The care and upkeep of a home is an ongoing process. Improvements need to be made from time to time as things deteriorate or wear out. One of the greatest improvements you can make on your home is replacing the windows throughout the house. There are times that the need for new windows is very obvious. In other situations, the windows may still look new and modern but lack efficiency and should be replaced.

While there are many good contractors, there are also those who cut corners with both installation and choices of product. Cheap windows are exactly that?poor quality and very inefficient. Remember, they may look new but still lack the energy efficiency needed.

In order to spruce up the look of your Philadelphia home or increase its energy efficiency, our pros think that it might be time for you to start thinking French-French doors that is! French doors can be installed as a new exterior door to increase the energy efficiency of your home. Older exterior doors allow cold air to escape in the summer, warm air to escape during the winter, and money to escape from your wallet all year long. However, French doors aren?t a one tick pony; they can also be installed in the interior of your home for an added flare of style and function!

French doors are often described as functionally beautiful. They are constructed out of panels of glass, and whether you want two panels or twenty panels it can be done. The best part about French doors is that they aren?t just something pretty to look at; they are highly functional as well!

Benefits of French doors:

• They can increase the amount of natural light that is allowed into your home.

• French doors can provide a large access point into your home which can be helpful when moving large items into and out of your house.

• French doors can be used to link two rooms together.

• They can give a room a sense of expansion; a smaller room can appear larger with the installation of French doors.

• French doors allow two rooms to be open to each other or closed off depending on your needs that day. This can also help to save on heating and cooling costs.

• Exterior French doors are very secure and offer solid protection against intruders.

Give us a call or visit our Philadelphia showroom to discuss the details of adding French doors to your home today!

Along with keeping you dry when you walk out of your home in the morning, there are many other benefits to having properly installed gutters.

• Gutters will direct water away from the foundation of your Ohio home. This helps to prevent problems with flooding underneath your home or in the basement.

• They can help to stop soil erosion and damage to landscaping near your foundation.

• They slow down wear and tear on exterior doors.

• Gutters preserve your home's siding by keeping dirt and debris from splashing up against it.

• They provide a free water source. Water that runs downs the downspouts can be collected in rain barrels and can be reused to water flower and vegetable gardens.

• RainPro gutters have all the benefits of a 6 inch gutter system (increase water flow) while appearing on your home no larger than 5 inches.

• The gutters come in a wide variety of designer colors. The color is protected by ScratchGuard? Paint Finish and has a lifetime warranty.

• RainPro Gutters are created for your specific Ohio home and are cut to the exact dimensions and are hung with hidden internal gutter hangers. Internal gutter hangers maximize both function (extremely strong) and appearance.

• RainPro gutters have a wide gutter bottom to help increase water flow capacity.

• RainPro gutters work well with Leaf Protection systems.

• The RainPro Design Series gutter system carries the Good Housekeeping?s seal of approval.

Give us a call or visit one of our Ohio showrooms to speak with our professionals and start the process of adding a premium gutter system to your home today!

let's face it, as home improvement projects go, replacing vinyl siding isn't very high on the list for most homeowners. The project that is most likely to get your attention is the one that you perceive will add more quality to your life, like fixing that sagging corner on your deck so It's safe to do barbecues out there again, or replacing the window in the kitchen that doesn't open so you can let the fresh spring air in while you cook. But, changing your vinyl siding can actually have a big impact on your quality of life. There are tons of styles to choose from that will breathe life into that old home and make it feel like new again.

Getting new vinyl siding for your home could also save you a pile of money. If your current siding is worn out, you may be paying a lot more than you need to on your energy bills. You could also have moisture issues that are setting you up for frustrating repair costs in the future?or worse?sickness from mold and mildew exposure.

Here are 4 ways you can'tell that it is time to get new vinyl siding for your Philadelphia home.

It can seem like the great unknown ? the huge abyss! For most of us trying to decide the what, when, where, and how of replacement windows is such an intimidating task that it often will sit on our to-do lists without a check mark for years. It's not that we don?t think it is important to accomplish or that it doesn't really need to be done, but rather it is the fear of the unknown that keeps us from completing this job. After all, how much practical experience do we really have with replacing windows? It's not exactly like it is a job that we do often, and for many of us, it is a job that we have never done before. We don?t have any basis in our experiences that would make us feel that we can'tackle this huge undertaking successfully; so we put it off.

Well, that procrastination, no matter how understandable, is still costing you money; and the need for new windows is not going to just go away on its own. So let's take a look at the main mysteries in the window replacement process and try to gap that huge abyss of the great unknown.

Secondly, you need to know what to expect during the actual installation of your new replacement windows. Your installation team will arrive at the appointed time led by a factory trained and certified Master Installer. He will perform a walk-through with you to ensure that there are no misunderstandings or unanswered questions and to survey the work site again. Next, your existing window openings will be re-measured to ensure accuracy. Drop cloths will be laid to protect your floor and other items from dust and damage. We are also equipped and trained to follow EPA lead containment practices if necessary. Once this is complete, we will remove your old windows making sure not to disturb any interior trim or framework. The new custom built windows will be set into place, insulated, sealed, capped, and the exterior trim will be reinstalled. Finally, your team leader will review the job with you, show you how to operate your new windows, and answer any questions you may have. The very last thing is to make sure all areas are as clean as when we arrived. It is that simple.