REPLACING ALUMINUM FRAME SINGLE PANE WINDOWS Written by John Rocco
In our past articles i talked about all steps required to properly replace your old wood sash windows with energy efficient vinyl windows. I told you how to measure for new windows. Then we discussed removal of wood sashes and parting bead. Finally, i told you how to install, seal, and trim vinyl replacement windows. But, what if those old windows in your home are made of aluminum instead of wood? Is process same? No, it's not same at all. So, next few articles are going to explain differences between replacing wood windows versus aluminum windows.When discussing proper frame style for replacing wood sash windows, i explained difference between new construction frames versus replacement frames. When replacing aluminum windows, there is another option we have to consider regarding frame style. It's called a "retrofit" frame. Let's go over each frame type. First, we have new construction frame with nailing fin. If you choose to go this route, you have to remove exterior around each window opening, pull out nails holding aluminum window to studs, nail in new vinyl window, apply flashing, caulk, and re-install exterior around each window.(I get tired just talking about it!)In addition to being a whole lot of labor, you can run into major problems trying to install exterior product around each window opening. If your home has stucco, you have to try and match rest of stucco. It can be done, but not by you. Even most professional stucco guys can't get a perfect match. What if you have wood siding? Well, you can cut away 2" of siding around each window to get to nail fin, then you can apply 1 X 2 or 1 X 3 trim around each window. Certainly not as much work as stucco home, but probably more work than average homeowner cares to tackle. What if each window is surrounded by brick? Let's not even go there! You would have to remove bricks, then re-install them all when finished.
| | Preparing your Home for ShowingWritten by Adem Martin del Campo
Remember that when you are preparing your home for showing to prospective buyers, you are painting a picture, no a work of art. When selling a home you are working on a person's emotions, so be sure to keep that in mind. This will be place buyer creates new memories.Organizing your home The first place to start is cleaning and organizing. The easiest way to tackle this is to have a plan. Organizing and removing clutter should be first task. Remove as much clutter as possible. You want to create illusion of space without looking too sparse. If you have a buffet table with a lot of chatchkies on it, be sure to remove some of them to open up area. If your living room is cluttered with a lot of furniture remove a few pieces. This will again give illusion of a bigger room. Cleaning your home Now that you have organized it is time to CLEAN. Where I like to start is with bathrooms. Be sure to clean toilet bowls. This is a good indication of how rest of house was maintained. Clean baths and showers, removing all water stain from tile, and glass doors in showers. A great way to remove hard water stains on glass and tile is by using toilet bowl cleaner. The hydrogen chloride dissolves minerals that create spots (learned this from doing acid washes on pools, and having to clean tile with toilet bowl cleaner). Some cautions about doing this, be sure to use protective rubber gloves on your hands, and do not let solution stay on any chrome or brass metal like fixtures. Extended exposure can remove finish from fixture. Simply wipe once with bowl cleaner on a sponge to remove water spots, then quickly rinse with water for any metallic fixtures. For tub, shower, and tile around them, I get a bucket of hot water, and squirt some of bowl cleaner into it. Next I use a nylon bristle brush to scrub tile. If you encounter a spot that is stubborn go ahead and squirt some of bowl cleaner directly on spot, and scrub with your brush. Once you have scrubbed entire area rinse with warm water. I just use removable showerhead to rinse. Next you will want to dry entire tub and tile with a towel. After everything has had time to dry fully, I use carnauba wax for cars on all metallic fixtures. After you apply it, let it haze, then buff with a terry cloth towel. This makes your chrome or brass really shine. The same steps can be used on your sink and faucet. Now it is time to clean mirror(s). I use a dilution of Ammonia in water. Ammonia is what glass cleaners contain to remove streaks. Since you only need a little bit of ammonia it is a lot less expensive than name brand glass cleaners. After mirror is dry you can use carnauba wax on it as well. Be sure floor is clean. If it needs cleaning, I use another dilution of ammonia in hot water. The ammonia removes oils from your feet and other bathroom grime. Now that your bathrooms are spotless it is time for dusting, and I'm not talking with a rag. Dusting Now when I clean I don't conform to conventional. I dust house with vacuum. Yes I said vacuum. Dusting with a rag only moves dust. Vacuuming it gets it out of house. Most homeowners have a vacuum that has attachments like a brush, and an edging tool.
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