Uh-oh, you were gazing at your shiny new bay windows and window seat when you spotted it: mildew! If the underside of the cushions on your bay window is sporting a layer of mildew, despite the layer of foam insulating the underside of the seat, read our tips for an easy fix.
First, figure out where the moisture is coming from, because mildew needs moisture to flourish. The culprit could be warm, humid indoor air. The air condenses on the cold window seat and keeps the underside of the cushions damp, resulting in mildew. To fix it, add additional foam insulation under the seat or reduce indoor humidity. Do both to maximize the effectiveness. Another reason for mildew could be that condensation on the glass is dropping down and trickling under the pillow. In this case, reduce humidity and install storm windows.
If you have determined that condensation isn’t the problem, there could be a tiny air or water leak. The next time it rains, check around the windows and caulk the gap. If necessary, insulate it.
Another idea to combat mold is to elevate the cushions to create an air gap that will help them stay dry, and mildew-free.
Friday, May 27, 2011
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Got Bay Windows? Install a Window Seat!
Installing bay windows can do a lot more than dress up the exterior of your home. Read 3rd Avenue Window Supply’s tips for making the most of your bay windows.
• Install a window seat or a daybed! A bay window provides an alcove that is perfect for a lounge area. Once you install a bench lined with cushions, your family won’t want to leave this cozy nook. Plus, the natural light provided by the bay window will make the space bright and airy.
• Don’t have a guest room? An extra-deep window seat can double as a sofa bed for overnight guests.
• Do double duty. A two-tier built in can provide storage and seating by providing a place to house books and knickknacks and a place to sit.
• Two windows flocking an entertainment center can be augmented by two small benches that won’t interrupt the view. You can even install fold-out twin beds for additional sleeping room!
• A window seat can serve as storage in a small bedroom, doubling as an extra seat and a place to keep things.
• If your bathroom has enough space, installing a window seat with cabinetry can create a space to sit and to house towels and other items.
• Need a place to park your books? Install a bookshelf bench underneath a window. To emphasize the view, extend the seat by a foot or so on either side.
We hope this helps make the most of your custom window installations!
• Install a window seat or a daybed! A bay window provides an alcove that is perfect for a lounge area. Once you install a bench lined with cushions, your family won’t want to leave this cozy nook. Plus, the natural light provided by the bay window will make the space bright and airy.
• Don’t have a guest room? An extra-deep window seat can double as a sofa bed for overnight guests.
• Do double duty. A two-tier built in can provide storage and seating by providing a place to house books and knickknacks and a place to sit.
• Two windows flocking an entertainment center can be augmented by two small benches that won’t interrupt the view. You can even install fold-out twin beds for additional sleeping room!
• A window seat can serve as storage in a small bedroom, doubling as an extra seat and a place to keep things.
• If your bathroom has enough space, installing a window seat with cabinetry can create a space to sit and to house towels and other items.
• Need a place to park your books? Install a bookshelf bench underneath a window. To emphasize the view, extend the seat by a foot or so on either side.
We hope this helps make the most of your custom window installations!
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Choosing a Driveway Surface
Before hiring a professional for driveway installation, it is important to consider which type of surface is right for you. The surface material of your driveway should line up with the character of your home and its surrounding landscape. It should also be able to withstand road salt, snowplows and road salt and fluids (which often leak from cars).
• Standard Concrete: Although low-maintenance and easy to plow, it does break down over time if exposed to road salt and will stain.
• Pavers Concrete: These easy to install cast-concrete units come in interlocking shapes, in a range of colors. One plus is that when a paver breaks, it can be replaced on its own as opposed to tearing up the whole driveway.
• Pavers Brick: Although susceptible to weather damage, hard-fired brisk can handle traffic and is nice looking.
• Stamped Asphalt: Imitates brick (wire templates are placed into fresh asphalt to mimic the texture) but can become deformed due to pressure or heat.
• Cobblestone: Gives your house a cottagey-feel. Beware: snow-clearing is difficult and plants often crop up between the stones.
• Colored Asphalt: Pigment (which must be reapplied every 2-4 years) is dissolved in an asphalt-based sealer.
• Plain Asphalt: An aggregate and asphalt mixture over a base of gravel. Straight-looking edges are difficult to come by and it must be regularly sealed with asphalt emulsion so it doesn’t get brittle.
• Chip Seal: Has more texture and color than plain asphalt because gravel is rolled into a tacky top layer of asphalt emulsion. Warning: stones may loosen with plowing.
• Gravel Stones: Although easier on tires, it does require a border (to hold it in place) and a fabric ground cover (to prevent plants from growing through).
• Crushed Stone: This low-cost, rustic-looking material (often sandstone, shale or granite although it varies) is hard to shovel or plow. Another downside is that potholes form easily.
• Stamped Concrete: Typically stained or pigmented, the look is created when wire mats are pressed into wed concrete to imitate brick, cobblestone or slate.
• Acid-Stained Concrete: Colors fade over time, but this is a great way to give the appearance of stone without paying for it.
• Exposed Aggregate: The surface of concrete is washed to show off the color and texture of the aggregate beneath. Use an acrylic sealer to protect against snow damage.
At 3rd Avenue Window Supply, we hope this helps with your driveway installation!
• Standard Concrete: Although low-maintenance and easy to plow, it does break down over time if exposed to road salt and will stain.
• Pavers Concrete: These easy to install cast-concrete units come in interlocking shapes, in a range of colors. One plus is that when a paver breaks, it can be replaced on its own as opposed to tearing up the whole driveway.
• Pavers Brick: Although susceptible to weather damage, hard-fired brisk can handle traffic and is nice looking.
• Stamped Asphalt: Imitates brick (wire templates are placed into fresh asphalt to mimic the texture) but can become deformed due to pressure or heat.
• Cobblestone: Gives your house a cottagey-feel. Beware: snow-clearing is difficult and plants often crop up between the stones.
• Colored Asphalt: Pigment (which must be reapplied every 2-4 years) is dissolved in an asphalt-based sealer.
• Plain Asphalt: An aggregate and asphalt mixture over a base of gravel. Straight-looking edges are difficult to come by and it must be regularly sealed with asphalt emulsion so it doesn’t get brittle.
• Chip Seal: Has more texture and color than plain asphalt because gravel is rolled into a tacky top layer of asphalt emulsion. Warning: stones may loosen with plowing.
• Gravel Stones: Although easier on tires, it does require a border (to hold it in place) and a fabric ground cover (to prevent plants from growing through).
• Crushed Stone: This low-cost, rustic-looking material (often sandstone, shale or granite although it varies) is hard to shovel or plow. Another downside is that potholes form easily.
• Stamped Concrete: Typically stained or pigmented, the look is created when wire mats are pressed into wed concrete to imitate brick, cobblestone or slate.
• Acid-Stained Concrete: Colors fade over time, but this is a great way to give the appearance of stone without paying for it.
• Exposed Aggregate: The surface of concrete is washed to show off the color and texture of the aggregate beneath. Use an acrylic sealer to protect against snow damage.
At 3rd Avenue Window Supply, we hope this helps with your driveway installation!
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Windows, Windows, and More Windows
Before you even think about window installation and repair, it is important to know the ins and outs about the many different types of windows available.
• Skylight – Also called roof windows, some are fixed and some are open for ventilation. Note: in order to clean, you’ll have to climb onto the roof.
• Casement – Hinged on the right- or left-hand side, it opens outward with a crank handle and offers ample ventilation. Pluses: good noise reduction and low air-leakage. Negatives: Won’t work near a deck or walkway because it swings out.
• Awning – This is different than a casement window because it is hinged at the top. Ideal as a window near the top of a wall to provide an escape for hot air. Warning: it can’t be left open when it rains because the glass slopes downward when extended.
• Gliding – This window features a moving panel that slides to open easily. Because it doesn’t project outward, it is ideal for a space next to a patio or walkway.
• Double-Hung – Two moveable panels slide vertically to open and close at the top and bottom, creating a natural convection. If there’s a view, it may be obstructed by the horizontal rail.
• Fixed/Picture – Offers unobstructed views but doesn’t open. Comes in many shapes and is ideal for brightening up a dark space if small and showcasing a view if large. Remember, it doesn’t provide ventilation.
We hope this helps with all of your custom window needs!
• Skylight – Also called roof windows, some are fixed and some are open for ventilation. Note: in order to clean, you’ll have to climb onto the roof.
• Casement – Hinged on the right- or left-hand side, it opens outward with a crank handle and offers ample ventilation. Pluses: good noise reduction and low air-leakage. Negatives: Won’t work near a deck or walkway because it swings out.
• Awning – This is different than a casement window because it is hinged at the top. Ideal as a window near the top of a wall to provide an escape for hot air. Warning: it can’t be left open when it rains because the glass slopes downward when extended.
• Gliding – This window features a moving panel that slides to open easily. Because it doesn’t project outward, it is ideal for a space next to a patio or walkway.
• Double-Hung – Two moveable panels slide vertically to open and close at the top and bottom, creating a natural convection. If there’s a view, it may be obstructed by the horizontal rail.
• Fixed/Picture – Offers unobstructed views but doesn’t open. Comes in many shapes and is ideal for brightening up a dark space if small and showcasing a view if large. Remember, it doesn’t provide ventilation.
We hope this helps with all of your custom window needs!
Monday, May 16, 2011
Effortlessly Create an Outdoor Dining Space
It’s almost summertime, which means it’s time to get your deck or outdoor space ready for dining al fresco! As a general contractor in New York, I have seen all sorts of outdoor spaces and am ready to share my tips for creating an outdoor dining space you will use all summer long. Read ahead:
• Perk up an old wooden dining table with a colorful table runner. You can also link three table runners together to make a striped tablecloth.
• Place an iron gate around your dining space for a restaurant feel. It will create a sense of intimacy and separate the space from the rest of your yard.
• If your outdoor dining space sits outside of a window, switch plain glass for stained-glass that can act as artwork.
• Make a candle wall by stacking candles on a trellis-like decking platform.
• If you’re having a party, lay down a colorful rug (make sure it’s all-weather!) to define a separate space for cocktails before dinner.
• Use a colorful umbrella as a makeshift roof that will delineate the dining space and shield you from the sun.
• Add color in the form of mildew-resistant cushions. After a meal, you can wipe them clean!
• Scour your house (attic and basement included!) for items that can take indirect exposure to weather—like items made out of iron and sisal.
• Perk up an old wooden dining table with a colorful table runner. You can also link three table runners together to make a striped tablecloth.
• Place an iron gate around your dining space for a restaurant feel. It will create a sense of intimacy and separate the space from the rest of your yard.
• If your outdoor dining space sits outside of a window, switch plain glass for stained-glass that can act as artwork.
• Make a candle wall by stacking candles on a trellis-like decking platform.
• If you’re having a party, lay down a colorful rug (make sure it’s all-weather!) to define a separate space for cocktails before dinner.
• Use a colorful umbrella as a makeshift roof that will delineate the dining space and shield you from the sun.
• Add color in the form of mildew-resistant cushions. After a meal, you can wipe them clean!
• Scour your house (attic and basement included!) for items that can take indirect exposure to weather—like items made out of iron and sisal.
Monday, May 9, 2011
A Two-Step Guide to Measuring a Window Opening
A precise set of window measurements is required for home window installation. Take the measure of each opening at several points and use a folding rule with a slide extension for a more accurate read than a tape measure. Use our handy two-step guide to measuring a window opening so you don’t miss the mark.
1. Unfold the rule to the estimated width of the opening. Set the folded end against the inside edge of the casing and slide out the extension so it reaches the inside edge of the opposite casing. Add the measure of the extension to the number at the other end of the rule.
2. Measure the opening horizontally at the top, middle and bottom; vertically at the sides and in the middle. To make sure that the storm window or shutters won’t be too big to fit in the opening, use the smallest of the three measurements.
An inside tip from 3rd Avenue Window Supply: Measure diagonally from each top corner to the opposite corner on the bottom to check to see if an opening is square. The opening is racked if the two measurements are different.
1. Unfold the rule to the estimated width of the opening. Set the folded end against the inside edge of the casing and slide out the extension so it reaches the inside edge of the opposite casing. Add the measure of the extension to the number at the other end of the rule.
2. Measure the opening horizontally at the top, middle and bottom; vertically at the sides and in the middle. To make sure that the storm window or shutters won’t be too big to fit in the opening, use the smallest of the three measurements.
An inside tip from 3rd Avenue Window Supply: Measure diagonally from each top corner to the opposite corner on the bottom to check to see if an opening is square. The opening is racked if the two measurements are different.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Your Next DIY Project: Etched Glass
At 3rd Avenue Window Supply, we know that you’re excited about summer (we are too!). We also know that you might be looking for a little DIY project to have your house looking its best in time for the next block party. With one simple DIY project, you can really add to the “wow” factor of your home, and it doesn’t have to be as major as painting your entire house. Adding an accent feature can really make an impact on the look of your home, without making an impact on your finances!
One easy way to set your house apart is with etched glass. Most commonly seen in Victorian and Edwardian homes, acid-etched glass was developed in the mid-1800s. Although it’s initial popularity came from drinking establishments—it lets in natural light while hiding what’s inside from view—it is now prevalent in front doors and entry ways.
Today, etched designs appear on everything from windows and mirrors to glassware. Although the original chemicals used to create the look were toxic, better materials are now available. You can now achieve the frosted look using little more than etching cream and a stencil.
Doesn’t this sound like the perfect spring DIY project to usher in summer?
One easy way to set your house apart is with etched glass. Most commonly seen in Victorian and Edwardian homes, acid-etched glass was developed in the mid-1800s. Although it’s initial popularity came from drinking establishments—it lets in natural light while hiding what’s inside from view—it is now prevalent in front doors and entry ways.
Today, etched designs appear on everything from windows and mirrors to glassware. Although the original chemicals used to create the look were toxic, better materials are now available. You can now achieve the frosted look using little more than etching cream and a stencil.
Doesn’t this sound like the perfect spring DIY project to usher in summer?
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