Windows and Doors

  The front door of your home is the centerpiece of its facade. As this is the first thing anyone who visits first lays eyes on, they tend to subconsciously form an impression about you or your style. This is why many homeowners feel the need to make their front door warm and appealing to the eyes. If you plan to replace your door entirely, it is a good idea. But you can also achieve the desired effects by adding little embellishments to it. For instance, a coat of paint in vibrant colors and a great polish to the hardware can add oomph to your plain-looking door. However, consider affordable and budget-friendly options that offer both functionality and beauty. Practical Benefits of Updating Your Front Door Investing in an elegant and brand new entrance door must not make you compromise on its longevity. Make sure your selection offers practical benefits and keeps up with the rest of your home. It [...]

Choose Fiberglass Doors to Increase Your Home’s Appeal When choosing the doors of your home, invest in something which can be functional, yet highly pleasing to the eye. The curb appeal of your home can immensely increase with fiberglass doors. There are many advantages which fiberglass doors offer. Fiberglass doors are tougher than regular wood and steel ones. They can be made to resemble wood, making it difficult for even experts to differentiate them. In the challenge among traditional vs. fiberglass doors, there is no doubt as to which one wins. Fiberglass vs Metal Doors Steel is the most commonly used metal for entry doors. It offers great durability, is economical and energy efficient. It is also crack resistant and offers high R-value. However, here is where steel doors lag behind in comparison to fiberglass doors: Steel doors can acquire dents Extreme weather conditions cause damage to the doors They rust easily and pose a problem in the long run [...]

Blinds or Shades? Which Offers More Privacy for Your Home When you start shopping for window coverings, there are a plethora of choices. Adding to your dilemma, you might think that blinds and shades are the same, but differ in looks. However, these are the two completely distinct categories which you need to be aware of if considering window treatments. Choosing which product to use for your new windows can decrease 50% of your dilemma. Learning their differences can help you choose. Blinds and Shades - The Major Differences On the surface, these two window covering styles offer good privacy, depending on each style. Accordingly, price, the material used, operation technique and other features are different. Blinds These are horizontal slats of aluminum, wood, or PVC and other hard materials. They are highly durable and can be closed or opened frequently. In high traffic areas and where pets or kids can cause damage to the window covering, it is best [...]

You might be washing your windows twice a year, or at least you ought to. Even though it's not something you like, you do it promptly. Yet you're not happy with the way they look and don’t know where you went wrong. Not to worry. We're here to share a few hacks on how to clean your windows (and make them look clean). After all, we're a window company and have decades of experience in installing, replacing and maintaining windows. 4 Tips to Clean Your Windows Effectively Before you start cleaning your windows, don’t forget your sills. Firstly, vacuum the sills and brush off the dust and dirt. Use a towel to avoid drips while you clean the window. Remove excess water on the sill edges using a dry cloth. This prevents the formation of streaks. Stay Away From Heat Whether it's the weather or the water temperature, you must keep things cool. Use cold water and start cleaning only in [...]

Turtle Glass Window Installation in Navarre Beach, Florida The Folkers team recently completed an installation of turtle glass for a home in Navarre Beach, so we figured we should use the opportunity to educate our customers on the importance of this technology. Turtle Glass On average, sea turtles lay about 110 eggs in one nest and, once the babies hatch, they start crawling their way towards the ocean by following the moonlight. Unfortunately, with properties being built on beaches nowadays, the turtles often get confused by different sources of light. A simple outdoor light or even a reflection of another light source on window glass can be very dangerous for baby turtles, as they can start crawling in the wrong direction and leave themselves exposed to different predators. Standard glass windows reflect light from various nearby sources, thus creating a hazard for the wild life. To protect the turtles and enable them to reach their natural habitat after [...]

Windows are an important aspect of a house, as they affect the aesthetics of both the interior and exterior design. Besides the aesthetics, the windows also affect safety, comfort and the functionality of a house and, therefore, they need to be properly measured and installed. Windows, just like anything else, don't last forever, which is why home improvement is a thing. However, you have to know when it is time to get replacement windows and if that is really necessary. So, let's get into it! One of the obvious signs that you need to replace your windows is if they are warped, broken or damaged in any way. Some minor issues can be fixed but if they keep occurring, it is a sign that the windows have reached their final stage and should be replaced. Failing Functionality If the functionality of the windows changes to the extent that it creates an issue, you should consider getting a proper replacement. Are [...]

The Department of Energy studies indicate that new windows and doors can save the average homeowner between 10% and 40% on their power bill. More savings (or waste) is related to insulation in attics and walls, HVAC inefficiencies and other related products. So if you have a great HVAC system and good insulation, energy savings will be toward the higher end of the scale with new windows and doors. Conversely, the opposite will leave you toward the lower end of the savings scale. Save on Engery Costs with New Windows and Doors Get this. We had a customer actually track their energy savings. And over an 8 month period after purchasing Folkers' replacement windows, you know what they found? A 32% savings on their power bill each month for 8 months. We shared their results on our Facebook page, check it out. Add the federal tax credit for installing energy efficient improvements to the above savings and any power company [...]

Get the most of your impact windows. Proper upkeep of your windows will extend their useful lifespan. Follow these impact window care tips and they'll be protecting you for years to come. Impact Window Care The Do's After washing your windows and doors, apply a clear polymer coating to the exterior glass pane to protect again mineral stains, such as salt. Dust often - keep your windows and doors cobweb-free. Combat condensation with a squeegee instead of a towel so you're not swirling the dirty condensation around on the windows or doors. Wash regularly with a microfiber cloth and gentle soap. Rinse your windows with water before washing with soap to remove solid dirt that can scratch your windows. The Don'ts Don't use solvent or petroleum-based products on your windows. Don't use abrasive towels or cloth when wiping or cleaning your windows. Don't use scraping tools to clean your windows or doors. Don't allow painters to paint your vinyl [...]

Impact glass is designed to resist impact-based damage, which is why it first became popular as a car windshield. Such impact glass is constructed to sustain heavy wind gusts of up to 200 mph and its miscellaneous debris. For this reason it's becoming highly favorable for homeowners in hurricane zones. Impact windows are designed with three layers. The outer layers are constructed of glass while the inner layer consists of polyvinyl butyral (PVB). When all three of these layers are fused together via heat and pressure, or lamination, these layers become stronger and more durable. The result is an impact window. Does impact glass break? So, does impact glass break? The short answer is yes, impact glass can break. However, as these glass panes receive and impact, the inner layer of PVB keeps the structure from breaking down. The inner later keeps the window standing even though the glass shatters, much like a car windshield. There are varying types of impact window [...]