3 Easy Ways To Make Your Home More Safe in 2015

AS the holiday season of 2014 draws to a close, you and your family may be entertaining a few resolution ideas for 2015. Make sure household safety is on your list this year. With a few simple changes, you could make a much safer environment for your loved ones.

Hold a household meeting

Make home security a habit, with every member of the household—including kids—agreeing to a routine that should include such simple rules as:

Use door and window locks. It costs nothing and takes little energy. Make it a habit to lock every door and window when leaving, after entering, and before bedtime.
Do not open the door to uninvited or unwelcome visitors.
Close and lock the garage door.
Secure your home even if you’re doing work around the house and yard.
Use your alarm system all the time, even when you take a quick trip to the store or visit next-door neighbors.

Light up the outdoors

If you don’t have them already, buy and install outdoor lighting with infrared motion sensors and install one near each point of entry. Replace any burned-out lightbulbs and put your porch lights on timers. Find the best bulbs for outdoor use.

Check Windows and Doors

Are the window locks operable? If not, get them fixed or replace them. Also consider installing aftermarket window locks which let you open the window a few inches while still keeping it secure. Another alternative is to use inexpensive window-break alarms.

Okay, so you’re probably not going to be able to install new doors by yourself over a weekend. But you can inspect your front, side, and back doors. Replace hollow (read: low-quality and easy-to-breach) doors with solid-core (made of wood or metal) or metal-clad doors.

Sliding-glass doors have a latch to close them but are often an easy point of entry for burglars. To make one more secure, place a wood dowel cut to size or an adjustable safety bar in the interior floor track, or consider adding a floor bolt.
Lock your door to the garage. Often, homeowners leave garage doors up when they are at home and don't think to lock the interior door.

With these simple steps, you'll be on your way to a safer 2015!

Unified Windows December 2014

Please take a look at our December 2014 ad for specials and discounts.

Christmas Wreaths for Your Doors and Windows

A Christmas wreath adds instant holiday cheer inside or outside your house. From the front door to the dining room, here are some easy ideas for decorating with wreaths.

A Christmas wreath on the front door is a no fail way to create holiday welcome. Choose one in keeping with the architecture of your house. You might select a pine wreath for a cozy country cottage or a classic magnolia wreath for a stone cabin.

Hang a loose casual wreath on a screen door to amp it up for the holidays.

Windows make great back backdrops for wreaths too. For a dramatic look, hang a wreath on every window on the outside of your house. Punctuate with crisp red ribbon and the look is classic Christmas.

Decorate with wreaths inside too. Hang a wreath from a curtain rod over a set of windows to avoid filling the wall or woodwork with nail holes. Held up with long strands of colorful ribbon with ornaments tied to the end, it's a fresh and youthful look for a standard evergreen.

You can also use removable adhesive hooks to apply wreaths to the wall or use tiny nails at the top of your window trim where the holes will never show.

For a playful holiday style, look for wreaths in unusual materials. Try hanging brightly colored wreaths made out of feathers which blend well with retro decor or in children's rooms.

Wreaths can make an impact in some of the most unlikely places. Use them to embellish chairs around your dining table, Use them to dress up a bare beam, or even over a plain mirror. Look for wreaths in unexpected materials like fresh flowers, olive branches, or acorns for a unique effect.

Whether you hang one simple wreath or dozens in mass, you're sure to make a big holiday statement.  For an even bigger holiday statement, contact us for new windows and doors to hang those wreaths on.

Home For Life

Optimized for aging-in-place, the 2014 Home for Life offers a roadmap to creating beautiful, efficient homes that can comfortably adapt to every stage of life.

Every eight seconds someone in the United States turns 65—and odds are they want to stay in their home.

In January 2011, the first wave of the country’s nearly 80 million baby boomers officially reached retirement age—a  group that will continue to grow by more than 10,000 a day for another 15 years. AARP surveys of those 50 and older have consistently found that this group overwhelmingly wants to stay put as long as possible, however most haven’t yet taken steps to ensure their home can continue to live comfortably as they age. The need for smart solutions that improve how homes function for every member of the family, regardless of age or ability, has never been greater—and that’s exactly what the 2014 Home for Life has to offer.

Created in collaboration with an all-star team of designers, universal design consultants, efficiency specialists, and professional organizations, this year’s Home for Life offers a revolutionary suite of ideas that enable homes to live better, last longer, and perform more efficiently.

Starting with a design based on a typical 1970s suburban home, the team at Case Design/Remodeling and the universal design experts at the Better Living Design Institute crafted a remodel that updates both the home’s aesthetic and functionality with innovative solutions tailored to meet the needs of today's boomers while making life easier on every member of the family.

The most common misconception about universal design, says Herman Johnson, senior architectural specialist at Case and one of the project’s designers, is that people often think of it as something useful only to those with limited mobility. “The spaces are not just about grab bars and wide hallways. Many universal design features are very subtle,” he says, pointing to thoughtful details like raised front-loading washers and dryers that make loading and unloading laundry easier on everyone.

“We’re really after the mainstream audience by adding features that blend in,” says Richard Duncan, executive director at Better Living Design. “Remodelers can bring clients features they’ll see in Home for Life that will work well and look great. They’ll be able to offer all these convenience and ease of use things everyone will like that also happen to work with them long term.”

The home’s performance also got an update with the latest in energy-efficient practices and cutting-edge products that not only cut down on energy consumption but can also improve indoor air quality and the health and safety of occupants.  “It’s not just about energy-efficiency,” says Larry Zarker, CEO at the Building Performance Institute (BPI), which served as Home for Life’s high-performance guru. “It’s also about addressing health concerns, such as asthma triggers found in the home, and safety issues including preventing gas and carbon monoxide leaks.” Efficiency improvements also help ensure all rooms are comfortable and free of drafts, while reducing monthly energy bills.

The result is a design filled with ideas as beautiful and functional as they are adaptable. Remodelers and homeowners can use the design as a template for their own project, or pick and choose the best practices that fit their needs as they create their own home for life.


This post is featured from The Home For Life Project 2014

Unified Windows November 2014

Please take a look at our November 2014 ad for specials and discounts.

Unified Windows October 2014

Please take a look at our October 2014 ad for specials and discounts.

Halloween Decorations for Your House

Halloween is just around the corner and you're making plans for the big night.  Whether you decorate for the kids or you're a big kid who decorates, everyone loves Halloween.  You can set the right mood by starting your decorations outside.  Your guests and trick-or-treaters will be delighted when they see your house.

Take a look at some of the suggestions for decorating your doors, windows and garage door below.

Front Door

You can cover your entire door or just use a few streamers and cardboard cutouts.  You can go for fun or scary depending on the age of your children.

Windows

One of the easiest ways to decorate your windows is by using paper or cardboard cutouts.  You cut out the design you want and adhere directly to the glass.  You might also consider a mask or costume character propped up inside the window.  Boarded up windows also give that spooky feel.

Garage Door

You  can decorate your garage door similar to your front door.  A few streamers and some cardboard can go a long way.  You can create a single image or create an entire scene.  Don't forget lights.  A simple message in lights is always fun.

No matter what decorations you choose this Halloween, we hope you have a fun and safe time.  Just remember when it comes to replacing your doors, windows or garage doors contact Unified Windows for scare-free experience.  Happy Halloween!

Unified Windows September 2014

Please take a look at our September 2014 ad for specials and discounts.

Entry Doors and Replacement Windows: The Best-Kept Secret

This blog post originally appeared on the ProVia Blog and was written by Wanda Angel.

Early this morning, I was driving down the road taking my dog to the vet before heading in for work. I felt a rush of happiness as I looked at the explosion of summer colors around me! Right now the lush green backdrop of trees is splashed with flowers in every color in the rainbow. I was struck by the incredible power of color to attract attention and breathe fresh beauty into everything.

Summer is also a time when people are sprucing up their homes and working to maximize their curb appeal. So I wondered, do people know there’s a unique way to add color to entry doors and replacement windows that lasts year-round?

Wanda Angel is Door & Window Brand Manager for ProVia

Best-Kept Secret for Color – Revealed!
When you think about your entry doors and replacement windows, do you think about color? You can easily add color with our Inspirations Art™ Glass, and this is the best-kept secret I’d like to share with you. Most people spend time thinking about the finishes and framing, and that’s a great start. But what about the glass? Here’s where you can add splashes of color, just like planting flowers adds beauty to the green backdrops in nature. Inspirations is available for ProVia’s entry doors, storm doors, patio doors, sidelites and replacement windows, and we have lots of designs you can choose from.

Add splashes of color with Inspirations Art™ Glass

Artistic in NatureInspirations Art Glass is unique because the designs come from hand drawn sketches done by our in-house team of artists. These are truly unique works of art. I have the pleasure of being a part of this team, and it’s so fun and rewarding! Once the designs are complete, the production process combines the latest technology in CNC resin bead application with the personal touch of hand-applied color fills. This offers homeowners a lot of character plus the privacy attributes of stained glass, at a more affordable price. With four bead colors, five harmonized color palettes for the fill, along with the ability to design custom color combinations, the design choices are extensive.

Recently we did a project where we developed a series of nautical designs, because we had many customers requesting this motif for waterfront-area homes. As we produced sketches, we worked with our sales team, showing them the designs. Finally we narrowed it down to the three most-sought-after designs: a lighthouse, a ship’s wheel and a Texas star. The lighthouse design, which we call Harbor, has been a HUGE hit for ProVia already.

The Harbor design is very popular with homeowners

So RewardingThe ROI for investing in the products like entry doors and replacement windows is really strong right now, as discussed in Phil Wengerd’s blog post “Lots of Good News for Home Remodeling.” This makes perfect sense to me, since people respond to curb appeal so strongly. If you’re thinking about new doors or windows for your home, take advantage of the chance to add color! Your home will stand out with originality and character, and will thrill you every day, in any season.

Unified Windows August 2014

Please take a look at our August 2014 ad for specials and discounts.

18 Ideas for Old Doors and Windows

Congratulations!  Unified Doors and Windows has just installed your new door and windows. Now what do you do with the old door and windows?  You could throw them out.  But why?   There are so many fun and creative ways to re-purpose old doors and windows.  Let take a look at 18 of our favorite.


Bathroom

Bathroom Shelf

Bathroom Cabinet door

Shower Door

Shutter Towel Caddy

Bedroom

Twin Headboards

Large Headboard

Bed Frame

Organizer

Interior Decor

Front Entry Bench

Room Divider

Sliding Barn Door

Large Photo Frame

Book Shelf

Coffee Table

Exterior Decor

Potting Bench

Picnic Table

Porch Swing

Garden Bench

Just remember you can't have all this creative fun until you replace your current doors and windows,  Just give us a call when you're ready.