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More people are looking for ways to keep warm and safe inside during the winter. While many people choose to replace their doors, this option can be too costly for many. The goal of door weather stripping is to keep snow, rain and insects out and prevent interior air from escaping. The result is a sealed door that can reduce your energy bill up to 15%. Additionally, this option helps reduce outside noise as well.

Getting the most out of door weather stripping means making sure to choose the right type. There are many styles and materials out there in the market, and it’s understandable not to know which one is for you. These are the main types of door weather stripping to keep in mind:

Metal Weatherstripping - This weather stripping can endure intense climates, including strong winds and harsh freezing temperatures. While it’s a tad more expensive, this option pays value for money.

Plain or Reinforced Felt Weatherstripping - This door weather stripping can be made out of cotton, polyester, or wool and has a metal strip for reinforcement. Although it typically lasts between one and two years, it is incredibly affordable and available everywhere.

V-Strips (tension seal or tension strips) - This door weather stripping is installed on the top and sides of doors and windows. You can install it quickly and easily by cutting the length you need with scissors. Its self-stick feature means you’ll need nothing else to fix it.

Foam Tape From EPDM Rubber or Closed-Cell Foam - EPDM is a long-lasting type of rubber that’s mainly used for roofs. Doors with EPDM rubber will have years of weather stripping and sound insulation. Foam weather stripping comes in many widths and thicknesses, making it perfect for uneven cracks and spaces.

Kerf Application Compression Weatherstripping - Many windows and doors use a Kerf type weatherstrip to help seal against the elements. A kerf is a groove that typically runs the full sides and top of entry door jambs and along the edge of a movable sash in a window. The Kerf Style weatherstrip is applied by inserting a short barbed fin into the groove and when the door or window is closed the weatherstripping is compressed creating a barrier against the elements

Enjoy a beautiful and impactful change to the look of your home without doing a major renovation. The solution might be adding a garden window. There are a number of reasons to consider this addition when you are talking to a remodeling company. Some of the biggest include:

They Add More Light – A garden window is primarily designed to offer a great deal of additional light into your home. Not only is this great for any greenery you have inside, but it also just improves the overall quality of life for everyone inside.

They Improve Curb Appeal – People take notice when a house has a garden window. Because these windows extend outward from the home itself, giving the property an attractive, unique look that really turns heads.

They Can Protect Against the Sun’s Rays – Not only does a garden window bring in more light into your home, but at the same time, it can help to keep out the sun’s ultraviolet rays—the best of both worlds. When these windows are added, you can order special filter coats on the glass panes (Low-E) to reduce the amount of damaging rays that make it inside your home.

They Allow You to Display Your Plants & Flowers – What would a garden window be without the garden? These windows usually include shelving and other options that allow you to easily display your plants, flowers, herbs, or any other unique décor you want to draw attention to.

Doors and windows give access and light and help keep bugs and the elements out of your home, but they aren’t able to do all of the work by themselves. What helps these entryways do their job effectively is if they have the proper weather seal around them.

This important, but commonly overlooked, addition is what truly closes up all of the little cracks and openings that can become an expressway for bugs, water, and allergens into your home.

When you have a professional handyman come and install a weather seal around your doors and windows, you are taking that extra step to make sure that your property is the comfortable and safe environment in which you want to live. Some of the different ways one of these seals can help you improve your home include:

• Helping to Keep Insects Out
• Reducing Allergens, including Mold, Pollen, & Dust from Entering your Home thus Improving Air Quality
• Improved Heating, Cooling, & Humidity Control
• Helps to Eliminate Water Leaks, Air Drafts, & Mildew Build-up

With a list like that, it is easy to see why more and more homeowners are making sure they have the right type of weather-stripping and seals around their homes.

Garden windows are a charming addition to any home. These delightful installations are becoming more and more popular for homeowners that want to increase their house appeal while adding a practical solution to space limitations around windows. Garden windows provide additional light and offer more shelf space than a standard window ledge. You can start a little garden indoors when you include a garden window in your home.

The Greenhouse Effect

Garden windows look very similar to what you would find in the structure of a greenhouse. Because the top and each side are glass, they concentrate the sun's heat and provide an insulating bubble of warmth. However, there is little to prevent the heat build-up within the garden window frame, except to open the window.

Insulating Properties

The construction of garden windows means they are highly insulated. This insulation is superior to standard windows and means their energy efficiency is far greater than average. Although garden windows have a higher price point than most other windows, they can save you money in the long run.

The look of garden windows improves the appearance of a home. It provides not only a great place to showcase your plant collection; they also help reduce your carbon footprint.

Traditionally, muntins were strips of wood separating panes of glass in a sash. These days, muntins aren’t necessary for modern windows. Most windows are now made with larger panes of glass that don’t need additional support to hold their structure.

However, muntins offer a desirable multi-paned look that remains popular to this day. Removable window muntins are made of vinyl or wood and come with some advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages of Removable Window Muntins

Clean With Ease

It’s a lot easier to clean a large piece of glass than several small panes. When your windows get dirty, the muntins can be removed to wipe down the whole pane easily. 

Classic Look

Removable window muntins provide you with the option to give your home that classic old-world appeal without the expense or hassle of extra maintenance.

Disadvantages of Removable Window Muntins

Breakage

Removable window muntins are not a durable product, so handling them over and over could result in breakage. Be sure to remove and reinstall the muntins with care, and they could last for many years.

Authenticity

While removable window muntins can provide your home with a charming and elegant style, up close, it might be obvious they’re not authentic. Be sure to find a supplier that will install high-quality windows to achieve the look you want.