It’s springtime in the Pacific Northwest which means soggy clouds will soon part (any minute now) illuminating the green vistas and breathtaking mountain views that make our region such a special place to live. It’s no wonder so many local homeowners are latching onto one of the biggest design trends of recent years: stylized indoor/outdoor living spaces.
There are many options for sprucing up the look and feel of your home, but few will transform your living space as dramatically as the addition of an elegant bay window.
Bay windows are window spaces that protrude outward from the walls of your home forming nooks in the rooms where they are installed. Most typically, they feature a larger picture window flanked, at an angle, by two smaller windows.
Bay and bow windows have several advantages over flat planes of glass. They are great for accentuating the view of your living room or master bedroom. They flood your room with additional light, dramatically altering how you see its various colors and textures; and they can add a much greater sense of balance and spaciousness, making them ideal for brightening and opening up previously dark, cramped spaces.
There are many strategies for upgrading the curb appeal of your home, from painting and changing your color scheme to giving your landscaping a makeover. One of the quickest ways to make a big splash and get the most bang for your buck, though, is by installing a new Therma-Tru entryway door. Here are just a few things to consider:
Your Home’s Curb Appeal
Improving curb appeal is one of the top five most valuable upgrades you can make, according to the National Association of Realtors. Consider that 90 percent of home buyers will start by looking at photos online. So having a striking exterior will attract potential buyers quicker. Continue reading “The Many Reasons To Have An Amazing Front Door”→
Few features can so dramatically enhance the look and feel of your home as a new set of patio doors. They can let in more natural light, improve air circulation and establish an inviting pathway to outdoor decks and patios. There are a variety of options you’ll want to consider. First, lets examine the pros and cons of the three most common types of doors.
French doors (also known as hinged doors) typically consist of one or more framed, glass panels that swing open from the center. “French doors can transform a room,” Karin Mangan writes for Old House Web, “they let in natural light (and) can increase the sense of space even when the doors are closed. When the weather is warm, open the doors to expand your living space, make the most of your garden or patio, and allow fresh air to circulate in your home.” Continue reading “Choosing Patio Doors for your Home”→
Are you considering adding a skylight (roof window) to spruce up your home’s appearance? The aesthetic, economic and even health benefits are many. Here are just a few advantages of skylights.
Photo Courtesy of Velux. Learn more at www.veluxusa.com
Natural Light
Everything looks better under natural light. Window lighting can be very bright or dull depending on the time of day. Skylights windows provide balanced, natural lighting from above, enhancing the look of your decor and color schemes.
Healthy Environment
Skylights enhance a fresh, healthy environment. For starters, there are mood-elevating benefits of more sunshine. (Ahhh, feel that Vitamin D building up in your system.) Skylights also help eliminate pollutants and smells that build up in your home from normal, day-to-day activity: dust, pet hair, mildew, cooking odors, chemicals released from household cleaners.
Mold Reducing
Mold is an especially worrisome problem in Everett’s drizzly weather. It thrives in places that are dark and damp with stagnant air making sunlight and a fresh breeze two of your biggest weapons for keeping it at bay. Stop window condensation. Skylights that open release those toxins and help circulate fresh air into your home, ensuring it will be a healthy, pleasant place to live for years to come.
Better View, Without Loss of Privacy
Get a better view without sacrificing privacy. In homes that are built close together bedroom and bathroom shades often remain closed. By adding a roof skylight, you can let more light in without worrying about prying eyes.
In addition, many skylight options come with blinds or shades that allow homeowners to diffuse or block the light during certain times of the day or programmable touch-screen remote controls that allow homeowners to schedule times for skylight blinds to close and open.
Contact us today to learn about how you can get skylight windows installed in your Everett home.
Save Money
Save on energy bills. Heat naturally rises and is pulled out through skylights that open while cool air is pulled in through lower level windows. On those hot summer days that means you can be less dependent on air conditioning. For more ways to save money, check out Low-e Glass.
Make Your Guests Feel Comfortable
Add natural light to bonus rooms. If you’re considering converting an extra room into a home office or turning your attic into a bedroom, skylights and roof windows are the perfect way to add light and making them feel comfortable. This is especially true in attics with sloped roofs where it can be difficult to add windows.
With the ongoing efforts of modern “green” building and the emphasis on energy efficiency, the typical consumer will undoubtedly run across the term Low-e glass when shopping for windows, doors or skylights. Whether the shopping is for new construction or a remodel project, it pays to know just what the terminology means. Tip: Roof Skylight Windows can also help you go more green.
How Low-e Glass Works and Saves You Money
So, put on your thinking caps and we’ll journey back to school for a bit. You see, Low-e is a term related to thermodynamics, a sub-field of the science of Physics. Without too much technical jargon, we will look at the importance and the practical effects of Low-e glass for your home or office. Continue reading “What is Low-E Glass?”→
It’s that time of year! The leaves are changing color, the mornings are cooler and here in the Northwest our windows begin to get foggy. Window condensation can be anywhere from mildly annoying to outright damaging to our homes. Beyond the obvious fogging of windows, the moisture can cause wallpaper to peel, damage plaster and even lead to serious issues with mold and the resultant health hazards to occupants. Fall and winter typically mean more indoor activities, warmer room temperatures and greater differences between inside and outside temps.
Today’s homeowner, whether considering building a new home or upgrading an existing home, will often have a healthy interest in energy efficiency. Here in the Pacific Northwest, wind, rain and cold belongs on the outside of our homes, not the inside. Also, Seattle area homeowners not only want energy savings, we want our products and building procedures to be as green as our state nickname. Here at Goldfinch Brothers, Inc. we hear you! Our products are state-of-the-art in terms of energy efficiency. Our employees receive ongoing education to ensure our customers get the latest information for decision making when considering windows and doors from our showroom. Efficient windows and doors are more than just a product on display, too. Our CAD Design Engineers will listen to your needs and ideas then give you a complete package of the most energy efficient and green products and processes found anywhere.
Technically speaking, whether your desire is for wood, composite or aluminum frames we will supply the best products available. The types of glazing options available, from LoE-366 (which exceeds Energy Star requirements), solar bronze, self-cleaning glass or hurricane glazing for coastal regions where it may be required, will not just meet, but exceed your window requirements. Continue reading “Energy Efficient Home Windows”→
Vinyl windows – also marketed as PVC, linoleum or plastic – are among the most thrifty and popular replacement options. That goes a long way to explaining their steady climb in popularity: They have gone from representing 36 percent of the market in 1996 to 68 percent in 2012, according to the American Architectural Manufacturers Association.Continue reading “Vinyl Windows – The Pros & Cons”→
Fiberglass windows have traditionally occupied a small niche in the replacement window market, but they have noticeably started to gain traction in recent years. The most recent market report released jointly by the American Architectural Manufacturers Association and the Window & Door Manufacturers Association shows them having a 3.2 percent share of the market, and “more contractors are installing them because more homeowners are asking for them,” according to Remodeling Jim Cory of Remodeling Magazine.Continue reading “Fiberglass Windows – The Pros & Cons”→