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Home Improvement

/Home Improvement

Dangers of Improper Installations

There’s a lot more to putting new windows and doors in your home than picking the best models on the market.  More important than the model is the installation and whether that was done properly.  Its akin to having a Mercedes with the engine installed backwards...it looks great but won't do what you were hoping it would do. Improper installations can lead to a variety of problems, including:   Structural Damage to Your Home from Poor Installation Windows and doors basically are attacked by extreme weather, temperature changes, humidity levels and more.  The extremes of the Gulf Coast will wreck havoc on your home, its just a matter of time. When products are installed improperly, you run the risk of cracked joints, water damage, resulting mold issues, rot, insect intrusion and a whole lot of other potential issues.  Also imagine what hurricane force winds and rain would do to an improperly installed window or door.   Improperly Installed Products Can [...]

WHY CHOOSE FOLKERS?

What makes Folkers Window and Home Improvement Company different than the other guys?  Why should you consider using Folkers instead of other contractors? Its really pretty simple...we're the best at what we do. Folkers has been in business for over 44 years. Folkers does not use sub contractors which means our installers are employees and their work standards and practices are controlled by us.  Legally, sub contractors cannot be told how to do the work or when to show up to work.  In addition, many sub contractors are here today and gone tomorrow. Folkers is veteran owned and we instill that military discipline into the organization. Our staff of 25 has over 350 years of combined experience.  Our installers have an average of 15 years experience.  Our sales staff has over 20 years experience each meaning they know the code, know the products, know the installation issues that may arise and can answer all of your questions. We play by [...]

WINDOW AND DOOR INSTALLATION

Have you had the "sales person" out to provide the free estimate?  Have you done your homework on the internet and now have more questions than you started with?  Do you have a fist full of brochures and they all look the same?  You are not alone.  In many cases, a white window is a white window is a white window and they all look relatively the same.  In many cases, they are relatively the same with minor differences in the locks or the frames, etc. What really sets window and door companies apart is the installation process.  Folkers has a documented 9 step process that is followed every time.  We do not use sub contractors but rather employees who are highly trained in that process.  We use only the highest grade of installation materials (caulk, screws, etc.).  During the installation, we follow the manufacturer's recommended installation processes and specifications in order to ensure that the product is installed properly. [...]

LIFE TIME WARRANTY

So most folks these days hear the words "Life Time Warranty" and think "that's great but it's not really a life time warranty" due to all of the exclusions typically found in a life time warranty.  There's always the "except in this case" or the "doesn't cover that situation" type of exclusions.  With Folkers' life time warranty that is not the case, with one exception....acts of God, which is what the insurance is for.  Folkers' life time warranty covers windows and sliding glass doors.  In addition, we have a dedicated service department that handles issues and problems that might occur after the initial installation.  Thus, we do not have to farm out the repairs and we never use subcontractors so we don't have to chase down the installer(s) who might or might not still be in business. Here's an example, if Johnny Baseball next door throws a ball through your window, we'll replace the glass.  If Allstate's Mayhem is mowing [...]

DO YOU KNOW THE CODE?

Let's discuss the first question that pops into many folks heads....do I have to follow the building code?  Quite simply, YES!!!  the building code is law first of all.  Secondly, the code is designed to protect you and your property from unscrupulous contractors who prey on folks.  Yes, there is a fee for a building permit and yes "Big Brother" is dictating to all of us what we can and cannot do with our property, so to speak.  With that said, the cost is minimal and the code does provide protection by dictating, to us contractors, what we can and cannot sell and install in your home.  Alabama is not quite as stringent as Florida but the coastal counties do have a variety of storm related regulations depending the municipality and county in which you reside.  If you have questions about the building code in Alabama and/or Florida, call us and we'll be happy to walk you through it.   [...]

8 WARNING SIGNS THAT YOU NEED A NEW FRONT DOOR

1. What is the age of your doors? This really is the first question to ask yourself when considering new doors.  If your home has the original builder grade doors and your home is over 8 years old, then you are a candidate for replacements. Builder grade doors is an industry term that refers to a grade of doors used by builders during new construction of homes.  Builder grade doors are actually low quality stripped down products. The term comes from the fact that many builders and developers purchase a low end door product to put into new developments as a way to save themselves thousands of dollars.  Most people don’t inspect the door quality when buying and/or building a new home but rather folks will view the aesthetics of the home…the look of the door, the counter tops, the bathroom, the kitchen, the exterior, molding and other eye catching characteristics. The big loser, of course, is the homeowner who [...]

8 WARNING SIGNS THAT YOU NEED TO REPLACE YOUR WINDOWS

Windows should be viewed as a system within your house. The Window Systems transport air of various temperatures, light and people rather than transporting gas or electricity. Like other areas of your home that show warning signs when something is wrong, such as a leaky roof or chipping exterior paint, your windows show signs of age, damage and inefficiency, too. However, window warning signs are often times hidden and less obvious or alarming as water spots on the ceiling or terminate infested siding. If you have been wondering whether it’s time to replace your old windows, read on to see if replacement makes sense.   What is the age of your windows?This really is the first question to ask yourself when considering new windows. If your home has the original builder grade windows and your home is over 8 years old, then you are a candidate for replacements.Builder grade windows is an industry term that refers to a grade of window [...]

THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN ADDING A SUN ROOM OR PATIO

Whether you call it a sun room, an enclosed patio, a Florida room or a number of other names, there are some things you need to consider before agreeing to do the project.   Sun rooms can be a great addition to any home and can provide a number of uses but there are a few items to consider.  You may find that a screened in porch is a more desirable option.   A screened in porch is exactly what the name implies.  It contains a roof, structural members and is screened in, using screen material to enclose the room and protect occupants from insects but not the elements.  Whereas a sun room is enclosed by glass, often with sliding doors that contain screens, and is often times heated and/or cooled and does protect occupants and furnishings from the elements.    In some cases, a screen in porch can be converted to a sun room by swapping the screened walls [...]

WHY PULL A BUILDING PERMIT?

Many customers ask us about applying for a building permit and why they should incur the expense related to the permit.  There are a variety of reasons why permits should be pulled and we’ll discuss those below, but the main reason is that IT’S THE LAW! Understand that there are many companies that will not pull permits and if you happen to run across one of these unscrupulous companies, ask them why they are not pulling permits.  See if what they tell you adds up.  You will typically hear one of three answers: "If we pull a permit it will increase the cost of the job to the homeowner.”  There’s a reason that pulling a permit increases costs and quite simply, it’s because the job is done correctly.  Cutting corners and using materials that are substandard will make the job less costly today but the costs that appear tomorrow are often times much more costly.   "I don’t have a [...]