The cost of installing storm windows varies depending on several factors, including the skill level of the contractor and their seasonal rates, as well as the job location. Costs are generally higher in metropolitan areas. Of course, actual storm windows prices also vary depending on the material used and the product’s features.

Service Quote

Typically, a contractor will have a standard rate from which they will base the quote of a storm window installation cost. It is possible for a service professional to provide a cost estimate for the job without having to inspect the site.  A standard service cost estimate would include delivery costs, costs for modification and fitting of simple frames, exterior flashing, trims and weather stripping, and for fitting the actual window.

Typically, basic materials and installation of storm windows cost between $98 and $132 in a hurricane-prone, major city like Miami or Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Higher grade materials and more complex installation would range from $126 to $166, while the highest-end of the price range can go up to $205.

Extra Costs

Storm windows prices tend to be 5-14% higher if you are planning to use and install higher-end storm windows with complex configurations and patterns. More expensive storm windows are made of higher grade materials with excellent joinery, decorative finishes, and other designer features that may make installation more complicated. Also, if the window needs to be re-framed or you would like to add decorative fittings, you must factor some extra cost for this into the final tab.

Ways to Save

There are some ways you can save on storm windows prices and installation costs. One way is to request quotes from multiple contractors for the same job. Make sure to give each contractor the complete, same information about your project so you can make a sound comparison of their rates.

You can also save money on the cost of installation if you are smart and flexible about scheduling your project during a slow period for the contractor. The recommended time to install storm windows is during the summer through early fall. However, most people do it at the last minute just before hurricane season starts. Avoid this peak time, and you’re likely to get a good rate.

Save money on storm windows prices by shopping online or by buying products that have been discontinued but are still in stock. Look for opportunities to buy old inventory or items that have been ordered incorrectly for a lower price. Don’t hesitate to ask your retailer about discounted stock.

Need More Help?

We can also add to your savings. Save time looking for a local window installer. TalkLocal offers a free service that will get you in contact with three, local, qualified professionals to help with your project. Contact us now.

The cost of cut glass can vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. You may have your own special technique for making cut glass, and you may be wondering on how to price your cut glass. Here, we show you how to price cut glass so that you won’t be far from the competition. Cut glass is a great way to fix broken windows, so you are in for a good market.

Consider Your Costs

You have to calculate how much you are paying for the basic goods that you are buying to make the glass. For example, if you are spending $5 to make the cut glass, you have to factor that in to the cost of cut glass. It’s all in basic accounting. You can’t go lower than this.

Add to this cost any materials that you will use, such as coloring, cutters, tapes, saws, sandpapers, and any other tools that you will purchase. You also have to take into account your shipping costs, your labeling costs, and your production costs.

Consider Labor Costs

You have to determine your hourly rate. How much are you willing to price your labor at? If your labor is too expensive and uncompetitive, your goods will end up being much more expensive than the competition, and you will end up not being able to sell your cut glass.

Replacement windows will cost a lot less, and your competition will sell for much less than you, so don’t make your hourly labor costs too high. Again, factor this in with your costs.

Find Your Price

Add the cost of your goods to your hourly rate and then you have the average price of your cut glass. Then, adjust the price if necessary to fit the current market price. Remember, if your price is too low, you will end up losing money. If it is too high, you won’t earn either.

Ready for Help?

You may not be an expert glass cutter, but you can certainly find one with Talk Local. TalkLocal is here to to connect you with the right professional in your area in just minutes. Give us a call today!

If you want to turn your bathroom into a beautiful oasis of relaxation, choose to invest in small bathroom makeovers performed on your own, or with help from competent electricians, plumbers, and skilled interior decorators. When it comes to purchasing and installing new windows for your bathroom, which selection criterion should influence your final decision? Keep reading to discover the best answer to this question and see how you could easily spot the most dependable window replacement experts operating in your own area.

The Perfect Windows – a Matter of Taste

These days, durable, resistant windows for bathrooms come in a great variety of styles, shapes, and sizes. Choose the best ones based on your needs, demands and aesthetic requirements. Keep in mind that windows should beautify the indoor space and also protect you from any pair of prying eyes. Now you have the opportunity to check out a generous selection of tinted, decorative, opaque, or stained-glass designs tailored to allocated your budget.

Identifying the Perfect Windows for Your Shower Area

Is it possible to find a low-maintenance type of glass, suitable for your window located in the shower area? In this case, you have two viable alternatives at hand. You could opt for a glass block with marble frame and install a powerful bath vent fan, or you could go in favor of vinyl windows with affordable obscured glass.

Investing in Energy-Efficient Windows for Your Bathroom

Single-glazed windows won’t get you very far in terms of energy-efficiency, plus they will make you freeze every single time you get out of your bathtub or shower. Opt for secondary glazing to reduce your energy bills and increase your level of comfort at the same time.

There are numerous manufacturers that use premium materials and innovative technology to attract a larger number of buyers looking forward to boosting the energy-efficiency of their indoor spaces. However, if you can’t afford to invest in insanely expensive models, at least go for new 100% draught-proof windows for your bathroom to reduce heat loss and witness real financial savings in the long term.

Ask an Expert

With so many appealing choices at hand, how could you possibly know which type of small bathroom makeovers are actually addressing your real needs optimally? When in doubt, ask a real expert. Find the best windows for your bathroom and increase your level of comfort by applying useful tips and tricks provided by a skilled window replacement specialist. Identify the right one by consulting TalkLocal, a fantastic free service introduced to help you meet countless A-list professionals who live and work in your city.

Custom glass cutting is a valuable and rewarding experience. It’s an experience that many people have found to be recreational and that is worthy of their time and effort. Many custom glass cuttings have revolved around cutting glass for picture frames or windows.

Custom glass cutting for windows can be a rewarding hobby or one-off project. We have outlined the basic steps for you to try out your first custom glass cutting project on your own!

Step One

You need to make sure that the glass cutter that you are using is new and that it is sharp. The glass cutter is actually used to score along the lines of the molecules of the glass.

Step Two

Make sure that your glass cutter is well-lubricated with oil. If not, it will not cut as well as it should. Lubricating it with oil will make it glide along the surface of the glass more easily. It will cut the glass more precisely and accurately. All kinds of oils will work. Motor oil, sewing machine oil, and other kinds of oils will also work.

Step Three

You need to ensure that you can make a straight edge that you can control. Make sure that while you are cutting, your hands don’t move so that you can make a straight cut. Be careful with how much oil you use with the cutter. Excessive oil will make your hands slide while cutting.

Step Four

You need to measure the exact insides of the window frame that you will need to use the glass for. You need to be exact in doing this. Place the glass on a hard surface and score the glass. Make sure you place the glass on a hard surface when you score it so it doesn’t break.

Step Five

Start making your hairline cut. Make very thin cuts on the surface of the glass. This is where you can break off the glass where you need to.

Need Help?

Custom glass cutting for windows is extremely difficult, and may not be for everyone. Fortunately, there are window companies that specialize in custom glass cutting, and can find the best windows for you! Contact TalkLocal today and let us help you find the window professional help that you need!

Windows are some of the weakest spots on a house. If they are not protected, they can easily shatter during a hurricane and let powerful winds cause significant damage inside your home. Broken shards of window glass can also potentially hurt someone in your household. That’s why one of the most important steps to have a hurricane-proof home is to make sure all windows are protected against severe weather.

Board Up with Plywood

Plywood sheets are inexpensive and can work very well to protect windows if properly installed. It is recommended to use exterior-grade plywood that is 5/8 inch thick. You will also need 3- or 4-inch heavy-duty barrel bolts.

1. Use 1 bolt for every 12 inches of plywood.

2. For windows with an inset (at least 2 inches), the plywood sheets should be cut to a size that allows for a snug fit inside the recess.

3. Drill the barrel bolts in place to the plywood and mark on the window where you need to drill the corresponding holes.

4. Drill the holes in the marked areas. If your windows don’t have an inset, the plywood must be cut with a 4-inch space overhang and fastened to the exterior wall with anchors and lag bolts.

Install Hurricane Shutters

There are different types of hurricane shutters used for a hurricane-proof home, the most common of which are:

– Storm panels – made of corrugated steel or aluminum and are attached to the wall on a track around the window; cheapest shutter option; removable, so it will not alter the look of the house but does require storage space; can be difficult to hang and line up, and often needs two people to install.

– Accordion shutters – these are aluminum shutters that are affixed permanently at the sides of windows; they open and close accordion-style along tracks placed above and below the window; more convenient than storm panels; may look out-of-place, so style and design must be considered.

– Roll-down shutters – made of PVC or aluminum; attached at the top of windows and stored in a box; they roll down along tracks placed beside the windows; can be operated manually (hand crank) or electrically (push button); easiest type of shutter to get ready for a hurricane; most expensive option.

Put In Hurricane Windows

These impact-resistant windows are made of a three-layer glass pane that allows the window to withstand hurricane winds and debris without the need for shutters. It is expensive but provides permanent protection. Because they are part of the structure of the house, these windows are much harder to be torn off, unlike plywood or shutters. If replacing old windows, the window frames must be replaced as well in order to meet building code requirements. Installation must be done by a window contractor.

Request for Professional Help

Well-protected windows are crucial to a hurricane-proof home. Use TalkLocal now to get a professional window contractor to install hurricane windows or shutters in your home fast and easy, or to repair any window damage this hurricane season.

If a neighborhood kid’s errant baseball pitch left a gaping hole in your sliding glass door, you’d want it fixed, right? Well, take a look at how much space exists around the edges of your sliding door. If you can feel a breeze coming through, it’s the same as having a hole in the glass. You’re going to want to install some weather stripping.

Choosing the Right Weather Stripping for Your Sliding Door

The process of installing weather stripping on sliding doors isn’t too difficult, you just have to make sure you buy the right sort of weather stripping for your sliding door. First of all, look to see if there’s already weather stripping there. Weather stripping on sliding doors tends to wear at different rates, so it’s possible you’ll only need to replace part of it. If you can get a sample of the weather stripping on your sliding door now, you know exactly what to buy.

1. Always remember to measure (and measure twice) the length of the area you need to apply the weather stripping to so you don’t end up a few inches short!

2. The sort of weather stripping you want depends on where the draft is coming in. If you can feel air coming in from between the sliding doors while they are closed, you’ll want some pile weather stripping to fill this gap. It looks like a fuzzy strip and has an adhesive backing. If you feel air moving at the jamb, choose tubular or rubber weather stripping for this job, unless the gap is very narrow.

3. In the case of a tight squeeze, foam weather stripping is going to be the right tool for the job. You can test a small strip of tubular weather stripping first to see if it will fit. It will form a tighter seal than the foam, but if there isn’t enough room it can prevent the sliding door from latching.

Need Window Help?

As always, if you’re still puzzled after reading our quick tips on choosing and installing weather stripping on sliding doors, ask one of our experts. TalkLocal‘s free concierge service can find a window specialist in your area who is qualified and happy to help with this, or any of your home improvement projects.

Weather stripping reduces air infiltration around gaps in your doors and windows, saving energy consumption and bringing down your energy bills. There are several types of materials used for weather stripping including foam, plastic, rubber, and metal. If you have old, non-metal weather stripping on your windows or you’ve just replaced your windows with new ones, consider using metal weather stripping, which effectively blocks air leakage and could last for decades.

Spring Tension Metal Strips

This type of metal weather stripping is made of a V-shaped springy metal that can be stainless steel, brass, bronze, or copper. The strips are folded along their length; hence the V configuration, which is responsible for sealing gaps between window frames and sashes. They usually come in coils and include the necessary brad nails for installation. Usually, the strips are nailed to the channels of the entire window perimeter and on the casements, except the hinges. They are typically used on double-hung windows and sliding windows. Installation is fairly simple and can be done by anyone with enough patience.

Self-adhesive Spring Metal Strips

This is similar to a standard spring tension type of metal weather stripping, except it has a peel-and-stick backing that makes it the easiest option to install. Other than scissors to be used for cutting the strip to length, no tools are needed to install it. Simply remove the backing from the strip and carefully press it in place. It does require a thoroughly clean and dry surface before installation.

Interlocking Metal

This is the most expensive option but produces the most effective results. It is ideal for casement windows and double-hung windows. It consists of two U-shaped metal pieces that are installed along the edges of a window and are designed to fit together to create a seal. As long as the metal pieces fit precisely, interlocking metal weather stripping will provide a very tight seal against drafts. However, this type of metal weather stripping is difficult to install, requiring special tools and precise skills, so hiring a professional is necessary.

Find A Window Professional

If you’re planning to install interlocking metal weather stripping on your windows, you’ve chosen the best weather stripping option. Now, make sure the job gets done right by hiring a professional. Use TalkLocal now, and you’ll be talking to the right professional in minutes.

Worn-out weather stripping on windows results in higher utility bills, because the stripping loses its ability to block drafts. It is highly recommended that you replace any old weather stripping with a new one to save on heating and air conditioning costs. If you have an old weather stripping material that is the peel-and-stick type, just pull the strip off to remove. If your stripping is secured with screws or nails, carefully remove each fastener.

Here’s how to install new weather stripping on double-hung windows using self-adhesive, V-shaped weather-stripping material:

1.) Using a damp cloth, clean the edges where you will add the weather stripping. Let the surfaces dry thoroughly.

2.) With a measuring tape, measure the length of each window area that will be weather stripped. Cut strips for the sides and bottom of the inner sash and the sides and top of the outer sash, making sure to add an inch to your measurements. You can also just hold the weather stripping in position against the sash and simply cut it slightly longer than the required length.

3.) Open the inner sash all the way up. Peel off the V-strip’s backing but leave the extra inch at the top end. Carefully press the strip (adhesive-side down) to the inside of a window jamb. The V of the strip should be facing inside. Do the same for the opposite side of the sash.

4.) Put the inner sash back in place. You’ll see the extra inches at the top of the strips with the backing still on. Peel off the backing and press the strips in place.

5.) Pull the outer sash all the way down. Install weather stripping to the window jamb the same way you did in Step 4. Also, add a strip to the top edge of the outer sash.

6.) Lift up the inner sash once more to apply weather stripping to the bottom edge.

These easy steps for replacing weather stripping on windows should seal up your sash windows rather nicely again, helping you cut your energy costs. Another excellent way to improve energy-efficiency in your home is to install insulated windows.

Further Help

If you need professional help in replacing weather stripping on windows, Seva Call makes the search fast and simple. Simply tell us what you need, and we’ll match you with highly qualified professionals in your area. Give it a try and be connected with the right person for the job within minutes.

When remodeling your home, you may be considering replacing your windows. How do you know which windows to choose? If you are wondering how to save energy with home improvements, windows are the lowest-maintenance method of doing so.

If you are simply comparing prices, energy-efficient windows will not seem like the best choice because they usually run at a higher price than less efficient windows. However, paying a little more now could save you in the long run.

Why Worry About Saving Energy?

The less energy we use, the less fossil fuels need to be consumed to produce the energy in the first place. This reduces the amount of carbon emissions released into the atmosphere. If you aren’t as concerned about your carbon footprint, you may be concerned about your wallet. Less consumed energy equals less money spent.

Energy Star

When considering which windows to purchase, look for the blue and white Energy Star. Any product which has this star on the label has been tested and approved by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, meeting, or exceeding, a rigorous set of standards. You can trust that if any product carries this label, it will meet the efficiency standards designated to it.

How They Work

Windows that are more energy-efficient are sealed better than regular windows and often carry a double layer of glass with a pocket in between.

Sometimes, this pocket is filled with a low emissive gas. This glass prevents temperature changes from the sun or cold air outside. A low-e window can save you anywhere from 7 to 15 percent on your energy bill. This will eventually pay for the slightly more expensive windows.

Talk Local Can Put You In Contact With Window Replacement Technicians

If you still aren’t quite sure if this is a good answer to your question of how to save energy with home improvements, ask an expert. TalkLocal can find a window replacement technician in your local area who can help with your projects. Our concierge service connects you directly, quickly, and for free.