Every part of the world has its share of natural disasters. Flooding, earthquakes, monsoons and tornadoes — most every region occasionally suffers some unpleasant or dangerous weather. Living near the Gulf of Mexico, hurricanes are the most common threat. As others have summer, winter, spring, and fall, the Gulf has an additional season: hurricane season. Though residents get a bit used to the near-constant warnings about tropical storms and tropical depressions nearing hurricane strength, a laissez faire attitude is dangerous.

Even a well-built brick home is vulnerable in the face of a strong hurricane. While the structure might be able to withstand high winds, the windows are more vulnerable. Certain precautions need to be taken.

Some people simply tape up their windows. This is not very effective and can actually be more dangerous. In the event that the hurricane does break the windows, you now have large sections of sharp glass taped together and flying through the air. Other people use plywood to board up their windows. This is much more effective than tape and it is relatively inexpensive. The problem with plywood covers is that they must be installed before each occurrence and taken down after the threat has passed. This method becomes cumbersome and time-consuming. There is also the threat of the plywood being ripped off the windows in the face of high winds.

The preferred method, if finances allow, is the use of hurricane shutters. These shutters are installed on the outside of your home, next to the windows. They are hinged, so they can be closed when needed. When the danger of hurricanes or hurricane-strength winds is present, simply close the shutters. Though no shutter is guaranteed against all damages, it should be greatly reduced.

Hurricane shutters are available in a variety of styles with a variety of price ranges. The easiest and most expensive are those with an automatic closing device. For a less expensive, but still effective shutter, consider a metal, steel or aluminum shutter.

Shutters are always beautiful. That beauty is enhanced, however, when they can actually offer protection and safety. That combination is found in hurricane shutters.

Shutters Info provides detailed information about exterior, interior, plantation, hurricane, wood, vinyl, custom, and traditional shutters. Shutters Info is the sister site of Roman Shades Web.

Post from: Double Glazing Hull

The Function of Hurricane Shutters

Every homeowner needs to be active and aware of their home security concerns. With home invasions and break-ins on the rise, it is time to take some steps towards protecting your family and your valuable belongings. It would surprise most people to realize how simple it is for a burglar to break into their home. By following these simple steps, you can reduce the odds of coming home to discover your home has been broken into and your cherished valuables have been taken.
For a burglar, the three greatest enemies are noise, time, and light. If a burglar must make a lot of noise, take a lot of time, and work in a well-lit area to get into your home, chances are that he will not bother. In most cases, he will move onto an easier “mark”. These are things that work in the favor of homeowners. I always tell my clients that, in order to defeat the burglar, one must think like the burglar.
Take some time and “case” the exterior of your home for points of entry. Imagine yourself as a burglar. Where would you try to get in? Where are the security weaknesses? You could even conduct a little experiment, by locking your home and trying to break in. If you, honest citizen, can break into your home with relative ease you can be sure it will be no problem for an experienced thief to gain entry.
Doors and windows are the first places to check when assessing the security of a home or business. Make sure that your home is equipped with a hard wood or metal exterior door, that is at minimum 1 ¾” thick. The doorframe should be equally as strong. A peephole is much better than a simple door chain, as it will allow you to identify the person at your door without having to open it. And if there is one thing you spend a bit of money on, be sure it is a good quality deadbolt!
Windows are also extremely vulnerable, from a security standpoint. If you have an older home with double-hung windows, you can secure them by nailing the upper and lower panes together from the inside. As well, simple key locks can be added to windows for a reasonable price. If you have windows that are located at street level, consider adding an iron grate or grille for added protection. Balconies and fire escapes can also be security weaknesses, so consider purchasing one of those metal “accordion” gates.
There are a few other simple precautions you can take to secure your home. Try to establish a routine to ensure that your doors and windows are locked when you leave the house and when you go to bed each night. If you can afford it, you should also invest in a home security system. There are some incredibly advanced systems available on the market today, and these systems are very difficult to bypass. These simple steps could make the difference between being a victim of crime and being safe from harm. Think about it!

Jack Nelson is a security consultant, and a member of the editorial team at homesecurityandalarms.com – an informative guide to home security with information about motion sensors, security cameras, emergency monitoring and more.

Post from: Double Glazing Hull

The Basics of Home Security

Wooden Blinds are wonderful devices that have been available for many years.
If you are planning to purchase a new home or renovating the present one, you can choose Wooden Blinds for the utility that they provide as also their decorative nature. Today, homeowners are using Wooden Blinds as dressing for windows which provides a unique look to many different styles of decorating. Materials and designs available can add a unique look to many types of home décor.

Previously, Wooden Blinds were available only in two varieties: White and Aluminum. Due to this reason, these Blinds had a limited style but this is not the case today. Now you will find that manufacturers offer a number of features that will attract them to the customer thanks to their wonderful selection of colors as well as decorative properties. It can beautify a room while providing a versatile covering. The blinds available currently come in a wide array of colors that can add accents and interest to any room. Wooden Blinds that are available in the stores come in standard sizes that will fit most windows. Those people who have windows that are not the normal size will be able to order these blinds to exactly fit their windows.

Pick-on your own Wooden Blinds

They cover windows or doors depending on the needs of each decorator. These blinds are constructed so they can be changed with the pull of a chord. Those who want the windows covered completely can pull the chord on their Wooden Blinds to achieve their goal. When the same person wants to uncover the windows for the view or sunshine, the chord is pulled once again to achieve this goal. The slats can be attuned accordingly. Vigilant regards must be kept in mind before you go for a particular Wooden Blind.

Temperature Optimizer

Wooden Blinds effectively controls the amount of sunlight entering in to the room. If you want some intense sunlight in the room will pull the chord for an appropriate position in the Wooden Blinds. Those people who would like to exclude the sunshine from entering the room can pull the chord again to set a position that will block the sunshine. Hence, these Blinds maintain an optimum temperature in your room. Using them can also provide subdued lighting into a room to create a unique look while providing privacy.

Wooden Blinds can add to the decorating of the room to match the rest of the décor of the residence. Available in various colors with designs embossed on the wood, they can meet the decorating needs of the owner.

Dry and Quick Cleaning

If you want your wood blinds to last longer, avoid the use of soap and water to clean them. Get a soft cloth, and then rub it on the surface of the wood. This could take a bit more time but this could save your blinds from decay. If you are using liquid polish, do not spray it directly on the wood. The lesser amount of moisture that gets into your wood blinds the better. Your home will be all the better when you choose to have Wooden Blinds given the ease with which they can be cleaned as well as being simple to manage.

Post from: Double Glazing Hull

Make Your Home Trendy And Utilitarian By Wooden Blinds

AVOIDING LEAKS WHEN INSTALLING VINYL RETROFIT WINDOWS.

These days a lot of homeowners are replacing their old windows with vinyl windows using the retrofit style of window frame. This is particularly true in the west, and specifically, in California. The number one arguement that I have heard against using the retrofit method, is that it is susceptible to water leaks. Well, that’s true if you don’t do it properly. But, if you do a complete tearout of your old window down to the studs, you’re going to have water leak issues there as well if you don’t install the new window properly.

So I think that arguement is, well, all wet. So, let me tell you the best way to install your retrofit windows that will ensure that water cannot get in.
There is an old song that goes, “It never rains in California, but girl don’t they warn ya, it pours, man it pours”. For those of you in California, you know how true this is. While California doesn’t get a lot of annual rainfall, when it does rain, it can come down in buckets due to the close proximity to the ocean. So, you want to be sure that your windows are well sealed.

If you are installing retrofit frames against a stucco house, you want to put a thick bead of sealant right on the outside face of the old window frame, all the way around. Latex caulk should work fine, but if you want to spend a little more to get the best sealant available, use 100% silicone. Depending on the number of windows you will be doing, this extra cost can add up.

You pay approximately $1 for a tube of acrylic latex caulk, and $4 or more for a tube of 100% silicone. You are going to use 1-3 tubes per window, depending on the size. So you can see how it could add up. Here is a trick that I used to do to save a little money; The most vulnerable part of your installation is the top of the window, because gravity will have the water running down from the roof to the ground. It’s not likely that water is going to find it’s way through the sides or bottom. So, I used to carry two caulking guns, and load one with the silicone, and the other with the acrylic caulk. I would run the silicone accross the top of the old frame, and caulk the sides and bottom. Then, put your new window into the opening and have a helper hold it firmly in place while you plumb and level it, then screw it into place.
After you have the window completely installed, your final step should be to caulk where the retrofit lip meets the stucco. Here again, I used to use white silicone on the top, and caulk on the sides and bottom. You now have a double barrier against water infiltration. After about a week, check the sealant around each window for signs of cracking. Because stucco is usually uneven, there could have been gaps that were larger in some areas than in others. If you don’t force the caulk into the gap to completely fill it, the caulk can sag before drying, causing a crack to form. Simply recaulk over any cracks that you see.

You can check the silicone on top as well, but because silicone dries like a rubber substance, you shouldn’t see any cracks there. OK, what if the replacement windows are going between wood trim surrounding the opening? If you are using the retrofit lip, and trimming it to fit between the wood, then you still apply the heavy bead to the old frame before installing the window. But, instead of sealing where the retrofit lip meets the stucco, you seal where it meets the wood. Then, you want to be sure to seal above the window, where the top piece of wood meets the stucco. Again, use silicone up there. Now, no water can run down the stucco wall and get under the top piece of wood.

Sometimes, though, you might decide not to use a retrofit style frame between the wood, choosing a block replacement frame instead. If you choose to do it this way, you have to add trim to the outside. You still want to apply the sealant to the old frame, then apply your trim so it contacts the new window as well as the sealant on the old frame. If you follow these procedures, you won’t have to worry about any water penetrating into your home, I don’t care how hard it pours!

Post from: Double Glazing Hull

How To Properly Seal A Vinyl Retrofit Window

There’s a good chance that if you live near the east coast, you more than likely have been through a hurricane, if not at least a very severe storm. These can be significant in size and devastating, or mild, however knowing how to protect your home and your family from these storms is extremely important.

You’ll want to devise a family plan in case devastation from a hurricane occurs. A good idea is to assign a certain task to each person to prepare your home for the storm. After that you’ll want to pick a spot that everybody can meet safely when the bad weather occurs.

You’ll also want make up an emergency kit for the time following the storm, in which you’ll keep at the spot you chose as the families safety spot. Keep water, matches, any medications that people might need regularly or even aspirin or painkillers, flashlights, and batteries. A radio would be a good idea to keep as well, battery operated of course.

If you have to get out of town, you’ll want to have a plan for that as well, knowing your towns escape routes, and how your town approaches evacuation.

Keeping enough food and water for these times is crucial if you live in an area that’s constantly hit by hurricanes.

The best way to prepare for a storm is to prepare your home, to ensure as little damage is done as possible.

One of the crucial elements of this is to install hurricane windows in your home. Hurricane proof windows are windows that seal tightly so that no air comes in through the windows. When air enters your home during a hurricane, the home then becomes pressurized, which in effect shatters windows in opposing side of the home, or worse blows the roof off the top of the home. Not a good scenario.

So providing this storm protection to your home, can significantly increase the chances that your home survives and you and your family are safe. However, having all of these other protective measures in place is essential as well, since mother nature has no surefire defenses.

A couple other things that you’ll want to keep in mind is your gas tank of your car, in which you should never let fall below the halfway mark, and your family pets. Keeping them behind is sometimes inevitable, and there’s a good chance that they will survive, but if possible, please take steps to be sure that you can bring them along in the event of an evacuation.

The copywriter Jerry Blackburn is especially interested in issues similar to interior design. His writings on hurricane windows

Post from: Double Glazing Hull

Have You Taken These Measures for Storm Protection?

In many modern homes, the largest window in the house isn’t a window. It’s the sliding door that affords access to the patio or deck in the back. Sliding patio doors became popular in the 1970s, just about the time that double glazing came into popularity as a means of controlling energy costs and heat loss. By using double glazed windows in the door, the use of sliding patio doors became an energy conscious decision.

Double glazed patio doors sandwich a layer of air or inert gas between two layers of glass. The layers are separated by a ‘spacer’ that holds them from 12-26mm apart, and seals the perimeter between the two to prevent moisture and condensation from compromising the lowered heat conductivity. The use of double glazed windows rather than a single pane of glass can reduce the heat lost through a window by as much as 50%.

The classic double glazed patio door consists of two large double glazed windows hung from a set of rollers in a channel, and set into a sliding channel at the bottom. Most of the older ones are framed in aluminum for strength – the size of the windows makes frame strength a priority. As it comes time to replace many of the doors that were first installed in the 1970s and 1980s, many people are opting to remove the channel and sliders in favor of more attractive French doors.

Replacing worn patio sliding doors with new double glazed patio doors offers numerous advantages. First, both the materials and the manufacturing process for making double glazed windows have advanced considerably in the intervening 35 or so years. The new generation of double glazed patio doors is far more effective at insulating your home and reducing heat loss through the glass. The use of PVCu in frames makes for far lighter doors than either aluminum or wood, and PVCu has better insulating properties than aluminum. I have rather vivid memories of the frost forming along the top and sides of the aluminum window frame of our patio doors when I was a child. PVUc frames make that a thing of the past.

Besides better framing material, the glass itself has changed considerably. Today, you can choose low-e glass for your double glazed patio door. The coating on the inside of the glass substantially reduces heat transfer between the inside and the outside. The use of a desiccant in the sealing strip spacer between the panes in double glazed windows is another innovation that helps create a more durable window. By completely drying the air between the two panes, manufacturers reduce the likelihood of moisture condensing inside the window. Finally, by choosing double glazed patio doors that are filled with argon or another inert gas rather than air you lower the heat conductivity of the windows still further.

If you choose to replace your old sliding patio door with a new French window, there are some marvelous new innovations. Look for folding double glazed patio doors that can be used to replace entire walls, French doors with headers and side rails, or French doors with fanlights and mullions that add style and elegance to most any facade.

Gary John has contributed to many home improvement sites such as conservatories.

Post from: Double Glazing Hull

Double Glazed Patio Doors

When the topic of home security springs to mind, most people seem to think of burglar alarms and little to nothing else. Alarms can be a great way to protect your home, although they are only a small part of what makes up an effective home security system. Burglar alarms are a key to protecting your home – although there are other things you’ll need as well.

Believe it or not, the windows are actually a vital key to home security. Homes that have poor constructed windows tend to get broken into a lot more than homes with secure and sturdy windows. When you are dealing with your windows, you should make sure that you have tough glass and locks that fit to the windows. When you are away from home, you should always make sure that your windows are locked. Even though some windows may be hard to reach, you should always lock them. Burglars make a living out of stealing – and they will normally find a way in if they see the opening. To aid in her security my Aunt has a strobe security system. It detects motion from up to 30 feet away and is especially useful on sliding glass doors and windows. It is a very nice system but not as expensive as some of the professionally installed systems.

Along with the windows, doors are also known to be a weakness of security around the home. Doors should always be strong and sturdy, complete with tough locks that aren’t easy to force open. If you have a spare key, you should be careful where you leave it. Losing your keys can also make you a target, especially if you have anything on your key ring that reveals your home address.

Guard dogs are also common with home security as well. A guard dog can protect your home from burglars, thieves, and other types of trouble. Guard dogs can be very handy to have around, as most dogs are more than capable of scaring away trouble with their bark. The only downside to guard dogs is you’ll need to train them and ensure that they always have food and water. My son is allergic to dogs so I found an electronic watchdog for my home. It senses movement through walls, doors and glass and all I had to do when it arrived was plug it in. It doesn’t get any easier than that. My spouse likes the way you can choose from four different sound settings. One of the settings is a tranquil rainforest! But, of course there is the angry barking dog sound.

To better protect their homes, most people choose to invest in a home surveillance system. These systems are great for monitoring the home, as they can record video and keep it stored for you to view later. If you travel a lot, a home surveillance system can be an ideal way to keep a check on your home while you’re away.

Last, but certainly not least are the burglar alarms I mentioned before. Burglar alarms can be effective to an extent, although they are primarily good for scaring thieves away. If you put an alarm in a visible location from the outside of the home, most burglars won’t even attempt to enter your home. Even though burglar alarms are great for scaring off thieves – you’ll still need to have other areas of your home safe and secure as well to get the most of your home security.

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Doggone Good Advice for Home Security

If you have water (condensation) running down the outside of your windows then this would be normal particularly if it’s a cold day. When you breathe moisture in your breath will condense onto any cooler surface and this includes your double glazed units. Increasing the ventilation in your room should help.

If on the other hand you mean you have water inside the gap between the double glazed units then the units have failed and require remedial action. Contact the installer immediately and let them have a look. Normally this means the double glazed unit will need replacing but it is not a big job and hopefully the unit will still be under warranty.

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Help – I Have Water Running Down My Double Glazed Windows