Summertime Window Maintenance

window maintenance

The sun is shining, the birds are singing, it’s summertime! Did you know that as we are exposed to more sunlight in the summer, we are biologically inclined to have more energy and want to spruce up our homes? Speaking of more sunlight exposure, let’s have a look at those windows and doors! Looking a little rough around the edges? This is the perfect time to perform regular window maintenance on your home.

Let’s break the seasonal window maintenance down into 3 steps.

1. Clean the window frame.

Wipe the window or door frame, sash and track. Inspect wooden frames for signs of wood rot, which will look like decaying wood, particularly around the corners. Consult with a professional to tackle this issue. Clean the weatherstripping and inspect it to make sure it is still intact. Vacuum and wipe the threshold of each doorway to make sure each is swinging smoothly. Just as important but often overlooked are your sliding glass doors. Examine those for cracks and make sure the panes are free of moisture and leaks.

2. Wash the window glass.

Start by wiping off loose dirt with a dry cloth, being careful not to scratch the surface. Then use a mild cleaning solution. This is a great time to check the glass for damage that can occur during the winter such as cracks, discoloration, or moisture in the glass panes. Moisture between the panes should be addressed as soon as possible as it can often be repaired at half the cost of full window replacement if done in a timely manner.

3. Test the window hardware.

This is also for security purposes! Check all windows and doors to make sure the hardware is working properly, opening each to check the hinges as well. Make sure all of the individual components are in working order and not broken. This should include testing sliding door tracks and making sure they are clear of debris and that the doors are gliding smoothly. Test all locks as well.

Remember…

Maintaining your home’s exterior is always a good investment of your time and money. Make regular door and window maintenance part of your routine house upkeep and you won’t regret it. And if you need help, don’t hesitate to call your local Glass Guru!

Selecting The Perfect Front Door

front door

Your front door is often the first thing people notice about your home. It adds to the charm, overall attractiveness, and welcomes family and friends. Aside from aesthetic appeal, factors such as security and durability must be taken into consideration as well. With this in mind, shouldn’t a good deal of thought go into choosing just the right front door for your home?

There are a wide array of doors designed to endure harsh elements and extreme temperatures all while giving your guests a beautiful first impression of your home.

Functionality and Choosing the Right Material

 When considering material options for your front door, functionality is of paramount importance. Functionality and durability often depend on the material from which a door is made, most commonly: wood, fiberglass composite, and steel.

 Wooden Doors

 An old favorite, wooden doors of today have come a long way from their predecessors. Today’s wooden doors are made up of a wood core coated with wood veneer and are more durable.

However, the disadvantages continue to persist. Newer wooden doors still need a considerable amount of upkeep to remain appealing and maintain functionality. Wood is particularly sensitive to heat and cold, not to mention it is extremely porous. Despite advances, wooden doors still have a tendency to eventually warp as well.

Fiberglass Doors

 By far the top choice among homeowners, fiberglass is durable as well as affordable. Unlike wooden doors, they require no maintenance and often come with a lifetime warranty. Many homeowners choose fiberglass for its resilience as well as its classic appearance.

 Steel Doors

If insulation is your biggest concern, then a steel door may be your best option. However, steel front doors are often not recommended to homeowners in humid climates because they are likely to develop rust. In addition, color options may be limited and may not coordinate perfectly with the exterior of the household.

Still Have Questions?

Our team would be glad to offer advice and answer any questions you may have about front door materials. Give us a call for expert advice!

 Don’t Forget…

Storm doors and security doors can be just the detail your front entryway is missing. Be sure to check out our full line of entry doors.

Beyond Windows – Five Ways to Make a Room Brighter

“There is nothing so terrible as wasted sunshine.” -Unknown

Your home should be an open, well-lit, and welcoming space. The place where you spend so much of your time and make so many happy memories should be a comforting and cheerful place to be. If a room doesn’t brighten your day, it may be time for an update.

 

Here are five ways to make any room brighter:

 

  1. Use Light Paint Colors

Light color is pleasing to the eye and has a naturally relaxing effect. There are many options in shades of white; but don’t limit yourself. Light blues, greens and yellows can help small spaces like bathrooms feel larger and lighter. Don’t forget the ceiling! Light-colored walls and ceilings reflect sunlight that produces an illusion of a bigger space.

  1. Add a Mirror

Placing a mirror on the wall opposite a window is a simple way to brighten a room. The mirror will receive and reflect the light coming from outdoors into your room which creates a brilliant visual effect. You’ll be saving on your utility bill while creating a lovely artistic touch to the room. Simply adding a framed mirror to a room can feel like an effortless makeover.

  1. Replace Your Windows

Window styles are constantly changing and evolving to improve and allow additional light to filter in — with style and efficiency. Replacing your window as well as adding a lighter frame can give new life to a formerly shadowy room.

  1. Forget About the Blinds

Horizontal and vertical blinds can be cumbersome, unsightly, and hard to clean. Allow natural light to fill your room and use light-colored curtains for privacy when necessary.

  1. Do Not Block the Sun

Unless you are living in Alaska or work the graveyard shift and sleep during the day, there is no need to block the sun during daylight hours! Let the sun pass through your window and flood the room. To enjoy the sun without all of the heat, explore energy-saving options like low-e glass or solar screens.

 

The Wind-Up

Remember that any improvement you make such as replacing windows, mirrors or screens is worth the investment in your home. It will not only brighten the room but improve the appeal and overall value of your home. Additionally, these enhancements will reduce heating and cooling costs and increase the comfort of your home. The Glass Guru offers a variety of window styles to accommodate your needs.

How to Remove Hard Water Stains from Shower Doors

Of all household chores, cleaning the bathroom may be the most dreaded. One aspect that can be particularly challenging is dealing with hard water stains on shower doors. Although they may sometimes seem to appear suddenly, they actually build up over time, and often no amount of scrubbing with traditional bathroom cleaners will remove these stubborn blemishes.

How do hard water stains happen?

Hard water stains occur when minerals like calcium and magnesium are dissolved in water. Water spots or limescale found on your shower door occur when droplets of hard water dry on the surface. As the water evaporates, it leaves the minerals behind. While the presence of minerals is not known to affect one’s health, it can be a real nuisance as it builds up on bathroom surfaces, which is especially noticeable on glass.

With a simple Google search you can find a number of DIY solutions to remove these stains. Most involve mixing harsh chemicals and don’t produce great results. There are also store-bought products that claim to remove spots but require an hour’s worth of elbow grease to accomplish minimal results.

What can I do about hard water stains?

The good news is, you can save yourself the hassle and money by using Glasstastic Surface Restoration and Protection products. These products offer three solutions for hard water stain removal:

The first solution is the Glasstastic Hard Water Stain Remover. This remover works faster than any other cleaning product or DIY remedy. It is the perfect solution for your shower doors. It also works on windows and other glass surfaces. There is no harsh scent and the process is simple: scrub, rub, and rinse!

The second solution is the Glasstastic Glass Guard. To prevent hard water stains from occurring again, use a protectant. Glass guard covers shower doors with a protective coating. Quick and simple, one application will go a long way toward preventing hard water stains from coming again.

The third solution is the Glasstastic Renew Surface Cleaner. For daily maintenance without harsh chemicals or squeegeeing. Just spray on and wipe off with a microfiber cloth. Glass Renew maintains the original treatment so you can longer between scrubbing.

Glasstastic Surface Restoration and Protection products were designed to make application and maintenance easier while saving you money. These are the same products our professionals use in homes and commercial sites every day. They are affordable, safe, and easy to use. Once you try the Glasstastic brand of surface restoration and protection products, your hard water stain problems will be a thing of the past!

Choosing the Right Pet Door For Your Home

Choosing the Right Pet Door

Having difficulty in choosing the perfect pet door at home? Then fret no more as the Glass Guru Franchise Systems Inc. offers top of the line pet doors that meet your needs. This company collaborates with the best pet door manufacturers and suppliers to give you that high-quality dog and cat doors that perfectly fit your existing screen, sliding glass, wood, and/or fiberglass doors at home. To select the right pet door, you must determine what type of door is used in your household as these three pet door categories, namely, in-glass pet doors, in-screen pet doors, and in-door pet doors, function effectively if installed on the right door.
In-Glass Pet Doors
Have you ever imagined a pet door directly installed on your glass door? If not, then you do not need to imagine anymore as the Glass Guru can now install pet doors on glass patio doors. The in-glass pet door is uniquely manufactured to create a clean design that compliments your existing glass patio or French door but minus the problems brought about by door inserts of full height, since these inserts block the doorway and do not seal effectively. Aside from that, you can customize your own in-glass pet door by selecting your frame color of choice. This ensures you to achieve the exact look of your perfect door while allowing freedom for your pets.

In-Screen Pet Doors
In the case of screen doors, no need to worry as the Glass Guru also offers pet doors in this type of door. The in-screen pet door, like the in-glass pet door, is also installed directly into the existing screen door of your household. This serves as a practical alternative for pets such as dogs and cats to have easy access going in and outside the home.

In-Door Pet Doors
This third pet door category works best on wood or fiberglass type of doors. Similar to the first two classifications, the Glass Guru introduces the in-door pet doors that can be installed directly into existing interior or exterior doors of your home. Unlike the other two categories, a wide range of pet door sizes can be chosen.To observe superior energy efficiency, the in-door pet doors are designed to have dual flaps in order to keep outside air out and inside air in. For pets to easily go in and out of the home without compromising the superior sealing ability of the pet door, stainless steel strikes, brush weather stripping, and magnets that are fivefold stronger than the ordinary are equipped on these pet doors.
With its partnership among well-known pet door manufacturers, the Glass Guru offers a wide selection of exceptional pet door options and brands that suit your taste regardless of the pet door type. Not only that, installers and estimators of this company are also experts in all their products. Whether in-glass, in-screen, or in-door pet doors, the Glass Guru maintains utmost customer service and satisfaction by assisting homeowners before, during, and after the installation, repair, and/or replacement of these products. The Glass Guru also delivers these pet door products in a timely, accurate, and complete manner. Because of that, rest assured that you can select the right pet door type while having them installed successfully and satisfactorily.

So what are you waiting for? Give the Glass Guru a call now to have your pet door estimated.

Glass Guru Window Restoration and Stain Removal

Glass Guru Window Restoration and Stain Removal

 

When it comes to restoration of window glass and removal of hard water stains, the Glass Guru Franchise Systems Inc. offers the best services in maintaining the integrity and aesthetic appeal of glass windows all over the USA. Aside from that, this company does more than the usual use store-bought products in terms of window cleaning.

 

To begin, windows made out of glass become easily damaged when it comes in contact with day to day offending element

s such as hard water. Hard water, also known as “water spots,” usually originates from sprinkler systems that transfer hard water droplets onto glass windows thus leaving traces of magnesium, calcium and other mineral deposits on the window surface. In the long run, these mineral deposits cause glass surface corrosion leading to window glass damage.

 

Fortunately, nearly all or specifically 95% of stains caused by hard water can be considered as an early form of glass corrosion; therefore, these stains can be easily get rid of by using The Glass Guru’s treatment in removing hard water stains. As a precautionary measure to prevent window glass corrosion from taking place, this mentioned hard water stain removal treatment must be implemented on regular intervals.

 

Aside from hard water stains, the said treatment offered by the Glass Guru also reduces scratches and structural stresses that may impair window visibility. As a result, glass windows maintain that clear visibility while allowing affordability and time convenience among homeowners.

 

Regarding window glass restoration, rest assured that technicians of The Glass Guru are highly skillful in restoring any type of window glass available, may it be windows from residential or commercial types. Furthermore, glass window restoration costs significantly less than window replacement; hence, doing the former enables homeowners to save more money, giving them more benefits compared to the latter.

 

In detail, The Glass Guru showcases 3 levels in restoring the integrity of glass windows:

 

1)      Soap and Water Solution

In this level, windows are cleaned with the use of the classic soap and water combination along with a squeegee to scrub surface dirt off the glass away. This level also involves wiping window areas that potentially harbor more dirt such as window sill, track, and frame areas.

 

2)      Glass Enhancement Service

Compared to the first level, special cleaning products, such as cerium oxide or pumice, are used in glass window cleaning. The Glass Guru utilizes manpower or special pad applicators with buffers that vary in speed during the cleaning process. Moreover, the intensity of the cleaning process in this level depends upon the severity of rust, metal, acid rain, and/or calcium deposits that adhere on the glass surface.

 

3)      Glass Restoration Service

Buffers plus polishing agents are the main ingredients utilized in this level.  The main difference is that hard-to-remove scratches and/or evidences of acid damage, regardless of depth and size, are successfully removed from the glass.

Since the Glass Guru upholds utmost satisfaction in serving its customers, they provide a sample window glass cleaning with no charge! Not only that, windows that have undergone The Glass Guru treatment are being sealed to prolong their longevity and prevent offending substances from adhering to them again.
With all things said and done, give the Glass Guru a call right at this moment to avail their best glass window restoration services at the most reasonable price!

The Glass Guru’s Mirror and Glass Products

The Glass Guru’s Mirror and Glass Products

 

Thinking of giving your boring and bland room a makeover? Then inject a dose of glamour and style into your household through the products offered by The Glass Guru. With its outstanding and stylish mirror and glass products, your humble abode will never be the same again.

 

To start, its mirror closet doors transform the look of the entire bedroom significantly since they primarily seem to widen the area of the room. As a result, bedrooms having this type of door have a more spacious feel to it. Because these doors give an impression in expanding room space, they also make it appear larger than the usual. Furthermore, the mirrored closet door itself serves a significant decorative piece to add more personality and improve the aesthetic impact of any bedroom.

 

Focusing more on the product itself, The Glass Guru’s mirrored closet and wardrobe doors are manufactured in a wide variety of finishes and designs. Moreover, these products can be adorned with satin gold, high-gloss white paint, oil-rubbed bronze, and brush nickel finishes. Not only that, wardrobe designs are also being offered which include bypass closet doors, walk-in and by-fold mirror doors, and sliding mirror doors.

 

In terms of other features, these closet and wardrobe mirrored doors can come either with present or absent frames. If these mirrored doors are opted to have frames, the Glass Guru also showcases a wide selection of its framed mirror closet doors. The selection includes strong aluminum, solid oak, and the aluminum frameless Trim Line®. Furthermore, colors of any chosen product can be also coordinated with glazing vinyl and matched with genuine mirror handles.

 

In detail, here are some of the mirror wardrobe design options recommended for you. These are the following: Aristocrat, Asprey®, Aurora, Aurora Plus, Aurora Plus Walk-In Door, Brittany, and Brittany Bi-Fold.

 

Aside from these mirrored wardrobe and closet doors, the Glass Guru also offers other mirror and glass products such as glass shelves, beveled mirrors, vanity mirrors, shower enclosures, and cabinet glass.

 

Glass shelves can effectively refine any room with its sleek design and functionality, and the Glass Guru can create custom glass shelves through its own machinery to cut, polish, and bevel these glass shelves on site to save time.

 

In the case of beveled mirrors, cutting-edge equipment are used in the cutting, beveling, and polishing processes so as to exactly meet the specifications that clients require for their beveled mirror of choice.

 

Moving on to vanity mirrors, diverse styles, e.g., casual, exotic, contemporary, and ornate, are offered. Similar to wardrobe and closet mirrored doors, mirrors can be either framed or not. Homeowners can also select the orientation of the vanity mirror being chosen, either in portrait or vertical orientation.

 

As shower enclosures are concerned, the Glass Guru also offers a wide array of both frameless and framed shower doors for customers willing to revamp their bathrooms. Having a handful of shower door and enclosure specialists, rest assured that any bathroom renovation will be a success.

 

Lastly, for cabinet glass, the Glass Guru allows freedom for customers to create a personalized and customized look in this type of product. With its multitude of cabinet glass designs to choose from, guaranteed that any cabinet specification for TV cabinets, kitchen cabinets, curio cabinets, bathroom cabinets, and more will be achieved satisfactorily.

 

With all things being said, contact the Glass Guru now to ensure customer care and satisfaction in improving the impact, functionality, and beauty of your home through its exceptional and high-quality mirror and glass products.

The Glass Guru’s Screen Products

The Glass Guru’s Screen Products

 

Living within or around the southern parts of the USA, e.g., Miami, Florida, gives you the perks to enjoy the sun and the perfect summer weather all throughout the year. However, problems such as the glaring sunlight, scorching heat, and unwanted bugs continue to invade your home causing such nuisance but here is a solution to solve this problem. The Glass Guru Franchise Systems Inc. offers an array of window screen products to keep your humble abode free from unwanted intruders, excess sunlight, and intense heat.  Let this company enhance your way of life through their exceptional screen products. Make the most out of your perfect and sunny location by getting rid of all these problems that ruin your day-to-day living.

 

The Glass Guru is the expert in offering screens and screen doors obtained from the best window and door manufacturers in the USA. Not only that, the said company has been providing utmost customer satisfaction by assisting during the installation, replacement, and/or repair of their products to their customers all over the country for years.

 

The screen services offered by the Glass Guru involve installation, repair, and replacement of bug screens; sun, solar, and privacy screens; pet screens; sliding patio screen doors; clear view retractable screens; roll down sun screens; swinging screen doors; and security doors.

 

Talking about screens and screen doors, The Glass Guru also focuses in highlighting the importance of installing screens for your pets at home. Upon installing these pet screens, you can allow your pets to bask in the sun and enjoy the fresh air without being problematic about them ripping your installed screens apart, since these screens are seven times stronger compared to the conventional screens sold in the market. Because of that, these pet screens offered by The Glass Guru are designed to last and withstand the test of time no matter how reckless your pets are. Moreover, these pet screens are not exclusively limited to doors only. Pet screens can also be installed on your windows. If windows are installed with pet screens, cat owners will get the most benefit from this as cats tend to get curious and explore higher places around the household compared to other domesticated animals.

 

When it comes to other products being showcased, the Glass Guru also offers retractable screen doors that are guaranteed to slide back safely in comparison to other retractable doors that do not ensure safety when snapping back.
With all these products being mentioned, the Glass Guru maintains its commitment in providing the best customer care and experience to handle any screen installation. Furthermore, the said company strives hard to ensure that all of its customers are satisfied with the products and services that they have obtained. So if you have plans to improve your home, do not hesitate to give the Glass Guru a call since all your invested time, effort, and money will definitely be worth waiting for. 

How To Pick Your Back Door

How To Pick Your Back Door

 

The significance of back doors should never be taken for granted since they serve as the second portal of entry towards your humble abode. Aside from that, access to your backyard, deck, or patio becomes easily accessible through the presence of back doors. In line with this, The Glass Guru showcases a wide selection of back door units with remarkable design and functions that truly make the atmosphere of your backyard appealing and beneficial as much as possible.

 

To start, we all know that the back portion of every home is usually hidden to everyone except of course the homeowners themselves; therefore, hiding the interior areas of the household is not considerably important. To further help the homeowners in finding the perfect back door, The Glass Guru offers a diverse array of back door options to its customers such as sliding doors and French doors.

 

Aside from its contribution towards the overall aesthetic impact of the home, back doors also prevent the harmful rays of the sun from penetrating inside the house.  If the sun’s rays are blocked, fading of the furnishings is then prevented from taking place. To promote sunlight blockage, The Glass Guru offers back doors that are equipped with low-E glass or back doors that have blinds built in between the panes.

 

Regardless of the back door being chosen, make sure the door is weather stripped and is manufactured with a double-paned glass in order to achieve optimum functionality and thermal efficiency. Furthermore, back doors having these features help homeowners save more money because these reduce the energy costs needed to heat or cool the home.

 

Sliding Patio Doors

Among the diverse back door designs offered by The Glass Guru, sliding doors are the recommended door type to be installed. The primary reason is that this type of door does not require extra space for it to open and close unlike swinging or hinged doors, for instance. Sliding doors function on a track system that runs along the top and bottom sections of the doors only. At the end of the day, sliding pocket doors provide much space while promoting an environment wherein guests can enjoy the outdoors while having activities inside.

 

Hinged Doors

If both the exterior and interior areas of the house are spacious enough, then hinged back doors are not a problem.  This type of back door allows maximum accessibility when homeowners go outside the home. One important factor to consider is space. In case when the area outside the back door is tight, hinged doors can still be used as they can swing inward for them to be opened. Just make sure there is extra room for back doors to swing inside.

 

A Must-Have Screen

In cases when homeowners prefer open yet bug-free back doors during warm weather, a layer of screen that slides along the top and bottom track can be added to the sliding glass doors. The screen keeps the bugs out while allowing fresh air to flow in and out of the house. On the other hand, other back doors of the Glass Guru have screens that are retractable. These screens can be rolled up into a casing on a particular side of the door. Moreover, screens are also available for French doors wherein they can be attached on the sides and opened similar to the way these French doors are opened. Like the retractable screens, they also fit into a jamb casing that envelops the whole door frame.

 

With all the important considerations regarding back door selection being given, contact The Glass Guru now to have a functional yet stylish back door perfect for your home!

Bathroom Glass Products and Services

The Glass Guru has been providing superior quality in its glass products. It is guaranteed that beauty, flexibility, elegance, and style are incorporated harmoniously in every product sold. Furthermore, this company has been producing such a wide selection of its designs that would perfectly fit every customer’s taste. Indeed, customer satisfaction is The Glass Guru’s utmost priority.

To start with, this company offers both frame-less and semi-frame-less shower doors. Unlike conventional shower doors, a frame-less shower door does not need additional support from a metal frame. This is because these doors are made up of thick, tempered glass that is efficient and functional enough. Moreover, the sleek and stylish frame-less feature gives a long-lasting impact to the customers. On the other hand, framed and semi-frame-less shower doors are also available. This type of product is perfect for people on a shoestring budget, but being affordable does not equate to poor quality and design. In fact, The Glass Guru offers a variety of framed shower door styling options to the public. The only difference is that a thinner shower glass is used.

Aside from showcasing its shower door products, the Glass Guru also provides some important guidelines in selecting the perfect shower door. To obtain that ideal product, the customer must first decide whether a heavy glass should be used. If the client agrees to use a heavy glass, then frame-less shower doors are the most appropriate. If not, then framed or semi-framed shower doors are applicable. Another factor of equal importance is determining the actual bathroom space. The functionality of shower doors depends upon the size of the bathroom; that is why it is imperative to seek consultation from the experts first before initiating a bathroom makeover.

Aside from offering glass shower doors and enclosures, The Glass Guru also showcases bathroom mirrors and frames. Having numerous ties with the best mirror manufacturers in the country, The Glass Guru guarantees a wide range of mirror and frame designs that match every customer’s taste. Moreover, the said company also assists in bathroom mirror and frames repair and replacement.

With all these numerous products offered, The Glass Guru has created a tremendous impact in the glass industry. With all its knowledge, experience, and expertise in bathroom glass product installation, rest assured that customers are guided towards the right path in choosing the perfect product. In addition, the Glass Guru effectively sells its products directly to its customers as it guarantees a complete, accurate, and timely delivery to achieve exceptional customer service. Not only that, The Glass Guru also ensures the utmost care and assistance in installing and/or replacing these products for a smooth and hassle-free customer experience.