windows
Sometimes, the most important things are the ones you take for granted. Take your exterior doors, for example. These doors serve the important duty of keeping burglars out, while also preventing heat and cold from entering your home.
As with other parts of your home, however, your doors also have a set lifespan—sooner or later, parts will fail and your exterior doors will need to be replaced. But how do you know if it’s time to replace a door or merely to repair it? Below are just a few things that will tell you it’s time to get new doors for your Miami home.
How Does It Perform on Hot and Wet Days?
Heat and cold can cause materials to expand or contact, including that of your door. One way to tell if it’s time for a replacement is to check how the door operates during different weather conditions. If the contraction or shrinking of the material prevents it from opening smoothly and closing securely, it might also be leaking air, which contributes to higher electric bills.
How’s the Weather Stripping?
This is especially important among sliding doors. When the weather stripping is worn, you’ll often see light pass through during sunny days. Unfortunately, this also means that air is escaping through the worn weather stripping.
Are the Locks Working Properly?
Did you know that a burglary takes place every eighteen seconds in America? That’s about 4,800 cases everyday, which only means that theft is something all homeowners should take seriously. That being said, a door that no longer locks or closes properly makes your home a sitting duck against burglars. As such, this is a sure sign that a door replacement is in order.
Does It Still Match Your Home?
Of course, it’s also important to consider the aesthetics of your door. You may have recently undertaken a home improvement and this may have rendered your current door’s style obsolete. In such cases, getting a new, more modern-looking door such as a sliding door would be a good idea.
A new door is a small investment that can make a world of a difference in your home’s appearance and energy efficiency. When it’s time to finally replace your current one, be sure to work only with trusted suppliers that can offer you a wide range of options and provide excellent workmanship with installations.
Sources:
Is Now the Time to Replace Your Front Door?, BobVila.com
Tips for Deciding When to Replace a Front Door, DailyPress.com
by ReadyWindow | May 26, 2021 | Windows
Homeowners these days have a multitude of choices when it comes to replacement windows. However, while there are plenty of great windows, sometimes the simplest one remains the best option. This is certainly true of casement windows.
Casement windows are perhaps the most commonly known window type, which are commonly equipped with a hinge on the sides and opened by pushing outward (or inward with some models). There are many reasons to install casement windows.
Open All the Way
One of the major functions of a window is ventilation. And perhaps the biggest advantage to installing a casement window is that you can open it all the way, allowing you to maximize airflow into your home. If maximum air flow is important to you, then installing this type of window is certainly advantageous.
Funnel the Breeze
Given the way a casement window opens, it effectively funnels the breeze into your home. This is especially useful if your home is not optimally located to catch the wind or if neighboring homes are so close that they impede airflow. Moreover, the additional air circulation can potentially lower your energy bills, as they work with your air conditioning system in cooling your home.
Added Safety
Of course, windows also perform another very important role: keeping your home safe. Other type of windows can easily be opened by slipping a pry bar between the sashes. On a casement window, however, the lock is embedded into the frame, so the latch is virtually impenetrable from the outside.
Minimal Hardware
Other window types often sport hardware called muntins, wooden frames within the frame that divide each of the window’s glass tiles. While some people favor this feature for its aesthetics, those with minimalist tastes can find their design too busy and distracting. Luckily, casement windows commonly have no muntins, an absence that provides an unobstructed view of the outside environment and unimpeded glass.
Windows are an important architectural feature that can add style and function to your Miami home. When it’s time to replace your current ones, casement windows are worth serious consideration. If you want to know more about them, be sure to contact a trusted contractor who installs windows.
Sources:
Casement, houselogic.com
Casement Windows: 4 Good Things About Them, homerenovations.about.com
by ReadyWindow | May 26, 2021 | Windows
The value of your home is predicated on many things, both subtle and grand. Windows are a perfect example. At the top of the curb-appeal list, windows must perform a function and draw attention at the same time. They serve an aesthetic purpose but must repel the elements while keeping either cool or warm air inside, depending on the season. When it comes to either purpose, the slightest modification or a complete replacement of windows can add value to your home. Following are some ideas and factors to consider when applying a makeover-no matter how substantial- to your home’s windows.
Know Why
In order to give your renovation project some direction, you need to figure out why you are upgrading the windows. Is it because they have lost their personality or is something structurally wrong with them?
The first problem won’t cost as much. You could paint the windows a different color, for example, to bring back some pizzazz and make them look newer. Or, you may just need to replace broken panes or sash cords. These types of repairs cost around $100 to $350 per window. If structural problems are present, it may be time to replace your windows completely.
Types of Windows
If replacing your windows is a necessity, there is a wealth of styles to choose from. However, consider your budget because not all windows cost the same. In terms of looks and function, sliding glass windows are ideal. Featuring a much larger design than double-hung windows, glass sliding windows lend you unobstructed views of your surrounding property. They can serve as a portal to the natural beauty of your home’s landscape. If you want to breathe in the fresh scents of nature, these windows are easy to slide open, thanks to their design.
Because this type of window is free of complicated parts, it is easy to completely shut. You therefore don’t have to worry about rising energy costs. They are also designed to last for a long time, provided that you follow up on proper maintenance.
Casement windows are another popular option to consider and generally open with use of a crank. They seal tightly when closed and offer ample ventilation whenever a room needs the infusion of a cool breeze during the day or on a warm summer’s night.
Windows are multi-faceted home components, important not only for looks, but for energy-efficiency, comfort, and home valuation. A company that specializes in windows can install new ones quickly or provide materials to enhance existing windows, depending on what your Miami home may need. Either way, such experts can keep you within your budget and provide helpful advice.
Sources:
5 Things to Know Before You Replace Windows, time.com
8 Types of Windows, hgtv.com
by ReadyWindow | May 26, 2021 | Windows
When it comes to storms and hurricanes, Miami residents can definitely be considered experts on these monster weather events. The state of Florida is no stranger to the consequences of hurricane-strength winds and excessive rains, which most often occur between June and November.
Being accustomed to strong winds and rains is no excuse for complacency when it comes to protecting properties. In fact, knowing that such natural calamities are annual occurrences should only make folks a lot more alert and prepared for the hurricane season onset.
One of the most basic precautions Floridians can adopt is the fortification of their home through the installation of highly resilient impact windows (also known as hurricane windows). However, there are some critical factors to consider before making your window purchases.
What are Impact Windows?
In a nutshell, impact windows feature impact-resistant glass, designed specifically to withstand the sudden pressure from high-speed wind blasts. In recent years, Florida has been witnessing a lot stronger hurricanes than in the past, with the likes of Category 5 Hurricane Matthew in 2016. Being the highest hurricane category, Mathew’s sustained winds were said to reach as high as 157 mph.
Installing impact windows therefore becomes not just a good precaution, but an absolute necessity. As a laminated product, it can be guaranteed to withstand even a Category 5 hurricane–granted, of course, that you install top-quality windows.
Types of Impact Windows
Essentially, there are two different types of impact windows from which to choose. The first one is composed of several layers of PRB (polyvinyl butyral), sandwiched in between two sheets of glass. To adhere their reinforcing layers, these PRB windows are placed in an autoclave with a temperature as high as 400 degrees Fahrenheit under pressure.
You would be surprised to find how strong this type of impact window can be. This model can withstand impacts even from small projectile missiles. If it can stand up to a missile, then you can rest assured that it can protect your home from the impact of a Category 5 hurricane.
Meanwhile, the other type of impact window is designed to withstand larger missile impacts. This one features a PET laminated glass, mixed with glass-clad polycarbonate. Because this is an impact window of higher quality, it also requires a stronger attachment to the frame, particularly a structural silicone sealant.
When purchasing impact windows from suppliers like Ready Windows, note that the window frames must be reinforced as well. Otherwise, the impact window won’t be able to stay intact and fully protect your home if it is blown right out of its frame.
Sources:
6 Tips to Protect Your Home from Wind Damage. Angie’s List.
What You Need to Know About Impact Resistant Windows Before Buying. Homebuilding.
by ReadyWindow | May 26, 2021 | Windows
Your home’s windows rank among your home’s most important security aspects. Burglars often come through either your doors or windows. That’s why you need to ensure the sturdiness and security of your windows, just as you would your doors and locks. With that in mind, see if you can use any of the following safety and security measures to beef up your Miami home’s window security.
Impact-resistant glass
Impact-resistant glass is much harder to break than traditional glass, and therefore is more difficult to break into. This adds a nice layer to your home’s window security and makes it that much harder for burglars to break into your home.There are plenty of impact-resistant glass options, with varying degrees of effectiveness and price. Get in touch with a trusted Miami windows installer to learn about the best options in your area.
Decorative and protective window bars
Without window bars, thieves and robbers can easily make your windows as their point of entry into your home. Discourage break-ins by installing window bars at every window. Even if a burglar breaks the glass, they still won’t be able to enter through the bars. Many people dislike having bars on their windows as it makes their home look like a prison, but there are plenty of decorative options that can enhance the look of your home while providing the protection it needs.
Window alarms
There are plenty of window alarm types available today that can detect if a window is broken or opened. The most basic of these alarms emit a loud sound to scare would-be intruders away. More complex systems come with motion sensors and emergency calls to the alarm company or local police. If you have an existing alarm system, you can have your windows connected to it, depending on the type of system you have.
Bright floodlights
Your home’s façade isn’t the only part of your home’s exterior that you should keep well-lit at night. Illuminate the windows around your home with bright LED floodlights. Simply having your windows well-lit can be enough to drive away burglars, because they don’t want to risk getting noticed or caught.
Additional window locks
The more locks you have around your windows, the better. Hefty window locks that are visible from the outside can be an effective home invasion deterrent. Likewise, a simple window pin lock can help you achieve the same benefits.
Quality window installation in Miami
More than the security and protection accessories you add to your windows, it helps if the windows you have in your home are made of high quality materials and installed by a professional. In Miami, residents looking to have both rely on local window companies such as Ready Windows.
Sources:
8 Impregnable Ways to Burglar Proof Your Windows, ExpertSecurityTips.com
How to (Cleverly) Secure Your Home Against Intruders, LifeHacker.com
