Why You Should Have Window Tinting For Your Home

Window tinting is now becoming a popular design in many homes. It creates a more appealing look and goes smoothly with almost any kind of themes and styles. You will be amazed to know that using window films does more than styling your home. Not only does it help to have a cozy feeling but in more ways than one, there are a lot of benefits that come from having your window tinted than simply being a plain decoration.

Benefits of Window Tinting:

1. Energy Savings:

You might not be aware of it but window tinting for your home is actually a great help to save energy. Most solar window films applied to the windows contain 99% Ultraviolet light reduction. Hence, during winter, it helps minimize heat loss. On the other hand, it also helps maximizing heat gain on summer days.

2. Prolonged furniture life:

Due to its UV protection, tainted windows actually reduce easy deterioration of fabrics and textiles. It also protects the furniture from direct heat of the sun thus significantly reduce its fading marks over time.

3. Value Privacy:

Window tinting your home especially in places like bathroom, kitchen, glass door panels and office rooms preserves the privacy that you wanted without compromising your view outside your home. In a way, you get to see people outside but they cannot see you.

4. Great Decorative Element:

Nowadays, using tint in your window becomes even more functional when used as a decorative tool. Houses with wide windows are more appealing and attractive once applied with solar window films.

5. Health Reasons:

Sun exposure is greatly blocked with window tinting your home. Imagine you are exposed to direct sunlight anytime of the day. Skin problems like itching, breaking out or other more serious problems will surely be eliminated once you get your home protected with UV protection from your tainted windows.

6. Added Protection and Safety:

Home window tints offer far greater safety features. For example, a without the protection of a solar window film, a broken glass can be scattered all around the room, causing more damage especially to the kids when not attended.

7. By window tinting your home, you will easily notice that even when the glass is broken, it remains intact to the film, and thus scattered broken glasses will be eliminated. It is also noteworthy to learn that there are thicker window films available in the market that is highly recommended to use.

These films have thicker gauge and perfect to stand strong against natural disasters like raging storms and other natural calamities. With all the great benefits mentioned above surely, it is a serious thing to consider window tinting your home.

A great way to add protection to your home is with a window film system. Your home will be protected from intruders and storms with the new hurricane film protection system.

Decorative Glass Film for Your Store Front or Office

One of the most important factors of success for any business is how your customers see you, not only in terms of your company's reputation, but also the physical appearance of your store or office. It is essential to make a good impression from the moment the potential customer or client walks up to your door.

Many home and business owners have already discovered the money and energy saving benefits of window film, but not everyone realizes its potential as a design element. Decorative window film can be used to achieve a variety of aesthetic effects, at only a fraction of the cost of other window treatments. Whether you run a corner shop or a large office, decorative window film is the perfect solution to give your space a distinctive appearance.

Store Front Appeal

Etched glass has always been a popular look, but custom etched glass can be very expensive. The glass must be sandblasted or chemically etched by the manufacturer; if a change is required down the road, the glass will have to be completely replaced, which will not be cheap. Decorative window film can be used to give the appearance of etched glass without actually altering the glass. You can have your company logo "etched" onto your glass doors with decorative film for a high class appearance without the high cost. Decorative film can also be used to create other styles such as beveled, stained, embossed, or patterned glass.

Office Style

Decorative film can add style to any office building. It can be purely decorative, or it can serve a double purpose by also obscuring the view through the glass for greater privacy. This type of use is perfect for conference rooms, where the light and openness provided by glass windows is desirable, but you do not want everyone passing by to see what is happening inside the room. Decorative film can also be used to make your waiting area and other spaces more visually interesting.

Design trends can change quickly, and installing custom glass is an expensive investment that could be out-dated before you know it. With decorative film, you do not need to worry about being stuck with a design that has gone out of fashion. If you want to switch to a new style or pattern, you can simply have the film removed and replaced at a much lower cost than replacing the glass itself. With decorative window film, you can be sure that your business will always make a good impression.

C. Robinson is the owner of The Tint Guy, an Atlanta tinting company, specializing in automotive, residential, and commercial Atlanta window tinting. Founded in 1986, the company now has three "brick and mortar" locations in the metro Atlanta area. The Tint Guy is the only full-service 3M window film dealer in Georgia, providing expert sales and installations of the complete line of 3M window films.

Create the Perfect Window Dressing

Privacy

Ground floor rooms normally require more privacy than first floor rooms, especially if you have houses opposite or live on a main road. Think about your options - do you want something that offers complete privacy at all times or would you be happy to have clear windows during the day providing you can have complete privacy during the night? Consider how busy the road is and the level of footfall. Give special attention to any bedrooms and think about what kind of privacy they would need; you wouldn't want any window dressings that allowed silhouettes to be seen!

Sunlight

Understands how sunlight works in each individual room of your home. Are the rooms north or south facing? North facing rooms may require thermal window dressings to help keep the room warmer during the winter months, but don't go too heavy as this will block out natural daylight as may leave the room feeling unwelcoming and dark. Rooms that have direct sunlight need careful consideration. Direct sunlight can fade rich colours over time, so consider how much sunlight you want to allow in. Think about your décor and the cost of your possessions. Want to allow sunlight and protect your things? Then consider light filtering materials such as muslin.

Once you understand the functions required, start to consider style. Long gone are the days when net curtains where the main ingredient of a well-dressed window. Curtains, shades, blinds, shutters or any combination of these can help create and complete an interior look.

Style

When choosing your style of window treatment, think about the style of your room. Is it traditional, contemporary, eclectic or country? Do you want to introduce a style that can be repeated throughout the home?

Be Creative

Create your own individual look by thinking outside the box.

Use MDF to create custom valances - especially effective in bedrooms. Can be painted to match walls or papered to match a feature wall. Use a jigsaw to create your own individual design.

Venetian blinds can be teamed with fine pieces of muslin to help soften edges. Put both panels of muslin over the window and secure to the curtain pole with 'clip' rings. Gently pull each panel of muslin to opposite sides of the window, causing a natural 'cross-over' drape effect at the top of the window. Use decorative, luxurious tie-backs to keep the muslin in place. The venetian blind is then raised to the bottom of the drape to allow daylight in, and then dropped back in place for night time privacy.

Extra-long curtains look great in bedrooms as they fall elegantly onto the floor. This will only work if the curtains are for decoration only. Covering the radiator when closing the curtains is not ideal, especially in the winter months. Also not a great idea if you have to walk past the curtains as you could trip over the excess material. Combine them with blackout roman blinds/ roller blinds or vertical blinds for an effective, stunning look.

If you have an extra wide window, such as the kitchen, consideration needs to be given to the weight of the window dressings. Having one huge venetian blind could cause problems especially if the blind is raised and lowered on a daily basis. Why not consider getting several venetian blinds? This works really well and looks effective as you can have the blinds raised at different heights.

Colours and textures

Getting the right colour, pattern and texture is paramount to your dressing success. Think about the focus in your rooms. If you have introduced a really strong feature wall, then use a colour that blends in with the rest of the room - whether this is a light or dark colour. This doesn't mean that you can't use a mixture of styles or a mixture of different materials and textures to create a functional yet stunning window treatment.

If you have plenty of patterns then keep the window dressing plain and simple. The idea here is to enhance the look of the room, not add to it. Likewise if your room is very simple with clean lines consider soft, voluptuous muslin teamed with wooden blinds. If you have the room, why not consider wooden shutters for a simple yet effective look?

Sue Hessom is a renowned lifestyle writer who is also a home styling fanatic. If you like what you read and would like a bespoke article written just for you please email suehessom@gmail.com initially.
Samples of my work can be seen at http://www.realwomentoday.com or http://homestylingtips.blogspot.com/

Discover How to Make a Window Cornice and Save Hundreds Or More

If you make a wooden window cornice, you will save money while adding great value to your home. Spring is a good time to complete the projects that you have been thinking about over the winter months. Upholstered window cornices add style and value to any home and will create a lasting value to any home.

Upholstered window treatments such as cornices, not only add value and style to any home, they also remedy any unsightly, boring, or even drafty windows that are an eyesore.

These days, saving money is a must as well as a reality for every homeowner. A cornice is an easy and inexpensive solution to spending money on window treatments. Creating your own will only cost you pennies on the dollar when compared to hiring a professional. It is not difficult to create an upholstered cornice. Best yet, you don't need any special skills, knowledge or special tools to accomplish this.

You can decorate your home's windows with one or several window treatments that will impress your neighbors with a professional looking décor by creating your own cornice.

To begin with, go to your local fabric stores and search for remnants that match, mix or contrast with your home furnishings. This is the first easy step to help you create gorgeous board valances that the designers use to complete the dream house look for their clients.

The only difference is that you will be saving a significant amount of money by creating the cornice yourself. In fact, you can easily save hundreds by cutting out the middleman, known as the professional interior decorator.

Be careful however, as if you show off your skills with your newly created upholstered window cornice, you may be asked to make a cornice for others, such as your neighbors.

If you decide to make a cornice, you will not only save money, you will see that it is fun and you will prove to yourself that making your own upholstered window wooden cornice is not a difficult task. You will also see how your easy efforts will add long term value to your home as well as immediate pleasure with the custom finished look of a well designed home.

Creating your own custom window coverings will enhance your windows and will also create a gorgeous focal point that you can be proud of. And in today's tight economy, making your own wooden cornice is a great idea for everyone's budget. You can easily create your own window treatment for less than one-hundred dollars.

Keep in mind that the same window covering would likely cost you several hundred dollars or more if you hired a professional to create it. The money you save will depend on the fabric or any extras that you use for special touches.

Before you get started, envision just how your customized window cornice will look. Think about a designer look without the price tag. Also consider this: cornice boards add more than just style, value and a new look. Creating your own window treatment will not deplete your bank account.

Discover the easy and inexpensive secrets of making your own customized upholstered window covering cornice by logging onto http://www.EasyCornice.com

How To Find The Right Window Cleaner

Having a window cleaning emergency might require you to have a professional come so that the window problem can be taken care of. This means that you need to search to get the best window washer out of the hundreds out there. This problem can be easily accomplished by following the simple advice that follows.

The total cost charged by the window cleaner is one thing you should consider. The first window cleaner you contact might be charging very high prices for the work. So it would be best you look around and find a window washer who will offer quality services at a good price. The best way to do this is to get different quotes from different professionals and choose accordingly.

One can also find reliable window cleaners by looking in the local window cleaning directories. These directories usually provide information like how long they have been in business, if they are licensed and insured, how much they charge, reviews they have gotten in the past, etc.

The window washers level of experience is also important. A inexperienced window washer is sure to scratch your windows and bend your window screens. I've seen this first hand where I personally live from angry customers that were victims of horrible window washing services. Tacky scratches and bent window screens were found all around the house, thus proving that experience is a MUST.

You should also check if the window cleaner offers some kind of guarantee. What happens if the windows cleaned are still full of streaks or your walls have scuff marks from the ladders? Many guarantees out there can protect you from problems such as these. They are usually visible on the home page of there website.

Getting a referral is another way through which one can get the services of the best window cleaner. The best review you can get is from someone you know, the internet is full of fake reviews that the owner will write himself to leave a good impression on prospects. I know of one Irvine window cleaning "professional" that will post fake reviews monthly.

The final step is to ensure that the window cleaners are licensed because there are many who can present themselves as such but have no proof. A window cleaner worth his name is one who is licensed to provide the cleaning services he offers. You should therefore require to see the license before any work is done to your windows.

These tips should help you get good services from a window cleaning professional and also help you avoid the risk of using a window cleaner whose quality of work and prices are very high. It is obviously a hassle to have any kind of emergencies but, having the right professional to handle the problem can be of great help in having your home shine like never before.

Owner/operator at ABM Window Cleaning serving Irvine and all its surrounding areas. Offering window cleaning and Irvine screen repair.

Charm of Window Decals and Window Clings

Certainly there is a huge charm of window decals these days. Actually they are called as stained glass window clings which can be elegantly designed via emphatic graphic design tools and methods efficiently. On the other hand, they can be gracefully printed via full color printing process. During the full color printing process, four color schemes will play a critical role in your static window cling quality.

They are typically known as cyan, magenta, yellow and black. All of them are prestigious and impeccable color schemes. In addition to this, we cannot certainly overlook the worth of glossy and matte finishing at all because they are really imposing lamination techniques. As a result, you will be definitely able to grab glossy decals in a stylish manner. That is why there is a huge charm of window decals nowadays.

With the help of it, you will be surely able to increase your business worth in a valuable manner. Add to that, they would help you in boosting up your corporate sales and returns in a continuous manner. In short, they are really charming and valuable icons for the modern day businesses. Besides window decal, there are car stickers available out there in the global market as well. Fundamentally car sticker is a very hot, sizzling and color icon for thousands of people in the world today. That is why they would instantly boost up your corporate identity in an ongoing manner. Generally they can be used for perfectly affordable promotion. Good news is that several online printing manufacturers are offering you custom cheap printing solutions these days.

Window Cleaning Tips and Tricks

While brand new windows are easier to clean, just wait for a couple of months and you can swear that it's easier replacing the glass itself than cleaning it up. The hard, tough stains due to the different weather conditions can have an undesirable effect on your windows. And having it cleaned by professionals ensures that the windows will return to its brand new look.

Window glass cleaning is not just cleaning against dust but also cobwebs, bird's poop and other small animal residues like snail trailing by your window.

There are some pundits who might tell you to do the window washing by yourself with lots of tutorials and tips scattered over the net but a lot of people who tried reading and doing it by themselves end up abandoning the job and focus on other easier, less strenuous chores.

If you're windows are high up in the house that needs cleaning, then you will face the problem of requiring a ladder which can be dangerous and unlikely if you have fear of heights.

Aside from that, there are lots of professional tools that are needed for it to be effectively clean. Using a squeegee also requires some techniques that can affect performance. You can watch how to do it online but watching and reading about is different from experiencing it altogether.

There are a lot of tips and tricks that are handed over in the internet but the best thing is to learn from the experts. There are a number of reliable of window cleaning services that you can contact and learn from. Do not be shy about asking them about tips and you will find that a lot of them are willing and happy to do so.

Tired of cleaning your windows but still looking dull and foggy? Window washing can be done by anyone, but the proper tools, skill and equipment to do the job requires a professional. Don't compromise the beauty of your home with amateurish window cleaning, head on to the best window cleaning professional and learn more!

Building a Window Seat With Storage

Adding a window seat to a room can be a great way of creating additional seating space. These cozy little niches not only look great, but they also are a very comfortable and convenient place to curl up with a good book while still being able to enjoy the beauty of the outdoors. Although some people are lucky enough to have an older home with a dormer that already has a window seat built in, with just a little effort and some basic building materials and skill, it is easy to add one of these seats to almost any room in your home as weekend do-it-yourself project.

Choosing the Overall Design
There are many different ways to build a window seat that includes a hidden area. Although you can certainly find plenty of plans and patterns for building these types of units, you can also create a very functional window seat area using nothing more elaborate than standard kitchen stock cabinets, which can provide plenty of storage space. You could also use a prefabricated storage bench as the basis for your window seat, or build your own, either with a cabinet front or a hinged seat that lifts up to reveal storage space.


Building Your Own Window Seat
If you already have a recessed area by a window, such as what is provided by a dormer, you can build your own custom made window seat designed specifically to fit within the space you have. This can create a built-in look that will make it appear that the seat was designed as part of the overall house design. Unless you have the ability to create your own design plans, you will want to start with an overall plan for building a window storage seat, and then adjust the measurements to fit the space you have. This type of building project is generally fairly simple, requiring nothing more than the plans themselves, some lumber, and some basic hand and power tools.

Building a Window Seat from Kitchen Cabinets
Another great way to build a window seat with storage is to use standard stock kitchen cabinets. Not only are these cabinets easy to work with because they are already assembled and prefinished in most cases, but the hardware and everything else is already included. Another advantage of using kitchen cabinet units is that they can make it easy to create a window niche where one doesn't even exist. To create this effect, use short kitchen cabinets to create the seating area of the storage bench, placing them on a short base directly on the floor in front of the window. Then, use full height kitchen cabinets such as pantry or open shelving units on either side of the window to create a built-in appearance. This can add a lot of storage space and style to a room, in addition to providing a window seating unit. You can use a purchased cushion such as those used for patio furniture, or sew your own custom cushion to add the finishing touch.

With signature design style, Jessica Ackerman, an online writer with WallDecorandHomeAccents.com, describes bold approaches to fish wall art and wall decor.

Window Box Planters - Maximum Exposure at Minimum Expense

Back in my twenties, I rented a small quaint house in San Francisco, just a short distance to the beach. The house was plain and simple with a small front yard. There was only a beautiful rose colored daisy like perennial and a wealth of cineraria growing there. There was a porch, three windows facing the street and three rundown window box planters. There was nothing inside them, not even some dirt, which surprised me. I found the house charismatic. Having never enjoyed the pleasure of a garden, as I had just moved for a third story Victorian apartment, I was very pleased with the possibilities of the diamond in the rough. All it really needed is time, effort and lots of love in order to come alive.

My first improvement was filling up those window box planters. Even though, my budget matched the appearance of the house, I did want the best results for my money. Naturally, I began with the window boxes, by adding some potting soil and a few flowers. Now I was in business.

Daffodils and tulips first sprang to mind, since it was early winter when I took up residency. These flowers were easily planted to add lots of spring colors to enjoy in a few months. Visualizing a burst of sunshiny colors surrounding the front door was a cinch. I quickly set my mind for planning the summer flowers for my window box planters, shortly after I planted my bulbs. However, the San Francisco beach area is fairly restrictive when considering various plant life. What with fog, fog and even more fog, the climate was considerably more depressing when you consider that everything about the house was gray. Yes, gray walls, gray roof and even gray window planter boxes. Those before me, I decided had absolutely no imagination at all.

Magenta paint was my choice, and I painted the front door and trim and your guessed it, even the window boxes. It did look much better, even if I say so myself. The cineraria stood out very stunningly, as the exterior of the house livened up drastically.

I was thrilled beyond measure as the daffodils and tulips began surfacing and coming into bloom, yes, I even talked to them. I had already been planning for the summer and fall, the flowers I would plant in my amazing colored window box planter. When the time came, I delicately began to interplant begonias, magenta and purple fuchsias in between each of the bulbs and then chose some dark turquoise trailing lobelias for good measure. These new flowers were well underway, by the time summer took the bulbs. All these flowers thrived in such a moist and darkened environment. For even more color I chose a variegated coleus. My visitors found this as charming as I did, while they complimented its beautiful display of colors.

Eventually, fall became winter and pink, white and red cyclamens quickly replaced the summer flowers. I brought my begonias inside to wait out the winter in pots. However, ferns and spider plants began taking over the underside of the roof of the porch, as they hung from their hooks, so reminiscent of delightful ballroom belles. It is interestingly amazing how much difference a couple of four foot window box planters can give a house such wonderful curb appeal.

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The Best Flowers For Window Boxes

Window boxes can add some much needed gardening space to small homes or perk up a window in any size house. They give the apartment dweller with no deck a place to garden and give the illusion of bringing the outdoors inside. Choosing what type of flowers to plant in your window box really depends on where your box is located and the type of blooms that you want. Take a look at where your window box is, or where you would like it to be and note how much sun it gets. This will help you determine which flowers to plant.

Size Matters

When you are plant shopping for your window box, you want to look for any type of plant that does not grow very tall so that you don't obstruct the view from the window. Decide if you want to place new flowers in the box with each season or have leaves that look good all year round and choose your foliage accordingly. Try and stay away from plants that need a large root base because in a window box, these types can become easily root bound and either take over other plants or die.

Building Depth

When you are planting your box, try and build some depth in it by planting vine type plants such as ivy that spill out of the box and hang down. Behind these types of foliage, plant the lowest type plants and build your way up to the taller plants in the back. This will create a look that is 3 dimensional and give it a more professional feel.

The Best Flower Options

Some of the more popular types of blooms for window boxes include marigolds, petunias, pansies, geraniums and begonias. These are very seasonal however, and need to be replaced in the winter with greenery such as green hydrangea and bittersweet to keep the planters looking fresh and alive. Other popular plants include herbs, basil, chives, mint and thyme are all good ones which can be planted in a kitchen window box for a quick and flavorful addition to any meal.

Essentially, you want seedlings that will stay fairly small, so as not to outgrow the space. It's also important to look for an abundance of color and long lasting blooms so you will have plenty of bright petals to enjoy throughout the season. Some blossoms come and go so quickly that it's not even worth having them in your window.

For the lowest maintenance look while still enjoying a beautiful window, mix and match your choices. Pick some plants that have beautiful foliage that stands on its own and add in some long lasting flowers like marigolds or forget-me-nots for a splash of color. This will let you have a pretty planter even when the blooming season is over.

Window boxes offer a simple way to get into gardening no matter where you live and can add a homey touch to an otherwise dull room simply by including some beautiful flowers.

Flowers are useful in many occasions, including funeral flowers to appropriately commemorate a loved one, and birthday flowers for celebrating one's birthday.

Great Stained Glass Window Art

There is a certain amount of sophistication that one gets in a stained glass window. It is an old art form that has been enjoyed for centuries but there is a timeless feel to it. In fact more and more modern artists are using this medium to express themselves.

The stain or color in a stained glass window is achieved by melting different types of metal oxides with silica, the material where glass is made from. Some of the many metal oxides that can be used include copper oxides for green glass, cobalt to make blue, and gold for red glass. The result is translucent glass that comes in many different colors and textures.

Part of the art is in the soldering that create the many portraits and landscapes that you see in old building and churches. These items are created by meticulously soldering pieces of copper or iron to serve as framework for the artistry to come.

During the dark ages, the influence of the Roman Empire was waning and new power was rising. More and more people were converting to Christianity among the people that converted were the rich and powerful families that held high positions in society. In order to cleanse their souls and secure a good place in heaven and society they offered to pay for expensive construction of places of worship. Part of their investment in spirituality came in the form of hiring artists and craftsmen to build wonderful stained glass art.

In the beginning, people used abstract patterns just for the beautification of the church. Some examples of this can be seen in skilled glass cutting stained glasses in the Meaux Cathedral in France. You can see 19th century Gothic window art in their windows.

As time progressed, technology of glass cutting and people's tastes progressed as well. Stained glass was also used for other purposes as well. Since majority of their congregation were illiterate, they could not teach them doctrine through books and other reading material. The various religions and churches used it to show passages of the bible and other important teachings like the way of the cross or the seven deadly sins. One of the places that include religious depictions can be seen in the Thomas Becket window in Canterbury. A portrait of Christ Majesty can also be seen in Strasbourg Cathedral as a testament to its former purpose.

As the art form grew, more people enjoyed the wonders of stained glass. Its influence went past the church's walls and found itself all over the city. It can be seen in many places that do not necessarily have to be a church. For example, a nice glass portrait of a man mixing chemicals can be seen in Yale University.

Majority of the most exquisite stained glass windows in history can be found in the towers and balconies of the beautiful chapels, churches and cathedrals but, there are places where you can get to see sights like this. Prepare yourself for an important step towards that dream home and you will see how easy can be like.

John Black writes about a wide range of topics. Click on the links to learn more about shower screens Perth and Glass splashbacks.

Top Tips For Installing Door and Window Alarms

If you're looking for information about door and window alarms there are a few things you need to consider before making your final decision about what to buy and install in your property.

In these days of increased security awareness, many more people are starting to fit home security systems to help keep their property safe. Door and window locks are probably the most common security feature that most people will turn to initially. These can be quick and effective for a basic installation or you can go for wireless home protection alarms which are a little bit more sophisticated but can easily be fitted without professional help.

A visit to Door and Radio Shack will show you how much is available and how simple it is to install. Lowe's also offer an extensive range of easy to install devices including magnetic door window alarms which alert you of an intruder as soon as the content is broken. The wireless devices allow you to control the whole system from a central control panel and can be installed in under an hour. Some people even choose portable door window alarms to allow them to change the location of the level of security in any particular environment.

Door and window alarms have come a long way in recent years as technology has improved and demand has risen. GE door window alarms are particularly good for general domestic use and for anyone wanting to develop their home security systems without extensive expenditure.

So if you're looking to improve your security, install door and window alarms in your home, simply check out some of the online advertisers, read a few customer reviews, decide on your level of expenditure and start improving your security immediately to give you peace of mind in your home or workplace.

Clinton Hammond owns and operates www.thealarmsreview.com.