Increase Your Curb Appeal: Upgrade Your Front Door

Upgrade Your Front Door and Increase Your Curb Appeal

What first impression is your home making? As visitors approach, do they see rustic practicality? Upscale elegance? Modern minimalism? Historical charm? A home in need of a renovation and facelift?

Try something: Go outside, stand on the curb and look at your house as if you are seeing it for the first time. What do you see? What do you feel? What do you want to change?

Siding, roofing, landscaping, windows and doors come together to create the curb appeal of your home. If tackling all those variables sounds daunting or if your home improvement budget doesn’t cover such extensive renovations, it’s okay. You can still make a lasting impact by changing just a single item: your front door.

A front door is a natural focal point for your home.  Make that focal point work for you by trading out your old, boring door for a statement piece.

There are so many materials and styles of doors to choose from and options for every budget. Hire a professional and you can focus on the fun of choosing the perfect door, not the nitty gritty details of measuring, leveling, and installing.

Ready for some inspiration?

Choose Your Front Door Material

The material you choose impacts the cost, energy efficiency, durability and security of the door.

Common exterior door material options include:

1. Aluminum

Aluminum is lightweight and relatively resilient. Aluminum doors will last a long time without the need for much maintenance. They are also inexpensive and can be painted.

Despite its strength, aluminum may weaken under high temperatures and it is a poor insulator. An aluminum front door may increase heating and cooling costs in areas prone to temperature extremes.

2. Bamboo

Bamboo is more than just a well-known flooring and textile alternative. It is also making an appearance indoors. Composite doors constructed of a blend of bamboo and jute are water and termite resistant.

Bamboo’s biodegradable nature makes it a preferred choice for homeowners seeking an environmentally friendly material.

3. Fiberglass

Choose fiberglass doors for their durability and versatility. If you are looking for a lightweight, energy efficient, sturdy door that will last a long time with minimal maintenance, fiberglass should be on the short list.

Since fiberglass is such a popular choice, these doors are readily available in many finishes and styles. Fiberglass doors can even be finished to imitate a wood grain at a fraction of the cost of real wood.

4. Glass

It may sound surprising, but glass front doors are indeed an option. Visually, they provide a stunning and unexpected look.

The trade-off with glass is the decreased durability, increased security risk and heightened maintenance concerns. The hefty weight and substantial price are also deterrents for many homeowners.

5. Steel

Steel is a trendy new door material that feels very modern with its cold, industrial vibe.  Doors made from steel are durable and need little maintenance.

Improve your home’s level of security along with its style when you opt for a robust steel door. Keep in mind that the lower the gauge, the thicker and sturdier the steel will be.

6. Vinyl

Vinyl or PVC doors are formed from a lightweight, sturdy, resilient material. If your focus is on finding the most cost-effective, effective option for a front door replacement, vinyl may be the winner.

With a vinyl door, you no longer need to worry about termites or moisture damaging your door.

7. Wood

The most historic choice for exterior doors is, of course, wood. Although wood doors are still used to lend a rustic or traditional feel to a home, this material is increasingly being adapted to have a place in modern luxury homes.

Wood feels warm and inviting. Its substantial weight makes a bold statement of strength and protection.

Choose Your Front Door Style

Congratulations – you have chosen the material for your front door. Now, what do you envision that door looking like? What style speaks to you?

If you are still figuring it out, here are some ideas to get you started:

Craftsman

Craftsman doors are a slight variation on a traditional solid hinged door. Their straight, traditional lines reflect this style’s no-nonsense Quaker roots.

Not quite sure what a Craftsman door looks like? The signature style feature is the set of 1-3 windows set on the top one-third of the door. The remaining two-thirds of the door on the bottom is solid.

A Craftsman style front door is, of course, often found in Craftsman homes. It feels classic and timeless.

Dutch

Dutch doors are, historically, a rustic choice. Dutch doors were originally designed to allow air and sunshine into farmhouses while keeping all the livestock out.

This style of door is divided horizontally so that the top half may swing open while the bottom half remains closed.

Dutch doors are still primarily made from wood as they have been for centuries.

Modern

The signature of a modern style door is its clean, unobtrusive lines accented by large, minimalistic hardware. Geometric patterns can add interest and are a simple way to make the exterior of an older home appear more contemporary.

Bamboo, steel and glass are all popular material choices for modern doors.

 

Arched

In a world where so many elements are straight, square and rectangle, an arched door adds a feeling of unexpected whimsy and historic nostalgia. Wondering where you may have seen an arched front door before? They are most common in Tudor style homes.

If you fancy an arched door, be aware that their unique shape means that they are usually custom ordered and built to fit rather than mass-produced to a standard spec size. This raises their cost.

What Do I Do Next?

You have a good idea of what material and style you would like for your new front door. So, in order to upgrade your front door, the next step is to contact a professional company, ask some final product questions and get an estimate on the cost of the door and installation.

If you are absolutely committed to installing the door yourself, read up on how to properly measure for a door prior to placing your order.

Take some before and after photos because this is a transformation that you will want to remember and share.

 

 

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https://chicagowindowguy.com/home-tips/increase-your-curb-appeal-upgrade-your-front-door/

What is the best way to clean windows?

Ask most homeowners if there is anything they dislike about their large windows, and invariably one of the top responses will be: cleaning them. This twice-yearly task is an often-dreaded part of home maintenance. Window washing sounds relatively straightforward, but professional washers use very specific techniques.

Very few people know the best way to clean windows.

Too many homeowners have invested time and effort into cleaning their windows only to realize on the next sunny day that streaks and grime still mar their view.

Don’t be one of these unfortunate homeowners. Learn from others’ mistakes and set yourself up for success when you put into practice these tried and true window cleaning tips:

Use the best window cleaning solution

To fully remove built-up dirt and grime from your windows, you need to use the right cleaning solution. The best window cleaning solutions are heavy-duty enough to provide results yet gentle enough to not damage window frames, trim or your home’s siding.

Commercial solutions are available, but not necessary. Homemade solutions are inexpensive, more environmentally friendly and easy to make.

The most effective DIY window cleaner has just three everyday ingredients:

• Water
• White vinegar
• Dish detergent

Vinegar, especially white vinegar, is acidic. The acid helps to loosen stuck on dirt, tree pitch, and residue from previous cleaners. It also helps to minimize and avoid streaks.

Many DIY cleaner recipes use water and vinegar. However, the addition of dish detergent is critical to window cleaning success. The dish detergent contains soap which acts as an emulsifier. The soap helps lift the loosened debris and allow it, as well as oils, to mix with the water. The whole mixture can then be rinsed off leaving behind a sparkling clean window pane.

To make your window cleaner:

• In a large bucket, mix 1 part white vinegar and eight parts water.
• Add roughly one teaspoon of dish detergent for every 4 cups of water.

Use the most effective window cleaning tools

Before getting started on your window cleaning project, ensure you have all the tools and equipment you will need.

The basics include:

• One bucket of window cleaning solution (either homemade or commercial)
• One bottle of general household cleaner (safe for use on your interior and exterior window frame materials)
• Natural sponge
• Microfiber strip applicator/window scrubber (able to be placed on extension pole if needed)
• High-quality rubber-edged squeegee (able to be placed on extension pole if needed)
• Chamois cloth(s)
• Lint-free cloth(s)
• Soft-bristle brush
• Squeegee extension pole (if needed for tall or second story windows)
• Ladder (if needed for tall or second story windows)

Choose the right day to clean

The first tip professional window cleaners will give to schedule your cleaning for a cloudy day or a time of day when the windows are not in direct sunlight. The faster the window dries, the higher the likelihood that the cleaner will dry on the window before you can remove it.

Don’t skip the prep work

It is tempting to dive right into cleaning the glass because, after all, that is the part of your windows that is generally most noticeably dirty.

Before tackling the glass, turn your attention to everything surrounding the glass.

Your interior window frames are likely coated in a layer of dust. Exterior frames may have cobwebs, leaves, dirt and other debris wedged in the corners. Take care of these issues first so that you don’t drag extra dirt onto the panes when you are cleaning them.

Use the soft-bristle brush to remove debris from your exterior frame gently. Wipe both the interior and exterior frames using a lint-free cloth and household cleaner.

Now that your frames are clean, it is time to move on to washing your windows.

Learn your technique from the pros

Expert window washers make their technique look like a fluid dance. Watch them in action, and you will see that the best professionals don’t move their applicators and squeegees at right angles, but instead use an “s” or “snake” pattern that helps prevent streaking.

The basic window washing process used by the pros is:

1. Apply cleaning solution and scrub away dirt using the microfiber strip applicator/window scrubber (for picture windows) or natural sponge (for multi-pane windows).
2. Remove cleaning solution using a wet squeegee and an s/snake pattern.
   • Using a wet squeegee instead of a dry one will help keep it from skipping on the glass.
3. Use a chamois cloth to soak up any residual water in the corners of the window.

Remember to clean all parts of the windows, not just the panes

The panes are the first place we notice dirt since we look through the glass. That doesn’t mean that we are done cleaning once the glass is sparkling.

The act of window cleaning is more all-encompassing than that. The next time you tackle window cleaning, go the distance and remember these often-forgotten areas:

• Blinds
  • Clean with simple tongs and microfiber towels trick that saves a lot of time and headache
• Window treatments
  • Wash and dry
• Hardware
  • Dust and lightly oil if needed
• Tracks
  • Vacuum
  • Clean using household cleaner and a foam paintbrush of the same diameter as your track depth
  • Lightly oil if needed
• Screens
  • Remove dust with a lint roller

Use this opportunity to check for any maintenance needs

Pair your semiannual window cleanings with your spring and fall window inspections. While you are cleaning the windows and frames, be alert for any of the signs that your window seals have failed or that your windows need to be replaced or repaired.

Taking the time for proper cleaning and maintenance will pay dividends by improving the look of your home and extending the life of your windows.

Mix up some cleaning solution, order yourself a deluxe squeegee and start practicing those “s” patterns. Your windows will thank you.

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https://chicagowindowguy.com/home-tips/best-way-to-clean-windows/