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Las Vegas Glass Repair

Www.Glassreplacements.com is the number one source for getting your glass fixed in Las Vegas. If you have broken glass or need patio door service or even a screen. You can call them for fast reliable service

I Can Break in To Your Home in 8 Seconds or Less

This is what I was told by a career criminal burglar when he found out we were telling people we were home security experts.When I met him, I was surprised at how fast he could break into a window, without even breaking the glass! These were brand new windows supposedly tested for strict anti-intrusion standards. One window even had a double lock, and he opened the window in about 10 seconds.

 Most people overlook this obvious fact. 100% of all home invasions occur through a window or a door. Well, who better to call to see if your home is secure than a window and door specialist? Most people think of alarm companies or locksmiths, but the fact is, no one is more qualified to determine how secure your home actually is than a window and door specialist.

If you think your home is secure I want you to look at this website

http://www.lvmpd.com/crimeviewcommunity

They have a tool on this website where you can enter your address and see all the home invasions that have occurred in your area. I think you will be horrified when you see just how many homes were broken into over the last year, even on your very street! I recently searched my address with a 1 mile radius and there were over 47 burglaries in the last 60 days!

If you see that you have 10 or more burglaries in your area, your neighborhood may be the target of a criminal burglary ring. They target one specific neighborhood because they all have the same windows and if they know how to get in one window, they can get in any window in the entire housing tract.

So why not call us?That’ right call us right now at 702-642-6669 and we will send out a qualified window and door specialist to inspect your home, yard, lighting, entrances and curb perspective and tell you where your home is most vulnerable to intrusion and what you can do about it.

The inspection takes about 20 minutes and afterwards you will know exactly where you stand when it comes to home security. Don’t worry, we don’t sell alarms or monitoring service, we aren’t going to force a sales presentation on you either. Our window specialist may have a few window locks and such if you like but you are certainly under no obligation.

You need to pick up the phone and call us so we can tell you how to make your home more secure. The fact is, that most burglars will give up after 30 seconds of trying to get in. If you can just keep them out for a few extra seconds it could be the difference between getting broken into or not.

Call us at 702-642-6669 and we will give you a free 104 Point Home Security Inspection, free of charge and with no obligation. We look forward to your call.

Shower Enclosures Will Never Be Cheaper

I wanted to send out a quick post to let everyone know that InstallPro is running a 2 week special for shower enclosures. . .

Is your shower enclosure falling apart? Is it moldy and dingy? Or maybe you still have a shower curtain? Doesn't it drive you crazy when it constantly blows in and sticks to you while you're trying to take a shower? If so, you may want to consider a new shower or tub enclosure, especially since this email is worth $38 dollars off your new shower enclosure for the month of May 2011.

 

InstallPro has enclosures starting at $199 but we also install custom frameless 3/8" and 1/2" plate glass shower enclosures. I've included a few pictures of our work, so you can see that even though we offer you the best prices available, you still get the highest quality work available as well.

 

                                            

 

Our installers all have over 10 years experience installing custom shower enclosures, and we are the only glass company to offer a Full LifeTime Warranty against defective craftsmanship and material on all of our shower and tub enclosures. So, that means you cannot get a better deal anywhere else.

 

Please give us a call and ask for Brian to come out and give you a free estimate. Also, did you know that we have a special gift, reserved just for you in your name, just for calling to get a free estimate. This free gift has a value of $27.44 and is yours at absolutely no obligation. All you have to do to recieve your free gift is call us for a free estimate before the end of May 2011 and I will bring it with me when I give you your free estimate.

 

You have nothing to lose and everything to gain, so don't delay, you deserve to spruce up your bathroom a little bit, and make it more beautiful, useful and comfortable. Please call us Monday through Friday from 8am to 4 pm and we will get you your Free Estimate and your Complimentary Gift valued at $27.44

 

We look forward to your call - 702-642-6669  

Side Box

If you look at the box to the right it says "Sign Up Here for Free Stuff!"

I know what you're thinking if you sign up there you will start to get junk mail from me and everybody I know but it seriously isnt the case. Here's what you will get when you sign up.

*Every Once in awhile you will get a free tip that will save you lots of money on home improvements.

* Once in a blue moon you will get special offers that I find to be of extreme value to anyone is who is a do it yourselfer.

* And of course very rarely will you get a special offer from us that will save you money should you decide to use any of our services.

What people don't remember is that, if I abuse the privilege by sending you junk mail, you will just unsubscribe and then what was the point anyway? We want to keep everyone signed up so we only send stuff that is going to make you glad you did sign up, so please feel free to sign up for special offers from us, you'll be glad you did!

The In's and Out's of Pet Doors

One of the most “immediately necessary” home improvements you will have to make is a new pet door. If you have pet’s you know how tiring it can be to constantly let the pets in and out and in and out. Installing a pet door or “doggie door” as they are sometimes called, while absolutely necessary, isn’t always an easy task. Until recently, there really hasn’t been an effective and logical solution to the whole pet door dilemma, and that can leave you and your pet more than frustrated.

Historically, there has only been two options when it came to pet doors, and unfortunately because they were the only options, there were a lot of them sold, in fact if you have a pet you probably have one of these pet doors and are as fed up with it as everyone else. They do deserve a quick discussion here, because I guess in some situations, they do have their place.

The first option is the all famous, big box store special. Essentially this is a doggie door the same height of the existing sliding glass door. This fastens to the wall jamb, and then, your sliding glass door locks up against this panel instead of the wall. There are several problems with this set up. First, the door will always leak now because the panels can’t “interlock” at the center, where the seal used to be created. So you will have a steady flow of air and dirt through that new gap in the door.

Also, you now have about 12 to 18 inches less space than you did before, to get in and out of your sliding glass door. This is a nightmare if you actually use your sliding glass door, which most people do. And forget about entertaining, because there isn’t enough room for one person to get through, let alone a party of people going in and out especially carrying food plates and drinks. I forgot to mention um, what if you don’t have a sliding glass door, now what?

The other option was one of those “through the wall” pet doors that they sell at big box home improvement stores as well. Yes those are great, nothing like cutting a big hole in the wall of your new house to improve the resell value huh? Nothing looks more out of place than an unsightly yellow plastic doggy door in the middle of the wall in your dining room. These are famous for leaking air and dirt as well, after all they weren’t exactly engineered to exacting standards.

So where does that leave us? You can change out your French doors, if you have them, to a “half-glass” door panel, where the top half of the door is glass and the bottom is wood. You can then install a doggie door into your French Door, this is the most logical solution, however, this can be extremely expensive. This always hurts when you have brand new French Doors and you essentially have to throw them out, so that your pet can go in and out as he pleases.

Some crafty glass experts have been known to replace the glass in your sliding glass door with a new piece of glass that is notched in the bottom corner. In this cutout, they install a pet door and now you have a pet door in the actual glass portion of your sliding glass door, but you still can’t open it all the way because the pet door hits the fixed panel, when you open the door too far. Besides, no pet door was really made for in “in the glass” configuration, so this always causes problems in the long run.

A recent development in pet convenience is the pet door insert made by Pet Door Design. This system is a pet door, designed specifically for sliding glass doors. In this scenario an entirely new glass unit is ordered, with a pet door installed, coming built from the factory. This product solves all of the other issues and problems you have with the old alternatives. One, its beautiful and looks like the door was built specifically for the pet door, without unsightly bulges and gaps. Two, the entire glass unit is replaced you so can open your door completely with a slim line pet door made for this application so you wont have to worry of banging the pet door on the fixed panel and your door seals as tight as it ever did. They are also reasonably priced. You can see a video of the pet door system on their website www.petdoordesign.com

 So there you have it, it only took a few hundred years of pet door nightmares to come up with an easy solution to allow your pets to come and go as they please. Remember this article next time your dog starts scratching at the door, right when you sit on the couch. Keep an eye out for my next article where I will be discussing the new pet door that comes with a security collar.

Awning Windows, A Brief Discussion

If you’re in the market for replacement windows or if you are building a home and are looking at window options, one of the most confused and overlooked windows is the awning window. Because of its relative obscurity, many people forget this window, (including designers and architects) and its ability to solve a myriad of problems. Here we will discuss the awning window, and its cousin the hopper window so that you can have the information you need to make informed decisions about what windows would work best in every location of your house based on the needs and wants for that particular room.

Simply put, an awning window is a window that has a hinge at the top (header) of a window. This hinge allows the sash(moving portion of a window) to be pushed out usually 3 to 4 inches. There are several benefits and drawbacks to these windows so let’s discuss them separately.

Benefit #1 – Ventilation/View preservation balance. In any frame situation the eye is automatically drawn to the center of an opening, picture or landscape. Therefore, when you look out a window, your eye is usually drawn to the center of the opening. Single hung windows and horizontal slider block the view with a center mullion going straight down the middle of your line of sight. This is a drawback to this type of window, so many people choose “fixed windows” or picture windows. The problem with this type of window is the loss of ventilation abilities.

With an awning window, you can place it at the bottom of a fixed window or at the top depending on which portion of your view you are trying to preserve. This way, your eye is drawn to the center of the fixed window portion of the frame, thereby preserving your view, while allowing you to ventilate properly as well.

Benefit #2 – Security. Awning windows only open a few inches so even if they are unlocked or left open, they are nearly impossible to get through without breaking the glass. Most awning windows are relative wide, but narrow on the height. This makes it an undesirable entry point for would be intruders.

Benefit#3 – Pizzazz. Awning windows have a different look, and will set your house apart from the thousands of homes in your neighborhood that are exactly alike. Even though they have been around a very long time, they have a modern appeal and will set a room off quite nicely. As a nice side benefit you can mix them with the previously mentioned “hopper window” which is a window that has a hinge on the bottom allowing the top of window to be tilted in. If you have awnings on one side of a room that will draw the breeze in, then hopper windows on the other side of the room it will push the breeze out and makes for an extremely efficient ventilation system.

Drawback #1 – Cost. Yes unfortunately awning windows are more expensive than their sliding alternatives. The hardware that goes in to an awning window is sometimes cost prohibitive. Luckily you don’t have to use them everywhere, but just keep them in mind when picking your windows, it may solve a few problems for you.

Drawback #2 – Restrictive. Awning windows offered by window manufacturers can be restricted in size options available. Most manufacturers only allow them to be 3 feet wide and usually no more than 2 feet tall. You can put 2 side by side if you need a wider opening but just keep in mind that you may have to be a little flexible with the sizes if you choose that route.

If you still are confused as to what an awning window really is, check out this short video I put on YouTube that shows awning windows used around an indoor pool for ventilation and condensation reduction. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mjb6AfG9c0g 

 

Do You Know The Only Home Improvement That Pays for Itself?

Hello again, if you don’t remember me, I’m Craig Osterhoudt the General Manager of InstallPro Windows and Doors. Today, I want to share something very interesting with you. Due to falling home prices and increasing building supply costs, there is only one home improvement you can make anymore that actually returns its cost in increased home value. Do you know what it is? Take a wild guess. . .

Usually my customers say, “A patio cover, or a concrete slab in the backyard, NO, a swimming pool?" When I tell them, NO, those aren’t it, they usually start with other things like bathroom remodels, kitchen remodels or room additions. Wrong again.

Then, keeping in mind the green movement and rising energy costs, they start to mention energy efficient remodels like, a new air conditioner or solar panels and wind generators. Well sorry, that isn’t it either. It turns out that the best home improvement you can make for increasing your home’s value is, drum roll please . . .

Replacing your front entry door!!!

According to a survey by Remodeling magazine, an entry door project that costs $1,172 to complete returns 128% of its cost. But, is it really that hard to believe? Look at all the benefits you get from replacing your front door.

• Increased Curb Appeal – The front door is noticed more from the curb, than the lawn, the roof and the driveway combined.  A beautiful new door will really make your house stand out among the others on your street.
• Increased Security – Believe it or not your old entry door is not very secure at all. Remember 100% of all home invasions occur through either a window or a door and more often than not, it's through the front door.
• Increased Energy Efficiency – Yes, your old door is EXTREMELY inefficient. New entry doors are more energy efficient than ever and it really helps. Why replace all of your windows and seal your home up tight, just to have the air pass underneath and through the gaps in your old entry door? And guess what else????

We are having a special on entry doors only until the end of this year, and only for InstallPro Blog Readers! That’s right for a limited time we are offering the following special. . .

$150 Off of any entry door installation

            That’s right, as long as you call before the end of 2010 and order your new entry door, we can save you an additional $150 off our already great pricing. And the best part is we have over 7 styles that we can install 100% complete, including taxes, delivery and installation for less than $1,000. With your coupon for $150 off, that means . . .

You can get a new Entry Door installed for less than $850!

            I know it sounds too good to be true, but we are experts at entry doors and have installed hundreds of them in the past 5 years we have been in business and all of our installers have over 10 years experience so we know what were doing. Here are a few reasons to let InstallPro do your entry door. . .

1. We guarantee the installation for as long as the manufacturer warranties the door. Most other contractors will try and give you a 1 year warranty on labor. Not us, we match the manufacturer warranty.

2. We can supply an ADDITIONAL SECURITY PLATE that makes the entry door one of the most secure points of entry to your home instead of the most vulnerable. Ask us about this feature when we come out to take measurements.

3. We save you money by allowing you to pick out your own hardware at your favorite home store, and then we will install it for free. Sure, other contractors will sell you a door for around a thousand dollars but they make you buy the hardware from them for triple the normal price and if you don’t buy it from them, they won't install it. With InstallPro we can do the hardware however you like, either we can supply it or you can pick out something you like and our installers will install it free of charge.

So, CALL US RIGHT AWAY to set up an appointment for us to get started on replacing your front entry door and remember the entry door is actually an investment and the only one that returns more than the cost of the job in increased home value. Call today 642-6669

Thank you for reading and I hope to hear from you soon.

Do It Yourself Tip of The Day

Do you have a door that bangs loudly whenever you shut it? Did you know it's usually an easy fix and you can quiet that door in less than 30 seconds. Try this. . .
Apply two or three 1/4 inch dabs if clear silicone caulk to the edges of the door stops. They will create somewhat of a cushion and clear silicone is pretty much invisible when it dries. Oh, make sure the silicone dries before you close the door.

How To Save $3,000 On Your Replacement Window Project

There has never been a better time to get your windows replaced, with the Federal Tax Credit, a rebate from Milgard and your first years energy savings you can get brand new beautiful windows for almost no money at all!

If you have been thinking about replacing your windows I your home, there has never been and will probably never be a better time than right now. There are several incentives available right now that can make your replacement window project easier and cheaper than ever.

First of all, you have the $1,500 Federal Tax Credit available for qualified energy efficient home improvements. Well guess what the windows we supply, manufactured by Milgard windows qualify for this tax credit. For more information on the tax credit go to www.irs.gov and follow the link for the American Recovery and Reinvestment act of 2009.

Secondly, Milgard is offering a $30 rebate per window or door up to $750 dollars. Here’s how.

• Purchase qualifying windows and/or doors with a U-Factor and SHGC of .30 or lower.
• Have your windows installed and receive $30 per window/door, up to a total of $750.
• Mail the Get 30 rebate card (from your Milgard dealer) within 60 days of purchase.
• Milgard will validate your claim and send an American Express Prepaid Rebate Card for your qualifying purchase, within 8 weeks of receipt of the Get 30 rebate card.
• A minimum purchase of five qualifying Milgard replacement windows and/or doors is required.
• Offer applies to a single purchase agreement between a Milgard Dealer and the homeowner.
• One rebate per household.
• The Milgard Energy Rebate cannot be combined with any other Milgard offers.
• Valid only at participating Milgard Dealers from January 15 through March 31, 2010.

And last but not least you will save on your heating and cooling costs in the first year and we guarantee it. We put it in writing, that you will save 30% of your heating and cooling costs in the very first year or we will refund you the difference in cash. So as you can see you will save $3,000 dollars and possibly more if you replace your windows with Milgard and InstallPro LLC.

Please call us right away to schedule and appointment to get a no cost in home estimate. Our number is 642-6669 . If you have any questions at or would like to speak to someone first please give us a call, we are happy to answer all of your questions and we look forward to hearing from you.

Your Friend,

Craig O

InstallPro LLC

702-642-6669

 

 

 

Aluminum Windows - Friend or Foe?

If you’re in the market for replacement windows or if you are comparing different home improvement projects and currently have aluminum windows and you’ve done any research regarding aluminum windows surely you’ve come across some information on aluminum windows. It seems that the only information out there is about how bad aluminum windows are. In fact you would be hard pressed to find any positive information about aluminum windows on the web, and the question I get most from my home improvement clients is, “Are aluminum windows really as bad as they make them out to be?”

Unfortunately the answer is, “It depends.” I know you were hoping for a quick and easy answer but the fact remains that it really does depend on what’s important to you. If you want a quick answer so you can move on to a more interesting topic then, no, aluminum windows aren’t as bad as most people make them out to be, in fact, there are a lot of pro’s when it comes to aluminum windows and depending on your situation, they may outweigh the cons.

Pro #1 – Structurally, aluminum windows are the sturdiest. If you leave a piece of white aluminum window frame material out in the sun in Death Valley for 20 years, other than some dust and debris, wipe it down and it is going to look exactly the same as it did 20 years ago. I doubt you can say that about vinyl windows and you definitely can’t say that about wood. PVC Vinyl windows are getting better and better all the time but no matter how many UV inhibitors they put it the resin, there is only so much abuse a vinyl window can take.

Pro#2 – Big windows are a possibility with aluminum. Due to the structural soundness of aluminum, virtually the sky is the limit when it comes to window sizes. That’s why skyscrapers are made with aluminum windows; you see there is no such thing as vinyl or wood windows in skyscrapers. So if you’re building a large custom home or are remodeling your home and want some big expansive windows, you will most likely be pushed towards aluminum otherwise your sizes will be limited. With a very few minor exceptions almost all commercial building is done with aluminum windows or storefronts. Very rarely will you walk in to a 7-11 or grocery store and see a wood or vinyl entry door. They are aluminum because aluminum is proven to last the longest of all available choices. You will see fiberglass entry doors in some commercial buildings and yes fiberglass is almost as impervious to the elements as aluminum, however, in most designers opinions, aluminum has a nicer finish and fiberglass still needs maintenance such as painting or staining.

Pro#3 – Aluminum windows are the more cost effective choice, at least as an initial investment is concerned. Of course there are varying quality levels and yes Brand A Aluminum window may cost more than Brand B Vinyl window, however for comparable levels of quality, aluminum windows will be the more cost effective. For example, Milgard Windows, lowest price window line is their aluminum window. The glass which makes up most of the window is the same across all products, but the aluminum window is the cheapest window they offer.

Pro#4 – You usually have more color choices with aluminum. Colored vinyl windows are not quite ready for mass production yet, especially in extreme climates like southern Nevada, Arizona and the California desert. Many window manufacturers refuse to sell their white or tan vinyl in the desert let alone a colored version. With wood windows you get many color choices, but once again it is the aluminum on the exterior that is a different color. Aluminum windows are pretty much the only window I would trust in a black or dark brown color in high temperature regions. Aluminum can be easily painted to match any color you like at a reasonable cost. This is why you still see aluminum windows in large custom homes, because they are the only window that gives you the color and size options often needed when designing a large custom home.

So there are a lot of positives when it comes to aluminum windows, so why do they get such a bad rap? Well there is only one real negative when it comes to aluminum windows and it’s a big one especially nowadays.

Con#1 – Aluminum windows are extremely inefficient when it comes to thermal energy protection. Energy efficiency is a major topic these days and if you want to sell a product you had better make sure that it is energy efficient or else it is doomed. Therefore all competing products continuously tout how inefficient aluminum windows are and how energy efficient, vinyl, wood and fiberglass are. So there is nothing to say about that, the fact is yes aluminum windows aren’t as energy efficient as the other alternatives.

Metal conducts heat. If its hot outside and you’re on the inside of your home and feel the frame of the aluminum window then it is going to feel hot. Same holds true in the winter, the frames are going to be cold and the aluminum will transfer that temperature difference into your home. There’s nothing you can do about it. So you have to decide if energy efficiency is your main concern. If it is, I wouldn’t recommend purchasing aluminum windows.

However if you are dead set on aluminum windows but are disheartened about the whole energy efficiency thing I have some good news for you. There is a way you can get the best of both worlds. There is a product called “Thermal Break Aluminum Windows” These are aluminum windows that are actually energy efficient as well. In layman’s terms the aluminum is basically “broken” up by a filament that prevents heat transfer through the window frame. Therefore the exterior portion of the frame is separated from the interior frame by a rubber energy efficient compound that allows you to have an aluminum window while still maintaining energy efficiency.

To see an example of a thermal break window visit www.arcadiaincorporated.com