Ask Mr. Fix it

Posts Tagged ‘Windows’

Sash Windows are associated with the architecture of the 18th and 19th centuries. Their large panels of glass within gracefully proportioned frames offered an attractive and functional alternative to casement windows.

After years of controversy, experts now believe they were originally invented in Yorkshire. They were developed there to keep out wet weather while permitting air to circulate by leaving a narrow opening, and were also protected from rot and distortion by being closed in a box.

Sash windows offered both practical advantages and a more pleasing style than older window designs, and they were popular in both new buildings and as stylish replacements in existing homes. The window tax of the 18th and 19th centuries caused many of these fashionable windows to be taken out again, however. The window with two movable sashes was developed during the Georgian era.

Glass remained expensive and was marked with large bull’s eye patterns in the centre of each pane due to the way it was made. Once larger panels became available the classic six-paned Georgian windows appeared. They are considered characteristic of the Regency style.

The Victorians continued to favour sash windows, but added their own style with elaborate carved and moulded ornamentation. Victorian houses often have large bay windows and elegantly proportioned façades with the windows getting gradually smaller as their height from the ground increases.

Sashes with four panes of glass are another mark of the Victorian window. While the absence of glazing bars was originally a status symbol, many people put in windows that imitated older styles once sheet glass had become cheaper and more commonly used during the late 19th century.

Despite their popularity at the start of the 20th century, sash windows have become less common during the last hundred years, with cheaper, less labour intensive types of window being used instead. An interest in conserving historical styles of architecture has recently revived the demand for sash windows, however. Sash Windows today use all the latest technology, but retain the elegance and functionality of traditional sashes, and preserve the historic style of the older houses.

Tags: diy, home improvement, landscaping, home repair, remodeling

There are 3 options in the mini blinds market: Buy a finished product that is available in many stores in the US; buy finished products that are made to fit the windows and get those one inch blinds that are able to fit precisely to one-eight of an inch to the dimensions you have in your home.

In the first option, you get the general size of your window and find the blind that closely fits it. These blinds are massed produced and inexpensive. As for the cut-to-fit blind, you can find these blinds in home improvement stores. You can also find stores that are ready to cut the blinds for you at their store.

Since custom made mini blinds are made with superior components, they often have lifetime warranty. Because a lot of manufacturers make custom window shades, you will find all the range of colors. Custom mini blinds are among pricier options, but since they will last you for a long time, they are a great option for your windows.

You can also choose from two styles of lifting systems to raise your wood window coverings — standard lift and tilt features — and optional cordless systems that combine shade control while enhancing safety for children by eliminating dangling cords.

You can also select the route-less option that conceals the route holes through which the control cords run; or cloth tapes that not only cover route holes but can also add the finishing touch to your wood window’s decor. This will reduce glare and maximize light control. It’s also a good option to buy electric roller shades if you want to close your rooms completely.

Sheer vertical blinds can be your best option if you want to see the look of a wood on your windows. Some horizontal wood blinds would be a fantastic option if you want to get that warm, refined look on your windows. These 2 inch wood blinds can be found in wood stains or paints and are great for blend in or be the focal point in the room. You can use these as light blockers and to insulate your windows since they do not require a lot of maintenance at all.

Tags: home improvement, landscaping, diy, electrical, remodeling

Your garage isn’t just a place to store your possessions, but also great spaces for holding get-togethers and throwing parties. Unfortunately, it can sometimes be difficult to get the most out of the open-aired aspects of open garages while limiting the annoying effects of nature. There are, though, ways by which people can achieve the perfect balance between interior and outside. Namely, screen doors.

The use of garage screens is the easiest and most effective way of accomplishing this feat, as they are consciously created for this purpose. Using a screen to cover the open end of your garage won’t obstruct your view. After all, if the reason for maximizing garage usage rests on the fact that it allows you to draw on the outside atmosphere, then preserving that feeling is of great importance. The right garage screens will do just that. It will create a definite physical division between inside and out. It will not only do this visually, it will also provide enough ventilation to allow for the passage and flow of air.

Because these retractable screens are so discreet, many people may become concerned over whether these barriers will prove effective at keeping the outside where it belongs, outdoors. This is a natural concern, but there is no real need for worrying. The sturdy nature of these garage screens and their frames means that they will easily prevent lizards and rodents from sneaking in. Because these screens are so tightly constructed, they also keep any annoying mosquitoes from crossing through the garage entry.

The usefulness of these garage screens is only topped by their overall feasibility. The very nature of their design means there is a limited number of pieces, and the overall installation is comparatively simple. The manufacturing process is also adaptable enough to provide screens for nearly any opening – single and double door garages and more. All of these features work towards making the choice to purchase and install a screen feasible for many homeowners.

Combine all of these positives: the appeal of the outside, the comfort of the inside, and the simple design, and you have a product which is unrivaled in nearly every appreciable aspect. That alone makes garage screens enormously valuable to individuals hoping to get the most out of their garages. In addition, Stoett provides a retractable window screen with similar benefits.  Check out their site at www.stoett.com.

Tags: house additions, home fix-up, landscaping, remodeling, home repair

Stoett, a leader in customized rectractable screens, is set to launch a revamped website this week that shows off their full line of luxury products better than ever before.

If you aren’t familiar with the concept of retractable screens, here are some of their features. Stoett screens are individually custom made to fit virtually any architectural opening in and around your home. People use them for a variety of reasons: to maximize useable space, to receive the benefits of cross-ventilation indoors, and to open up the home to the outdoors without worrying about the sun’s damaging rays. Stoett screens offer complete sun, shade, and insect control. You can even choose how to operate your retractable screen system – by hand, by remote control, or even have it installed to operate within your personal home automation system.

If you can imageine it, Stoett can make it a reality, with custom colors, various screen and trim styles, and your choice of screen material and UVA/UVB solar protection. Every Stoett retractable screen is custom fit by professional installers, so you can depend on a lifetime of quality enjoyment and improved quality of life.

The team at Stoett Industries has created a range of product offerings, each with their own long list of benefits, for different applications. There’s Panorama and Panorama Lite – having been created to screen off single, double and other wide-format openings such as garages. The Panorama product transforms dusty garages into refreshingly clean gaming rooms, workspaces, or even apartment units!

The StowAway screen is the most popular choice inside and around the house.  StowAway is their flagship product and they offer it through a dealer network that is stretching quickly across the USA.  Stoett can size your screen to cover any of these and more:

windows
front doors
lanais
all-season sunrooms
greenhouses
play areas
garages  

Toy Hauler magazine has profiled Stoett’s RV product – designed to protect all those big toys including trailers, riding lawn mowers, four wheelers – anything you need! You will be the envy of your pals with one of these retractable screens keeping the dust and dirt off your beloved cars and trucks as well.

Check out Stoett’s website soon, and experience video demonstration of our products, photos showing the range of their uses, technical data, and other important fats important to home builders, architects, dealers, and any companies looking to expand their door and window product line by selling retractable screen systems to their customers.

If you happen to be in the market for a retractable screen door system, have a look at what Stoett.com offers.  They are a US company committed to protecting and creating American jobs.  Once a family business, Stoett has held close to their values as they have grown into a large manufacturer of the most customizable retractable screen door product ranges in the North American marketplace.

Using the latest technological innovations in professional website design by Effect’s designers and SEO, the new website is a perfect companion to the lasting quality, affordable luxury and exquisite styling Stoett Industries is known for.

Tags: house additions, home fix-up, landscaping, home improvement, diy