Once the weather warms up, we’re all looking at how to stay cool in the summer heat. A lot of us think of fans or air conditioning, and maybe a tall glass of lemonade.

But, did you know that your windows, or what’s on them, can make a profound difference in your comfort during the summer months? It’s true. If you’re willing to make an upfront investment and spend a little time, your windows can start keeping you cooler and helping lower your electric bill.

How? Two words: reflective glass.

What Is Reflecting Glass?

Reflecting glass, which has the same concept as low-e windows, is the miracle of how to stay cool in the summer heat. Whether you replace your current windows with reflective glass, apply reflective paint (don’t worry, you can still see through it), or install removable reflective window film, you can expect big savings and increased comfort. In fact, more homeowners — and even apartment-dwellers — than ever are learning the benefits of reflective windows.

What you can expect from reflective windows:

A cooler temperature. Heat is reflected away from your home. Additionally, furniture and floors absorb less heat so that less is radiated throughout the room. Even leather furniture stays comfortable.

Privacy. During the day, privacy is guaranteed by reflective windows. You’ll still want to close the curtains at night though, if the lights are on.

If reflective film is applied, windows become less likely to shatter in case of an accident or storm damage. In this regard, window film is less about how to stay cool in the summer heat and more about safety.

Some films reduce the temperature difference between inside and outside of the window glass. This leads to less condensation, which is especially great for homes with windows in wooden frames.

Reflective windows aren’t just for summer. In winter months, they can reflect heat back into the room, keeping it warmer and reducing heating costs.

Reflective glass offers protection from ultraviolet rays, which means curtains, carpets, and painted walls are less likely to fade and will need to be repainted or replaced far less often.

Who Can Replace My Windows?

Do reflective windows sound good to you? Now, all you need to do is find someone that can install them. TalkLocal has the answer. After collecting information about your needs, we find three local professionals that could be of service. You get to decide which one you want to go with. And our service is fast and free.

Many of us have been there before. Whether it was through any fault of our own, something strikes a window and breaks it. You are left wondering: How do I fix a broken window?

While professional help (at a cost, of course) certainly does not hurt, there are ways you can repair a broken window. Below is one general process that might be the answer to your predicament. Use this step-by-step process to repair a single pane of glass in a window.

How To Fix A Broken Window

1. Remove the window with the broken glass. Lay it on a flat surface so it’s easier to work with. Using gloves, a towel, or rag, remove the broken pieces of glass and dispose of them carefully.

2. Remove any compound that was once surrounding the pane of glass. This might require a blade or other tool. Glazing points are likely installed where they were once holding the glass in. Remove the glazing points.

3. Measure the frame where the glass will be installed. Record these measurements and bring them to a home improvement store to cut glass in the right dimensions. You will want to instruct the person cutting the glass to subtract about an eighth of an inch off the dimensions of the frame so that the glass is smaller.

4. Put caulk on the edges of the frame so it provides a seal when the glass is installed.

5. Lay the glass pane in the frame. Use glazing points to secure the glass in frame. Use at least two glazing points. The larger the glass, the more points you will want to use.

6. Use a glazing compound to secure the glass in the frame. Use a blade to cut the compound evenly or remove any that might be left over.

7. Install the window back in its place.

Still Wondering How Do I Fix A Broken Window?

This method does not work on every window. If you discover a broken window in your home and need help, contact a window replacement specialist through TalkLocal. We scour your local area to find qualified help. We take care of all the searching for you while you can sit back and wait for results.

If your bratty neighbor hit a baseball through your bedroom window, you may be wondering what kind of broken window replacement cost you are facing. Unfortunately, the answer is not as simple as a set figure. You must first consider a number of variables before you make a decision.

A myriad of resources can provide you with step-by-step instructions on replacing a glass pane yourself. Many of these resources also have pricing information with which you can compare the price of replacing the pane yourself as opposed to hiring someone to do it for you. If you decide you simply want to replace the entire window, your local home warehouse store can order you the right window with your given measurements. Many also offer to install the window for a small fee.

Need Help Replacing A Window?

It can be overwhelming trying to determine the best way to replace a window. Fortunately, there are professionals that can accurately determine your broken window replacement cost. The best way to find local professionals is through TalkLocal’s free search engine. We will connect you to someone in your area within 90 seconds. It’s easy, fast and reliable.

Replacement windows are necessary when your windows start to fail and stop doing their job.  A custom replacement window is built to fit the opening of an existing window hole.  They are built to be as precise to the measurements as possible.  They need to be exact so that they can be installed without damaging the areas around the window.

Custom replacement windows have certain benefits as well as some disadvantages.  There are a couple of telltale signs that can help you figure out if you need new replacement windows.  If your current window is difficult to open or close, if you feel a draft, if there is excessive condensation, if there is rattling, or if the house cannot seem to keep a certain temperature then you should look into getting new windows. Listed below are some of the advantages of custom replacement windows.

Advantages of Custom Replacement Windows

1)     Each window is designed to fit perfectly into your house.

2)     Custom windows save energy in your home by better insulating your home and keeping air from slipping through the cracks.

3)     They are simple and easy to install.

4)     You can customize the style, shape, and even the color of your replacement window.

5)     Custom windows are lower maintenance because they are not made from wood, which can easily crack or rot.

7)     They do not require painting.

8)     They are easier to clean than wooden windows.

Disadvantages of Custom Replacement Windows

1)     They can be more expensive than normal wooden windows.

2)      They do not eliminate condensation on your window.

3)     You likely have to special order custom windows.

4)     If a custom window is damaged or stained, you have to replace the entire piece.

Additional Help

If you have more questions about getting custom replacement windows you should try to talk to a professional, so that you can get the best help possible.  The easiest, fastest way to get in contact with reliable local businesses is to use TalkLocal. Just put in your problem and availability and let us do all of the work.  Within minutes you will be connected to someone who should be able to help you out.

A replacement window is considered any window that is installed in an existing, pre-made window opening.  They take the place of the typically wooden frame that was there initially but has since broken, deteriorated, or stopped working completely.  There are many different types of replacement windows, but the benefits of vinyl replacement windows are many.

Benefits of Vinyl Replacement Windows

Disadvantages of Vinyl Replacement Windows

Additional Help

If you have more questions about replacing your windows with vinyl windows you should try to talk to a professional, so that you can get the best help possible.  The easiest, fastest way to get in contact with reliable local businesses is to use TalkLocal. Just put in your problem and availability and let us do all the work.  Within minutes we will connect you with up to three local professionals who should be able to help you out.

The are many benefits of impact resistant windows. They help provide and enforce safety and security to your home or business. Whether you are worried about robbery, baseballs smashing through the windows, or storm-related damages, impact resistant windows can help protect your home.

Burglary: With impact resistant windows, you may be able to hinder break-ins onto your property. The extra resistance may be just what is needed to keeping your home impenetrable.

Storms: Storms such as hurricanes can be disastrous. Thankfully, impact resistant windows have been proven to provide protection. Sturdy windows will protect against strong winds and objects hurled against them. This may save you a lot of money when it comes to keeping rainwater out of your home and causing damage. Extreme flooding could result if rainwater were to enter; but the impact resistant windows would protect against most storms.

UV Rays: Impact resistant windows can also come equipped with UV ray protection! Why does this matter? UV light causes damage to many objects in your home, especially furniture with colorful fabrics.

Heating and Cooling: Impact resistant windows will help cut heating and cooling costs. If you have windows that insulate your building or room, you are investing in cutting costs on future heating and cooling bills. The money you pay upfront now for impact resistant windows may be well worth it in the end.

Impact resistant windows are made from acrylic-like plastics that are structurally stronger than glass. These windows are anchored to the sides of the building, so when the window receives heavy impact, the force is transferred away from the window itself, reducing the chance of cracking or breaking.

Additional Help

There are many different grades of impact resistant windows. The type of window that is optimal for your specific case may vary depending on a number of factors. If you would like to gather more information about impact resistant windows and get help with the installation, check out TalkLocal. You will be connected directly to up to 3 local, high-quality service professionals who can help you at the time that is most convenient for your schedule. Check it out!

What are low-e glass windows and how can they be helpful to me? Good questions! Low-e glass windows are gems that help reduce money and save energy. They have unique properties that allow them to behave in ways that typical windows can’t. Not only do they keep out heat rays during the summer, but they also have another unique property that you can learn more about below!

What Makes Low-E Glass Windows Unique?

Low-e glass windows stand for low-emittance windows. The reason that they have this name is because they contain layers of material that keeps out radiant heat. Low-e glasses keep out heat flow and reduce the U-factor with the extremely small, undetectable layers of metal and/or metallic oxides contained in the glass.

How are Low-E Glass Windows Beneficial?

Low-e glass allows visible light to travel through it! So although you are keeping out the rays that make your home too hot, you are still allowing the room to become filled with the natural, outdoor light. By using low-e glass windows, you are also reducing your energy bill, by preventing your house from being overheated by the sun’s radiation beaming through your window.

Are There Different Types of Low-E Glass?

Yes, there are different types of low-e glass. Your climate and house may require different solar gains depending on where you live and how many heat rays you would like to enter into your home. Different solar gains will have different impacts on your house’s temperature. For example, high solar gain glazings will be great for the winter when you would like to keep your home warm. However during the summer, low solar gain windows are optimal.

Additional Help

Not sure which window type would be best to help you save the most amount of money? Already know which windows you want, but need help with the installation? Check out TalkLocal! You will be directed within minutes to up to 3 local, high-quality professionals who can assist you at the time that is most convenient for your schedule. Try it out!

Having insulated windows can be a real treat, especially during the winter months.  Insulation of a window can be improved by using double glazing, glass with heat reflective properties, thermal reflective plastic, and heat shrink film.  Retaining heat in your household is just one of the benefits of insulated windows.

Benefits of Insulated Windows

Heat loss occurs with non-insulated windows due to a couple of different factors.  Infiltration, conduction, radiation, and convection are the four reasons why your house does not stay warm with non-insulated windows.

Additional Help

If you have more questions about the benefits of insulated windows or about their installation you should try to talk to a professional so that you can get the best help possible.  The easiest, fastest way to get in contact with reliable local businesses is to use TalkLocal. Just put in your problem and availability and let them do all the work.  Within minutes you will be connected to someone who will be able to help you out.

There are several types of replacement windows. Here is a list that will help you decide on the kind of window you need or want for a replacement:

The single hung window has a fixed top pane and a sliding bottom pane. It allows air and light to enter, and are especially convenient as they do not take up interior or exterior space. As such, they are ideal for spaces with little room, such as in a bathroom or in small bedrooms.

The double hung window usually allows the top pane to open, and sometimes has a stationary bottom pane. It allows for a lot of light and air to enter the room, again without taking up interior or exterior room space. The fixed bottom pane makes it useful for childrens’ rooms.

Picture windows offer generous amounts of light into the room, and large views of the outside. However, with just one immovable pane, it offers no ventilation capabilities and is thus ideal for dining rooms or living rooms

Angling outward and opening at the bottom, awning windows allow some ventilation and more light. These are ideal for areas where privacy is of a concern, such as patios and bedrooms.

For lots of fresh air and light, slider windows are generally best. These are usually used in rooms where a lot of ventilation is necessary.

Casement windows slide open sideways, and are useful for hard to reach places where leverage might be an issue. They allow light and fresh air into the room and are usually found in kitchens, with a combination of other window types.

Bay windows (pictured above) offer a lot of ventilation and light for the room and are thus good for master bedrooms, kitchens and family rooms.  They open up on the side and offer multiple views of the outside.

Additional Help

If you have any questions about the numerous types of replacement windows, or if you are looking for a window replacement contractor, just use TalkLocal! We will put you in contact with up to three window professionals in your area in just minutes!

Storms, a crazy party, or a bb gun can crack a car window, which can make the car owner go crazy. Window repair and window replacement can both be expensive. But before you rip your hair out over your misfortune, here are some simple quick fixes for cracked windows.

Shattered Window Pane

If the window has become completely shattered, a temporary patch can be used to stop the chill and hold the care over until a new window can be installed. To put the temporary patch on the window pane:

1. Remove the broken glass from the window with heavy-duty gloves.

2. Staple a few layers of thick clear plastic onto the frame. If you don’t have clear plastic, you can also use trash bags. Use more caution when driving now that some of your field of vision is blocked off.

Crack

If there is a little crack in your car window, you can use the taping method to cover up the crack. All you need is the window taped on both sides with masking tape on the crack to temporarily cover the crack. Resin can also be applied to the crack. Resin repair kits can be purchased at all local auto repair stores. Resin repair kits come with resin, an installation tool, curing strips, razor blades and an instruction sheet. For small cracks, a mixture of cerium oxide powder and water can be applied to the small crack.

Hole

A hole in your car window can be easily fixed without the need of window replacement. If the method is done right, the hole becomes invisible. To fix a small hole in the window:

1. Apply clear nail polish in the hole.

2. Let it dry and repeat until there is a nail polish flush in the hole.

For temporary repair, reinstall a new window or call window repair. TalkLocal can connect you to the best window repair companies in your area.