Our homes are considered a reflection of who we are. That’s why, whether or not we’re aware of it, we’re constantly making little changes - whether it’s changing the flagstones on the path leading up to the house, sprucing up the landscape or splashing on a new coat of paint to better suit our current tastes and needs. Homes are forever a work in progress, and, inevitably, there comes a time when we take a good second look at the windows and doors in our homes and wish they had this or that characteristic, or that they were more unique in one way or another. If you have thought about having a window or door designed precisely to your specs, you’ll be happy to hear that you can, indeed, opt for window or door customization. In this ebook, we’ll discuss the benefits of window and door customization, your options and the considerations you’ll have to weigh when you have customized components made for your home.
PART 1 Window Replacement Customization: Options and Considerations The windows of your home can be designed and manufactured just about any way you want. You can select the frame and material, color, shape, glass and the grilles. However, it may be a bit daunting to come up with unique window designs for your home all on your own. If so, you can turn to an interior designer or a reputable manufacturer for help with the different customization options available to you. All you’ll need is to pick out the options for your customized windows, and they’ll design and manufacture the window for you.
Take the time to have a certified window contractor or manufacturer explain the different design options available to you so that you can better formulate or select the designs that suit your specific needs best.
Most customization options available for windows include, but are not limited to, the following: • Design of the window frame – The window frame holds the entire window together. Choose a design that enhances the strength and durability of the window, but lends great aesthetic properties to you home as well. • Window frame material – Strength and durability are important, so choose a material that typically has a long lifespan and can readily withstand the elements. One such material is Fibrex®. Though relatively new in the industry, this material is one of the most durable in the market today.
Asides from the design and material of the window frame, you can select the type of glass to be used on your window. Energy-efficient glass is highly recommended for its durability as well as its ability to reduce the home’s energy costs. ooooo
In the next part of this ebook, we’ll discuss the different customization options for doors, so that you can better select those that meet your standards and expectations.
PART 2 Door Replacement Customization: Options and Considerations Window designs come in an endless variety of designs and design combinations you can choose from, often making the process of creating your own designs somewhat challenging. So, too, do doors offer seemingly limitless possibilities when it comes to customization - from your material of choice to size and specific designs. To better help you create custom door designs, we suggest you follow these steps: Step 1: Take accurate measurements. Having the right measurements for your door can help you choose the right design. This is because some designs may look great for doors of a certain size and shape, but may not have the same impact when applied to a different size or shape. Step 2. Choose a design style. When choosing between design styles, it’s best to refer to the overall architectural design of your home. If your home has a modern or contemporary theme, then it would be best to choose the same for your door. Whether your home has a Victorian, Modern or Classic style, it’s best if you stay true to the home’s predominant style - don’t mix and match clashing elements unless you’re prepared to put up with an ugly home.
Step 3. Choose the accessories. Doors have different accessories or hardware like handles and door knockers, so do take the time to choose the right ones for your customized door. Step 4. Enlist the help of the manufacturer’s customization team. Unless you have a specific door design in mind, or even if you do, you’ll still want to enlist the help of professional designers in coming up with the perfect design for your door. Fortunately, most manufacturers have a team of designers that can help you with this. Present your ideas to them, and they’ll get to work creating the most ideal design for you.
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Creating a customized door design is an exciting task, but it can also be tiring as well. To get the most out of your time and effort, you’ll need a bit of guidance, which we’ll be discussing in the third part of this ebook.
PART 3 Tips and Reminders to Make the Most of Customization If you’ve never had a window or door customized before, you may not know what to expect. Customization often takes a bit of effort on the homeowner’s part as the outcome of your home’s custom elements will, after all, be largely dictated by your specific needs and preferences. 1. Always consider style and function together. You may have a seemingly perfect design in mind, but have you stopped to ask if the design is also able to serve the functions you intend? Certain designs lend themselves to specific functions better, so keep your primary goals in mind throughout the design process. Say, for instance, you want a window with expansive views, but also decide that ventilation is an equally important consideration. A picture window will satisfy just one of the prerequisites you’ve set, but a sliding window that provides a view and opens up to let air in and out could be just what you need. If you want your window or door to have a specific function that others might not have, then let this fact guide you through your options during the entire design selection process.
2. Always consider the architectural design of the home. In some cases, mixing and matching architectural designs will work. Unfortunately, such happy accidents are rare: Creating the perfect door or window of your choice doesn’t end happily if it turns out that it doesn’t match the home. When designing, it’s best to consider the architectural design of the home first - then choose a window or door design that will not just match, but more so, complement the overall home design.
3. Choose the right color. You may have a great customized window or door, but choosing the wrong color could still ruin everything. Seek the guidance of a professional designer, or find a color chart that can help you choose the colors that best complement each other for a more cohesive look to your home. Designing a customized window or door may take significantly more work than you might have originally expected. However, if you set certain rules or guidelines first, you can better limit your design choices. This will allow you more time to create the best design for your needs based on the specific limitations you’ve set. Taking your time and creating your design will practically guarantee that you end up with the best customized window and door designs for your home.
Renewal by Andersen of Orange County 22982 Alcalde Drive Laguna Hills CA 92653 United States (714) 916-9229 www.dialonewindows.com