"Fresh Air" Skylight from Velux
There once was a saying among contractors that went, “It’s not if your skylight will leak, it’s when it will leak.” Fortunately, advances in skylight design and installation practices have made this old saw as useless as… well… an old saw.
It takes about nine square feet of floor space to swing open a typical 3-foot-wide door. That’s a big chunk of real estate, particularly in a small space like a powder room. For tight quarters, consider the space-saving pocket door, which slides efficiently into a wall. A bonus: its easy operation makes a pocket door ideal for universal design applications.
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It’s spring, the season for cleaning. Washing windows is at the top of our list. Many commercial window-cleaning products are available, all of which promise to impart a “streak-free shine.” But we have found that a simple solution—one part white vinegar to two parts water—is perfect when mixed up in a spray bottle.
Here are a few tips and techniques to make the job of cleaning windows go a bit faster, and easier:
Andersen Contemporary Series Storm Door with True Scene Insect Screen
Installing a storm door may seem like a daunting, time-consuming task, but advances in manufacturing and design have made the process easy enough for the average homeowner to complete start-to-finish in a single afternoon.
The first step in installing a pre-hung storm door is getting the proper measurements. First, use a level to be certain that your door frame is square. If adjustments are necessary, you can use wood shims to improve the fit.
Next, measure the height and width of the frame from the inside of the exterior trim pieces. It is a good idea to measure the width at the top, middle, and bottom of the door. If there is any variation, use the narrowest width measurement.
Replacing an interior lockset is a pretty simple job. If you’re thinking about upgrading your doors with new doorknobs or levers, here’s what you need to know.
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Photo: Paragon
Interested in adding another layer of insulation and security to your home? Look no further than the storm door, an old-fashioned favorite that offers both aesthetic and functional appeal.
While it’s true that energy-insulating advances in conventional entry doors have made storm doors unnecessary in most new homes, there are still many older homes that can benefit from the extra layer of protection that a storm door provides.
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Sliding closet doors are a common installation in American homes, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re the best option. If you’re looking for a space-saving alternative, one that will enhance the look of your closets and provide easier access to their interior space, then consider installing bi-fold closet doors.
Interior Storm Windows, Installed. Photo: Indow Windows
Homeowners seeking ways to improve energy efficiency and reduce heating and cooling costs now have an interesting alternative to costly replacement windows—interior storm windows.
In 2010, Portland, OR-based Indow Windows began manufacturing its acrylic window inserts as an alternative to conventional double-hung replacement windows. Founder and CEO Sam Pardue developed the product in direct response to a personal need: “I wanted to find a better window insulation solution for my own home,” he explains, noting that even expensive wood replacement windows didn’t look as good as the windows he already had.
Related: Know Your Window Styles
If your house has drafty windows, your heating and cooling systems may be working harder than they need to. Taking a little time to identify and plug up leaky windows will help you keep your home’s temperature—and your utility costs—in a comfortable range.
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Today’s pet doors are a far cry from the heat-stealing, wildlife-welcoming, burglary risks of yesteryear. If your yard is secure enough for your dog to play unsupervised, or if you have a cat that likes to come and go, you may welcome the flexibility offered by these new breeds of pet door.
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