Mar 15th, 2010 Posted in Windows | no comment »
Vinyl window treatments can be a great way to provide window coverings. They are easy to use, come in multiple styles and colors, and are easy to clean. Plus, they are durable and they will not fade. When choosing vinyl window blinds, it is good to keep in mind a few of their advantages.
Vinyl window treatments come in three major styles: vertical, Venetian, and mini. Vertical blinds are those that hang down. Many people choose to put these over sliding glass doors because these blinds are easy to open and close, and because they are quite long. However, they do come in shorter styles so as to fit over regular windows. They are best, however, for windows of unusually long width. Venetian blinds are the common horizontal blinds. They have slats that are between one and three inches wide, and can be moved up and down. These can be custom-cut to fit a variety of window shapes and sizes. Mini blinds are those that are an inch or less in slat width.
One of the biggest advantages to vinyl window treatments is the fact that they are easy to customize in color. The vinyl itself is colored, and so it will not fade. Nor will the colors chip off, as they would if the blinds were painted the desired color. Additionally, technology is advanced far enough that you can have vinyl window blinds that look like wood. Many companies make treatments that look so much like wood that it is almost impossible to tell the difference by looking at them. But, unlike wood, vinyl won’t dry out, crack, or fade. Custom blinds to match a specific color scheme can also be made.
In addition to being versatile and customizable, vinyl window blinds are also relatively inexpensive. They are much less expensive than wood, and are even less expensive than many fabric curtains, especially if the fabric is of particularly high quality. You can get good quality vinyl window treatments without spending an arm and a leg. You can then spend the money on something else.
Cleaning vinyl window blinds is also very easy. It can be done with a damp cloth. You have to be careful with fabric window treatments, as they can fade, and some materials cannot be washed in a regular washing machine. Wood treatments will split and crack if you use water to clean them. Vinyl is easy to clean, and it can even be done by taking the blinds down and spraying them off with a hose outside. Dusting them is fairly simple. Just shut the slats and dust that way. There are even special dusters and vacuum attachments that allow you to easily clean three or four individual slats at a time.
Vinyl window treatments can be a great way to express yourself through d?cor. It is possible to find vinyl blinds in nearly any shade. And you can even get the look of bamboo, cherry, or pine wood without having the inconvenience, hassle, and expense of using actual wood blinds.
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Tags: vinyl window
Jan 18th, 2010 Posted in Cleaning Tips and Tools, Windows | no comment »
There is no need of pointing the reasons why it is better to have clean windows no matter whether it is about your home clean or office. It’s obvious that in this way you are going to have better view, heat efficiency and of course your home will build for yourself more pleasant image in the eyes of your neighbors. But perhaps the most important reason for cleaning our windows is in the name of the good maintenance of the glass. Maybe it’s not so popular fact, but with the passing years the quality of the glass we use for our windows is degrading, because of the hard minerals and other contaminants which are ruining its structure. That’s why it’s better to take care for the glass by frequently cleaning its surface in order to save it for long time use.
For the proper maintenance you can use the services of a professional window cleaner or you can instead take care for it by yourself, which won’t be too hard if you follow some simple rules. What about the ways you can clean your windows? For the lower ones, those you can easily reach, there is nothing more appropriate than a sponge and a bucket with warm water. It doesn’t have to be hot, just warm enough to wash the dirt of the glass . In case you have some paint spots and you want to get rid of them you can manage to do this only by a razor scraper. Wet the area where the spot is placed and then scrap it in one direction only if you want to avoid scratching. When you are wetting the surface be aware that you don’t need too much liquid to clean the glass, only be careful for covering the entire area of the glass and after that is the squeegee turn.
Start to wipe the window from top to the bottom since this is the way you want water to go. When you finish with every pass, wipe the squeegee with a rag, because if it’s too wet it will leave lines on your window and the whole effect of cleaning will be ruin. If you are afraid that it takes a lot of time, don’t pay attention to this, after some practice it will be much faster and of course squeegee is taking less time if you do this by a cloth. The perfect time for cleaning the windows is the weather which isn’t too sunny and still not raining. The reason for this advice is that if you clean your windows when the sun is shining too brightly the solutions which you have used to wet the glass will dry before you have clean it with the squeegee and then you’ll have to wet it again.
Many people keep forgetting the fact that the squeegee isn’t a tool for cleaning windows. Actually it is build for their drying. So if your windows are too dirty with various heavy fingerprints, greasy sports or other stubborn sorts of grime then you should first clean them with the solution you have used for wetting the glass and by washing with the sponge.
For the higher windows the principle is the same except that you need an extension pole for reaching them and of course a strip washer. Remember that you also need a holster when you are starting in order to keep your hands free. When you finish with the cleaning and you see the results that don’t satisfy you like for example a streaky glass when the sun shines the possible reasons might be that you haven’t put enough efforts in washing the glass or perhaps the squeegee wasn’t dry enough when you have use it.
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Tags: clean windows, heat efficiency, higher windows
Jan 1st, 2010 Posted in Cleaning Tips and Tools, Windows | no comment »
Cleaning and washing the window can be a difficult task to do by our self, especially when the window is higher than ground floor or elevated such as loft window. It makes people hates washing the window, but of course they really love the clean window to makes the sun shining into the house. And the domestic window cleaners have meets this need.
Cleaning the window without appropriate cleaning equipment can also take a long time, that’s why cleaning the window is need to be done with the services of window cleaning service. There are so many window cleaners company specializes in safe and high quality results. People just need to ensure they are professional window cleaning. For people in London, the London window cleaners for example, have the necessary supplies and tools that are required for completing a quality job.
Besides desire of having the clean window, people usually want to relax in their great patio. The great patio comes from regular patio cleaning. But cleaning the patio cannot be done at a go, it has to be done step by step and require you to hire the professional one. If you want to hire a patio cleaning service, it is better to compare references and estimates of two or three services. You can’t go wrong with low prices and complimentary services.
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Tags: clean window, cleaning and washing, cleaning equipment, cleaning service, domestic window cleaners, great patio, loft window, London window cleaners, patio cleaning service, window cleaners company
Dec 24th, 2009 Posted in Windows | no comment »
There comes a time in every window’s life when it must be repaired or replaced. There are many different reasons to repair or replace windows, the trick is deciding which is the best option for you. If you are looking for more energy efficient, high performance windows, replacing will win out over repairing. Even if you need just a minor repair you should review your options and determine if replacing the window might be more beneficial than a repair in the long run. The following information weighs the options for repairing or replacing a window for two major window issues: replacing glass and replacing a window sash.
Replacing Glass
There are usually two reasons to need to replace glass in a window. 1. The glass is broken. 2. The insulated glass seal has failed and the window is fogging. In either case, a new piece of glass can usually be ordered and installed into the old window to fix the problem. If it is a wood window, replacing the glass will require more work, and will cost more. Vinyl or aluminum frame windows normally have a glass stop that is easily removed so the glass can be replaced. In some cases with broken glass, old windows may not be cost effective to repair and you might be better off replacing the window unit.
If the glass is fogging because the seal has failed, the entire insulated glass will need to be replaced to fix the problem. One thing to consider if the seal has failed in one window, it may not be long before other windows start to fail as well. If your windows have reached this point, you might consider replacing the windows with newer, more energy efficient windows. A new piece of glass installed in the windows can run you between $100-$300 for materials and labor. A new replacement windows will cost between $300-$700 installed.
While there is a significant difference in these two prices, the window replacement will have a longer life and provide you a more energy efficient window. In addition, with the energy savings of new replacement windows, you will recoup the additional costs incurred to replace instead of repair.
Window Sash Replacement
When wood windows get older they become inefficient, drafty, and hard to operate, or the old wooden sashes begin to rot because of poor maintenance and need to be removed, even though the window frame is still in good shape. Sometimes a window sash replacement can help cure this problem by inserting new sashes into the existing window frames of the house. Several manufacturers offer sash replacement kits that provide new sashes and tracks to be installed into the old window opening. The tracks are screwed into the old frames and the sashes are mounted inside the new tracks. The process provides new sashes that are in good shape and are more energy efficient than the old sashes in the opening.
While this process may save material costs on the windows (not having to pay for a brand new window), it can be a labor intensive process, which will add to the bottom line costs. In addition, this process must be done correctly or the new sash replacement kit will not function properly which could lead to future performance and weatherproofing problems.
Old wood windows can have full frame replacements without removing the old frame or interior/exterior trim using a pocket window replacement. A pocket window replacement is performed by removing the old window sashes and stops and sliding a new window inside the pocket left behind by the old window. The window is then trimmed around the edges and sealed tight to guarantee a leak free installation. The benefit to a pocket replacement, in lieu of a sash replacement kit, is that the window is manufactured and tested at the factory so you know it is airtight, watertight, and energy efficient. By sliding the new window inside the existing opening, you are letting the window manufacturer worry about it keeping out the elements.
The window sash replacement will run you about the same as what you will pay for a new window by the time you factor in installation costs etc. so it can be a wash between the two options. If you get a low price for a window sash replacement, you should make sure the installer understands the amount of work required and that installing the kits correctly is the most important thing about the project.
The Choice is Yours
Ultimately the decision to repair or replace a window is yours to make. Generally a replacement windows is going to cost more than a simple repair to an existing window, but the long term benefits of a new window can surpass the benefit of just a “band aid” on an old one. There are also many more companies equipped to provide a replacement window installation than there are to perform a quality window repair. While you may save on the costs to fix a window, you might spend a lot of time trying to find the right person to perform the repair. The bottom line is this: when you are considering a window repair, you should also consider replacing the window for the long term benefits that it can provide.
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Tags: exterior trim, glass seal, material costs, pocket window replacement, replace windows, replacement window, replacing glass, vinyl frame, window frame, window manufacturer, window sash, window's life, wood window