What is the importance of blinds?

 

Blinds are an important part of any home, office or public space. They provide privacy, reduce glare and can help to regulate the temperature inside a building. When choosing blinds, it is important to consider the function that they will serve as well as the style of the room in which they will be used. There are many different types of blinds available on the market, so it is important to do some research before making a purchase.

In this article, we will take a look at the importance of blinds and some of the different types that are available.

Blinds provide privacy

One of the most important functions of blinds is to provide privacy. This is especially important in homes, where people may want to keep their personal belongings out of sight from nosy neighbors or passers-by. Blinds can also be used in office spaces to provide employees with a private area to work in.

The only way to ensure complete privacy when using blinds is to choose ones that are made from opaque materials. Venetian blinds, for example, are often made from aluminum or wood and have slats that can be tilted to block out light. Roller blinds are another option that can provide privacy when needed.

If you want to install blinds but you’re not sure about which type to choose, we recommend getting in touch with a professional. Let Bumblebee Blinds take the sting out of choosing your next window treatment! This way, you can be sure that you’re getting the perfect solution for your needs.

Blinds reduce glare

Another important function of blinds is to reduce glare. This is especially important in rooms where there is a lot of natural light, such as kitchens and living rooms. By reducing the amount of light that enters a room, blinds can help to reduce glare and make it easier to see.

Studies have shown that exposure to bright light can be damaging to the eyes, so it is important to reduce glare when possible. While sunglasses can help to reduce glare when you are outdoors, blinds are a more effective solution for indoor spaces.

Blinds can help to regulate the temperature

Another benefit of blinds is that they can help to regulate the temperature inside a room. This is especially important in rooms that get direct sunlight, as the blinds can block out some of the heat. This can help to keep a room cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.

If you’re living in a hot climate, blinds can also help to reduce the amount of UV rays that enter a room. This can help to protect your furniture and flooring from fading. During the winter, blinds can help to keep heat in a room, which can reduce your energy bill. It’s pretty much a win-win situation!

Are you curious about the importance of blinds? We hope that this article has helped to shed some light on the subject. As you can see, blinds serve a variety of purposes and can be a great addition to any home, office or public space. If you’re not sure yet, why not give them a try? You might be surprised at how much you like them!

 

Redesign: Which Major Home Projects Are Worth It?

 

A little sprucing up goes a long way in boosting your home’s value, but the money is not always there to do major renovations. You can always try to work on some projects yourself, but others are better left to the professionals. It is important to think about what you want for your home and what your home needs. In this article, we will discuss some major home improvement projects that may be worth your time.

1.  Incorporate Energy-Saving Fixtures

Most consumers prefer home improvements that promote environmental sustainability because these improvements are also energy-efficient and help save more money. If you incorporate more of them into your home, you’ll be a step ahead not only for yourself but also towards building an eco-friendly environment. Consider doing these things:

  • Use sustainable building materials for your renovation
  • Develop more efficient waste recycling systems
  • Install solar panels
  • Rework your home’s caulk in the attic, windows, and doors
  • Replace plumbing fixtures with low-flow alternatives

2.  Upgrade Your Outdoor Space

Your home’s exterior is the first impression your visitors get before entering your home. Therefore, you must spruce it up the best way you can. If there’s one thing that COVID-19 taught us is the freedom to enjoy the outdoors. Most people would instead buy a home or work with a custom home builder in Ocean City to create a space where they can rest outside on their own property without restrictions

These upgrades won’t cost you much but will certainly do the trick. Consider the following:

  • Powerwash any concrete surface like your front steps or patio
  • Add a firepit
  • Repaint your home’s exterior, including the door
  • Get a yard professional to reseed and tend to your lawn
  • Repave your driveway and pressure wash it

3.  Expand the Living Area

A home is not complete without a sufficient living room space. It’s the main center for interaction, entertainment, and relaxation. If you have an underutilized space like the attic or basement, you can finish it to create a new living space. You can add a home theater, a library, or a playroom just by taking advantage of under-utilized spaces in your home. It’s typically a less expensive option than a home addition, and it’s a worthy consideration.

4.  Modify the Kitchen

The kitchen is a central functional space in any home; therefore, an upgrade is worth the cost. There are tons of renovations that you can do to give your kitchen that stylish look and easier to maneuver while in it without looking crowded. Consider doing these things:

  • Modernize the storage places by using built-in cabinets with lighting beneath them or repaint
  • Replace the countertops
  • Upgrade the sink and faucet
  • Buy stainless steel appliances
  • Replace the lighting fixtures
  • Update the flooring with ceramic tiles in a pattern of your choice

5.  Upgrade the Bathroom

Besides the kitchen, the bathroom is the next space you can focus your energy on when thinking of a remodel. It may be uncouth to discuss, but everyone needs to use the bathroom at some point. Here are upgrades to consider:

  • Install a new bathtub or replace it with a modern showerhead to get more space
  • Replace old plumbing fixtures
  • Install support bars
  • Update the lighting and floor
  • Setup storage spaces

6.  Refresh Your Windows

More homeowners are opting for uncomplicated techniques of refreshing their home looks by taking advantage of the available modern window treatments, which are more energy-efficient. Depending on your choice of window treatment, the professionals can seamlessly fix blinds inside glass panes of your existing windows.

Over time, this has become a popular option since it doesn’t require a complicated fixing process. Windows with internal blinds can transform your home since you can get rid of the heavy curtains. Alternatively, if you have more wall space, you can add more windows or a skylight, especially in the darker rooms. The bottom line is to ensure that all rooms are well-lit.

7.  Add Automated Systems

In a modern world, it would be ignorant not to acknowledge the effectiveness of modern gadgets even in our homes. Smart devices can make your home’s life easier, especially security, convenient operation from anywhere, and energy management. Consider adding automated systems for:

  • Security-house alarms, door locks
  • Garden Irrigation by a sprinkler system
  • Lighting and appliance control through voice commands
  • Thermostat for temperature control

8.  Replace Old Flooring

Tile floors can easily stain, they’re hard to clean, and they can get freezing over the cold season. In the cold season, these tile floors are also hard to heat up, and they may increase your utility bills exponentially. For this reason, vinyl floors have risen in popularity since they’re easy to install, and you can easily coexist with them across all seasons.

At least with these, you will not need many rugs, which makes the floor look crowded. For your bathroom, however, the best option remains porcelain non-slip tiles. However, if you need wooden flooring for your bathroom, you must ensure that it’s well refinished to prevent water from sipping into it.

9.  Do an Entire Interior Paint Job

Just like you did that exterior repaint, a complete interior repaint will undoubtedly refresh your home’s look. Avoid mixing unusual colors and stick to colors that easily blend in with almost everything. The most common colors are; beige, white, and grey. Use durable high gloss paint with a non-porous finish that’s also easy to clean.

10.  Think About Renovation Your Closets

Storage is a crucial factor for many homeowners with large families. No matter how neat you are, your bedroom’s storage choice will always let you down if it doesn’t hide away everything in your bedroom in place. It’s also exciting to wake up to a neat bedroom, rather than one with a crowded look.

A closet redesign ensures that your bedroom is always tidy and livable and enhances organization. Depending on your space, look for the best closet system to use for your bedroom.

If you’ve wanted to revamp your home, then those upgrades will do just that. Please don’t shy away from doing your research to ensure that you get it right and hire the right professionals to do it.

 

The Top Window Décors You Can Buy

 

Your window is a powerful weapon in home décor. The windows can dictate how much natural light you get in your home. You can also dress up the windows, establishing some key colors and shapes duplicated elsewhere in the room.

Depending on the window decor you use, you can make a window appear large or small. The exact size of the window also guides you on how to approach décor. You must be mindful about picking décor that corresponds with the window’s shape and height. For instance, a basement window has a lot less real estate to work with than a floor-to-ceiling window.

We often overlook the importance of window décor. From pure decoration to more function-centric décor, there’s a wide range of coverings, curtain styles, and aesthetics to choose from. Here are some of the top window décors you can buy.

1. Window Garden

A collection of greenery by your window adds some life to the room. You may choose to decorate with a few flowers in a vase, a small succulent in a planter, or a whole window ledge garden. An indoor garden creates natural shadows and some color that translates to crafting the right vibe for space, whether that’s a kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, dining room, or main living room.

2. Window Coverings

The most popular window décor is how you cover it. There are several options, from large drapes to luxurious curtains, modern shades, shutters, or even blackout curtains. These attach to specific décor aesthetics, from more high-end, formal to minimalist, to rustic and farmhouse vintage. In some cases, you may combine two coverings, such as shutters on the inside and curtains on the out.

3. Animal Figurines

High-quality animal figurines are a way to add personality-driven décor to your window, levelling things up with your unique preferences instead of simply following the latest window décor trends on minimalism and the like. Have a single figure, multiple figurines of the same animal, multiple figurines of various animals, or whatever arrangement you think is best for your vibe.

4. Embroidered Fabric

If standard window coverings are not your style, you can use anything to filter the light. Embroidered fabric or unconventional fabric materials, such as layered fabrics, are increasingly popular in artistic homes. For this, you don’t want to use too many colors or embroidered graphics to appear overwhelming. Simplicity is best.

5. Throws & Pillows

If your window is next to a nook or near a sitting area, you may decide to set up a throw or pillow as window décor. These can be neatly folded or stacked on the windowsill and easily retrieved whenever you want to sit down and enjoy a book, have breakfast, or simply relax with an outdoor view.

6. Hooks & Brackets

On top or around your window is a great location to set up hooks and brackets as window décor. Modern hardware like this can be used on its own or as a stable mount to hold various décor items, such as rope, string, small artworks, or even hanging plants. Adopt a minimalist approach with any sort of highly expressive hooks and brackets. Less is more when it comes to home décor.

7. Geometric Shapes

Square boxes. Triangular décor. Spherical sculptures. More abstract shapes. Suppose you have floor-to-ceiling windows or windows that do not have a windowsill on which to put plants, small wholesale home décor, use the floor and build up. Use geometric shapes to fill in a part of this space and add visual intrigue. Even a simple stack of four or five boxes, large on the bottom and small on top, provides a dramatic one-of-a-kind décor piece to enjoy.

8. Colored Glassware

Colored glassware filters light through it. You can grab attention with more abstract pieces or simplify things by displaying glass cups or bowls. Glassware helps to bounce colored lighting around the room, something that’s especially useful if you already have a color-based theme for a given space.

9. Window Light Fixtures

When we see a window, our eyes naturally go here looking for light. During dusk and into the evening, the light fades. Enter window light fixtures, LED string lights, and lamps. You have several options on how to style lighting around a window. Find an approach that suits you. Homeowners typically will have lighting to the sides, such as on parallel walls or tables, to not block daytime light and avoid any décor-related conflict.

10. Folding Screens

Folding screens can be homemade with something as simple as a few slats of wood and fabric material or purchased from a commercial source. They add architecture, color, and possible patterns. They are also very function at blocking out the light. The most popular folding screen type is large and near floor-to-ceiling in length. That said, you can make tabletop screens, two-foot-high screens, or even stack them so long as it’s safe to do so.

11. Fishing Line Décor

The fishing line is almost invisible at only a few feet away. Draped side to side or hung down, it’s a decorator’s dream window décor. You can affix a range of things to the line and make it all appear as if the décor is floating in thin air. From dried flowers to butterflies, paint chips, beads, seashells, and more, you have various possibilities with fishing line décor. For someone who enjoys arts and crafts, this is the ultimate creative window décor idea.

 

4 Home Improvement Ideas as Small Weekend Projects

 

Just like other things in life, home improvements and repairs will begin to stack up when you don’t tackle them early and often. Therefore, it’s a good idea to set aside at least a weekend a month to keep up with anything that crops up or new improvements that you’re wanting to implement. Here are 4 home improvements that can be completed on a weekend.

4 Home Improvement Ideas as Small Weekend Projects

Re-Sealing Baseboard Gaps

For older homes, gaps can develop between the baseboards and the supporting or non-supporting interior wall. These can pick up debris and become larger over the months and years when left unresolved. These types of cracks along the seam between the baseboard and the wall can be repaired using caulking to fill in the spaces. It’s backbreaking work to do it on your knees but using a knee pad to make it more comfortable and taking breaks helps to make it manageable.

Removal of Window Treatments

Some older window treatments no longer meet code, have been recalled previously, or are dangerous in other ways. It’s useful to go around your home to look for any old window treatments that might fit this category and need replacing. Corded window treatments are particularly dangerous. These should not be allowed to stay because they’ve often been considered unsafe. Also, older vinyl blinds contain lead and pose a poisoning threat. Especially on lower-lying windows when in a household with active kids, these should be removed and replaced quickly.

Deep Cleaning or Removing Carpeting

Older carpeting can be deep cleaned if it’s still in good enough condition. However, if it has become a little thin in spots, then a deep cleaning may overwhelm the remaining material and do more damage than good. At a certain point, it’s time to admit defeat and replace the carpet when it cannot be cleaned and preferably before it becomes threadbare.

For newer carpets, they can benefit from a deep cleaning. This involves either shampooing and cleaning them by hand or using a carpet cleaning machine that can be hired. Also, there are teams of people who specialize in this service if you don’t feel up to it.

Fixing Up the Roof

Fixing up the roof covers many different areas:

Guttering – The gutters can need repairs, replacement of broken sections, or clearing of the drains below. They are attached to the edge of the roof and are sometimes a task that homeowners can perform themselves if they’re careful.

Roofing Damage – Damage to a roof from windy conditions, flying debris, and for other reasons are more serious. This is where a company with plenty of quality roof repairs behind them should be used. To get an idea about what roofing repairs are possible, check out principlesbr.com.

When choosing what to do, get a clear sense of the size and scope of each planned improvement. This way, you can judge what’s feasible for you to complete and what is not. Doing so ahead of time avoids coming unstuck by getting in the middle of something and realizing you’re too far in over your head. Avoid your ego needlessly getting you into sticky situations at home.

 

Spotless Spring Cleaning: Useful Ways to Remove Junk and Tidy Up Your Home

 

We all know how stressful spring cleaning can be. Cluttered up items get left to sit around and gather up space during freezing winters, while dust and dirt accumulate throughout our homes. Then, when we’re finally ready to enjoy that warmer weather, we’re left with the problem of having to move a heap of items out just to enjoy our own living space.

However, it doesn’t have to be as challenging as previously believed. Lugging around multiple furniture pieces with no strategy can undoubtedly take up hours of your time. You don’t have to be a junk removal Philadelphia expert to know a few simple tricks that aid in your spring cleaning endeavors. Read on to learn more modern tactics that can save you time and energy in making your home more hygienic.

Categorize that Clutter

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Think back to those days in the classroom, when you were able to score highly on your most difficult tests. Did you study with your notes easily arranged for you to access them? Or did you spend an excessive amount of time trying to find your class notes, wasting precious hours, and not knowing what to do?

We’ll guess that it was closer to the first scenario. Organization is everything, especially when it comes to spring cleaning. Removing junk from your home is done more effectively when you can arrange your rooms from most to least messy. Each home is different depending on the architecture and the number of people living there. Still, you can typically recognize the most disorderly rooms if they have an excess amount of junk on–or in–these pieces of furniture:

  • Tables
  • Drawers
  • Closets
  • Cabinets
  • Dressers

Make sure to mark rooms that have extreme clutter in these areas at the top of your list. It’ll help you when dividing up which rooms are worth more of your time when you start your spring cleaning project.

Getting through the Garage

We mentioned separating your more essential rooms, so don’t forget about the all-important garage. It may have been used as a “winter storage” area, which means that it’s now the perfect time (and weather) to clear out that mess. For starters, moving the least needed items out of that smaller area, and onto a larger outdoor section like the driveway, will let you maneuver around in a more effortless way.

This step will give you enough space to separate items that you wish to keep, donate, or throw away. Moving that junk out of the garage will also make those hard-to-reach areas easier to sweep so that you can clean that built-up dust and make for a more hygienic place.

What About Windows?

Do you remember the last time you cleaned your windows? If you can’t, then spring cleaning might be a perfect time. Windows are also an important part of every home, and cleaning them is a multi-purpose job.

For starters, make sure that you’ve appropriately separated your window by taking off its screen (if it has one) and washing it with soap and water. You’ll be able to wash your window itself with glass cleaner, and either a microfiber cloth or a soft rag. If you’re able to, vacuum up the dust in your window track–the tiny space behind your window sill that holds it in place and prevents any windy breeze from coming in. Lastly, make sure to give your window sills and frames a proper cleaning. You can use disposable wipes for easy, affordable sanitizing.

homeownerideas 2Sweep and Save

Going for the latest cleaning product sold online, which promises a state-of-the-art and carefree experience, can sound enticing. However, these items with enhanced digital features can often come at a high cost and don’t perform much better than what you can find at your everyday store.

When it comes to making your home more sanitary in time for spring, you don’t need a smart cleaning gadget that costs hundreds of dollars. All-purpose cleaning products such as spray mops (usually $50) or disposable dusters (typically $20 or under) are your best bet when looking for items that can wipe down surfaces cleanly and effectively. Floors, counters, and shelves can be kept in well-ordered shape for an affordable price.

Spring cleaning can seem frustrating, but it’s also a rejuvenating time for the home. With these suggestions, you’ll be ready to start having your home look more dazzling than ever. And this newfound ease and efficiency will be just in time to enjoy that beautifully warm weather.

 

How Long Should Residential Home Windows Last?

Windows come in a variety of styles, designs and sizes. Years ago, the material used for window frames was limited to wood, but today, you can choose vinyl, aluminum and fiberglass windows. However, wood frames are still one of the most popular material options. Today’s window manufacturers also produce different types of glass to give you a more energy efficient product.

Vinyl Windows
Vinyl windows offer energy saving benefits. The material choice is also affordable. Window manufacturers make vinyl windows from PVC, and as a result, the product can vary in quality. Today’s vinyl is a durable product. Also, manufacturers have advanced the window style’s structural design and implemented construction changes, so if you select vinyl windows, then you will have a quality product that can last as long as 15 years depending on your climate. Keep in mind that vinyl windows have a tendency to warp and become unworkable if they are not installed properly. In addition, the material may fail more quickly in areas that experience high summer temperatures and low winter temperatures. The reason for the failure is that the substance expands in the heat while the cold weather causes it to contract. In addition, if you live in an area with extreme summer temperatures, then vinyl window frames in dark colors will likely have more problems than light-colored models.

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Wood Windows
Wood windows are a popular choice for many homeowners due to the material’s diversity. Furthermore, the option should last for 30 years or more depending on your climate and the type of maintenance that you complete on a regular basis. If you live in an old home with the original wood windows, then you can add weather stripping to increase their efficiency. By repairing your old windows, you are helping the environment since you are decreasing landfill waste and using fewer resources to maintain your home’s interior temperatures. Hardwood windows are expensive, but the material is durable. Also, maintenance is simple as the home feature only requires oil. Hardwood windows give you a diverse style because you can paint them or leave them in their natural state. If you choose to install softwood windows, then the material choice will be more affordable than hardwood. However, expect additional maintenance as you’ll need to paint the style or maintain them regularly.

Aluminum Windows
Aluminum is an appealing material choice because it is affordable and stronger than vinyl. Depending on your area’s climate, aluminum windows should last from 15 to 20 years. The material option is best for homes in mild climates due to the failures that frequently occur with the option in more extreme environments. For instance, aluminum windows may suffer from seal failures, glass condensation between the frames and operation issues as the material begins to corrode and break down. In addition, the energy efficiency ratings for aluminum are poor.

Climate Tips
When you begin shopping for new windows, be sure to assess your climate. For instance, wood typically provides the best insulation, but the material can rot. Therefore, it may not be the best choice for rainy or humid climates. Alternatively, when heat transfer and loss is an area issue, aluminum windows may not be the best material choice. However, aluminum is ideal for rainy and humid climates. The substance is also strong, and manufacturers can build aluminum windows to meet the strict building codes in coastal areas. For many homeowners, vinyl is a practical option. Also, the material choice is available in various colors, which lets you select windows that increase the visual appeal of your home. Once you begin considering new windows, assess each style’s U-value as the measurement estimates a window’s ability to withstand heat loss. The Solar Heat Gain Coefficient, or SHGC, is another measurement to consider because it calculates the amount of heat that can enter your home through a window.

Tips for Selecting the Best Windows
If your windows are beginning to age, then it may be time to replace or repair them. Keep in mind that windows are a longtime investment, so be sure to select the right material for your area. Also, evaluate the home feature’s glaze and insulation materials to acquire the best replacement results for your residence. When you upgrade your windows, you’ll decrease your utility bills and help the environment.

DIY – Easy Tips to Help Keep your Home a Little Safer

Home security can be the deciding factor in whether or not your home turf might be broken into by burglars. According to a recent Household Burglary report released by the U.S. Department of Justice, there were 2,845,500 completed burglaries in 2011. Of those completed burglaries only 44% of the break-ins were to homes that required the burglar to force his way into the home. These statistics suggest that you do have an effect on how likely an intruder will successfully enters your home. That being said, there are numerous methods to retrofit your, potentially safety deficient, home into a well-armed stronghold. Below we touch on some of the best practices to mitigate potential burglars who are looking for a quick and easy score.

Windows Part 1: Locks
Windows might be a weak link in your home’s security. Some burglars force their way into the home by lifting the window off the frame. You can prevent burglars from breaking into the house through your window by installing a window stop or by installing window locks. There are various types of locks that you can choose for your windows.

  • The most reliable lock design is the key sash lock. This lock is mounted to the edge of the window and prevents anyone from opening the window until the key is used. You should not use this type of lock in occupied bedrooms because a missing key can trap the occupant in the room during an emergency.
  • Hinged wedge locks are installed into the window stile. The lock will only allow the window to open as far as the lock was installed. This design allows the room to receive fresh air. The lock unlocks by pushing the wedge in as you open the window. This makes the lock far safer for occupants of the room.

Windows Part 2: Safety Window Tint
Many burglars break into locked windows by breaking the glass. You can increase the security of your window by applying window tint to the windows of your home. Window tint is a blend of metalized coatings and polyester. Safety grade window tint will hold the glass within the window frame after someone or something has attempted to shatter it. This makes it more difficult for an intruder to enter your home.

Doors Part 1: Install Steel Doors
If you have wood or plastic front, back, and garage doors, you may have a security problem. It is easy for even inexperienced thieves to bypass a wood or plastic door with brute force. If you want to improve the security of your home, you might want to install a steel door.

Doors Part 2: Improve Sliding Doors
Like wood or plastic doors, sliding doors are vulnerable to intruders. Some thieves break into homes by popping the sliding door out of the frame. With sliding doors you have two options:

  • Replace the sliding door with a regular steel door.
  • Placing a metal poll or a 2×4 in the doors frame to ensure that intruders cannot pop the door out when you are not using the sliding door.

Install a Home Security System
You can improve the security of your home by installing a home security system. Home security systems are controlled from a control panel inside. When the system is on, motion detectors attached to windows and doors send signals to the control panel. When an intruder tries to break into your home an audible alarm will sound.

Homeowners can pay a monthly rate to be on a security network. When an intruder invades the home on a security network, an employee of the security company will call your home to make sure the alarm was not a false alarm. If no one answers, the police will be alerted to the possible disturbance. The police will then go to your home. One potential con is that the police will fine you after too many false alarms.

Revise or Improve Your Habits
Now that we have delved into how to retrofit your home, we must face the reality of our habits. Our habits are one of the more vital aspects of home safety. You can install metal doors, sturdy dead bolts, high tech security systems, and security window film, but those attempts to increase your home’s security will mean nothing if you never lock your doors and windows. By getting into the habit of securing your home, your home might be one of the 549,200 homes that burglaries failed to break into. Remember: spending a few moments securing your home will go a long way.

The Primary Benefits of Custom Built Home Windows

Are you considering custom built home windows versus pre-built standard windows for your upcoming replacement? Here are some things you should consider.

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You are unique, an individual, why not allow yourself the opportunity to design your own custom windows which will reflect who you are and provide you with a significant cost savings. Custom windows have really kept up with all the advancements in technology and offer you the opportunities to really customize your windows in various ways, from functional options such as control noise or for security, to more decorative options such as patterned glass, divided lite patterns, and intricate shapes, to various degrees of tinting and glazing.

When you choose custom built home windows over pre-built or stock home windows you will experience a higher quality window, built by a craftsman who specializes in the manufacturing of these windows. The windows can be custom made to your design and most importantly, to the exact specifications of the needs in your home thereby reducing drafts and loss of heat and increasing your homes overall energy efficiency. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at the cost savings when the utility bill comes and you’ve continued to maintain the level of comfort you desire all year long. In fact, replacing single-pane glass windows with ENERGY STAR® qualified custom built products can save you $125 to $450 on energy costs annually.

You will also be doing the environment a favor by using less resources to meet your same heating and cooling needs. When you choose custom windows, the windows will be carefully made to the exact needs of your climate to ensure efficiency. This also gives you a unique opportunity to change the size or shape of your entire room for example by adding differing sizes of windows, or one big bow window.

You can never undervalue the importance of personalized service and installation. It’s best to work with the custom window builder allowing them to measure and install the window, as they will ensure its proper fit and efficiency. You don’t want to take a chance on wasting all the money you would have been saving, by skimping on the installation resulting in improper fits and drafts. Also, you don’t want to compromise the windows warranty by not having it properly installed by the professionals.
With custom built windows, you avoid the pitfalls of stock windows which always require some patching and filling, and likely even some trimming to get the windows to just ‘fit’. You also avoid having to purchase additional seals, insulation, caulking, dealing with gaps, and drafts, and additional costs of additional visits to remedy the problems. Relieve yourself of these additional complications and headaches and have the custom built window professionals complete the job.

Statistics have been reporting that most homeowners save up to 40% annually on their energy expenses after replacing their homes windows. Now is the best time to decide on custom built windows. The cost savings and customization options are well worth the initial costs for custom windows and you may also qualify for certain tax rebates for home improvements. Make the choice to enhance your home’s value and aesthetics as well as investing in future cost savings.

The Average Cost of New Replacement Windows for Your Home

Even before the economy took a nosedive, homeowners were looking for ways to save money. Home improvements can improve your property’s value while increasing energy efficiency. If you’re looking to replace some or all of your home’s windows, here’s what you can expect to pay. We have laid out the average cost of new home replacement windows.

New Home Windows Best Case Scenario
You will save a lot of money if your existing window frames are in good condition. If the frames are free of major defects, you can replace just the windows and save up to half of the cost of replacement windows.

Only a certified contractor or other window installer should remove the old window and inspect the frame for any damage. That same contractor will be able to repair a salvageable frame or remove a damaged one, but any additional work will end up costing you money. Most contractors work for about $100 an hour, and frame replacement can easily add another $200 to your total bill.
After you have the measurements, you have enough information to order the replacement windows. The window size is fixed unless you want to enlarge the opening. For load bearing walls, that process is both time consuming and expensive, and you should expect additional labor to cost another $200-$300.

Average Window Materials and Prices
The windows themselves come in a variety of materials. Vinyl is relatively inexpensive and easy to maintain, but it usually doesn’t come in too many colors. Unfortunately, most paints will quickly fade and crack on vinyl after a few years. However, paint manufacturers like Benjamin Moore have begun selling paint specifically designed for vinyl surfaces.

Energy Efficient Vinyl Windows Being Installed Other common materials include wood, aluminum, and fiberglass. Wood is an excellent insulator but is expensive compared to vinyl. It also holds up poorly in humid regions and can rot over time especially if rainwater is allowed to accumulate.

Aluminum is a lightweight metal that won’t corrode like iron. Many homeowners go with aluminum clad windows that encase the exterior surface in aluminum but leave the interior window wood for a beautiful appearance. Aluminum clad windows cost more but offer excellent weather resistance and insulation.

Fiberglass is a relatively new window material, and it offers a number of advantages over vinyl, wood, and aluminum. Like aluminum, it won’t corrode, rust, or rot. It can hold paint well, and it will insulate better than the other materials. Fiberglass contracts and expands with the temperature at roughly the same rate as glass, so it won’t leak as much air during the winter and summer months. By filling frame cavities with foam insulation, fiberglass windows offer the best insulation out of any type of window.

An average standard home window can cost as little as $300 for vinyl but 2-3 times as much for fiberglass. Wood and aluminum clad windows typically cost about $500-$700, and they offer a good compromise between cost and energy efficiency.

Triple-pane windows will also drive the cost up over double-pane windows, but they offer superior insulation. Insulating gas between the panes will also increase the overall cost but help save money on heating and cooling bills. Have a damaged frame? A new one will increase the cost by 50-100 percent including the additional labor required to tear out the old frame and install the new one.

Bottom Line
At a minimum, expect to pay on average at least $300 for materials and $100 for labor per window. If your home has 10 windows and you’re replacing all of them, the job will cost at least $4,000.

Once you add in extras like triple-pane windows or fiberglass frames, the material costs can increase up to about $1,000 for a standard window. That same 10 window home will cost about $11,000 instead.

Every frame that needs to be replaced will cost another $200-$700. With all of the bells and whistles for each window, you’re looking at anywhere from $1,000-$1,500 per window. Larger windows and additional work can add several thousand dollars more to the eventual cost.