Category: Home Remodeling

It’s that time of year again! First comes Thanksgiving, then it’s off to the races for some Holiday shopping with so many shopping events to choose from! Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and then all the countless sales that happen before the big Holidays.

But do you support small businesses by shopping small? If you already do, or are thinking about supporting local businesses this Holiday season, then get ready for Small Business Saturday.

When you shop small, not only do you help your neighbor support his family, but there are many benefits to both you and your community. Here are just a few…

1. When you shop local you can enjoy higher quality products and services.  Have you ever had an idea for a product or service that would you thought would make your community better? Well, that is the driving force behind every locally owned business. They took their ideas and ran with them, and fully committed to their mission to serve their community. Because of this, they take pride in their product and/or service and strive to give you the best shopping experience possible.

2. Keep more money in your local economy.  Did you know when you shop with locally owned businesses more of your money stays in your community? It’s true! It’s estimated that $68 of every $100 stays in your community when you shop small, whereas only $43 of every $100 spent at larger stores stay in your area.

3. Local businesses tend to be more reliable. We’re not talking about customer service (although we’ll get to that in a minute), we’re talking about companies being there for you when you need them. You may notice a trend with bigger businesses and chain stores closing your favorite store even though they always have a line out the door, simply because it’s not as lucrative as other locations. This is just one way that big businesses cut costs at the expense of the consumer. With small businesses, as long as they have support from their community, they are here to stay and will go above and beyond to stay loyal to their customer base.

4. Locally owned businesses bring in more jobs and better wages.  Remember when we talked about how locally owned small businesses have better products because they care about their community? Well, the same idea applies when it comes to employment and wages as well. You see, small business owners have a vision to improve their community through their products and service, and when employing workers, they apply the same principle. They want to improve the lives of the people that work for them and they treat them like family. So why is this good for you? Not only does it improve the local economy, but it also creates a worker that is happy, takes pride in their work, and strives to provide the best service possible.

5. Expect stellar customer service.  We’ve all had horrible customer service experiences, most of the time with bigger companies or chain stores. When you call their company for help, you tend to get passed around from person to person until you finally end up talking to someone that you don’t even understand. But not with small, local businesses. When you shop small, you will find that most of the time their customer service is handled in-house by their friendly staff. Because they care about their community and their staff is treated like family, you will be pleasantly surprised to find that they strive to provide the best customer service possible.

This Holiday season, we hope you will consider shopping small. A great way to do this is to celebrate Small Business Saturday, which will be held on November 30th, 2019.

Happy Holidays!

In our opinion, Florida is the best place to live on Earth!  The weather is amazing all year round, you’re always close to a beach, great cuisine, and so much more.

However, living in this climate means having to endure the heat that comes during the summer months, and with the heat comes higher electric bills.  But did you know there are ways you can save on your heating and cooling costs?

The most effective way we know of is to replace your outdated, drafty windows with energy efficient impact windows.  Since 10-25% of your heating and cooling bill goes to compensate for heat being let in by your windows, you will see a return in your investment immediately.  And not only do impact windows reduce your bill by keeping the hot air outside, but they also keep the harmful rays from coming in too.

So how exactly do our windows reduce heat?  Here are just a few of our window features that help:

• laminated insulating glass
• low-E coatings
• high quality framing materials
• at least 2 panes of glass
• spacers between panes

When you’re ready to save money on your heating and cooling costs, give our friendly staff at East Coast Windows a call and request a free estimate.  We will come out to your property, discuss what you’re looking for, and give you the best options to fit your design ideas and energy saving goals.

Happy Fall! Time to break out the pumpkin spice, jackets, and boots. Although here in South Florida the cool down isn’t as significant as most places in the United States, we still love to get festive.

These tips will really spice up your fall decor and give you that warm, cozy feel that we always get when we think about the fall season. So snuggle up with your pumpkin spice latte and let your decorating imagination go wild.

Upgrade your plates. No matter what your favorite fall center piece happens to be, adding some metal accents to your plates will really emphasize the fall feel at your dinner table.

Play with color. When most people hear the words “fall decor,” they immediately think of brown, orange, yellow, and maybe even a little red, but we like to think outside the box. Adding colors like gold and purple will really make your fall decor pop!

Light it up. White string lights are not just for the Holidays. They can also bring a cozy but appealing look to your fall decor too! Get creative by putting them on the walls where your decorations are, or even play with scattering them around your accent pieces.

Go natural.  So we’ve mentioned making your colors pop, and adding some lights, but sometimes you just can’t forget about the classics. When you throw in natural elements like pumpkins, apples, or seasonal flowers into the mix, everything can come together beautifully.

Don’t forget the porch decor.  No matter what season, the front porch is always the first thing your guests see when they come to your home. Start the fall feel outside by adding some pumpkins and seasonal flowers. Special touches like having the flowers in a rustic pot, or incorporating a variety of colored pumpkins and gourds will really give your front porch decor a special flare.

Even if you’re not the best decorator, incorporating just a few or all of these simple tips into your decor this fall will put you on the right track to becoming a decorating pro this fall season!

If your windows or sliding glass doors are in need of replacing, there is no better time to have the work completed than during the Spring season.

There are many reasons that Spring is the perfect time to have your windows replaced.

The conditions are perfect… literally!  The materials used to replace the windows, such as vinyl and aluminum, can expand in warmer weather and contract in colder temperatures. Another material that is directly impacted by the temperature is caulk. If caulking takes place when the weather is cold, the caulk could crack and/or split. Waiting for summer is also not a good idea when it comes to caulking. In hot temperatures, caulk may not cure properly. The perfect temperature to apply caulk is typically between 40 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

The weather is perfect.  One obvious reason that Spring is the ideal time to replace your windows is the weather itself! If you replace your windows during the winter months, you will be letting in tons of cold air into your home and most likely be turning on the heat, and therefore increasing your energy bill. On the other end of the spectrum, if you replace your window during the scorching summer months, you will be letting in hot air into your house, and most likely cranking up your air conditioner!

It’s the perfect time to change the look of your home. When it comes to aesthetics, what better time is there than Spring to give your home (including windows) a new facelift! It is also the time when you may notice that your windows need replacing in the first place! Many people notice their windows or framing are deteriorating when they are doing their annual Spring cleaning. It may have been a while since you have even tried to open your windows, especially if you live in a climate with snow and freezing temperatures during the winter months. So you may even notice that your windows are not opening and closing easily, or perhaps they are even stuck.

As you may know there are many benefits to replacing your windows, no matter what the season. These include aesthetics, energy efficiency and addressing maintenance issues. So if those reasons are causing window replacement to be on your to-do list, the Spring season is the perfect time to get the work done and cross the task off your list!

If you are looking for a contractor to make repairs or replacements to your home or business, you want to make sure you are choosing someone who is licensed, insured, and experienced. You also want to make sure you are choosing someone who is competent, and reasonably priced.

So how can you find a contractor you can trust?

 Read Reviews.

Yelp, Angie’s List, Consumer Reports, and the Better Business Bureau are great places to start when searching for the right contractor.

Ask for Recommendations.

Start with people you know who have had similar work done and were satisfied with the results. You can also ask your insurance company for recommendations, the Chamber of Commerce, your homeowners association, neighbors, colleagues or friends.

Interview Contractors.

There is nothing wrong with asking questions when looking for the right contractor. Ask them how long they expect the work to take from beginning to end, how long they have been in business, how many similar jobs they have completed. You may even want see examples of previous work they have done or ask for references.

Request Multiple Bids.

When you decide to do a big project, like upgrading your windows, it is always best to get bids from different contractors.  We recommend getting at least 3 bids.  This will not only help you get the best price, but shopping around and talking to several potential contractors will give you a better idea of who you will really be working with.  You may even decide to go with a bid that is not the lowest because you feel they will do a better job.

Also be on the lookout for warning signs or “red flags” telling you that your potential contractor may not be reputable. Asking for all of the money in advance or refusing to provide references can be red flags. Trust your gut and make sure you are not being pressured.

Finding the right contractor for your next project can be challenging, but is worth the time and effort. After all, you want to make sure everything is done correctly the first time. You also want to make sure you are getting the best value for your money. Making repairs to your home or business is an investment that should raise the value of your property for years to come.

If you are considering replacing your sliding glass door, you may be a little overwhelmed with your options.

The two main choices you have are Sliding Glass Doors and French Doors.  So what are the pros and cons for each of these options?

Sliding Glass Doors

If you love the look of your existing sliding glass doors but they need to be replaced, then simply replacing your sliding glass doors with a new set may be the best option for you. An added benefit of replacing or having new sliding glass doors is that they will probably be more energy efficient than your current doors. The newer sliding glass doors, just like the newer regular windows, are made with more energy-efficient materials.

Really the only con to choosing new sliding glass doors, is not having an aesthetic change if that was what you were seeking.

French Doors

Many people want to switch to French Doors simply because they are beautiful and they open easily without sliding them along a track. These are both valid reasons for making the change!

However, if you have limited space in the room under consideration, you may want to consider staying with sliding glass doors. When French doors are opened, more space will be taken than with doors that simply slide open. Also, if you were hoping for screens behind your glass doors, keep in mind that screens do not usually accompany French doors.

Before making your final decision, be sure to do your research and consult a professional. Certain space requirements may limit your choices.

When it comes to windows, condominium owners may have different needs than house owners.

For starters, many condominium units often are required to look the same on the outside, meaning you may not be able to choose just any type of window you want. So before replacing the windows in your condominium, be sure to check with your condominium association to see if you are limited to a specific window or design.

Second of all, depending on the height of your building and floor level of your unit, you may also be limited on the company you can use to install your new windows. Higher rise buildings may also have different material standards, or different fire code requirements. Check with your association or city to be sure you are meeting the correct requirements for your new windows.

If your association informs you that you are welcome to choose the windows for condo, here are some tips on the right ones to choose:

• If you reside in a low-rise building, or have smaller-sized windows, you will probably be advised to use vinyl windows. This is because vinyl windows are good at resisting heat and corrosive environments.
• If you live in a mid-rise or high-rise condominium building, you may be advised to choose windows with aluminum frames. This is because aluminum-framed windows are strong and durable due to the fact they are manufactured to meet higher wind pressures..

No matter what you choose, remember to check with the requirements for your current association and city.

If you are considering adding French doors to your home, you may be wondering, “Are there any benefits to having these beautiful doors?” This is why we have compiled a list of some benefits of installing French doors to your house.

1. Utility bills may decrease.

Having French doors in your home usually leads to a reduction in your heating and cooling bills. For example, by simply replacing a sliding glass door with French doors, you will be maximizing air retention. This is because they take less time than sliding glass doors to open and close, which will decrease the amount of air that escapes from your home.

2. Admittance.

One benefit is the greater access, or admittance, they would provide. French doors add double-doors in your home to wherever the French doors are installed. This makes it easier to move large items or furniture in or out of your home. They are also perfect when entertaining, especially if you want to welcome larger groups of people in to your home at the same time.

3. Aesthetics.

Another benefit of French doors is their aesthetics. French doors are beautiful. Wherever they are in your home, they will quickly become the focal point. And when choosing glass for your French doors, they also add more natural light. In addition, there are many designs to choose from when selecting French doors. Available in steel, aluminum, glass or wood, you can easily choose the design that would look best in your home. They can even give the illusion of a room having more space than it really does.

4. They add durability.

French doors come in various materials. If you choose a durable material for your French doors, they are often even hurricane-proof.

5. Increase your home value.

Replacing your regular doors with French doors will usually increase the value of your home.

6. French doors can function as windows, too.

If you are looking to add more light into your home, installing French doors is usually less costly than adding additional windows.

Contact us today at 954-WINDOWS and see the benefits of French doors for yourself!