You Can Do It!

Aluminum Windows - Friend or Foe?

If you’re in the market for replacement windows or if you are comparing different home improvement projects and currently have aluminum windows and you’ve done any research regarding aluminum windows surely you’ve come across some information on aluminum windows. It seems that the only information out there is about how bad aluminum windows are. In fact you would be hard pressed to find any positive information about aluminum windows on the web, and the question I get most from my home improvement clients is, “Are aluminum windows really as bad as they make them out to be?”

Unfortunately the answer is, “It depends.” I know you were hoping for a quick and easy answer but the fact remains that it really does depend on what’s important to you. If you want a quick answer so you can move on to a more interesting topic then, no, aluminum windows aren’t as bad as most people make them out to be, in fact, there are a lot of pro’s when it comes to aluminum windows and depending on your situation, they may outweigh the cons.

Pro #1 – Structurally, aluminum windows are the sturdiest. If you leave a piece of white aluminum window frame material out in the sun in Death Valley for 20 years, other than some dust and debris, wipe it down and it is going to look exactly the same as it did 20 years ago. I doubt you can say that about vinyl windows and you definitely can’t say that about wood. PVC Vinyl windows are getting better and better all the time but no matter how many UV inhibitors they put it the resin, there is only so much abuse a vinyl window can take.

Pro#2 – Big windows are a possibility with aluminum. Due to the structural soundness of aluminum, virtually the sky is the limit when it comes to window sizes. That’s why skyscrapers are made with aluminum windows; you see there is no such thing as vinyl or wood windows in skyscrapers. So if you’re building a large custom home or are remodeling your home and want some big expansive windows, you will most likely be pushed towards aluminum otherwise your sizes will be limited. With a very few minor exceptions almost all commercial building is done with aluminum windows or storefronts. Very rarely will you walk in to a 7-11 or grocery store and see a wood or vinyl entry door. They are aluminum because aluminum is proven to last the longest of all available choices. You will see fiberglass entry doors in some commercial buildings and yes fiberglass is almost as impervious to the elements as aluminum, however, in most designers opinions, aluminum has a nicer finish and fiberglass still needs maintenance such as painting or staining.

Pro#3 – Aluminum windows are the more cost effective choice, at least as an initial investment is concerned. Of course there are varying quality levels and yes Brand A Aluminum window may cost more than Brand B Vinyl window, however for comparable levels of quality, aluminum windows will be the more cost effective. For example, Milgard Windows, lowest price window line is their aluminum window. The glass which makes up most of the window is the same across all products, but the aluminum window is the cheapest window they offer.

Pro#4 – You usually have more color choices with aluminum. Colored vinyl windows are not quite ready for mass production yet, especially in extreme climates like southern Nevada, Arizona and the California desert. Many window manufacturers refuse to sell their white or tan vinyl in the desert let alone a colored version. With wood windows you get many color choices, but once again it is the aluminum on the exterior that is a different color. Aluminum windows are pretty much the only window I would trust in a black or dark brown color in high temperature regions. Aluminum can be easily painted to match any color you like at a reasonable cost. This is why you still see aluminum windows in large custom homes, because they are the only window that gives you the color and size options often needed when designing a large custom home.

So there are a lot of positives when it comes to aluminum windows, so why do they get such a bad rap? Well there is only one real negative when it comes to aluminum windows and it’s a big one especially nowadays.

Con#1 – Aluminum windows are extremely inefficient when it comes to thermal energy protection. Energy efficiency is a major topic these days and if you want to sell a product you had better make sure that it is energy efficient or else it is doomed. Therefore all competing products continuously tout how inefficient aluminum windows are and how energy efficient, vinyl, wood and fiberglass are. So there is nothing to say about that, the fact is yes aluminum windows aren’t as energy efficient as the other alternatives.

Metal conducts heat. If its hot outside and you’re on the inside of your home and feel the frame of the aluminum window then it is going to feel hot. Same holds true in the winter, the frames are going to be cold and the aluminum will transfer that temperature difference into your home. There’s nothing you can do about it. So you have to decide if energy efficiency is your main concern. If it is, I wouldn’t recommend purchasing aluminum windows.

However if you are dead set on aluminum windows but are disheartened about the whole energy efficiency thing I have some good news for you. There is a way you can get the best of both worlds. There is a product called “Thermal Break Aluminum Windows” These are aluminum windows that are actually energy efficient as well. In layman’s terms the aluminum is basically “broken” up by a filament that prevents heat transfer through the window frame. Therefore the exterior portion of the frame is separated from the interior frame by a rubber energy efficient compound that allows you to have an aluminum window while still maintaining energy efficiency.

To see an example of a thermal break window visit www.arcadiaincorporated.com

 

Going Green - Part 6

This is the last installment of going green at home and doing it yourself. This section could be the most important one because it is the ultimate way to go green at home and do it yourself.

What if I told you there is a way where you could get rid of your power bill all together? What if I told you there was a way that you can actually have the power company pay you at the end of each month? You would probably say its impossible right? Well until recently it probably was impossible without spending thousands of dollars and hiring professionals to adjust your home in such a way that this could be feasible.

However, recently information has become available that shows how you, by yourself, at home can begin to create your own energy. Creating your own personal energy is the ultimate way to go green. No oil or coal will need to be burned in order for you to run your household. You can even sell your energy back to the power company (in some areas).

One of the projects you can do costs less than 100 dollars to implement! If your power bill is 300 a month like mine used to be, it will pay for itself in the first month. There is a lot of information on this subject, and you can find it here - http://twurl.nl/naamjl

You really should check it out because there is nothing you can do that is more "green" than to create your own energy using the natural elements that go untapped everyday. If 1 in 10 residences in America started this program, it would almost eliminate our dependence on foreign oil. Why not be one of the first? Even if you aren't particularly concerned about the environment or the economy, saving tons of money on energy costs is always a good thing. Here is that link once again, please take a look.

http://twurl.nl/naamjl 

 

Energy Savings Program

If you want to save money by making your home more energy efficient you should start here.

http://twurl.nl/b0ltao

This program will start you saving money the first month you start using it. Check it out.

New Website

Check out the new website,

www.glassreplacements.com

Take care of all of your glass needs in one stop!

Home Security #9

We have already discussed your front door, but since it is the most broken into entry of the home I want to discuss another security feature that may save you a lot of headache and loss.

That is namely a security door. This is another door that goes over the top of your existing door. The only kind I recommend is Titan Security Doors. These doors are made with a revolutionary new alloy. It's called T6 Commercial grade Aluminum Magnesium Alloy. It's stronger than steel but has a much more polished and elegant look than that of drab steel. Its also 30% lighter than steel which means less stress on hinges and screws which means the door will last much longer for you.

The best part is Titan's guarantee. Not only do they guarantee against the integrity, the finish and the parts and pieces but they guarantee its security. They guarantee your house won't get broken into via their security door. You can find more information here www.titansecurity.com

I like these doors because you can actually leave your door open to allow the breeze to refresh your home, but don't have to worry about some stranger walking in. Well there you have it, one more to go.

 

New Background

Just wanted to say a quick thank you to Jen who did our new background here at the You Can Do It Blog. If you want to get ahold of Jen for some work you may need for your blog or twitter background you can find her here.

www.freshjen.com or www.jenruhman.com

Thanks again Jen!

Going Green - Part 5

Greening Up Your Driving

We spend more and more time behind the wheels of our cars so small changes in our driving habits can have dramatic effects on the environment. According to a UN Human Development Report in 2007, automobiles account for approximately 30 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in developed countries. Here are a few tips to help you go green while driving.

We won't spend any time talking about buying a hybrid car because of course, that will help, but we may not be in the market for another car for quite some time and we want to talk about things you can do right away.

1. Group trips together - Unless you need something right away, try to wait until you have a few errands to run before you start up the car and make that trip into town. Alternatively, keep a list of things that you need/errands that need run, so when you do have that emergency, you can stop and grab a few other things during the same trip before they become an emergency.

2. Check Your Tires - Most people tell you to check the air in your tires and leave it at that, however, that is only half the story. You need to check your tires for improper wear, because if they are wearing incorrectly then you aren’t getting the best gas mileage you could get if your car was aligned correctly. Having correct shocks and springs can make a difference as well. PS - Check your air filter also.

3. Drive for Mileage - Driving the speed limit actually saves you money! My truck gets 2 miles per gallon worse mileage every 10 miles over the speed limit. That can add up really fast. Excessive braking and accelerating also leads to poor gas mileage. Coast as much as you can, and accelerate smoothly instead of jamming on the gas pedal when the light turns green. Save the racing for video games.

For more information check out the following links

www.fueleconomy.gov, www.greenercars.org, or www.epa.gov/greenvehicles

Going Green - Part 4

Making your home air tight - There are 6 things you can do to make your home more air tight. Weather it is summer or winter you need to control the amount of air that flows into or out of your home every day. These simple measures can pay for themselves within a few months of making the changes and can usually be done by anyone with a few simple tools.

1. Door Sweeps - Get down on all fours and look under all of the hinged doors in your home. Can you see daylight? Can you feel a breeze working its way either in or out? This should be step one. Install new door sweeps under your doors. The ones that the door came with (if they are still there) were probably the cheapest, bare minimum sweep that mass-produced doors are made with. Get a new high end door sweep with multiple channels for blocking out the weather.

2.Weather strip - Examine all the jambs and headers to all doors and windows. If you can see light or feel a draft, install new weather striping at all locations. Actually, even if you can't easily determine if air is getting through or not, it's better to be safe than sorry. As a general rule its better to use weather strip where you don't need it than to not have it where you do need it. Be liberal with weather stripping, it's cheap.

3. Insulation - Add insulation in the attic above your interior ceiling. Most people don't stop to realize that the attic isn't climate controlled. You can keep your home well insulated by separating your homes interior from the attic. Double check attic access areas as well.

4. Caulk all exterior gaps - Walk the exterior of your home. Anywhere you see a place that air can penetrate into your walls, seal it with some exterior high grade caulking. Especially look for areas where there are fixtures such as lights and hose bibs. Even though the air doesn't penetrate into the house, it will get inside your walls and raise your heating and cooling costs.

5. Pull the drapes closed at night. When its dark outside, there is no reason to leave the drapes open. Pull them closed tight in both summer and winter to stop some of the heat transferring in and out of the windows.

Of course your best bet is to replace your windows and doors completely with new energy efficient windows and doors, but these are minor changes you can make yourself to help keep your home green.

If you're in LA

And you need a designer/project manager, look up Laurie March. Here is her website...

www.lauriemarchdesign.com

It will be worth your while.

Going Green - Part 3

 

If your fridge/freezer looks like this you probably aren't living as green as you should be. An empty freezer is much harder to keep cold than one that is packed full. Keep left over milk bottles and fill them with water, then use them to fill up the empty spots in your freezer. Same holds true for your refrigerator side as well.

I like to keep extra bags of ice from my ice maker in my empty spaces. That way, next time I have to fill up an ice chest, I don't have to stop and buy ice, I can fill it up right there at home from my reserves. You should also be using the lowest temperature setting you feel comfortable with on both freezer and refrigerator. A good rule is take it down 2 notches from where you are now, if you usually keep it at 8, try 6. It shouldn't have a noticeable impact anywhere except on energy savings.

Also as you buy new appliances, opt for the ones that are most energy efficient. If your appliances are more than 10 years old, purchasing a new energy efficient model may be the way to go. Replacing a 20 year old fridge with a new energy efficient model will reduce your carbon emissions by one metric ton per year!