Benefits From Having Storm Windows Installed

Hand on storm window on a rainy day

There are many benefits from having storm windows installed.  When a hurricane is approaching your area, it is vital to make sure that your house will be able to withstand the impact of the storm. Conventional windows can easily be broken by the high winds and heavy rains that are associated with these storms. This can lead to having to clean up a massive mess after the storm has passed. Having impact-resistant windows installed throughout your home can give you the peace of mind that your windows will be resistant from high winds and flying debris. East Coast Windows is a company that offers impact-resistant windows in the Fort Lauderdale area. Their friendly staff will be able to answer any questions you may have about the advantages of having impact-resistant windows installed in your home.

Florida residents make storm and hurricane protection a top concern. As a homeowner in Florida, if you are worried that your existing windows are not strong enough to stand up to a hurricane or tropical storm, you will want to talk to your window installers about the advantages of having your existing windows replaced with windows that are manufactured to withstand the high winds, heavy rains and flying debris that is associated with a hurricane or tropical storm.

After having the new impact-resistant windows installed in your home, not only will you have peace of mind knowing that your home is protected from potential damange of hurricanes and tropical storms; you will also notice how the new windows improve the energy-efficiency. Your home’s air conditioning unit or heating unit will not need to work as hard as it did before. As a result, you will notice that you are saving on your heating and cooling bills throughout the entire year.

Impact-resistant windows can also boost the value of your home. The windows that you have had installed throughout the home, will increase your property value significantly. If the times comes that you decide to sell your home, it will be more appealing to new buyers that these types of windows are already installed and will give them the peace of mind knowing that the home will be ready for any future hurricanes or tropical storms that may hit the area. Even if you do not decide to sell your home, these windows are a great investment. They will help keep your home safe from damage and give you, the homeowner, the time to worry about preparing for the approaching storm in other ways.

Coping With Hurricane Anxiety

A woman sitting on a orange chaise lounge looking out of a window at the water

A woman sitting on a orange chaise lounge looking out the window at the waterCoping with hurricane anxiety can be a tremendous burden.  Hurricane Sandy was in 2012, yet people still remember and feel emotionally traumatized by the force of that devastating storm. After all, 147 lives were lost and approximately 60 million affected according to The New York Times. Although most of those affected have been able to pick up the pieces of their lives and reestablish themselves, many still bear the emotional pain that comes with surviving a horrific natural disaster like Sandy.

That anxiety, also known as hurricane or weather anxiety, manages to resurface whenever news of an impending storm is released – even the small measures. For some though, the memories never really fade and they experience one or more of the following symptoms:

  • Fear of a repeat trauma
  • Depression and mood swings
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Loss of appetite
  • Periodic intrusion of memories from the hurricane that causes rapid heartbeat, cold sweat, and breathing problems

The hurricane season comes around every year with relatively predictable regularity. The best way to deal with anxiety is to face your fears and to be proactive in doing so. This is especially true for young children so they do not grow up always distraught over natural occurrences.

Protect your home

Your home is your sanctuary – where you should feel safest. Unless there is a call to evacuate, you should be able to feel secure in your home. To do this, invest in reinforcement like the hurricane windows and doors and a system to tie down your roof. This one-time investment, if acquired from the right supplier, should last you more than one lifetime.

And even if you have to evacuate to stay safe, your home will have a better chance of staying upright and intact with these hurricane solutions. In addition, it will improve the value of your home and lower your insurance premium.

Have a plan

First, stay informed but don’t be obsessive about forecasts. Second, get together with every member of the household and discuss strategies. Assign responsibilities and a pre-determined plan of action should the storm come unexpectedly. Third, talk about your anxieties and fears with each other. Talking and sharing experiences will help release some tension and make you feel you are not alone.

Keep the 3Rs in mind: Readiness, Response, Recovery. Finally, instill teamwork and empathy among all household members. Watch out for post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, depression, fear, and anxiety. Early detection will prevent the anxiety from developing into something more serious.

Tips to Increase your Home’s Value

Large House for Sale

Large House for SaleHere are some great Tips to Increase your Home’s Value!  Increasing the value of your home can cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars to thousands of dollars, or even more. The amount of money you spend to make these improvements is completely up to you, as the homeowner.

You can start by having a home inspector come out to the home to inspect areas that you do not access on a regular basis. The inspector will be able to let you know if there is a problem with the roof, plumbing, electrical, and other structural things that could go undetected for a long period of time. Fixing a small problem now will help save money on a bigger project. Even a small hidden water leak can decrease the value of your home.

Speaking of inspections, it can also be a good idea to have the home inspected for termites. Finding a termite problem early is the best way to keep them from causing bigger problems later.

Adding fresh paint throughout the house is a cost-effective way to add value to your home. A gallon of paint costs about $25 per gallon. If you’re not sure on which color to pick, you can always ask an interior designer to come out to the home and give you some tips of colors and other ways to make improvements to your home. Some of them will come out for a flat-fee while others charge an hourly fee.

Updating appliances to more energy-efficient appliances can help save on energy costs and will add value to your home. Also updating light fixtures, faucets, worn area runs, or replacing old carpet are all great ways to increase your home’s value.

Replacing older windows throughout the home with impact-resistant windows is another great way to add value to your home. Especially if you live in an area that is prone to hurricanes and tropical storms. These windows help guard against damage from high winds, heavy rains and flying debris that come along with these storms. In turn, it is saving your investment from damages that will need to be repaired after the storm has passed. Also, if you decide to sell the home later, buyers are more attracted to homes that have these types of windows installed and are more likely to pay a higher price for the home. East Coast Windows has a variety of impact-resistant windows and they deal with several local manufactures. All of their products are in compliance with the Miami/Dade and state regulated codes. If you are ready to replace your existing windows with impact-resistant windows give their sales team a call today to set up an appointment.

 

 

Staying Safe While Traveling to Hurricane-Prone Areas

Hurricane Depressed Lady

Hurricane Depressed LadyHurricane-prone areas like Florida attracted almost 113 million visitors in 2016. Florida remains a top destination even though surveys reveal that many travelers are concerned about safety and security. On top of that, their family and friends also tend to voice their concerns. Here’s what you can do to ease these fears.

Hurricane Policies

Many hotels and tourist accommodation options offer a hurricane policy. A hurricane policy involves rebooking options, early check-outs without penalty, no penalty cancellations, and refunds. You should inquire about the policy before making your reservation because some hotels will offer re-booking rather than refund, and specific rebooking terms.

Part of the hurricane policy should include an evacuation plan. Florida business owners are adept at caring for their guests and visitors. Almost all if not all will have an evacuation plan that includes assistance with transportation to a safer area or local shelter.

More important is the reinforcement of the structure in the event of a strong storm. This includes window hurricane shutters, wind breakers, protection from flying debris and broken glass, well-trained staff, and back-up generators.

Back-Up Plans

During a calamity, it is normal for prices to jack up and supplies to run low. Once you know that a storm is coming your way, do not rely on the hotel to provide for all your needs. Take time to buy emergency supplies like flashlight, batteries, backup phone battery, some food and water, and a first aid kit. Even if the hotel can provide all these, chances are the staff will be very busy and understandably there may be a delay in the delivery of services. It is also possible that local residents will book in local hotels to ride out the storm.

Get Insurance

Aside from travel insurance, it would be a good idea to secure hurricane insurance. You will need to buy this kind of insurance before any announcement of a coming storm otherwise your coverage will be severely limited.

Clues to know when buying hurricane and travel insurance:

  • Buy if you are traveling during hurricane season which is from June to November
  • Look for insurance coverage that includes trip cancellation, delays in transit
  • Make sure the insurance covers severe weather or has a plan that includes (National Hurricane Center (NOAA) warning

Finally, talk to your airline or travel agency about their severe weather policy and adjust your insurance accordingly.

Understanding Your Energy Efficient Impact Windows

Three large window Energy efficiency is a modern term that refers to anything that can reduce your consumption of power and ease the cost of your cooling and heating system. According to the US Energy Information Administration, there are distinct differences between being able to conserve energy and being energy efficient.

Being able to conserve energy refers to your behavior in using energy like shutting off appliances when no one is using it and recycling. Being energy efficient is using technology that allows you to consume less energy while doing the same function, like shifting to a compact fluorescent bulb instead of using an incandescent light bulb.

The average American household uses around 10,812 kWh a year or 901 kWh a month based on 2015 figures. There is a collective effort among many Americans to lower energy costs by being more energy efficient.

One way is by changing your windows to impact windows. However, before you embark on this worthy renovation that will improve the value of your property and your energy efficiency, it is important to know more about why impact windows are the most energy efficient solutions for your windows.

Impact windows have a very low to zero air leakage which means cold air can’t escape and vice versa. You have more control over your room temperature compared to installing window tint. With low to zero air leakage, any cooling or heating system you have for room temperature will not have to work harder to achieve your desired temperature – and this means lower consumption. The range for leakage is 0.1 to 0.3.

The U-factor is lower with impact windows and the lower this figure is, the more efficient it is. U-factor refers to the insulation of the window that affects hot or cold air loss. The U-factor range is 0.2 to 1.2.

Solar heat gain coefficient or SHGC is another way to measure energy efficiency. This measures how well the impact windows can resist unwanted heat gain. Again, the lower the number, the more efficient your energy consumption will be. The range for SHGC is 0 – 1.

When you want to know how much light is filtered through your windows, refer to the visible transmittance value. This value will help you save on artificial lighting and other aspects of interior design such as floor treatment, furniture, and window treatment. The range for visible transmittance is 0-1.

Finally, aside from being energy efficient, these impact windows can also block UV rays by as much as 99%. This means you can avoid harmful rays that can cause skin burns and cancer especially for children below six months of age.