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Cedar Screen Door Finishes

Two different styles of screen door

Cedar is a classic material in home construction because of its durability, affordability, and design versatility. If you have recently purchased a new cedar screen door, you may be wondering how to finish it. While some homeowners opt to paint cedar doors, others decide to stain them.
Both paint and stain offer protection and visual appeal and which you choose ultimately boils down to a matter of personal preference. Here are some things to keep in mind, though, when you are making your decision.
Many property owners love the natural look of wood. With stain, you can preserve the rustic appearance of your cedar while safeguarding it against rot and fading. There are several affordable options for staining your door: transparent, semi-transparent, and opaque stain.
Since you don’t have to scrape or prime your cedar prior to staining it, this finish requires less work than painting it. However, stain is thinner than paint. So stain will need to be reapplied more frequently than paint would.
With paint, of course, you can select whichever color best fits your home design. Typically, paint is a little more expensive per gallon than stain. Paint acts as a film over the wood, so it performs more effectively against sunlight and moisture. And since paint is thicker, it will better conceal any blemishes, which may be useful as your cedar door ages over time.

How to Choose Windows and Accessories for a Ranch-Style Home

1980s brick ranch house in the suburbs

People love ranch-style homes for their rustic appeal, modernist materials, and wide-open spaces. They are designed to stay cool in hot climates and foster an easy-going lifestyle. When you choose window and related accessories for your ranch-style home, you must be sure to stay true to that aesthetic.

The window types most commonly seen on these houses are fixed windows, casement windows, jalousie windows, and awning windows. These styles complement the ground-hugging look of ranch-style homes while also letting in plenty of sunlight. When you examine these buildings, you will notice that they feature many horizontal lines and are simplistic in design. Thus, perceptive homebuilders and renovators avoid the more up-and-down, vertical window styles, as well as novelty shapes.

The most common decorative window grilles for ranch-style homes are horizontal grilles. That is why pine or vinyl sash dividers from Fixhome are the perfect choice. They can be used horizontally to maintain the look and feel of the ranch-style home. For example, you could divide a large window into long, horizontal panes that emphasize the lines of the house’s overall exterior. Avoid vertical grilles, since these will clash with the design, as well as grilles that create eye-catching shapes. With ranch-style homes, it is always best to keep it simple.

For further recommendations, talk to the team at Fixhome. We would love to help you emphasize the unassuming beauty of your ranch-style home with the ideal windows and accessories.

Beautify your ranch-style home with the ideal decorative window grilles. We will help you find the right windows and accessories to enhance your exterior.

The Best Window Styles for Decorative Grids

decorative window grids

Window grids (also known as grilles or grille inserts) are a great way to enhance a wide range of window styles. They give the appearance that your glass is split into smaller panes, adding texture and visual interest to your exterior. However, grids are better suited for some window types than others. The following are some of the popular styles that look exceptionally beautiful with the addition of decorative window grids by Fixhome.

Double-Hung Windows: Perhaps the most popular window type is double-hung. This style uses two large sashes that slide up and down on tracks. They complement traditional exteriors, as well as more modern homes. With the right grid, you can add additional old-style charm to these already charming features.

Casement Windows: Unlike double-hung windows that move up and down, casement windows open outwards, allowing you to more efficiently direct a cooling breeze into your rooms. They have an almost pastoral-like appeal, which is only enhanced by adding window grids.

Fixed Windows: Since fixed windows do not open or close, their core purposes are to invite in natural light and offer a view. Adding decorative grids can take the aesthetic appeal of these windows to new heights.

Bay or Bow Windows: These types of windows form a unit that extends outwards from the rest of the wall, creating a small nook for reading, dining, and more. Decorative grids make these features even more pleasing to the eye when chosen appropriately.

Enhance your exterior with decorative window grids from Fixhome. These grids work well with a wide range of popular window styles, including double-hung and fixed.

Window Mullions vs. Window Muntins: What is the Difference?

Entrances to townhome apartments

Many homeowners confuse window mullions for window muntins and vice versa. Even contractors and remodelers are often confused. However, what are they exactly, and how can you tell them apart?

In essence, both mullions and muntins create decorative window grids -- though often they also serve practical, structural purposes as well. A mullion is a vertical bar that separates complete window units. Modern mullions for home windows are typically made of wood or metal, but not always. While their main purpose is to create an aesthetic divide within the window, they may also provide support for an arch.

Muntins are very similar but different. Historically, the term “muntin” could be applied to any vertical divider, whether for a window, door, or furniture. Nowadays, you mostly hear it about windows. Builders originally employed muntins to ensure their windows were structurally sound while separating the glass and holding it in place. Unlike mullions, which divide window units, muntins divide individual panes of glass. Muntins came about because it was more affordable to produce small glass panes; while that is no longer the case, they still add character and support to your exterior.

Are you still confused about the difference between window mullions and muntins? Talk to the team at Fixhome to learn more about these components and all other window parts.

What is a Window Sash?

Wide panorama of unfurnished dining room with windows

Every window that moves has a sash; it is the frame that holds the window’s glass in place, as well as other parts like the mullions or muntins. Some windows may even have more than one sash, depending on how they are designed. Overall, sashes play an essential role in ensuring your windows function properly and look great as they do so.

Each sash is made up of several parts. In older models, sashes can typically be disassembled into their different components. However, newer models are more likely to be completely sealed for better insulation. For example, PVC window frames are welded together, and custom window grilles are often sealed behind the glass.

While all moving windows have sashes, the style of sash varies based on the style of window. For instance, with double-hung windows, you will find one sash positioned above a lower sash. This lower sash is typically the one that moves up and down, although both sashes move in some modern double-hung windows. With casement windows, the sash is “open” to help funnel breezes into your rooms. You can learn more about the different types of window sashes available and their feature by talking to the team at Fixhome today.

Get custom window grilles and any other window components you need from Fixhome. We offer everything you need for truly custom home windows.