Tips on Pricing Windows

Reed Construction Data

 

Windows with wood and vinyl frames are priced preglazed. The usual configuration for these wood and vinyl windows is a double glaze as insulating glass. In addition there may be coatings for low e, tints, films or possibly triple glazing all to enhance the insulating value and to control the sun’s rays. The configuration is different whether you are in a Southern or Northern region.

Metal framed windows either steel or aluminum may be priced preglazed. These same metal frames maybe priced as a frame only and then you would have to add in the price of glass and glazing to have a finished material for installation, ensuring you have added in labor for both the window and glazing.

As to additional items such as locks, screens and grilles, all of these may come as a package with the window, but be aware that packages are basic add-ons with higher grade or security grades as an additional cost.

Other considerations when choosing glazing in addition to insulating value are:

Tempered glass: Toughened glass is two or more times stronger than annealed glass. When broken, it shatters into many small fragments which prevent major injuries. This type of glass is intended for glass façades, sliding doors, building entrances, bath and shower enclosures and other uses requiring superior strength and safety properties.

Impact glass: The Miami-Dade Building Code requires that every exterior opening — residential or commercial — be provided with protection against wind-borne debris caused by hurricanes. There are two types of impact-resistant products: large-missile resistant and small-missile resistant.

Blast resistant: Security-glazing include laminated glazing materials, and applied films. In order to specify the appropriate security glazing solution, it is necessary to make assumptions about the level of performance required to resist the anticipated threat.

Style, Paint and Win: Coast Home Advice

Goldcoast Australia

 

TO renovate or not to renovate?

That's the question Gold Coast home owners are asking after new research revealed expensive revamps were not guaranteed to boost a property's sale value.

Instead experts have suggested splashing a lick of paint on the facade or using a 'property stylist' to shuffle furniture to reap greater financial rewards.

PRDnationwide Mudgeeraba agent Karl Grossman warned owners to be cautious following the latest advice 'to stay put and renovate'.

"There are two things to take into account, whether you are doing it for lifestyle or financial gain," he said.

"If someone is going to spend money for the purpose of selling, they would want to get at least double back."

While owners might get their money back for bathroom or kitchen remodels, spending $2000 on exterior touch-ups and landscaping could reap a $10,000 increase in the sale price.

Mr Grossman said to mitigate risk, owners should never exceed the median value of their suburb when combining the purchase price and renovation costs.

Instant Interiors Gold Coast owner Helen Farquhar said property stylists could remodel a home and increase market value in just a few days.

Tricks of the trade include removing personal items, shipping in classy furniture, linen and even bathroom soap to ensure the house is aesthetically pleasing.

"A few thousand can put 15 per cent on the value of the property and they sell faster as they ... have the wow factor," said Ms Farquhar.

"It's definitely a growing market because people are beginning to realise perception is reality when it comes to selling property. It's whether people make an emotional connection to it."

Artcraft Design owner Phil Andrews said his California bathroom renovation business had been quiet due to the global economic downturn.

But he said owners of luxury properties were still looking to renovate.

Canadians Colin and Lila Eicher completely gutted the luxury Main Beach apartment they bought last year.

"We took everything out and rebuilt the whole thing from top to bottom, three bedrooms, laundry, kitchen, all new tiles, new airconditioning, windows, all new kitchen appliances," said Mr Eicher.

Mr Eicher, who plans to retire in Australia, said he believed the property was a sound investment and felt confident he would make a profit when he went to sell.

"I think we will easily get it back when we sell," he said.

ACME Joinery and Cabinets owner Perry Nelder said he had experienced an increase in clients in recent weeks, with most wanting new kitchens and bathroom remodeling.

"Most plan to stay, some are thinking of selling," said Mr Nelder.

"I'd say most spend about $20,000 to $30,000 and they know that whatever they put in they are going to get back."

Top tips to attract buyers:

    * 1) De-clutter - remove family photographs and personal items.
    * 2) Clean - ensure your house is spotless.
    * 3) Curb appeal - the external appearance will be a deciding factor as to whether buyers step through the door.
    * 4) Odour control - ensure the house smells fresh and inviting, no pets.
    * 5) Space - move furniture to create an illusion of space.
    * 6) Lighting - carefully placed lamps can ensure the house looks bright and inviting.
    * 7) Temperature control - ensure the house is cool, switch on airconditioners.
    * 8) Make repairs - everything should be in working order.

DIY: Installing a Toilet

North Jersey.com

 

Before the recession, bathroom remodeling projects typically came in the form of exorbitant overhauls. Today, consumers have become unwilling to part with their dollars, and many are pulling the plug on expensive renovations. There’s been a resurgence in DIY installations and/or repair jobs.

Installing your own toilet or replacing one that has seen better days, for example, is becoming commonplace.

"There’s a real change in focus," said Sandy Torgersen, a sales manager with Hardware, Bath & Spa, a showroom of high-end, decorative bath and kitchen fixtures in Fairfield. "People are looking to economize. They’re discovering that there’s a satisfaction to accomplishing something big on their own."

"One reason for installing your own toilet, of course, is money," Torgersen said. "When you hire someone, you have to pay for the service. You could also pay for their drive time and could pay for them to come during off hours.

"When you install it yourself, it’s on your own time. It’s relatively easy and it can all be completed in one day."

To start, follow these steps:

* After turning the water off, flush the toilet to empty most to the water. Remove the remaining water with a sponge and a water bucket. Then disconnect the supply line from the base.

* To remove the old toilet, pop off the trim caps at the base. Next, remove the nut and washers on the closet bolts securing the bowl on the floor.

* Use a putty knife to pry up and remove the old wax seal. Install the new wax seal and hook the new closet bolts into their slots on the flange.

* With the closet bolts and seal in place, you can attach and assemble the toilet. Slip the tank bolts through the opening in the bottom of the tank. Line up the shank of bolts with holes in the bowl and drop the tank into place. Secure the tank to the bowl by tightening a nut onto each tank bolt.

* Set the toilet onto to the flange, making sure that the closest bolts protruding from the floor line up with the holes in the base.

* Secure the new seal and lift onto the bowl with mounting bolts. Use clip joint pliers to reconnect the supply line at the bottom of the tank.

For the Dishwasher’s Sake, Go Easy on the Detergent

NY Times

I’VE been writing on some weighty topics lately — too little money, too many choices, too few jobs. It’s time, I decided, to move on to some questions that haunt me almost every day.

How much soap should I put in my washing machine and dishwasher?

Do I need to do more for my dryer than clean that little pull-out lint catcher?

Should I rinse my dishes before putting them in the dishwasher?

Most of us learned how to use a washing machine or dishwasher in our parents’ house many years ago and haven’t really changed our methods, even though most appliances have evolved radically since then. We rarely, if ever, read the manuals when we buy a new one or glance through the instructions on the box of detergent or bottle of dishwashing liquid.

But because we’re probably using these appliances incorrectly, our dishes and clothes may not be coming out as clean as they could be. And we may also be damaging the machines.

Let me start with soap. The No. 1 sin, according to repair people and appliance experts, seems to be adding too much soap to washing machines or dishwashers.

“Nobody thinks they use too much soap,” said Vernon Schmidt, who has been a repairman for almost 35 years and is the author of a self-published book, “Appliance Handbook for Women: Simple Enough Even a Man Can Understand.” But apparently most of us are in denial.

Washing machines and dishwashers are made to use far less water now than older models and, therefore, need less soap. And detergents have also become increasingly concentrated. So a little goes a long way.

“Most people use 10 to 15 times the amount of soap they need, and they’re pouring money down the drain,” Mr. Schmidt said.

Following the instructions on the soap container is a good first step. Christina Saunders, a spokeswoman for Procter & Gamble, which makes Tide, Cheer, Gain and other laundry detergents, said researchers at the company did thousands of loads of laundry to determine the right amount of soap needed.

She said the caps were changed on liquid detergent containers a few years ago to make the lines specifying amount of soap needed for different size loads easier to see.

Mr. Schmidt, however, argues that depending on how hard or soft your water is, one-eighth to one-half of what is usually recommended should be adequate.

Too much detergent can make your clothes stiff and shorten the life of your machine. An excess of soap can also cause a buildup of mold and mildew, said Jill Notini, a spokeswoman for the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, a trade group.

With high-efficiency machines — which includes all front-loading machines and any top loader that specifically states that it’s high efficiency — it’s a good idea to use detergents specifically made for them, she said. The detergents usually have H.E. on the front of the container. But don’t expect to see a lot of soap action.

“If people see suds, they think their clothes are getting clean, but that’s wrong — it means you’re using a lot of extra detergent,” Ms. Notini said.

Here is Mr. Schmidt’s test to determine if you’re oversoaping. Take four to six clean bath towels, put them in your front-loading washing machine (one towel for a top loader). Don’t add any detergent or fabric softener. Switch to the hot water setting and medium wash and run it for about five minutes.

Check for soap suds. If you don’t see any suds right away, turn off the machine and see if there is any soapy residue. If you see suds or residue, it is soap coming out of your clothes from the last wash.

“I’ve had customers that had to run their towels through as many as eight times to get the soap out,” Mr. Schmidt said, who lives in Indiana. He offers other handy advice on his Web site, refrigdoc.com.

Too much soap is also a problem in dishwashers and can cause dishes and glasses to look filmy. Again, check the detergent container for recommended amounts — you definitely don’t have to fill up the entire soap container in the dishwasher.

Also, if your plastic items come out still wet, that doesn’t mean your dishwasher is not doing its job. Most dishwashers today emit less heat than the older models, so plastic doesn’t dry completely.

Loading the dishwasher right will also get your dishes cleaner. When I was growing up, apparently only my mother knew the right way to load. But since my mother can’t get to all your houses, Consumer Reports offers these much-needed tips on its Home and Garden blog. (Please don’t e-mail me if you disagree about these suggestions — like religion and politics, we all have our own views on this matter.)

Load large items at the sides and back of the dishwasher so that they don’t block water and detergent from reaching other dishes.

Place the dirtier side of the dishes toward the center of the machine for more exposure to spray.

Load silverware in the individual silverware slots most dishwashers now include. If you have an open basket, mix forks, spoons and knives to prevent them from sticking together.

Also, remove baked on food and large chunks, but for the most part, everyone I spoke to said prerinsing dishes before putting them in the dishwasher was not only unnecessary, it wasted thousands of gallons of water and could actually result in dirtier dishes.

“The soap needs something to work against to get the dishes clean,” said Lou Manganiello, who owns Household Appliance Service in Hawthorne, N.Y., and has been doing repairs for 23 years. For full disclosure, he has also ably repaired my kitchen appliances from time to time.

Now, on to dryers. I don’t happen to use those fabric softener sheets, but if you do, practice restraint, Mr. Manganiello said.

On the theory that if one is good, five must be better, people throw in a bunch of the sheets. Those liquefy when the dryer gets hot and can gum up the dyer, becoming “almost like tar and feathers,” Mr. Manganiello said.

Also, clean the lint below the removable filter. I bought an item at my local hardware store that looks like a bottle brush, but is longer, denser and has a kind of thin nose. It reaches down and removes lint you can’t get to otherwise.

And think about cleaning lint off the dryer where it vents outdoors.

Of course, the best way to extend the life of your dryer is to use it less often by hanging out your laundry on a clothesline when the sun is shining.

One last bit of advice on an appliance — your oven. Use the self-cleaning mode more than once a year — otherwise, so many food particles have built up that when they burn off, smoke will billow throughout your entire kitchen. But don’t clean right before a big holiday dinner, Mr. Schmidt advised.

That’s because ovens heat so high during cleaning that any weak part will give.

“If it’s ever going to fail, it will then,” he said. “Every holiday we get swamped with calls.” 

Taking Care of your Little Green Patch

Daily News Online (NY)

A thriving lawn is more than a soft, friendly playground. It can help cool the environment and clean the air. And it's not hard to practice a little backyard environmentalism - here's how it works and what you can do to ensure good lawn care.

Keeping It Cool

Have you ever noticed that temperatures in town are often higher than in outlying areas? That's due to what's commonly called the Urban Heat Island Effect. Pavements retain heat, so the more pavement there is instead of grass, trees or shrubs, the more an area "bakes" in the heat.

Through its natural processes grass releases water to stay cool, much the same way our bodies stay cool through perspiration. Water evaporating from your lawn or body absorbs excess heat to keep a constant cool temperature. (Just like the big fans with water mist sprayed in the air at amusement parks and ball games!) Because your lawn stays cool the air above it can be as much as 30 degrees cooler than it is above your driveway, patio or sidewalks.

Cleaning the Air

An average lawn has over 11 million individual grass plants. These little green machines work 24/7 to trap dirt, dust and impurities from the air. And like all plants, grass absorbs carbon dioxide and releases oxygen, making it possible for us breathe a little easier.

How to Have a People and Earth Friendly Lawn

    * The Most Important Thing for Your Grass Is Feeding Regularly: Well-fed lawns are strong and vibrant. In general, feeding two to four times a year will build a lawn that is ready to stand up to weeds, heat, drought and insects. So how do you decide? Well it's pretty easy. If your lawn doesn't get much activity from the kids, pets or parties, 2 to 3 feedings is enough. Feeding a couple of times a year also applies if the spring and fall seasons where you live are only a few months long.

      On the other hand, if your grass is used for ball games, Slip'n Slide or parties, you'll want to feed 3 to 4 times a year so the grass can regenerate and withstand wear and tear.

      So when should you feed your lawn? That's easy too! Anytime grass is growing and you are mowing is a good time to feed.

      Some fertilizers are designed for lawns, some aren't. Choose a fertilizer that says "for lawns" on the bag and has a spreader setting. All-purpose fertilizers don't have the right nutrient balance for lawns and may not even have spreader settings to apply the right amount!

    * Mow High: Set your reel mower to one of the highest cut settings to give your grass an advantage over heat, drought, weeds and bugs - and make lawn care simpler. Mowing high means more grass leaves and therefore more deep roots that reach water in the soil better. Longer grass blades crowd out weeds, capture rain water better and reduce moisture loss from the soil. Not only does longer grass look better, it's greener! Why? Because you see more grass leaves.

    * Keep Clippings: Mow and feed your lawn at the same time by leaving grass clippings from your push reel mower on your lawn. These break down quickly and recycle nutrients back into the soil.

    * Clean Up: Sweep any fertilizer and grass clippings that land on driveways and sidewalks back into the lawn to keep nutrients where the grass can use these for food.

Watering Optional!

In many parts of the country, Mother Nature provides enough water for your grass to survive. Well-nourished lawns are particularly good at bouncing back from dry spells. These tips should guide you to deciding if you need to water.

    * Sometimes when it's hot and dry, the lawn will go dormant and turn brown. Don't worry. Grass will bounce back again once it rains, especially if you've fed it well and mowed high. Properly fed grass survives on Mother Nature's drinking fountain.

    * If you use your lawn as an extension of your living space, then your grass will let you know when it needs a drink. It will turn dull in color and footprints appear.

    * If rain isn't expected soon, water using a sprinkler that shoots the water in a jet fashion, low across your lawn, and in the morning to reduce water loss from evaporation.

    * Compared to unfed lawns, properly fed lawns tolerate heat and dry weather better than unfed, weak lawns. That's because they have better roots and stored energy reserves to bounce back when rainfall or water returns. Keep your lawn well-fed and let nature be your primary sprinkler.

Feeding Menu
 

Grass is like any other living thing, it needs nutrients to grow strong. Just like humans need several small meals, so does your lawn. Here is a menu to help you make your green space great.

Fall

Think of fall as the breakfast for your grass: the most important meal of the day.* Many experts say this is the single most important lawn feeding of the year. Feeding right before the winter months gives your grass nutrients to recover from summer damage and increase nitrogen storage for an early spring green-up next year. (*Except for Southern grasses which benefit from lawn fertilizing during the rainy season in June-July.)

Early spring

Feeding your lawn in the spring is the lunch that strengthens roots and gets it off to a good start before the heavy growing season. If you have had crabgrass in the past, now is the time to apply a combination fertilizer with a pre-emergent to control it.

Late spring

Grass is busy growing and using up stored energy. If you are bothered by the dandelions and other weeds popping up, use a weed and feed combination product that gives the lawn nutrients and helps control broadleaf weeds. If your lawn has only a few weeds, use a liquid spot weed treatment. If weeds don't bother you, a dinner of lawn food is great to continue keeping your lawn strong.

Summer

Heat, drought, foot traffic and insects can stress grass out. Your lawn might appreciate a snack to help protect and strengthen it against these problems.

If weeds or bugs don't bother you or aren't a problem in your lawn, you can substitute an application of a straight lawn fertilizer for any of the meals on the menu above.

Follow these easy tips to make good lawn maintenance a breeze.