Home Improvements: The Right Results Require A Meaningful Contract

You’ve been thinking about that home improvement project for months, maybe even years. You’ve interviewed several contractors and you feel you’ve found a trustworthy contractor who offers the greatest value for the work you’re planning. 

No matter how well you know the person you’ll be working with, you need more than a handshake or a price on the back of a business card to protect yourself. Additionally, most of us have very little, if any, experience with home improvement products or installation methods. If we want the end results to match our dreams, it’s critical to make sure that all of the things that were agreed upon are put down in black and white. In fact, the term “contractor” comes from the root word “contract”.

What are the five primary components in such a contract? Obviously, a description of the work to be done and details about the exact products to be used is critical; the more detailed the specification the better. Next, is the time span when the work will be performed. Another thing that is critical for your protection is written verification of insurance coverage, including liability and workman’s compensation insurance for every person who will be on your property. Warranty responsibilities should also be clarified. Finally, deposits and payment terms need to be clearly spelled out.

A successful project starts with a meaningful contract. Remember, the palest ink is better than the sharpest memory!

Window Glass Is More Than Something to Look Through

New windows and doors are an investment in your home, which, if made wisely, increases its value. At the same time, new windows cut your energy bills, increase your comfort, and reduce maintenance cost.

Since most of the window area is glass, its performance obviously has the biggest impact on energy savings. Glass technology has made tremendous strides over the last few years. Things like low conductivity spacers, low emissivity, or Low-E coatings and gas filling have drastically cut the amount of energy that flows through the glass.

Everyone knows that two pieces of glass separated by an air space, and properly sealed on the edges, have more insulating value than a single piece of glass. However, today’s window glass can offer so much more. Low-E coatings represent the greatest advancement in glass technology since the use of two pieces of glass.

Many people believe that the purpose of the coatings is to reduce the fading of furniture and carpeting. While Low-E coatings can do that, the significant advantage that they offer is a drastic reduction in energy loss. Low-E glass has metallic coatings that are a few atoms thick. Technically, these coating lower the emissivity of the glass, thus the name, Low-E. In homeowner terms, it serves the role of a heat reflecting mirror that reflects heat energy from the warm side of the glass back out. In the wintertime, Low-E glass reflects the heat from your home back into the room. In the summertime, it reflects the outdoor heat back out. As a result, its effect on energy consumption is significant. You should never settle for products made with regular clear glass. It’s like buying a car that gets poor gas mileage.

More efficient glass units also use inert gases, like argon and krypton, to improve the energy efficiency of the glass. They are less conductive than normal air, reducing energy losses across the air space between the two panes of glass. It is important to understand that the methods used to trap the gas between the two pieces of glass have a big impact on its insulating abilities and longevity.

Another important parameter that affects the energy savings of an insulating glass unit is the type of spacer that is used between the two pieces of glass. Today’s better products have foam spacers and low conductivity metal spacers in place of aluminum spacers that are fading in popularity.

The latest in glass technology also helps you save energy – physical energy. Special treatments on the outside surface of the glass drastically cut down the frequency of how often you have to clean it.  The better performing units do this by using the combination of a photocatalytic effect and a hydrophilic effect. Marketing as “Neat” glass, it has an invisible, durable and permanent coating of silicon dioxide and titanium dioxide bonded to the glass. The titanium harnesses the power of the sun’s UV rays to loosen dirt. The silicon makes the glass much smoother than ordinary glass so rainwater sheets off evenly and evaporates quickly, taking away the loosened dirt while virtually eliminating water spots.

The last thing, but definitely the most important component to evaluate is the sealant/adhesive that holds the glass and spacer together.  Higher quality units have a dual seal. The one seal keeps the moisture out while the other, which is a better adhesive, bonds the unit together. Dual seal units outperform single seals, significantly increasing the life expectancy of the assembled unit

Obviously, there is a lot more to the glass in your new windows than what you see. In addition to all the glass enhancements, there are many other factors to evaluate when considering an investment in new windows. That is why it’s important for a homeowner to work with someone they trust who walks them through the various options so they can make an educated buying decision.

Bottom line: Take the time to understand what you’re getting for your money. Take the time to look for the investment that gives you all the things you need at the greatest value, not the lowest price. Paying too little can be a waste of money if you don’t get all the things you need and the benefits you want.

Your New Entry Door - 10 Steps on Making Your Selection (Part 2 of 2)

Here are the final 5 areas to consider when purchasing your new entry door:

6) Door Slab Color: This is your chance to have some fun! The door is one of the first impressions a visitor has of your home. What color best expresses your home’s personality?

7) Glass Style: If you prefer glass in your door, how will it be configured? Do you want a large piece of glass in the center or would you prefer simple sidelights instead? Would you like a transom? Do you want caning in your door? If so, what color?

8) Interior Trims and Moldings:  Consider what color you want the interior trims around the perimeter of the door. Many homeowners choose woodwork trim on the inside casing.

9) Exterior Cladding Color: This is the metal part that goes around the outside of your door. The color can be one that matches the door slab or something that is complimentary in color to the door slab.

10) Hardware Package: The hardware gives you another opportunity to express your personality. Do you want a door knob or a handle with a push down lever? Choose from many styles, including decorative, modern, or just something basic and functional?

Your New Entry Door – 10 Steps on Making Your Selection (Part 1 0f 2)

A new entry door can not only spruce up the appearance of your home, it can also make your home more comfortable and save you money by making it more energy efficient! Most people probably haven’t put much thought into the process of selecting an entry door, but there are 10 areas to consider before making your purchase that will ensure you are happy with your investment for many years to come. This post cover 5 of the 10 things you should think about.      

1)  Door Configuration: Things to consider include how much glass do you want in your door? Do you prefer a smooth door or one with a wood texture? Would you like the wood grain to be prominent?

2) Swing and Hinge Orientation: Think of the most practical long term use of your door and which way you want it to swing. Some homeowners prefer to have their door swing out for safety reasons. This not only makes it easy to exit in the event of a fire, but also makes your home more secure, as it prevents thieves from kicking your door in. Another thing to take into consideration is whether or not you will have a storm door. Typically with a storm door and exterior door, one will hinge on the left and the other on the right.

3) Door Slab Material and Texture: What material do you want your door to be made of? Fiberglass or steel?  Some people prefer a steel door, citing that it is stronger and can offer magnetic weather stripping, which makes the door stronger. Others like fiberglass because they require very little maintenance and are resistant to warping and denting.

4) Jamb Thickness and Color: Determine the thickness of the jamb from the inside out. For example, if the outside of your home is brick and the inside is plaster, you would measure from the beginning of the brick to the end of the plaster. What color do you want your door jamb to be? Contractors who specialize in doors and exterior contracting can offer you a variety of colors, but the big box stores only offer white.

5) Threshold Depth and Color: How deep do you want your threshold to be? Do you want it to cover all of the old material? What color would you like the threshold to be? Many homeowners opt to make it the match the door’s hardware.