Uncategorized | American Windows Center Inc

5June

Pros and Cons of Aluminum Siding

At American Windows Center, we not only specialize window replacements, but we are also professional siding contractors in Santa Clara. In one of our previous blogs, we discussed the many different benefits of vinyl siding. While vinyl siding is a great option for homes, there are other options to consider before making your final decision. Aluminum siding is another viable siding option but, as with any other material, it also has its pros and cons. Let’s take a closer look at why you would or wouldn’t want to invest in aluminum siding.

Pro: Customizable
Aluminum siding not only comes in a wide variety of colors, but it can also easily be trimmed down to the desired size before it is installed.

Pro: Durable
Aluminum siding is extremely durable compared to some of its counterparts. It does not rot, it is immune to fire, and it cannot be broken down by termites. Aluminum siding however, is susceptible to damage from hail storms.

Con: Poor Insulation
Unlike other insulated siding, aluminum siding provides very poor insulation to Northern Colorado homes. This can require you to add some extra insulation in other parts of your home to make it more energy efficient.

Con: Prone to Scratches
As with any other siding material, your aluminum siding will be exposed to the elements. Along with fading, aluminum siding is also prone to developing unsightly scratches.

You can find this information and more at RedBeacon.com. If you are having trouble determining which siding material is best for your home, please call our experts at American Windows Center. We would be happy to answer any questions you have, as well as make recommendations specific to your home.

2June

Health Benefits of Natural Light

In our most recent blog, we talked a little bit about how having new replacement windows installed can help add more natural light to your San Jose home. However, what makes natural light so much better than artificial light? Not only does natural light do a lot to help liven up your living space, but there are also several other health benefits to be had from increasing your exposure to natural light. That’s right, natural light has the ability to directly affect your body and health.

Mood Improvement
It has been found that limited amounts of exposure to natural sunlight can lead to depression. In fact, some cases of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) can be linked to limited exposure to sunshine and natural light. This often occurs during the winter. So, if you are feeling sad or depressed, try spending some more time outside every day or increase the amount of natural light in your office or home.

More Energy
Natural light helps improve your energy levels and helps fight against fatigue, while artificial light actually has a negative effect on your energy levels. If it’s 3 o’clock and you are struggling to stay awake at work, see if you can add some more natural light to your workspace or take a ten-minute break and walk around outside.

Better Sleep
Artificial light has a negative effect on your circadian rhythm. Too much exposure to artificial light, whether it be from your phone, computer or office lights, can have noticeable, negative effects on your sleep patterns. When you spend more time in naturally lit environments, your body’s circadian rhythm and your sleep patterns will start to improve.

Call us today to learn more about our window installation services.

2June

Brighten Up Your Home With a Window Replacement

Does your home feel dark and dreary inside? Are you constantly trying to add more light to popular gathering areas like your kitchen and family room, but nothing seems to work? Instead of trying to brighten up your space with artificial light, it is better and more effective to add more natural light to your home. However, if you have old and dull windows, they may not be conducive to adding the natural light you want or need. Fortunately, the team at American Windows Center can help. The right window replacement can do a lot to bring your Sunnyvale home back to life.

While artificial light is crucial to the world we live in, it can never offer a room what natural light can. Every home has its popular areas for family gatherings or get-togethers. These rooms are often either the kitchen and the living or family room. These areas of your home are always going to need ample amount of light. While artificial light may be sufficient, natural light does so much more to improve the mood and feeling of a room. Larger windows will allow for more natural light to enter in your kitchen making it more inviting and allowing you to entertain your guests or cook that big Thanksgiving meal. Large, open windows will also add a look of sophistication and extravagance to your kitchen or family room.

Let American Windows Center help bring your home back to life with a new window replacement. Whether you prefer vinyl windows or aluminum windows, we have what you need to bring some much needed natural light back into your home. Call us today to learn more about the window installation services we provide.

29May

How to Dress Up Your Windows

In one of our most recent blogs, we talked a little bit about some of the current window treatment trends. While these trends can do a lot to dress up the look of your windows, there are many more unique ways you can dress up your windows. Whether you just had replacement windows installed or if your windows are a little older, these styles are perfect for making any window look fresh and new.

Cafe Curtains
According to Better Homes and Gardens, cafe curtains originated in Vienna in the 1800’s in street cafes. Cafe curtains are suspended on a rod halfway down the window. They offer privacy while also allowing for natural light to make its way into the room. These can offer a charming addition to any interior design style and they give your windows that little something extra they need to really stand out. You can always choose bold curtain colors or patterns to spice things up a little more.

Plantation Shutters
Plantation shutters are a very classic window treatment option. They offer a rustic style and feel to any room while also providing adequate privacy. If you want to let light in, simply open them up. Whether you choose to get them in white or a soft pastel color, these shutters are perfect for anyone who prefers the quaint and homey style.

No Treatments
If you have large beautiful windows and don’t mind the lack of privacy, you can always choose to forgo the window treatments altogether. This allows the architectural beauty of your windows to speak for itself and welcomes in plenty of natural light.

29May

Tips for Cleaning Your Windows

Keeping your windows clean can be tough. With all of the dirt, dust, wind, and rain, your windows can get really dirty, really fast. However, it always seems to be much harder to get them clean. Even cleaning the inside of your windows can be difficult. If you have kids, you know what it is like to try and scrub off those greasy handprints and crayon marks. Not to mention, the dust, dirt, and grime that makes its way into your home. So, with all of these factors working against you, how in the world are you going to keep your windows as clean and sparkly as the first day you bought them? Whether you have just had a window replacement done on your Sunnyvale home or if your windows are years old, we have a couple of tips that will help make cleaning your windows a little bit easier.

Get Rid of the Dirt
We know that using your glass cleaner to get all of those smudges and streaks off of your windows is the most satisfying part of cleaning your windows, however, before you get to spraying, it is important to clear your windows of any dirt, dust, or cobwebs. Take a look at your window sill, the frame, as well as the tracks and see if they need to be cleared out. If you get straight to the glass cleaner, you run the risk of dirt and other debris sticking to your windows, causing more work for you.

Clean Your Screens
If you have window screens, you know that they catch the majority of the dirt and dust that gets blown around outside of your windows. Just as you should clear your window sill and tracks of any dirt or debris, you should also clean your screens. This will help keep the outside of your windows cleaner longer. You can easily clean your screens without removing them by taking a vacuum to them.

22May

Popular Window Treatment Trends

In our most recent blog, we discussed some of the different reasons why homeowners choose to invest in replacement windows for their San Jose home. While new windows can do a lot to revitalize the outward appearance of your home, windows themselves do not have the same effect on the inward appearance of your home. Often times, a room with large windows can still seem bare and incomplete without the right window treatments. With so many window treatment options available, it can be difficult to select one that fits the style of your home. At American Windows Center, we have all of the latest on the hottest window treatment trends.

Organic Material
One popular window treatment option that is available are window treatments made from natural, organic material. These would be your bamboo, as well as your matchstick shades. They allow in a small amount of diffused light but still offer sufficient privacy. They are also extremely fashionable and can fit in with almost any style or design.

Bold Prints and Designs
Many people are adding a bold look to their interiors with their window treatments. Bold prints, patterns, and colors can add a lot to a room. With these bold window treatments, you can create a unique focal point in your room or you can add to a design that you have already established.

Neutral
Nothing says classic elegance like neutral-colored fixtures. Neutral toned window treatments are simple, however, they can create a feeling of luxury for your room. Neutral window treatments add a subtle chic design to any room.

8May

Why Homeowners Are Replacing Their Windows

Have you been considering investing in replacement windows for your San Jose home? American Windows Center, we specialize in installing replacement windows, along with a number of other home improvement services. There are several different reasons why homeowners decide to invest in replacement windows for their homes. From cracked windows to windows that are old and worn, homeowners realize that the condition of their windows can have a huge effect on their homes. So, what are some of the most common reasons why homeowners decide to invest in replacement windows?

Sound
Who doesn’t love the sound of the neighbor’s lawn mower at 6am on a Saturday? Or what about listening to your other neighbor’s dog bark all through the night? Yeah, that doesn’t sound great to us either. As we mentioned before, many older windows are single-pane windows, which can allow for a lot of noise pollution in your home. Many homeowners have noticed that having their windows replaced results in significant noise reduction in their homes.

Damage
Whether it was from hail or from your kids’ baseball, if your windows have been damaged, you are going to need to have them replaced. However, this is not the only kind of damage we see. Many times windows and window frames become damaged over time. Many windows lose their seal and allow water to seep in, which can damage the frame, as well as anything else that it comes into contact with.

Energy Efficiency
This is, perhaps, the most common reason why homeowners decide to replace the windows in their homes. Many older windows are incredibly inefficient. The majority of older windows are not only single-pane glass windows, but they are also extremely drafty. Newer window designs that are available today, offer a significant improvement in window structure and efficiency. Not only are they sealed tighter than older windows, but many windows also come with Low-E glass, which helps keep heat in and out of your home. You can significantly increase the energy efficiency of your home with a simple window replacement.

6May

Our Pet Doors Give You Peace of Mind

Summer is almost here and that means the temperatures are going to start to climb. While you are in the comfort of your air conditioned office building all day, your pet is stuck outside in the heat. Not only can this be dangerous for your pet, but it also cannot be very comfortable for them. While they may have access to shade and water, California summers can be brutally hot. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could let your pet stay cool inside without having to worry about them having an accident? At American Windows Center, we not only specialize in window replacement, but we also specialize in the installation of stylish and secure pet doors in your Sunnyvale home.

You know the feeling…when you have been stuck at the office for hours on end and you are racing home, desperately hoping that your pet has not had an accident on that expensive new carpet. Installing a pet door in your home not only gives your pet the freedom they’ll love, but it will also give you peace of mind knowing that they can go outside whenever nature calls. So, you can let your pet stay cool indoors all summer long.

Okay, so the freedom and the peace of mind sounds great, but don’t pet doors give other animals and insects easy access to your home? Not our pet doors. Our pet doors come with an impact resistant security cover, as well as nylon flaps and weather stripping to help keep insects and other unwanted pests out of your home.

Contact us today to learn more about the pet door products we offer and to have your pet door installed.

30April

When Is It Time to Replace My Siding?

There is no doubt that replacement windows go a long way towards revamping the look of your San Jose home. However, if your home could still use a little pick me up, then it might be time to consider replacing your home’s exterior siding. At American Windows Center, we not only specialize in installing replacement windows, but we also specialize in installing home siding. If you are not sure whether or not your home could benefit from a new siding installation, we have a few tips that can help.

Rotted or Warped Siding
If your home has wood siding, it is important to do an inspection of your siding every now and again. When you inspect your home’s siding, it is important to look for any areas of siding that may be warped, rotting, or damaged. If you find that your siding is warped, you will want to check the layer underneath your siding to determine how solid it is. If the layer underneath your siding is soft and beginning to rot, it is time to replace your siding.

Cracked or Loose Siding
We are not referring to one or two cracked or damaged siding boards. These can easily be replaced individually without a lot of extensive work. However, if the majority of your siding is cracked or damaged, it is time to call in the professionals. As always, you will also want to check the layer that lies underneath your siding to ensure that there is no serious damage to this layer. If there is damage, this could indicate a bigger problem.

Faded Siding
Wait, why do you need to replace the siding if it’s just a little faded? After all that is all cosmetic, not a structural problem, right? Wrong. According to Sidingmagazine.com, “most siding is formulated to hold its color for only as long as the rating of the siding itself.” This means that if your siding is severely faded, your siding is most likely no longer waterproof, which can lead to more severe damage. Don’t let the cosmetic aspect fool you. If your siding is extremely faded, it is time to consider a replacement.

23April

Your Guide to Selecting Replacement Vinyl Windows: Part 2

In our most recent blog, we began discussing vinyl window ratings. While vinyl windows are generally a very energy efficient and cost efficient option for replacement windows for your San Jose home, these ratings help consumers even more. These ratings evaluate the efficiency and quality of different vinyl window brands so consumers can be sure they are making the best investment they can. In our latest blog, we discussed ratings, such as the ENERGYSTAR rating, as well as how Low-E glass helps keeps your home efficient. Next, we are going to discuss additional ratings that will help you select the best replacement windows for your home.

U-Factor
This rating refers to how much heat transfers through the window. The lower the U-factor, the less heat that is capable of being transferred through the window. The higher the U-factor, the more heat that is capable of being transferred.

SHGC
This rating stands for Solar Heat Gain Coefficient. This refers to the window’s ability to block the sun’s heat. The more heat the window blocks, the lower the rating. The less heat the window blocks, the higher the rating.

Visible Light Transmission
This refers to what percentage of light penetrates the glass. The greater percentage of light that penetrates the window, the higher this rating will be. The lower the percentage, the lower the rating.

These 6 overall ratings we have discussed are a great consumer tool for purchasing replacement vinyl windows. If you have any questions regarding vinyl windows or their ratings, please do not hesitate to contact us. We have an amazing selection of windows and we will help you find the ones that fit your style.