Benefits to Awnings and Carports

These are the dog days of summer. We are all tired of the heat, and might be thinking of ways to help to shave some of our energy costs before next year. Adding awnings and carports not only increase the value of your home for resale, but can protect your investment and its contents as well.

Awnings, although aesthetically pleasing, provide so much more than an artistic statement. After choosing your favorite color, texture, material (metal or fabric) and location, you'll notice more and more benefits. For example, your awning will protect your windows and siding from sun, rain, sleet, hail and wind. It will also protect your furniture, floors, and carpets from the fading effects of the sun. The American Association of Heating and Air Conditioning Engineers reports that awnings can reduce heat gain in your home between 55 and 77% depending on the direction. That's a lot of energy savings!

Similarly, carports have many benefits as well. Obviously, most consumers buy and install a carport to protect their cars from the weather. However, carports, usually located close to your home's structure, increase your personal safety as well. Some consumers even use their carport as an outdoor room complete with furniture for entertaining. Maybe you are in need of additional storage for ATV vehicles and bicycles, or you'd like to store items from the recent sale of a family estate-simply add walls to your carport to organize anything.

Awnings and carports are a stylish and moderately inexpensive way to solve so many household problems. Call today for a quote.   

Unified Windows July 2015

Please take a look at our July 2015 ad for specials and discounts.

Help Your Pet Beat The Heat

It's Summer and the heat is on.  Too bad it's only June and things are only going to get worse from here.  As the temperature continues to climb, we all need to be careful about getting overheated or suffering from heat exhaustion.  While your spouse or child can tell you how he feels, you pet can't.  Take a look at these tips to keep your pet safe.

Never leave your pet in a parked car.

Never leave your pet in a parked car, not even for a minute, says the Humane Society.  They also say that on an 85 degree day, the temperature inside the car with the windows slightly open can reach 102 degrees in 10 minutes.  After 30 minutes, the temperature will climb to 120 degrees causing organ damage or death. 

Limit your pet's physical activity on hot days.

On hot days, try to limit major outdoor exercising to morning or late evening hours.  Also, adjust the frequency and duration based on the heat.  Watch your pet to see how well they are handling the heat.  Dogs with short noses (like boxers) may especially have difficulty breathing in the heat.

Be aware of walking your pet on hot cement.  Try walking with your shoes off.  Chances are if the sand or cement is too hot for your tootsies, it's too hot for your pet.  Try walking in grassy areas.

Make sure your pet has plenty of cool, fresh water and lots of shade.

Dog houses provide protection from the elements but on hot days, they can obstruct air flow and make pets feel hotter when they're out in the sun.  Tree shade is your best bet.

How to recognize and treat heat stroke.

If your pet's temperature rises about 104 degrees, they can experience heat stroke.

The Humane Society lists heavy panting, glazed eyes, rapid heartbeat, difficulty breathing, excessive thirst, lethargy, fever, dizziness, lack or coordination, profuse salivation, vomiting, deep red or purple tongue, seizure and unconsciousness as signs of heatstroke.

To treat heatstroke, move your pet to shade or to an air conditioned area.  You can apply ice packs or cold towels to his head, neck and chest or run cool (not cold) water over him.  Let him have small amounts of water and seek veterinary care.

We all love our pets and want to make sure they are taken care of.  Keep this tips in mind while you're spending time outside with your favorite four legged friend.

Unified Windows June 2015

Please take a look at our June 2015 ad for specials and discounts.

How to Shop For New Windows

This blog post originally appeared on the Pella Blog and was written by  Nicolle Picray.

You’ve decided it’s time for new windows. You envision how great they’ll look. You imagine how comfortable your family will be. And you anticipate how good you’ll feel about staying on top of your home’s maintenance.

There’s just one thing standing in your way — the shopping process. Ugh.

Fear not. Even if you’ve never purchased new windows before (and let’s face it, most of us haven’t), the process can actually be very smooth. Start with these simple, straightforward steps to narrow your choices and speed up the process.

1. Consider your lifestyle. Think about the people, places and things in your life. Will you need to keep blinds and shades out of reach of little hands or paws? Do you redecorate frequently? Is there a particular view you’d like to preserve or create? And what about regional considerations — does your area see extreme temperatures?

2. Gather inspiration. Visit sites like Houzz and Pinterest for photos, ideas and tips that can help inspire your next great space. This will help you determine what you want the finished product to look like, both inside and out.

3. Do your research. Stop by a window and door manufacturer's showroom, home improvement store or a home show to see the different window styles up close. Don’t worry about comparing every single detail of each window. At this point, focus on a few key features like style, operation and energy efficiency.

4. Set a budget. New windows are an investment. Prioritizing the features and options that matter most to you can help narrow your search for the products that suit your budget. You’ll also want to consider other factors that could affect the cost of your new windows, including installation and location.

5. Work with an expert. Regardless of whether you'll do the job on your own or hire a professional, it helps to talk with an expert that specializes in windows and doors.

As with any big project, breaking up the window shopping process into manageable steps is a smart move. If you want to dive deeper into any of the steps listed above, these resources will help. You can also look for our next post on decoding the label to learn more about energy efficiency rankings. 

Stop by one of our five showrooms and let us answer your questions and assist with your selection.  

Unified Windows May 2015

Please take a look at our May 2015 ad for specials and discounts.

Improve Your Curb Appeal For Spring

Spring has sprung, ladies and gentlemen.  Does your home look a little drab after a long winter.  Choose any one or all three of these simple weekend projects to brighten up your home's appearance for Springtime.

Brighten up Your Front Door

The front door of your home should be the most inviting aspect of its facade, welcoming guests inside.  A cheerful coat of paint in a fresh complimentary or contrasting color is an easy way to spruce up for spring.  If painting isn't really your speed, a unique wreath will do the trick.  Wreaths can be made from traditional vines and flowers, to more whimsical ideas like wood, ribbon, or even objects like garden tools and sand shovels.  Your front door is a great place to represent your family's personality, so have fun with it.

Window Boxes add a Pop of Color

Nothing says spring like flowers.  Window boxes can be purchased inexpensively at most any home improvement store, or can be easily custom made for a fun DIY project.  Be sure to maintain your flowers and plants once they are in place with plenty of water.  There are several artificial floral options available as well, if watering is likely to be last on your to do list.

Create a Garden Path with Pavers

A Paver Path is a great way to create visual interest in your yard, and is so much more attractive than a plain concrete sidewalk.  Be sure to prepare a level area before you lay your stones.  There are lots of great instructional videos on youtube that will walk you through the whole process.  Your Paver Path will create a big impact for an afternoon's work.

No need to overhaul the front of your home for Spring each year.  Remember these doable projects for your home's Spring face lift and you'll be sure to impress all season long.