Decorative Window Film: The Basics

Decorative window film is a very thin sheet of vinyl that will transform just about any plain old window into something worth a second glance. It is an affordable way to brighten up a room while simultaneously creating a diffuse, ambient light. Decorative window film is available in many different styles and colors; it is perfect for those looking for an inexpensive and attractive accent that is sure to be noticed.

Styles of Decorative Window Film
Though you’re sure to find a wide variety of designs, window film that mimics actual decorative glass is the most prominent. Film that has the appearance of stained glass or etched glass is very popular because of its traditional and classic aesthetic. Having a stained glass or etched glass windowpane installed could add up to big bucks and, unless you’re happy to throw that money away, the results are permanent. With decorative window film, if you don’t like what you see after a year or two, it is easily removed (plus, you didn’t spend an arm and a leg putting it there in the first place).

Etched and stained glass are not the only options available, however. People with a taste for flare might consider window film that looks like a mural or painting. There are even textured films that are designed to have the look and feel of block glass (another pretty penny if you wanted to have it installed).

Window Film for Privacy
One of the most attractive reasons to install decorative window film actually has very little to do with decoration. In spaces where you don’t want the outside looking in, many window films are designed to not only look good, but to provide privacy as well.

One place where the need for privacy truly comes into play is the bathroom. For a fraction of the price of installing frosted glass, you can frost your own bathroom windows. Since window film is made for moisture resistance, you’re sure to have the privacy you need for as long as you want. 

Affordable Xcellence Window & Door | Gilbert, Arizona | (480) 907-6600 | www.axaz.net

Replacing Sliding Doors

Replacing sliding glass doors is a home improvement project that comes up often, especially in older homes.  Before energy efficiency become a priority, and before technology improved building materials, sliding glass doors were some of the most inefficient aspects of a home.  In fact, an older sliding glass door that faced the wrong direction was alsmost like not having a barrier there at all.  All that being said, replacing sliding glass doors can beautify your home and do wonders when it comes to improving your home’s energy efficiency.

Your Replacement Options Are . . .
The thing about replacing sliding glass doors is that you’re going to have to decide what to replace them with. Fortunately, there are a number of very attractive, and efficient, patio door options to choose from. However, don’t be fooled into thinking that sliding glass door replacement an easy process that any homeowner can tackle. Installing doors is tricky business, and you’ll want a professional on your side.

• French Doors—Double French doors are beautiful, and can be a wonderful addition when replacing sliding glass doors. There are a few drawbacks to a French door, however, the first of those has to do with space considerations. When you want to leave the doors open, they take up valuable living space, and they can also restrict areas where you might otherwise place furniture. Also, French doors do not generally have screens, which can be an issue if you like to leave your doors open to encourage air circulation in pleasant weather.
• Patio Doors—A great alternative to double French doors are center swing patio doors. They look exactly like two French doors sitting side by side, but one side is fixed and does not open. The other door swings open back against the fixed panel, saving valuable wall space. Not only do most brands of center swing doors come with a sliding screen, but they are also less expensive than double French doors when it comes to final cost.
• Sliding Patio Doors—Finally, it might sound like a crazy suggestion if you’re dead set on replacing sliding glass doors, but you may want to consider newer sliding glass doors, or sliding patio doors, for your door replacement. New sliding glass doors are made with the same energy efficient standards and options that are available with the most cutting edge windows, so that draft you’re trying to get rid of will be a thing of the past. And if you like sliding doors, but don’t like the cheaper appearance of sliding glass doors, think about replacing sliding glass doors with sliding patio doors, instead. Seems like a matter of semantics, but sliding patio doors, and all the craftsmanship and design possibilities of French and swinging doors, are some of the most beautiful, head turning door designs currently on the market.

Talk to an Expert about Sliding Glass Door Replacement
If you’re thinking about sliding glass door replacement and improving your home’s energy efficiency, contact Affordable Xcellence Window & Door about which door design is going to be best for your home design and personal needs.

Affordable Xcellence Window & Door, Gilbert, Arizona 85233 | (480) 907-6600

Visit us on the web: http://www.axaz.net

Low-E Windows (Advantages, Efficiency, Cost vs. Value)

Natural light is always an asset in any home. The more sun you have coming in through skylights and large windows, the more open and inviting a space will appear. Also, when you have the sun working for you full time, it cuts down on daytime energy costs. However, whenever you open up your house to the outdoors, you’re also making yourself vulnerable to exterior threats. In this case, the more daylight you have in the home, the more you risk overexposure to the sun. Solar gain, heat loss, and UV infiltration will always be an issue when it comes to natural light. Therefore, when installing new panes in your house, it’s always a good idea to invest in low-e windows.

What Is a Low-e Window?
A low-e glass window (which stands for low emissivity) is simply a windowpane coated in microscopic layers of metallic oxides. The coating appears invisible to the naked eye, allowing as much natural light into the house as possible. However, though transparent, this coating also protects your home from unwanted UV rays which can burn your skin, fade your carpets, and damage your furniture. Plus, it also helps to control radiant heat (infrared light) as it enters and leaves a room. In other words, it keeps your house warmer in the winter by reflecting certain segments of the sun’s light spectrum back into the home, and cooler in the summer by reflecting particular sections outside. This saves on unnecessary utility expenses while creating a more comfortable living environment.

So Where Is It?
This metallic oxide layer can be applied to a few different areas. If it’s a soft coating, it’ll be on the interior surface of the pane. Soft coats are actually very strong in terms of their reflective capabilities, making them very energy efficient, however they can’t hold up under extreme physical conditions so they have to be on the inside. Hard coats are less efficient but can withstand the elements, and therefore are commonly layered on the outside surface of storm windows. However, the most common application area is in between the two panels of a double-pane window. It’s not actually a coating so much as a thin sheet suspended in the middle of the panes; so it not only acts as a reflective low-e window but also as a form of thermal insulation against drafts and heat loss. In other words, this sheet can effectively turn a double-pane into a triple-pane, and this insulation can be further supplemented with the addition of inert argon gas for even more R-value.

 How Does It Heat the Home?
When first invented in the 80s, low-e windows only came in one variety for one purpose: to keep in the infrared light. It was originally intended for cold-weather climates, such as the Northern or Midwestern regions of the country. They were designed to let in as much light as possible and to reflect the solar radiance back into the room when the heat tried to escape out the windowpanes. Therefore, the glaze acts as an insulator, trapping the warmth in a building. In fact, if you stand near a low-e window you could possibly feel the heat bouncing off the pane, even in the winter. This cuts down on energy bills and it keeps the glass constantly warm, which reduces condensation buildup on icy days.

But What about the Summer?
About twenty years ago, people in warmer climates got jealous. The South wondered why Northerners got all the energy efficiency when they were down there sweating. So now low-e glass windows not only keep the heat in during December, they can also reflect it back out during July. Spectrally selective glazings are now being made for these warmer regions; they literally pick out and refuse entry to certain portions of the light spectrum. They therefore allow less infrared light (radiant heat) to enter a home, keeping it cooler during those summer months and helping to decrease AC costs.

Who Do I Ask?
Low-e windows are definitely worth the investment. They almost come standard now, but if you’re remodeling an older house, these glazes can save you some serious money down the road. But there are all kinds of efficiency codes around the U.S. and they all vary depending upon your particular environment. So as you investigate low-e glass window coatings and films, you’ll definitely want to hire a professional who can not only install the units but can also give you advice about which models will work best for your specific area in terms of durability, application, location, strength, and overall efficacy.

Affordable Xcellence Window & Door, Gilbert, AZ (480) 907-6600 – www.axaz.net.