Purchasing replacement windows will put money back into your pocket if you choose to replace your old existing windows with new energy-efficient windows. You will especially notice a difference during the hot summer months and cold winter months.

It’s important to remember your current location and the design and layout of your home. This plays a major role on the style and selection of energy-efficient windows you select for your home.

A family living in the northern region will need different windows than a family living in the southern region. The environment and climate conditions are entirely different, and windows will need to serve each purpose.

The windows you select should be purchased by the design of your home. The direction and size of the windows are more important than one would think.

In hot or heat dominated regions, windows facing south should be heavily glazed. This is done to make efficient use of solar heat during the cold and bitter winter months. The windows should also possess a solar heat gain co-efficient of more than .6 but a U-factor of less than .35 to assure heat transfer is reduced during the hot and humid summer months.

Those who live in cooling dominated regions should focus on the north-facing windows. It is a good idea to have the windows facing the south shaded by trees, bushes and porches to minimize the sunlight and heat. Tinted or reflective windows are not suggested for these climates. It has been suggested they reduce the SHGC and allow more heat in during the spring and summer months.

In the regions where temperature fluctuates higher, wooden frames should be avoided. This has been suggested because the materials have been known to expand and contract. Wood laminate window frames are a better option and maintain the same aesthetic appeal.

If you live in heat-dominated regions, glass-filled windows are the best choice. They provide better insulation and considerably reduce the U-factor. Tinted glass is popular and a good choice. The only downside to tinted glass is it can cause indoor plants to die due to the lack of sunlight.

Glaze glass is another good choice. They have multiple panes of glass. Such types of glass are recommended for cooler climate regions. However, the cost of double-pane or triple-pane windows is much higher than single-pain windows, but they last indefinitely and dramatically reduce cooling costs in the hot summer months.

Before making any quick decisions you should consider the variety of glass before buying energy efficient windows. This is what will determine the amount of energy you conserve. Whatever your choice may be, remember to always take into consideration the available options and select one that best fits your needs.

Article originally published here: http://www.homeremodelingct.org/connecticut-contractors/36-windows-doors/140-tips-for-purchasing-energyefficient-windows.htm

Tags: Budget Friendly, Energy Efficiency, Home Improvement by iwellbc
Comments Off

When it comes to transforming your basement into a gameroom, the possibilities are truly endless.  After enlisting the help of a basement finishing contractor, the fun begins.  Do you want a theme room, like your favorite sport, a casino lounge, or pub decor?  To be wise, it is best to avoid a cluster of posters, street signs, and beer logos.  You don’t want your final, finished space to look like an adolescent bedroom.  Even if you do not want a single theme, a gameroom should be well put together and organized, with a professional design.

For lighting, consider touch lamps, clap machines, and hanging florescent fixtures over any game tables.  You might want to invest in pub lamps or lava lights.  For game rooms with a bar, look for lights that advertise your favorite drink or pub fare.  Vintage and antique machines are available if you are willing to pay extra.  Or if you’re thinking beach bar, buy some Tiki lamps and rattan bar stools.  You want to be strategic with the lighting in your basement gameroom.  Games like pool and ping-pong need a fairly bright light.  Arcade machines will light themselves.  Dim or colored bulbs will be great on top of the bar, or in a fixture above a poker table.

Will the gameroom be for adults, or will kids be joining in the fun?  It is wise to get mixed age-appropriate activities.  A real poker table is great for adult-night, so it is best to distract the kids with an arts and crafts table, indoor hockey net, bowling set, basketball hoop, or board game area.  Otherwise, kids will be too tempted by the adult game fun.

Wall color schemes for basement gamerooms include the use of complimentary colors.  These are two colors on opposite ends of the color wheel that create a striking affect.  Complimentary colors are often used on sports uniforms—blue and orange, purple and yellow, green and red.  It is best to use the darker color as trim, and the lighter color on the main wall.  The lighter color will make your pictures, clocks, and signs stand out more.  Or try a large diamond-shaped design across the walls.  Create a geometric mural if you are artistically inclined.  Paint your favorite arcade character, sports star, or muscle car.

You can always mask the functional components of your basement with moveable paneling if you want to hide a rattling furnace and water heater.  An unfinished ceiling will have an industrial effect, or install panels and a handsome ceiling fan for ventilation.  You can still access any pipes or ceiling ducts with drop ceiling panels.

A basement gameroom has fun meeting functionality, and who can argue with that?  A finished basement will also significantly raise the price of your home.

Article originally published here: http://www.totalbasementfinishing.com/basement-finishing/basement-finishing-ideas/articles/turning-a-basement-into-a-gameroom

Tags: Home Remodeling, basement, remodeling by iwellbc
Comments Off