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Windows and doors
Windows and doors galore
5 trends to keep in mind when replacing doors and windows
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Photos by Pella
Big windows and doors are back and they’re opening in new and exciting ways.
If 2020 is the year you treat your home to new windows and doors, there’s never been a better time to upgrade.
Bob Wood, the owner and president of Revolution Windows and Doors Ltd. in Dartmouth, says today’s windows and doors are significantly better than ones manufactured even just 10 years ago.
“We’re seeing tighter windows and doors, better weatherstripping and better energy efficiency overall, which is good because Nova Scotians are always looking for products that can stand up to our damp climate.”
Ready to replace your dinged-up doors and rattling windows? From what colours are popular to how people are choosing the best materials, here’s a look at the top window and door trends of 2020.
1. GOODBYE WHITE! HELLO, COLOUR! Over the past five years or so, Wood says many homeowners have been choosing windows in a colour other than — gasp — standard white. The move kicked off with people choosing dramatic black windows with satin
nickel or brushed-chrome hardware.
While black windows are still very popular, a new frontrunner is emerging: grey!
These black and grey windows are usually either stained or painted on the inside. Some homeowners opt for a two-tone look, with windows that are black on the outside and white on the inside.
But if you have your heart set on black windows, you might not want to choose
vinyl — especially if they’re going in a brick or concrete building. Wood says black vinyl heats up quickly in the hot sun (especially in the summer) and the expanding and contracting can make the window more difficult to open and close.
This can mostly be prevented with proper spacing and shimming, but he says fibreglass or aluminum-clad wood make a better choice than vinyl when it comes to black windows. Windows can come in bright colours, too, but experts say they tend to only be popular for cottages and camps — especially red or green windows.
While a colourful front door has always been a popular look, more homeowners are choosing to buy a new door in a custom colour — rather than just slapping some paint on their existing door.
“When it’s a factory paint job, it’s either powder-coated or heated on, like you’d paint a car,” says Wood. “It makes for a flawless finish. There’s no comparison.”
When it comes to choosing a colour, there’s lots of room to take risks and choose a shade
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you love. Maybe a pretty shade of blue, like the 2020 Colour of the Year for Pantone (Classic Blue) and PPG (Chinese Porcelain)? Or a soft rosy hue, like Benjamin Moore’s pick (First Light)? If those are too bold for you, no problem — brown is also one of the most popular front door shades at the moment, particularly for fibreglass doors.
2. HIGHER-QUALITY WINDOWS AND DOORS
Wood says he’s noticing a trend towards choosing higher-quality windows and doors, especially since more homeowners are concerned about making their homes as
101-420 Higney Ave, Dartmouth, NS B3B 0L4 (902) 455-5469 www.ohdns.ca energy efficient as possible.
He says they might choose vinyl windows with thicker four to five-inch frames that push the windows further into the house — which reduces heat loss — or make sure to pick doors with pricier stainless steel hardware that will stand up better to Nova Scotia’s wet climate. Of course, not everyone wants to pay for high-end windows and doors. Wood says they’re not everyone’s cup of tea, and some homeowners are happy to stick to the basics, while others are willing to spend extra money on windows and doors that have a certain look or special feature — or will hold up better over time. 3. NATURAL MATERIALS
Vinyl windows have been everyone’s go-to for a long time, since they’re durable, energy efficient and easy to install. But older materials like wood and aluminum have been making a comeback over the last couple of years.
This is partially because major window companies like Pella have been offering lifetime residential warranties on the wood (once painted or stained) on new wood-aluminum clad windows, matching or even beating the warranties of vinyl windows. But Wood says it’s also because more homeowners are interested in environmentally friendly materials — and vinyl windows are made from plastic (PVC or polyvinyl chloride).
An aluminum exterior window with a wood interior will outlast a vinyl window because the metal surface reflects the sun’s UVA/UVB rays whereas the vinyl will eventually break down.
While it’s true that a wooden exterior window wouldn’t make as much sense in Nova Scotia’s damp climate, having wood on the interior isn’t a problem at all. Wood says homeowners are loving the warmth of interior wood windows and about 80 per cent of homeowners opt to have them prefinished when they place the order, rather than trying to DIY it later.
Fibreglass windows have also increased in popularity over the last five years or so. Wood says being glass-based means they’re eight to nine times stronger than vinyl windows are structurally in the profiles. 4. INTEGRATED SHADES AND BLINDS
Pella makes really neat window fashions that tuck between the panes of glass, so they’re protected from dust, damage and curious little kiddie hands.
Because there aren’t any exposed cords, they’re safer for homes with pets and children. These integrated blinds also have far fewer indoor allergens, like dust, compared to standard window treatments.
They can be raised or lowered using a handheld remote or an app on your phone or tablet and there are solar-powered options (with battery backup) that automatically raise and lower depending on the time of day. Experts say the sliding patio doors with between-the-glass blinds are especially handy because no one’s getting tangled up in blinds when they’re trying to carry a tray of hamburgers out to the barbecue.
5. BIGGER WINDOWS (AND MORE WAYS TO OPEN THEM)
Back in the ’70s and ’80s, it seemed like everyone had enormous picture windows in their living room, but they mostly disappeared from new home construction in the ’90s and 2000s.
But big windows and doors are back and this time they’re not just solid picture windows — they’re opening in new and exciting ways thanks to multi-slides, lift and slides, bi-folds, hinged and sliding doors to let in the fresh air. Just be sure to choose ones with quality stainless steel hardware, since cheaper fittings and rollers will rust easily in our rainy climate. ■
Windows and Doors that stand out!
Garage door trends for 2020
Garage doors can be stylish, too. Here’s a peek at what to keep in mind if 2020 is the year you’ll be upgrading your garage door.
MODERN TONES
Grey has been a popular indoor hue for years and now it’s getting its chance to shine on a home’s exterior. Garaga recently unveiled a beautiful new shade called Iron Ore Walnut that combines a deep, iron grey with the rich texture of walnut grain. David Pace, president of Overhead Door of Nova Scotia, says it looks especially nice with crisp white or black overlays.
Not feeling the grey? No problem. Pace says there have never been more colours available for garage doors and many manufacturers are partnering with siding manufacturers and front door manufacturers to ensure perfect colour and design matches.
HIGH-TECH OPENERS
Garage door openers can do a lot more than simply clip onto your car’s visor and open/close the door when you click the button. A new residential garage door opener in LiftMaster’s Elite series includes an HD camera with a microphone and a speaker. Homeowners can use the myQ mobile app to monitor all comings and goings in their garage, in real time. They can see who’s arriving or leaving the garage and even have a two-way conversation with them using the microphone and speaker.
GLASS DOORS
Garage doors are usually made tough to stand up to the bumps and dings of everyday life with vehicles, kids, pets and the odd hockey stick. But glass garage doors are an interesting and unexpected new trend.
“A lot of people are putting in glass doors and turning their garages into sunrooms so they can really enjoy the space,” says Pace. “They’re tying indoor and outdoor spaces together.”
Sometimes the glass panes are clear so you can see right through them and other times the glass is frosted to let in light but maintain privacy.
CONVENIENT PACKAGE DELIVERIES
If you order a lot of packages online and you’re not always home to accept them, you might want to try Amazon’s in-garage delivery system. Callifornia, 9’ x 7’, black aluminum frame, satin glass.
If you’re signed up for Key by Amazon, you’ll get a notification during the morning of delivery providing a four-hour window for when the driver will arrive.
When the driver reaches your garage, you’ll be notified and can even watch them live if you have a camera enabled. The driver will request to unlock your garage door using their handheld Amazon scanner and Amazon will verify the transaction and open the door. “It can be set so the door will open to exactly the right height so the package can be slipped underneath,” says Pace. “Then the driver leaves the package and makes sure the door closes before they leave.”
SPECIAL DETAILS
It’s the little details that can elevate the look of a garage door. Carriage hardware and other forms of reproduction hardware are still going strong for 2020 and so are mullion windows and craftsman-style panelling. ■
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