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HOME DESIGN, home renovation, LIGHTING

Natural Light Vs Privacy: How to Find the Best Solution for Your Windows

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Windows are considered the eyes of a home. They let sunlight in and allow you to enjoy views of the outside world from the comfort of the sofa. However, they can also allow strangers to peer into your home. 

Many homeowners face this dilemma at some point: how to enjoy natural light and privacy simultaneously? Finding the right window coverings is critical for your comfort too. For instance, south-facing windows can let in intense sunlight for several hours throughout the day, which can be either beneficial or inconvenient, depending on the season. 

What window treatments to choose if you want to strike the perfect balance between natural lighting and privacy? Read on to find a few tips and tricks. 

The Importance of Functionality 

When looking for window treatments, you will discover many designs and materials. Some homeowners prefer soft treatments like curtains, drapes, or roman shades. Others prefer blinds, shutters, and similar options made of hard and durable materials. Layered coverings that combine hard and soft materials can be a great aesthetic choice.

To make the right choice for your home, start by evaluating functionality. Would you like to install the window treatments inside or outside the frame? Would it be more convenient if the coverings functioned up and down or side to side? Would you prefer blinds that can be tilted open and closed? 

Functionality is a crucial factor to consider. Some window treatments allow you to control the amount of sunlight inside your home. You can find window treatments that block sunlight entirely and can turn your rooms dark instantly. There are also soft and transparent window treatments that let light stream through while blocking outsiders from getting a peek into your home.   

How to Find High-Quality Materials and Designs 

Through their shapes, materials, and the views they offer, windows play a fundamental role in the overall design and ambiance of a room. Big windows that let in abundant sunlight make a room look spacious and inviting. Small or improperly covered windows make a room look small and can even trigger feelings of claustrophobia. 

You cannot do much about the size or shape of the windows. This is why choosing practical and aesthetically pleasing coverings is vital. If you don’t know where to start your search, take a look at Hunter Douglas blinds. You will discover high-quality window treatments made of long-lasting materials in line with contemporary design trends. There are many models to choose from, each with unique features. 

 Window treatments should be the last elements to buy when decorating your home because their texture, color, and shape must be in perfect balance with the style of the rooms. 

If you prefer to install window treatments outside, choose durable materials that can withstand various weather conditions. Consider how the window coverings will affect the architecture and look of your home.   Follow our tips to find window treatments that allow you to enjoy the benefits of natural light without giving up on your privacy.

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HOME DESIGN, home renovation

Window Shopping: All About Window Glass Types

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You might not be thinking about it when you’re searching for a new home, but windows are a critical component of any living space. Not only do they contribute to the outside architecture of your home, but they help bring in natural light. The better your windows, the more comfortable you’ll feel in your home.

One of the biggest things you need to consider when shopping for new windows is the different types of window glass. Don’t know what to look for? Read on to learn all about window glass types!

Safety Glass

People who have homes with large panes of glass, such as sliding glass doors, need to make sure that all of the occupants of their homes are safe in the event that the glass shatters. That’s where safety glass comes in. 

Safety glass is created through the fusion of two panes of glass to a layer of polyvinyl butyral. Instead of shattering into shards when this glass breaks, it breaks into rounded pebbles. This type of glass is most commonly found in automobiles and anywhere else objects may fly at the glass, but it’s also one of the types of glass used in windows.

Float Glass

If you’re looking to give the windows in your house a refresh without draining your bank account, then float glass might be one of the best types of glass for windows. Float glass is simply a sheet of glass that hasn’t had any kind of treatment. 

The end result is a thin sheet of glass without any color. It’s one of the lowest cost options out there, but that doesn’t mean that it’s the best type of glass for your home. Since it hasn’t gone through any types of treatment processes, it is easily breakable, and if it does break, it breaks into shards.

Insulated Glass

Did you know that energy loss through your home’s windows is responsible for up to 30 percent of your energy bill? Thankfully, insulated glass is a great option to help prevent excessive energy loss.

Insulated glass consists of two panes of laminated or tempered glass with argon in between the panes. The interior of the panes also contains a desiccant to prevent moisture build-up. This combination helps keep outside air outside and inside air inside.

Low-E Glass

Another option for window glass replacement that’s energy-efficient is low-e glass. Think of it like insulated glass taken to another level. It’s treated with a coating that reflects thermal radiation, keeping heat energy from invading your home.

The only downside? It’s quite pricey. If you live in an area with excessive heat or cold, however, then it’s definitely worthwhile.

Which of These Window Glass Types Will You Choose?

There are so many window glass types to choose from when you’re buying a home or replacing your windows. Whether you opt for budget-friendly float glass or lessen your environmental impact with insulated or low-e glass, you’ll be happy that you took the time to research your choices. Now all you have to do is get the windows installed, and you’ll be good to go!

Do you need help with other homeowning decisions? You’ve come to the right place. Check out the rest of our blog for all the homeownership advice you need!

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CLEANING

How To Clean Your Windows (And Keep Them That Way)

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One of the most neglected areas in our home or business is our windows. Sometimes our windows are costing us money in the form of costly heating bills. They also need to be cleaned occasionally. We take them for granted usually because you don’t always see how dirty they are.

When they do get cleaned, the results are dramatic and we wonder how we didn’t notice how dirty they had been.

Many people dread washing their windows as it can be a chore. With some helpful tips, cleaning windows doesn’t have to be painful.

In this article, I will go over some ways to make cleaning your windows easier.

1 – Hire a professional

There are several reasons why you should just pay somebody to clean your windows. I am of the belief that some things should be left to professionals so I can concentrate on other things that are more suited to my talents.

If you are not able to move around well, due to age or injury, then you would do well to just have somebody come by and clean your windows for you.

Likewise if it is unsafe for you to clean them yourself. If you have multiple floors and don’t have windows that lean in so you can wash them from the inside, then a professional is the way to go. There is surely a company in your area like Brian’s Window Service that will give you an estimate so you know what you’re dealing with. 

2 – Analyse your water

How easy or difficult your windows are to clean is heavily dependant on your water. If you have hard water, then many of the minerals will leave a residue on your windows. You may find them looking worse after you’ve washed them.

Do a test for hardness and heavy metals to see just what kind of water you are dealing with. You’ll need to use specialized cleaning products formulated for hard water. Vinegar is also very effective against hard water streaking on windows.

Alternatively, you can always get a whole house filter to remove the minerals so you never have to worry about your water quality.

3 – Don’t use newspaper

It is a given that newspaper is the ultimate tool for cleaning glass. The only problem is that they actually leave them dirtier.

On one hand, the ink gets dissolved by the cleaning product and then leaves a residue all over your windows. On the other, the fibers also get left all over, too. You’ll spend as much time trying to remove the fibers as you did cleaning the dirt from them.

Instead, use a microfiber or lint free cloth. 

4 – Clean when it is cool or cloudy

If it is sunny then the glass of your windows is hot. When you use the cleaning product it will dry before it has a chance to actually clean. And this is how streaks happen.

Make sure it is a cool day, or better, that there is some cloud cover so your windows are not hot.


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