Spring has finally arrived and one of the best parts about it is that we can finally get outdoors and begin to prepare our gardens for planting. Sure It's a lot of work, but can't you just about taste those fresh vegetables and herbs right now. I mean seriously, the winter seems to be decades long, and last year?s crop only stretched so far. Besides, have you ever noticed that those herbs from the grocer just do not quite taste as fresh as the ones that come out of your garden? I mean, there?s nothing like snipping a few chives or scallions from the yard, rinsing them off, and then cutting them into your waiting skillet. Or how about picking a nice, juicy tomato to wash and slice into your salad. Ahh, I can hardly wait, can you?

There are three things sliding doors do best. Can you think of what those three things are? We?ll give you a quick second to think about it.

The first thing that probably came to mind was that sliding doors are going to bring a lot of light into your home. If You're replacing a solid door or adding sliding doors to a wall that has no door in it at all, You're going to see an immediate and drastic change in how much light you?ll have coming in. Sliding doors are great for adding light to interior spaces.

Sliding doors will also give you a better view of your yard or deck. If You're looking to create a view, the large glass panes on sliding doors will do the trick. You?ll be able to sit in the controlled environment of your interior living space and be able to enjoy the outside. Whether it is swirling puffs of snow above a beautiful white landscape or the bright colors of summer, you?ll get the view, without having to be exposed to the elements.

The last thing that sliding doors do best is often overlooked at first. Probably because it is less of a visual feature. But for homes that require this feature, it quickly becomes one of the most important reasons to buy sliding doors. Can guess what it is? You're probably way ahead of us.

Sliding doors are great at managing space. Unlike a swinging door, sliding doors don?t require room to open. That means you can have furniture, potted plants, or other decorative objects right near your doors. No worries. They?re not going to get in the way. When you have a tight space to work with, sliding doors are the perfect solution.

One of the most cost-effective ways to increase the value of a home is to add a new entry door. This value can be figured out on a calculator, almost to the dollar. It takes into account the materials used, the cost of labor, the savings on energy bills, and other quantifiable factors. But, installing new French doors on your home will increase its value in a way that is much more subtle. There are some things you just can't put a price on.

Light.

Do you have a living room that could use some light? How about a bedroom with a tiny window that looks out onto your porch? How about a kitchen that only gets sun in the morning? Most homes have a room that could use more light, and adding light to a room is one of the ways French doors really shine.

They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but that isn't entirely true. Dim light can make any room look dreary. Light makes colors pop. It adds vibrancy and life. When you have new French doors installed, You're going to notice all that extra light almost immediately. And, anyone looking to buy your home in the future will notice it too.

Access.

French doors excel at providing access. Not only are they the perfect enhancement to a bedroom you?d like to have open up to your outside deck or balcony, they are the right choice when you need to add a ground floor entry that allows you to easily bring large items into your home. If you've ever tried to stuff a big couch through a standard sized front door, you know exactly what we?re talking about. Having French doors is like having a two lane highway. This is a great selling feature.

Style.

Every home is more beautiful with French doors. This entry choice adds style and elegance, and you just can't put a price on that.

There are so many subtle ways new French doors can add to the value of your home. Whether it is the way they create warm shadows on the ceramic tiles in your kitchen or how they open your living room up to give access to the outside pool area during family gatherings, French doors are an investment you?ll be glad you made, especially when it comes time to sell your home.

The rectangle is a great shape. It is simple, elegant, and popular; and its popularity also makes it less expensive. If You're looking to get replacement windows for your home, the rectangle might be the perfect choice, especially since You're probably going to be looking to fill the rectangular holes your old windows used to occupy, but what if you want something different? What if you want to add an arc of windows above those old rectangles to give the front of your home character? What if you want a window with the point at the top? Or, how about a porthole window? What if the spot where You're looking to add a window would look much more interesting with a triangle? What then? Don?t worry. We have the answer.

You would be amazed at what custom window shapes can do to bring your home to life. A line of tall, thin windows rounded at the top not only brings more light into your living spaces, but they also create an exciting architectural flair that may brighten your day as well. Triangular windows can fill the space all the way up to your roofline and make an interior room feel open and full of life. An octagon may be just the thing to add charm on the outside and a little more light on the inside. Whatever room You're looking to accent, custom shaped windows will add the perfect touch of flair and character.

With the arrival of spring, along with it comes that dreaded task we unlovingly refer to as ?spring cleaning?. It's that one time a year when we dare converge on each and every corner, nook, and cranny to seek out each particle of dirt, dust, or grime and be rid of it. We even dare venture into those basements, attics, and storage closets that have hardly been touched since last year?s spring cleaning day to see what items we can dispense of that we just couldn?t live without 365 days ago. Once all of these are checked from the list, we pull out the big ladder from the back of the garage and begin the most dreaded task of all ? window cleaning! It has got to be the most time consuming and difficult job; especially if you still have those old-fashioned windows that can't be pulled down or out for easy cleaning access, but that?s not even the worst part. That honor is saved for that moment when you have finally finished scouring all of those panes outside and tuck away the ladder only to discover upon entering your home that you left thousands of streaks behind to obscure your view! Ugh!

One of the best ways that I know of to save yourself from the ?worst part? moment this year is to use newspapers. That?s right! Newspapers! Simply mix a solution of 50/50 water to white vinegar. Spray the mixture onto your windows and wipe with a dry cloth. Follow that by wiping the panes with a crumpled up newspaper. Believe it or not, your windows will be so streak free and crystal clear that you will need to install stop signs for the neighborhood birds.

Besides, we offer a no risk, no pressure, and free estimate simply by requesting one at the top of our windows webpage. What have you got to lose? Well, except those streak filled ?worst part? moments this spring and all the springs to follow!