by Middlefield Windows & Doors | Feb 28, 2020 | Home Improvement
Most of the costs for a household go towards its bills. Bills are mostly made up of several energy consumptions. Maintaining a constant temperature inside the house probably takes up the highest energy. Sadly, this cost is added to by inefficiently insulated doors. Energy efficient doors play an integral part in the insulation of the house. Efficient doors keep out unwanted temperature or humidity exposures which help with maintaining the temperature. But some of the doors fail to do this, thus increasing energy consumption.
Thermal reflection scale:
Another name for the thermal reflection scale is R-value for doors. R-value or thermal scale is a standard used to measure the heat reflected by the doors. the scale measures the amount of energy a door reflects into the atmosphere. The r values for doors range from 1 to 9. A door with R-value 1 is the least reflective and the door with 9 as its R-value is most reflective. So, an energy-efficient door has an R-value ranging from 7 to 9.
Many factors contribute to making an energy-efficient door some of them are as follows:
- Weatherstripping:
Most of the air enters or leaves the door through loose hinges or the gaps around the door. Door hinges can be tightened to reduce the gaps. Silicone can also be filled in them. One of the other solutions can be Weatherstripping. Using the silicone helps fill the gaps but weatherstripping uses compressible rubber or foam to completely air tighten the door.
- Storm doors:
The second feasible solution may be installing storm doors. Storm doors are secondary doors. Consequently, these doors prevent ventilation and keep out any humidity, minimizing any temperature fluctuation inside the house.
- Replacing wooden components:
Wooden components tend to have fewer R-values which usually correspond to more heat absorption. As a result, any wooden component on a door may allow heat to enter. A solution may be replacing these wooden components with glass which comparatively has higher R-values. Hence, reducing heat absorption.
- Spring-loaded doors:
Energy-efficient doors have a spring-loaded mechanism. This mechanism allows the doors to close immediately after opening. On the contrary, some of the doors take too much time to close back and allow more air and humidity to enter the house. Therefore, energy-efficient doors minimize airflow for better insulation inside the house. Consequently, making the doors energy efficient.
by Middlefield Windows & Doors | Feb 13, 2020 | Home Improvement
The front door is one of the most important components of a house. Besides the fact that it keeps our privacy, it also holds back wind, rain, and most of all, the cold or heat.
Many people don’t know how to select a good front door. Take a look at these tips for choosing a good front door:
- Choose the front door by its material and overall toughness. You will need a thick and strong door to withstand rain, snow, wind, etc. You need to make sure it lasts for a long time despite these natural elements.
You will have different types of doors to choose from:
- Wood doors – These are the most common. They are versatile and very good looking. The majority of wooden doors come in oak, walnut, cherry, maple, pine and fir material. When you buy wooden doors go for a durable body and great finishes.
- Steel doors – If durability and security are your biggest priorities, then this type is for you. The steel doors are way stronger and they don’t warp or crack. Besides, they cost the least, the cheapest models costing around 150 dollars.
- Fiberglass doors – They are tough and perfect for harsh or humid environments. They are also quite cheap as well. Prices start around 200 dollars.
- Aluminum doors – They are very similar to the steel doors, with a metal skin that covers the insulation core. Those types of models come in various colors and styles. Plus, they don’t rust.
- Buy the whole door components from the same manufacturer, as products bought from different ones, may not fit perfectly and you will lose money.
- Choose a trusted door company that offers high-quality doors and is using high-quality materials. By doing this, you can be sure that your doors can resist break-ins, offering you the best security for your home.
- Ask the manufacturer if the steel or fiberglass door that you want to buy has a thermal break that separates the outside and inside skins. This makes sure that heat does not get outside and that the outside cold does not get inside.
- Choose doors that offer energy saving benefits
These things are very important in choosing a front door. If you’re looking for a front door that has the highest standards for beauty, durability, security, and energy efficiency, call Middle Field Windows & Doors (216) 264-8315.
by Middlefield Windows & Doors | Jan 13, 2020 | Home Improvement, Replacement Windows
Before, homeowners were only restricted to whether they can find windows that will fit the design of their home. Now, people started to become aware and conscious of their surroundings. Environment-conscious consumers understand that the right windows are a source of lighting, heating, and cooling.
In summers, large windows allow the air inside the enclosed house. In the winters, the right windows, if closed, will stop all the cooling from coming into the house. Lastly, during both winters and summers, rightly chosen windows will affect the way light enters the house. If windows allow the sunshine inside the house, homeowners will not have to turn on the lights during the day, saving a big chunk of money on the electricity costs. Choosing a window can be tricky at first.
The following are some tips that will help you in choosing the right windows for your home:
- Energy Auditing the House
If you are installing windows in your new house or replacing windows, you need to undertake the energy audit of the house. The energy audit will effectively let you know how cost-effective new window units will be. You can also conduct a DIY energy audit keeping in mind the following things:
- Major areas of your house,
- What kind of windows would be suitable for your home?
- Which kind of material would be better for your house?
- and how seriously you would need the windows in summers and winters
Then, you must buy the windows that would fulfill the energy needs of your house. You can also find a Windows Expert to help you.
- The frame of the Windows
Many materials can be used for framing the windows. The most common frame of the windows is wood. If wood material is used, the transfer of heat and cool inside the house is done very slowly. There are also different kinds of materials that can be used to make the windows energy-efficient.
Different kinds of materials will include vinyl framing material, wooden-clad material, aluminum framing material, composite material, fiberglass material, etc. Each frame material is detailed below:
Vinyl framing material conducts the heat and cooling well, so they offer a practical choice. A properly installed vinyl frame with a glass window will look very good in your place. However, vinyl is a cheap material and color options are limited, which is why not most homeowners choose vinyl as their material of the window.
- Aluminum Material Windows
Though aluminum is not an ideal frame when considering heat gain and loss, aluminum is the best choice if your house is located in humid, rainy and mild climates. It can withstand hurricanes and storms very effectively.
- Composite Material Windows
Composite material windows are going to be made from the mixture of the wood scraps and plastic resins that will give a feel of the wooden windows, but they will be much more efficient than the wooden windows.
They are also composite material windows but made of glass fiber and polyester resin windows. Fiberglass windows are more expensive than other solutions.
Wooden-clad windows offer the best of all other materials solutions: they offer a very low-maintenance exterior (usually aluminum or vinyl) and a wooden interior consisting of the temperature-transfer resistant material.
You must choose a frame from these options that suit the energy requirement of your house.
- Window Casings
There are many different kinds of casings. Modern casings, low-profile cashing, high-profile cashing, traditional casing and complete casings are different types of casing. In each casing, the material is used either in a higher quantity or lower quantity which is why the differentiation is made. For example, the low-profile casing is less decorative than the high-profile casing. The traditional casing had been designed according to the traditional scheme of the design, while modern casings consist of ultramodern design.
You may choose a design for your window that you like. There are a lot of window contractors who offer different options for your window.
- Matching Window’s Theme to the Entire House
Your windows must not be constructed in a way that windows would look entirely different from the entire house. If the house is constructed and decorated around a modern or traditional theme, your windows must also follow the same theme and style. A little bit of variation is accepted, but the window should not be opposite to the entire house’s outlook. Good thing, there are a lot of window options available in the market today that you can choose from.
- Durability and Performance of the Windows
Different types of windows perform and age differently in different climate conditions. You must choose windows that best suit the weather in your city. Windows with a moisture-resistant material, high-temperature-resistant or SHGC (higher solar heat gain coefficient) windows may be inspected. If summer is a shorter season in your area, you must go for SHGC windows.
These are several tips you must keep in mind when you’re choosing the right window, whether you’re replacing your windows or choosing one for your new home.
