In past posts, we’ve discussed at length the importance of a window’s energy efficiency. One way this is measured is through the window U-factor. Very few homeowners are aware of the U-factor, though it’s an integral part of modern window installation.

What Is a Window U-Factor?

In a nutshell, the U-factor indicates a window’s ability to prevent warm air from escaping the home interior. The U-factor is especially a big deal in the winter. You want to retain as much heat as possible and keep heating costs to a minimum.

If your windows are really out of date, a window replacement with a good U-factor rating can slash energy costs up to 50%. Continue Reading →

The mercury in the thermometer drops as we proceed through the fall. The chilly weather may also bring a condition some people refer as sweaty windows. Are your windows becoming “sweaty” from condensation with the arrival of colder temperatures?

What Are Sweaty Windows?

Sweaty windows occur when condensation builds up on the window surface. While a nuisance, this is not an indicator that something is wrong with your windows. The process is natural and happens when temperatures are low and humidity is high.

Why Condensation Builds Up on Windows

Why does condensation build up on glass but not on other surfaces? Why don’t you see condensation on your tile floors, upholstery, or outdoor siding? Glass has a cooler surface than other materials. When temperatures dip, the warmer interior air makes contact with the cooler glass surface. This causes the warm air to cool, and the vapors in the air turn to liquid and cling to the glass. Continue Reading →

Does your home contain jalousie windows? Perhaps you’re considering renovating your home with this window type because you think it’s hip and trendy. From our professional perspective, we believe jalousie windows are viable solutions, though there are better options. Here’s why.

What Are Jalousie Windows?

The best way to describe jalousie windows is to compare them to window blinds. Picture those blinds made from glass and serving as the actual window. They were popular prior to the 1970s but gradually fell out of favor with the advent of residential air conditioning.

The appeal is that homeowners can open the windows to the desired degree using a simple knob or crank. This was an efficient way to control the level of breeze. Despite having fallen out of style decades ago, some homeowners, especially those into retro home designs, find them fashionable.

The Disadvantage of Jalousie Windows

The biggest drawback of jalousie windows is the lack of security. The horizontal glass panels are a lot easier for a burglar to smash than a traditional glass pane.

In addition, this window type also lacks energy efficiency if you regularly run your AC. Even in the fully closed position, there are still gaps between panels that allow air to escape. This is especially a big drawback in the winter. Heat escapes through these gaps and creates unnecessary draft.

Finally, jalousie windows have multiple working parts, making mechanical problems far more commonplace. The tracks are vulnerable to rust, which can inhibit their ability to open and close.

We Install Various Window Types

Contact Exteriors Unlimited for new window installations. We have various styles, including casement, single-hung, double-hung, and more. Please check out our gallery to view homes renovated with new windows and siding. Jalousie windows are an option, but we believe better choices are available.

New Residential Window Installation

Serving Spokane, Spokane Valley, Liberty Lake, Medical Lake, Cheney, Sprague, Reardan, Spangle, Rockford, Fairfield, Edwall, Ford, Clayton, Deer Park, Colbert, Chattaroy, Mead, Airway Heights, Davenport, Ritzville, Nine Mine Falls, Rosalia, Oakdale, Tekoa, Colfax, St. John, Endicott, Springdale, Elk, Post Falls and Coeur d’Alene since 1984

Can you build a house without a door? Of course not; that would be silly. The same goes for the windows. Windows are so integral, in fact, that some homeowners are even renovating their home with window walls. Here’s some more information about this trend and its benefits.

What Are Window Walls?

Window walls are essentially giant windows that extend the entire, or nearly the entire, length of a wall. They also run from the floor to the ceiling. They are normal in some commercial facilities but just recently have become a trend in contemporary homes. The beneficial featrues of window walls are both functional and aesthetic.

Window Walls Allow More Natural Lighting

From a functional standpoint, window walls allow in additional natural light. This keeps the room lighted longer before it’s necessary to turn on the light fixture for the evening. The exposure to natural lighting also has several health benefits. It enhances mood and also accelerates the body’s production of vitamin D.

Window Walls Expand Room Size

Okay, window walls don’t actually increase the room’s physical size. However, they create the illusion of more space. This is also why decorators recommend the use of mirrors for the same optical effect. Heavy reliance on mirrors, though, is considered a 1980s design and outdated by today’s standards. Window walls are more in line with modern home trends.

Increase Home Value

Admittedly, not every homebuyer will be attracted to window walls. However, a good percentage will appreciate the energy-savings benefits. This is certainly a feature you can advertise.

We Install Energy-Efficient Window Walls

We can install window walls for your home or office. We also install siding. As you can see in our gallery, we install windows of all sizes. Contact Exteriors Unlimited and boost home energy savings with a window wall renovation.

Residential Window Replacement

Serving Spokane, Spokane Valley, Liberty Lake, Medical Lake, Cheney, Sprague, Reardan, Spangle, Rockford, Fairfield, Edwall, Ford, Clayton, Deer Park, Colbert, Chattaroy, Mead, Airway Heights, Davenport, Ritzville, Nine Mine Falls, Rosalia, Oakdale, Tekoa, Colfax, St. John, Endicott, Springdale, Elk, Post Falls and Coeur d’Alene since 1984

Your house’s siding is exposed to the elements 24/7. As such, it naturally begins to stain and accumulate grime. It may take more than a towel and a sprayer to restore the surface. You may need to use a power washer. Here’s the correct way to power wash siding for the best results.

Safety First

A power washer is not a toy. In fact, it’s a very dangerous tool due to the high-pressure spray. As a safety precaution, please don protective goggles. The spray can send dirt at high velocity in your direction.

Also, refrain from using a ladder. The pressure from the spray may throw you off balance, causing you to lose your footing. If you need to reach higher, use an extender nozzle.

Finally, avoid spraying directly at windows. The pressure may be powerful enough to cause the window to crack or shatter completely. 

The Proper Technique

Keep the nozzle about one meter away from the siding and spray from a 45-degree angle, starting from top to bottom. Do not position the nozzle too close to the siding so the pressure doesn’t damage the surface. It may also press the dirt even more deeply into the surface rather than blow it away.

If using detergent, first rinse the siding using the pressure washer with plain water. Next, apply detergent and spray before finishing with another spray of plain water.

We recommend power washing the siding every two years. This will remove mildew and grime, which can damage certain types of siding. Also consider a power wash if you plan to paint the surface.

We Install New Siding

If the siding is badly worn, then it’s beyond what a power washer can do. Call Exteriors Unlimited if you suspect siding damage. View our gallery to see how new siding looks in a typical residence. Power washing siding keeps the home exterior looking pristine.

Home Siding Replacement

Serving Spokane, Spokane Valley, Liberty Lake, Medical Lake, Cheney, Sprague, Reardan, Spangle, Rockford, Fairfield, Edwall, Ford, Clayton, Deer Park, Colbert, Chattaroy, Mead, Airway Heights, Davenport, Ritzville, Nine Mile Falls, Rosalia, Oakdale, Tekoa, Colfax, St. John, Endicott, Springdale, Elk, Post Falls and Coeur D’Alene since 1984

Installing your own siding can’t be that hard, right? You can certainly save a lot of money, and all it takes is a day or two of rolling up the sleeves. Is DIY siding installation really doable?

The Truth About DIY Siding Installation

Many homeowners have enquired whether they can just buy their own siding from a wholesale supplier and install the siding without involving a professional service. Unfortunately, the job is not as simple as just snapping on the new siding over your existing material.

First, your existing siding and/or wall may have problems, such as mold or significant wood rot. You can’t just put new siding over it and forget about it. Secondly, would you even be able to detect signs of serious damage?

Do You Have the Right Tools?

Siding installation requires some basic tools, such as a tape measure, utility knife, electric drill, fasteners, etc. You probably already have these in your tool box. However, the job also requires commercial-grade equipment. This includes a break, an expensive tool that bends metal to conform to the shape of the trim pieces. Are you willing to pay several hundred dollars for a tool you will probably only use once every 20 years?

Rules and Regulations

Your municipality may also have rules regarding what you can and cannot do with your home’s exterior. This is especially the case if your home is a condo or your property is part of a homeowner’s association. Do you know how to acquire a permit or know if one is even required?

Leave It to the Pros

Whether it’s siding or windows, leave the installation to professionals with the right tools and know-how. Contact Exteriors Unlimited and view our gallery to see what a finished job looks like. DIY siding installation is not a realistic solution.

Professional Residential Siding Installation

Serving Spokane, Spokane Valley, Liberty Lake, Medical Lake, Cheney, Sprague, Reardan, Spangle, Rockford, Fairfield, Edwall, Ford, Clayton, Deer Park, Colbert, Chattaroy, Mead, Airway Heights, Davenport, Ritzville, Nine Mine Falls, Rosalia, Oakdale, Tekoa, Colfax, St. John, Endicott, Springdale, Elk, Post Falls and Coeur d’Alene since 1984

Many homeowners are well aware of the health risks of asbestos. However, asbestos is present beyond the interior walls and ceilings. It’s also present in older cement siding. Should you remove asbestos-cement siding or take some other form of remediation? 

The Dangers of Asbestos

Asbestos is no danger as long as the material remains intact. However, when the material comes apart, anyone in close proximity is at risk of inhaling the airborne fibers. Researchers have linked asbestos to various diseases, such as lung cancer and mesothelioma. 

What About Asbestos Siding?

As long as asbestos siding remains in good condition, it poses minimal health hazards. In fact, the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors even noted some benefits of cement siding. This includes its high fire resistance, termite resistance, and the ability to mimic the appearance of other siding material.

Health risks aside, asbestos siding has a few disadvantages as well. Unlike wood siding, which you can refurbish via staining or sanding, you cannot do so with asbestos. In addition, the material is brittle and is prone to cracking if you pressure wash the surface. 

Should You Remove Asbestos Siding?

Removal is an option. However, when inspectors work with old asbestos-cement siding, the standard procedure is normally to cover it with new siding. Removal is more labor-intensive, which translates to higher costs for the homeowner. On top of that, asbestos removal in some areas requires a permit from the city. In any case, we definitely do not recommend DIY removal. This poses significant risk not just to your family but to neighbors as well.

We Seal Asbestos-Cement Siding

Call Exteriors Unlimited if your home contains outdated cement siding. We’ll update your home with new siding and windows. Our gallery showcases more up-to-date siding. Asbestos-cement siding poses a health risk, and sealing may be the appropriate course of action.

New Siding Installment for Spokane Valley Residences

Serving Spokane, Spokane Valley, Liberty Lake, Medical Lake, Cheney, Sprague, Reardan, Spangle, Rockford, Fairfield, Edwall, Ford, Clayton, Deer Park, Colbert, Chattaroy, Mead, Airway Heights, Davenport, Ritzville, Nine Mine Falls, Rosalia, Oakdale, Tekoa, Colfax, St. John, Endicott, Springdale, Elk, Post Falls and Coeur d’Alene since 1984

Woodpeckers peck at trees; that’s a given. However, they actually do not discriminate, as long as the material is wood. If you have cedar or other wooden siding, they may peck at that as well. Removing a woodpecker from your siding is doable and does not require harming the birds.

Why Woodpeckers Love Siding

Why do woodpeckers target your siding when trees abound nearby? Like trees, siding provides a nesting ground for various insects. If woodpeckers can peck through the siding, they practically have an insect and grub buffet. Also, don’t think they will just target a single siding panel. They will go after multiple sections to gain multiple access points.

Visual Deterrents

Some homeowners hang CDs, believing that the reflective material keeps woodpeckers at bay. While the birds may initially be wary, they will quickly ignore them, once they realize they’re not a threat.

You need objects that are even shinier. Good options include repellent balloons, repellent tape, and repellent discs. Continue Reading →

Occasionally, you might hear a popping noise inside or outside the home. This could give you a scare, but the sound is alerting you that something is amiss with your window or siding. We’ll explore the cause of the window popping noise and what to do about it.

What Causes the Window Popping Noise?

One cause stems from the window’s aluminum cladding. Temperature fluctuations cause repeated contraction and expansion of the extruded coil stock inside the cladding. Another cause is improper installation. When installed out of square or plane, the frame’s jamb can bend inward and put undue pressure on the sash. Reinstallation is in order.

Popping Noise from Vinyl Siding

Aluminum windows aside, popping sounds could also occur if you have vinyl siding. Vinyl naturally expands in response to temperature changes. For this reason, installers must not nail the siding too tightly to the exterior wall. They must leave space for the expansion to occur. If you leave no space between the siding and wall, the siding buckles, leading to the eventual popping. Continue Reading →

The siding on your home protects is, as well as adding an attractive visual element to the exterior. Unfortunately, depending on its condition, siding might also serve as a breeding ground for pests. Bees around the siding is especially a problem in the Spokane Valley region.

How Siding Attracts Bees

Siding installation varies; some installers don’t cover the fascia trim, which leaves an opening for bees. The space behind the siding boards provide the ideal space for establishing a colony. Your home is especially prone to boring bees if your siding consists of untreated wood. If the wood is decayed, then that makes the siding even more attractive to these buzzing critters.

Once bees build a nest, you have the obvious danger of stinging insects near your home. But that’s not the only problem. As the bees produce eggs, they attract predators, such as woodpeckers. We don’t need to explain what woodpeckers could do to the siding as they search for the larvae. Continue Reading →