Heating costs continue to rise each year. The two significant factors of natural disasters and the war in Iraq contribute to this inflation of home heating expenses related to electric, gas and oil furnaces alike. There are steps you can take to lower the cost, alleviating your cash for other expenses or simply for the next rise in heating costs. The tips below can help you lower your bills by conserving energy when heating your home.

Shut Curtains and Blinds. If it is sunny on a winter day, be sure to keep your curtains and blinds open during the day to let the rays in to provide some warmth. However, when dusk and night hours approach, you should shut and curtains and blinds. Of course, re-open them the next morning.

Shut Doors. If you are not using a room, leave the door closed especially if you are not using the room long-term. This will avoid the necessity to provide extra heat to that room, and also limit the cold air from escaping into the other rooms. When this happens, the furnace must work harder to heat the house and increase heating costs.

Insulate and Caulk Windows. Check your windows to see if they are well sealed. If not, the windows will allow cold air from the outside to enter the home, again making the furnace work harder to provide heat. A good way to test if your windows are well sealed, is to turn of all fans as well as the furnace, and produce smoke near the window. If air is entering the home through the windows, the smoke will move toward the window. You can purchase window sealing packets from a home improvement store. Caulking the windows is another option.

Buy a Ceiling Fan. This may come as a surprise, but buying a ceiling fan is another way to reduce heating costs. Ceiling fans help push and keep the warmer air down. Most models include reversible switches allowing the fans to be used in the summer as well. The cost of the fan will, at some point, be made up with the money saved in heating costs.

Check Roof Top Insulation. Cold air may be coming into the house from the attic due to poor insulation. There should be enough air pockets in the insulation to trap the cold air and push it away from the living areas. Old, insufficient insulation is usually flat and brittle which indicates that it is time to replace the insulation. This will definitely help conserve energy.

Even the implementation of a few steps above will lead to better heating and a reduction in heating costs. There are many additional ways to conserve energy, and doing a little research online or talking to your local energy provider may save you even further in energy costs. This is time well spent resulting in money saved and a warmer home environment.

Concentrating on news and information about hand tools, the author is publishing essentially for http://www.insidewoodworking.com.

Post from: Double Glazing Hull

Steps for a Warmer Home Environment

Hurricane window protection is a must for home and business owners who live in coastal cities and states.

If you live in Florida, or more specifically the South Florida area, hurricane window protection is on just about every home owners mind.

During a hurricane, things can get pretty rough, with high speed winds small everyday items like traffic signs and what not can be thrown around at speeds of 130 miles per hour. Also not to mention the fact that water will come pouring in the second a window breaks during a hurricane.

Request a free estimate for hurricane window protection in the South Florida area here.

This is why hurricane window protection is a must for home and business owners who live in a hurricane prone area.
Hurricane Window Protection Methods

There are many different ways to protect your windows on your home or business. Let’s discuss them, and the pros and cons of each.

Impact Glass

One of the most popular ways to protect your windows and keep them from breaking in a hurricane is to use impact glass for windows.

Impact glass is a simple and great way to make sure that your home is truly protected. Other methods like a protective film, which I will discuss below, only protect it on the outer layer and are still not as strong as impact glass.

Hurricane Window Protection Film

Another way to protect your windows is to cover the inside part with a security protection film. Security window films are actually crystal clear, and can protect your windows from hurricanes, but also protect your home from the sun’s ultraviolet rays.

The security film actually adheres to the inside of the window, and it allows glass to shatter, but the film holds it in position for the rest of the storm.

This keeps flying debris, water and the glass itself from coming into your home or business. The main benefit of security film is its lower cost and quicker installation time.

A main drawback to this of course is the fact that you have to replace the window, and film, after the storm is over.

Hurricane Storm Shutters

Storm shutters provide great protection for your home or business, while also keeping the appearance looking good, and all your windows safe. Storm shutters come in a variety of types, and below we have listed them.

- Accordion Storm Shutters
- Rolling Storm Shutters
- Storm Panels
- Bahama/Colonial Storm Shutters

The best thing though about storm shutters, is that they double as protection from burglary and theft.

They also can be equipped with an electric motor that can open and close them at your command.

My Storm Shutters is the leader for free storm shutter estimates online, for your South Florida home or business. Request your free estimate on hurricane window protection today and start protecting your property!

Post from: Double Glazing Hull

Hurricane Window Protection – If the windows go, the house goes!

Though you may not notice, you’re may be throwing dollars right out your doors and windows. Even if you’re not walking over to the window and tossing the green out, warmed and cooled air could be seeping through cracks in your windows and doors – the equivalent of losing a serious chunk of change. So what do you do about it? There are some steps you can take to be sure you’re doing your best to be energy efficient.

Start by looking for the cracks. It’s probably easier than you think. Wait for a dark night, turn on your inside light and stand outside your door. Do you see light? If light can escape, chances are your warm or cool air can also escape. Make a careful note of where those cracks appear and head to the hardware store. You’ll find there are a number of weather stripping kits to help you seal up those cracks and crevices.

The bottom of the door is a notorious spot for air exchange. If you have an older door, the weather stripping at the bottom may be worn out or simply non-existent. It’s fairly easy to install a new weather strip and this may represent a significant savings in your energy bill.

The light trick is a good way to check doors, but how are you going to test for air leaks at the windows? One way is to wait for a windy day and carefully feel all around your window. If you have light curtains, you may even be able to see the breeze ruffle the curtains. A candle flame can also be a good indicator. Hold a candle at various spots around the perimeter of the window, being sure to stay clear of curtains and other material. If there’s a breeze coming in through the window frame, the flame of the candle will flicker.

Again, weather stripping is a good first step toward lessening the impact of air exchange. Don’t overlook the potential for caulking. You can get caulk in several forms and almost anyone can use a caulking gun. If you have some obvious cracks and crevices around doors and windows, fill them up.

If you’re serious about tracing down the air leaks in your home, you can always hire a professional to test. They have ways to determine where the majority of your air is going and can advise you on how to stop it.

At the end of all the checking, there’s simply no substitute for quality, energy-efficient doors and windows. With the current demand for these products, you’ll find an incredible array of styles and features, most at very affordable prices. If you consider the cost of cooling and heating that air that is flowing right through the drafty door facing, you may find that you can’t afford to go through another season without taking steps to rectify the situation.

For more information about doors, shutters and how you can beautify your home while saving money on energy costs, visit Doors and Shutters

Post from: Double Glazing Hull

Energy Efficiency – How Doors and Windows Can Save Money

Timber has many intrinsic qualities, its strength and durability as well as its natural warmth and beauty. However there are a number of essential considerations when specifying wood for your windows and doors.
What type of wood is best?
There are various species of timber. Timber needs to be treated to provide protection from environmental damage, decay and insect attack. It avoids expensive remedial costs and preserves the integrity of the timber for long-term use. Hardwoods tend to have more heartwood and require less protection. Softwoods tend to have more sapwood and therefore need more protection. Consideration must be given to the following types of hazard
1. Internal with no risk of wetting and/or condensation.
2. Internal with risk of wetting and/or condensation.
3. External above damp-proof course – painted.
4. External above damp-proof course – uncoated.
Discuss the type of wood best suited for your home with an architect or a local manufacturer.
What effect does climate have on the choice of timber?
If you live in an area where the air is dry most of the time you should only choose kiln-dried timber. It has considerable benefits over air-dried timber. Kiln-dried timber is subjected to controlled heat procedures that create a stable moisture gradient throughout the timber. Kiln-dried timber is checked for moisture content between 8%-12%, which is the range allowed by standards authorities. Air-dried timber exposed to hot sunlight dries out unevenly and will tend to crack, twist or warp. Always check that you are supplied with the correct timber for dry air conditions – Kiln-dried timber. Air-dried timber is often used where the air is humid most of the year.
How important is the thickness of wood used in window and door manufacturing?
Exterior windows can be manufactured in a range of thickness depending on the type of window and quality required. Thick sashes in windows offer a much longer guarantee than thin sashes and are therefore of a higher quality. Exterior and interior doors can be manufactured in many different thicknesses and styles from flush to panelled and it is advisable to make your choice after consulting catalogues from local manufacturers. Generally, the thicker the wood used the higher is the quality and the longer the guarantee. Selecting inappropriate size and thickness of windows and doors can detract from the value of your home. Quality products that combine character and performance will certainly add value.
What alternative types of finish are available?
Finishing your products is important because it must be done in a timely manner to meet guarantee requirements. Deciding on the type of finish you want well in advance of manufacture is advisable. The options fall into three categories, stains, paints and sealers. Visit your local store or manufacturer for professional advice and recommendations on how to address your specific needs. You need to consider
1. which finishes perform best in my region of the country
2. how does temperature and humidity level affect my choice of finish?
3. should you choose an interior or exterior product.
4. are the prestain, stain and finish coat compatible?

K Parker Joinery specialises in wooden windows, sliding wooden doors, single wooden doors and is the premier manufacturer of wooden doors and windows in South Africa.

Post from: Double Glazing Hull

Considerations when specifying wood for windows and doors

Carpentry is an all-encompassing term referring to the profession dealing with the assembly, construction, installation, maintenance, repair, restoration, and/or renovation of architectures, components, forms, and/or structures created primarily from wood or wood-substitutes. Carpentry is a very creative and conceptual practice that comes through the interaction and communication with our clients. Carpentry is the industry standard, used in many vocational and apprenticeship training programs.

Carpenters

Carpenters are involved in many different kinds of construction activity, from the building of highways and bridges, to the installation of kitchen cabinets. Carpenters construct, erect, install, and repair structures and fixtures made from wood and other materials. Carpenters also build tunnel bracing, or brattices, in underground passageways and mines to control the circulation of air through the passageways and to worksites. Carpenters who remodel homes and other structures need a broad range of carpentry skills because they must be able to perform any of the many different tasks these jobs may require. Carpenters usually have greater opportunities than most other construction workers to become general construction supervisors because carpenters are exposed to the entire construction process.

Carpenters can experience periods of unemployment because of the short-term nature of many construction projects, winter slowdowns in construction activity in northern areas, and the cyclical nature of the construction industry. Carpenters there had long since moved on to purling roofs which allowed ornamental arcading, appropriate to the high Decorated and Perpendicular styles, to be carried on to the plane of the roof itself and sometimes right up to the apex. Carpenters can go on to become foremen, estimators, building inspectors, site superintendents or Instructors. Carpenters build and maintain wood structures ranging from rough scaffolds and concrete forms to buildings that require exact finish work.

Windows

Small home builders and remodeling companies may require carpenters to learn about all aspects of building a house–framing walls and partitions, putting in doors and windows, building stairs, installing cabinets and molding, and many other tasks. Depending on the employer, carpenters install partitions, doors, and windows; change locks; and repair broken furniture. Prefabricated wall panels, roof assemblies and stairs and prehung doors and windows can be installed very quickly. The occupation includes the setting out, production and assembly of joinery, which includes stairs, doors, windows, floors and built-in furniture. Combining massive arch-braces with hammerbeam construction provided an elegant trefoiled arch, framing the windows and enriched with moldings. Using both hand and power tools, carpenters erect wood framework buildings, install windows, apply exterior siding, and install moldings, cabinets, doors and hardware.

Carpentry Technology is a pre-apprenticeship program designed to prepare the student for entrance into the carpentry field. The work generally involves significant manual labor and work outdoors, particularly in rough carpentry. Since all of carpentry’s required knowledge is gained through experience, the trade can be relatively easy to enter (this varies with the legal requirements from country to country). It is possible through dedication to have a prosperous career in carpentry.

Richard Lopez is a successful Webmaster and publisher of
www.WeKnowCarpentry.com.

Post from: Double Glazing Hull

Carpentry: A Very Creative Conceptual Practice

Step 1) Where do you want to use the block window? What material is (or will be surrounding) surrounding the window opening?

* Will your glass block window be used in a lower level basement, a 1st floor garage or commercial building, or a 2nd floor bathroom window that is 20 foot to the sill? If you’re putting the window on the lower level you can generally make the window panel larger since you won’t have to be lifting it in the air (most basement windows tend to use anywhere from 8 to 15 blocks in a pre-assembled section – weighing from 50 lbs. to 90 lbs per section). Most second floor bathroom windows tend to use 12 to 24 blocks so you might want to select a thinner block thickness (either 2″ or 3 1/8″) so the panel is lighter and easier to install.

* The surrounding materials the window panel will be set in (also called the head – or top, jambs – or side, or sill – or bottom) are also important. If you’re doing a basement foundation window that will be set inside a masonry wall made of concrete block, sandstone, or poured concrete you may want to size your block window using a mortar joint (to match up with your surrounding masonry materials) vs. a silicone jointing process for the window. For a bathroom window inside of a wood framed opening the silicone vinyl framed glass block window system might be preferred because this window is lighter (usually built with 2″ thick blocks) and easier to set, making an upper level installation safer.

Step 2) Measuring an existing opening or determining the size you’d like to create a new opening

* To replace an existing window you start by measuring the opening first. When measuring an existing masonry opening for block basement windows or upper floor windows you usually want to measure assuming the frame will be removed (this happens about 90% of the time), from side to side, and from the top of the sill to the top of the header plate. The block window will need to be sized smaller than this opening remembering that you can’t cut the glass, or as my Dad used to say fit 10 lbs of you know what into a 5 lb. bag. For upper floor frame openings you usually will measure the area inside of the frame after the window sashes would be removed to size your window.

* Creating a new opening for a block window If you’re creating a new opening for a block window you want to begin with the end in mind. Choose your specific block window system, pattern, design, and/or colors and find out from your glass block window manufacturer what size the window panel will be after it’s manufactured. Then you’ll create your opening usually about ½” larger than the size of the panel (for example if the glass panel size is 40″ x 40″ you’ll want to create your rough opening to be 40 ½” x 40 ½”).

Step 3) Choose a glass block window system and select your pattern, design, air vent, colors, and block sizes.

* Block window panels can be made either with or without a frame. For existing basement windows in masonry openings a frameless block window is more cost effective, can be mortared in place, and is usually the way to go. The frameless window panels can be joined together either with mortar or silicone. The advantage of the mortared windows is they are harder to break in through and match most foundations. The advantage of the siliconed windows are they are smaller in size when pre-assembled together (which works well for tighter fitting openings), lighter, and have an all glass look.

* For upper level frame openings a vinyl framed block window can be an excellent choice since these windows are available in different frame colors and can be installed just like a standard replacement window. For openings you are creating, or can modify the size of, this is the way to go.

* There are a wide selection of block sizes, patterns, design possibilities, air ventilation products, and colors for your windows. A brief overview is presented below:

Sizes and thicknesses of glass blocks – Glass masonry units are made is both metric and American sizes. Most of the blocks available in the United States are American sized. The American sized blocks are available in 4″ x 8″, 6″ x 6″, 6″ x 8″, 8″ x 8″, 12″ x 12″ and specialty shapes to turn corners or radiuses if you’re looking to create a bay or bow block window. The blocks have nominal sizes meaning the actual size of the block units is ¼” smaller allowing for a mortar joint (a 6″ x 6″ block actually measuring 5 ¾” x 5 3’4″). There are 3 available thicknesses – 2″, 3 1/8″, and 4″ thick.
Thinner blocks are lighter and generally easier for someone less experienced to work with.

Patterns, designs and colored glass blocks – Blocks come in a multitude of patterns providing different levels of privacy, style, security, and energy efficiency. The block are now available in standard and custom colors and artistically decorated murals to match any interior design style. Check out a comprehensive block web site to see the possibilities.

Air ventilation and acrylic block windows – Glass block windows are available with vinyl air vents, dryer vents, or power exhaust fans. There are also acrylic block casement and awning windows that give you the look and feel of real block with the ability to open completely as well.

Step 4) Don’t worry about any of the first 3 steps and call a glass block window manufacturer and installation professional – If you really don’t want to figure out what size window you need call a block specialty company who offers design, fabrication and installation services. This type of company will usually come to your home or business (without a charge), measure your openings, figure out the right window size, and install it for you with a guarantee.

Mike Foti is President of Columbus Glass Block, Cleveland Glass Block, Mid America Glass Block Cincinnati, Dayton, Akron & V.P. of Eastern Glass Block New Jersey & New York – suppliers & installers of glass block windows.
Tel. 614-252-5888 Nationwide 877-668-5888

http://www.columbusglassblock.com/glass-block-and-ventilation.aspx

Post from: Double Glazing Hull

4 Steps to Understand Glass Block Window Sizes for Basements, Bathrooms, and Commercial Buildings