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.  

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.

Unified Windows April 2015

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

Which Grout Color? Consider Your “Grout Personality”!

This blog post originally appeared on the ProVia Blog and was written by  Jerome Zenoby, Heartland Siding and Heritage Stone Brand Manager for ProVia.

When homeowners are looking at Heritage Stone by ProVia for their home, it’s all about…the stone! But you can also add a lot of design drama with the right choice of grout color. A good manufactured stone installation can become GREAT when adding colored grout. What kinds of color choices should you consider? Here’s a simple guide to help you choose just the right “grout personality” that reflects your personal style.

Sophisticated and Elegant
For an understated, elegant look, match the grout color with the dominant color shadings in the manufactured stone (shown below is Chesapeake Ledgestone with white grout).

This is a subtle-but-sophisticated choice, for those whose tastes run conservative. The lady of the house might think of this like pearls for a little black dress – always appropriate; always in style.

Chesapeake Ledgestone with White Grout

Bold and Dramatic
This high-style look brings bold drama to the home. The key here is to choose a grout color that’s the exact opposite of the stone color. With light stone, use dark grout, and with dark stone use light grout.

The effect is eye-popping, and shows off the shapes and textures of the manufactured stone. This attention-getter is for those who NEVER want to blend in with all the rest.

Chesapeake Ledgestone with Grey Grout

Rustic and Earthy
This grout color choice blends both of the approaches above, and reflects the array of earthy colors found in nature. In the photo below, the wide range of shadings in Seneca Drystack manufactured stone sets the stage. Choose a grout color that matches one of these shades, and it will naturally contrast with the others.

For nature lovers and those who appreciate the full spectrum of rustic earthy tones, this is a perfect choice.

Seneca Drystack with Brown Grout

Color-Coordinated
For a pulled-together look, weave a matching color choice throughout the various elements of the home’s exterior. In the house photo below we’re showing SenecaDrystack with brown grout color in a shade that matches the brown in the Cedarbrookshake and the HeartTech siding, the front entry door and the garage door.

This look reflects a designer aesthetic, providing instant curb appeal. Just like a well-coordinated suit, shirt and tie, this look projects confident quality.

Seneca Drystack with Brown Grout

It’s All About the DetailsAt ProVia, we serve by caring for details in ways that others won’t. We hope these ideas for choosing grout colors will help you polish up the details of your home with style.

What’s YOUR grout personality? Comment below and let us know!

Unified Windows March 2015

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

Protect Your Home From Snow

Even though snow is beautiful and at times even fun, it can pose a real danger to your home.  Large quantities of snow can be a danger to a structure so steps should be taken to minimize the damage.  Let's take a look at a few things you can do before and after snow to protect your home.

Snow can be beautiful and dangerous.

1.  It is important to keep water away from the house.  Clear out any basement window wells of snow or water to prevent it from seeping through window frames.

2.  Create a barrier of packed snow around basement window wells to prevent water from running into them.

3.  Shovel snow away from beside the home’s walls if possible to reduce water intrusion.

4.  Make sure that water overflowing from eavestroughs and downspouts runs away from the house.

Remove snow from doors and windows to prevent water intrusion.

5.  Remove snow from doors and windows to prevent water intrusion. Windows facing directly against the snow or wind may be more prone to heavy snow damage.

6.  Clear the areas around exhaust pipes and air vents on heaters, furnaces and dryers.

7.  Watch out for snow-covered trees close to buildings since branches can break and cause damage to nearby structures.

8.  Ensure that all drains and gutters are free from dirt and debris. Make sure to chip away any ice
covering drains.

Watch out for snow-covered trees.

9.  Excess snow on roofs that melts quickly can freeze in the eaves and cause ice dams where the melting snow seeps under the shingles. Remove snow using a roof rake or hire a roofing professional. Insulating the attic area to keep it cold can also reduce rapid melting and the risk of ice dams.

10.  Make sure to remove snow blocking roof vents.

11.  Do not climb on the roof to remove snow or unblock vents. When using a ladder, make sure some is there to hold it steady to prevent it from tipping or sliding.

12.  Don’t overestimate your abilities, the safest course is to do any clearance work from the ground using proper tools.

Remove snow from roof with tool.

13.  Icicles, while pretty, can be an indicator of water drainage problems. They can also pose a hazard to anyone working below them, so knock them down before working under or near them.

14.  When the snow finally does start to melt, watch for unexpected flooding since the hard ground will not be able to absorb a lot of moisture.

15.  Because of fire hazards, never leave lighted candles or active fireplaces unattended.

16.  When using a space heater, do not place near young children, run cords under carpets or leave it unattended or operating while sleeping.

Icicles can also pose a hazard

17.  If you leave home for an extended period of time, don’t turn off the heat. (This could result in frozen pipes that could burst and cause serious water damage.)

18.  Open sink and vanity cabinet doors so warm air can get to the pipes.

19.  Have someone check on the house twice a day to make sure there is no flooding or water intrusion, that pilot lights are lit, and that refrigerators and freezers are running properly.


No matter what's in store for your home this winter, UWDS is here to help.  Contact any of our locations if we can be of assistance.




*Original post from the Restoration Industry Association *

Roofing Dos and Don'ts

Home improvement can be exciting and fun!  You and your family may plan new projects each year to help make your home more safe, energy efficient, or just plain old prettier.  However, one home improvement project that most people aren't necessarily looking forward to is putting on a new roof.  Although a new roof may not be the most va va voom home improvement project out there, it certainly is an important one when the time comes.  Here are a few tips to guide you through the process smoothly.

Know when its time to replace your roof
So, what should you look for when inspecting your roof? The National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) recommends you do a roof inspection at least two times a year -- spring and fall. The best place to begin is inside your house -- grab a flashlight and make a trip to the attic.
Here are four things to look for on the inside:

1) Places where the roof deck is sagging
2) Signs of water damage or leaking
3) Dark spots and trails
4) Outside light showing through the roof.


When you take a look at the exterior of the roof, pay attention to such things as damaged flashing, missing shingles, curling, blistering, buckling, rotting and algae growth (which occurs most often in humid climates and appears as dark or greenish stains).

Choose the Right Professional
Make sure that the company that you choose is local. This means that they are not just operating locally now, but have an established business and reputation in the community.
We have had many calls from customers that have problems within the standard five-year warranty period. The company that they chose to install their roof closed, moved or vanished. It is very easy to provide a piece of paper, but the warranty is only as good as the longevity and reputation of the roofing company.

Never choose a company based on price. Cheap bids drive down the market and anyone with overhead and proper insurance has to establish pricing to cover such costs.

Those that do work on the side or are just working out of a pick-up truck can always do the work cheaper. But in the long run, you get what you pay for. Customers that are sold on price as their sole criteria ultimately end up spending more money to fix problems, and many of these problems would have been covered under a workmanship guarantee by a reputable established roofing company.

Make sure that your contractor has worker’s compensation and liability insurance. Ask to see the certificates and actually call the insurance carrier to confirm that they are valid.

This keeps all bids on a level playing field, knowing that part of the cost of the roof and the service being provided to you is protected with the security of coverage.

Choose a quality product
Asphalt Shingle:  This is the most commonly used of all roof materials, because it’s the least expensive and requires a minimum of skill to install.
Wood:  Wood was the main choice for centuries, and it’s still a good option, though in some areas fire codes forbid its use. Usually made of cedar, redwood, or southern pine, shingles are sawn or split. They have a life expectancy in the 25-year range (like asphalt shingles) but cost an average of twice as much.
Metal:  Aluminum, steel, copper, copper-and-asphalt, and lead are all durable—and expensive—roofing surfaces. Lead and the copper/asphalt varieties are typically installed as shingles, but others are manufactured for seamed roofs consisting of vertical lengths of metal that are joined with solder. These roofs cost two to three times as much as standard.


Maintain it
Like any investment in your home, make sure you maintain your new roof.  Ask your roofing contractor about materials and labor warranties provided.  Make sure you inspect your roof after long periods of rain and or heavy storms, and remove all debris as soon as possible to avoid leaks starting.

Replacing your roof doesn't have to be a daunting task.  Going into the process as an informed homeowner will ease the stress and help you make your decisions quickly and effectively.  Good luck!

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 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!