Condensation Solutions: Keep Your Windows Moisture-Free

Protect Your Windows with These Condensation Solutions

What happens when the warm, moist air comes into contact with cooler surfaces? That’s right, your windows sweat. In scientific terms, condensation happens, and this is all completely normal except when issues arise due to its excessive and copious amounts.

Anything that requires the use of water inside your home will certainly contribute to the relative humidity. From taking a bath, to watering the plants, boiling the water and turning your air conditioning units on — all these factors induce condensation.

If condensation or moisture build-up reaches an extreme level, your windows can be compromised on its aesthetic, function and structural aspect. Drafty windows with chipped or peeled finishes are your common scenario if severe condensation takes place.

To mitigate the effects of too much condensation on your windows, identify firsthand the contributing sources and take proactive measures to limit them. Start with these condensation solutions below.

Open Your Windows

As simple as it can be, eliminating condensation and moisture means latching your windows open to release the humid air from inside, then exchanging it with drier air from outside. Keep this cycle every other day to prevent the build-up of too much moisture inside your home.

Raise the Temperature

Equalize the internal and external temperature of your home by raising the temperature of your windows accordingly. If your ambient temperature inside your home is akin to your windows’ temperature, condensation droplets on your window will be a rare occurrence as opposed to when your warm windows are in juxtaposition with the cool air.

Improve Air Circulation

Whether by passive or mechanical means, your ventilation from outside-in to inside-out should be free-flowing. Based from your allocated window openings and built-in windbreaker, the wind path should be able to identify on its own how to weave through the spaces. Through the use of ceiling fans, accumulation of water vapor inside your home will burst, effectively reducing window condensation.

Install an Outside Vent

Hot air rises, cold air goes down — this is the principle of stack effect. In retrospect, another condensation solution would be to redirect gas appliances, install exhaust fans and vent them outside. Take advantage of this principle and have your mechanical vents be installed and positioned accurately to maximize their air flow.

Use a Dehumidifier

Your kitchen and bathroom are the most moisture-prone areas inside of your home with regards to the amount of water usage. Mildew and molds can also grow on unwanted places. Apart from your surface-mounted fans, install a dehumidifier to keep your recommended relative humidity at bay when performing household tasks like cooking, cleaning or showering.

Condensation can never be eliminated completely, but with all these condensation solutions combined and applied, your windows will be restored to their moisture-free state in no time. Contact us for more tips and remedies. Let us, Bright Window Specialists, guide you through the best condensation solutions and drop by our Manhattan showroom by appointment at 135 East 57th St 18-106.

Is It Time For a Window Repair?

Don’t Throw Away Money By Neglecting Window Repairs

Wondering how to identify the potential signs of window repair? Look out for the red flags below to determine if your windows are already in need of calibration.

Poor Performance

If your windows consistently perform at a low level due to damage, then it is high time that you opt for a window repair. Damage can come in all forms and can highly contribute to the deficient performance of your windows.

Take for example, a baseball striking through your window might come unforeseen, but if you take proactive steps in investing in high-quality safety glass windows to prevent such impact, your home would have incurred little to no damage at all. It might have cost you more upfront, but the lesser upkeep will generate you greater savings in the long run.

Leaks and Drafts

Leaks and drafts are another undesirable result of an inefficient window system. If you’re inevitably experiencing cold drafts which may result to uncomfortable indoor air quality of your home, it’s best that you deliver a solution by having your windows repaired.

Likewise, if water leakage, rotting and moisture seem to seep through your home, you should conduct a maintenance check and hire the expertise of window installers to restore your fenestration to a weathertight condition. If preventative measures are not in place, this could further result to unwanted elements such as pests and insects intruding your home.

Sound Pollution

Another sign to look out for when your windows are not performing at their optimal state is when they cannot filter the good acoustic elements from the bad sound hazards. Check for the sound transmission class (STC) rating of your window system to see if it complies excellently with good acoustic standards.

Good acoustics do not operate on extremes, but combine a balance of absorption and diffusion. Through window repair or replacement, you can have your windows calibrated to a noise-canceling state to block out the induced noise pollution from outside while letting the desirable sounds resonate within your interior space.

Outdated Style

If your windows are century-old, dusty and outworn, it might be time to repair and upgrade them with an updated, state-of-the-art window technology. From triple glazing to inherent smart materials, windows now have come a long way from their antiquated versions.

Not only will this boost the aesthetic appeal of your facade, you are also guaranteed that your glazing system meets and complies with the demanding industry code standards and energy requirements. Going green is not only a trend, but a driving force of change.

Extreme Temperature

Wondering why your utility bills skyrocket every month? Your leak-prone windows might be the culprit, and it’s best that you address this problem early on through window repair. You do not want your indoor temperature to be operating on extremes — too hot when it’s summer, or too cold when it’s winter.

Check your windows for leakage since half of your home’s energy consumption comes from the HVAC system. Any inefficiencies from your fenestration could result to your system pumping more heating or cooling load than what is needed, unavoidably resulting to higher electric bills for you.

Spot these potential problems early on and have Bright Window Specialists overhaul your glazing system to their most efficient state. Contact us or visit our Manhattan showroom by appointment at 135 East 57th St 18-106.

Finding The Right Door to Fit Your Beach House Design

Best Beach Doors to Enhance Coastal Living

Residential architecture is site and context-specific, therefore, beach house design differs altogether when compared with a house situated in an urban setting. Interior and exterior elements of the residence – from doors, to windows, walls and roofs– are all designed specifically to meet the aesthetic, functional and structural requirements.

In a beach house design, your beach door serves as your front for making the most impact with your visitors. Read on for tips on how you can choose the best and suitable beach door for your house.

Material

When you hear stereotypical beach houses, you would predominantly think of wood-framed construction, coupled with light and airy color schemes to match the ambiance. But, wood is not suitable for the climate in tropical beach areas. Wood is naturally prone to rotting and damage with its inherent properties and moisture content, therefore, it is not the best option for damp and wet areas.

As such, steel beach door is also not the best option for a beach house design. Steel, if not primed with epoxy primer, is susceptible to corrosion, leading to compromised structural integrity. If steel is your choice, prime it with rust-inhibitive epoxy or enamel paint.

Despite this, it’s best if you stay on top of the planning of your beach house design and choose beach door materials that are suitable and climate-specific. Do not make use of material that will render you higher upkeep in the long-term, leading to more maintenance and repair costs.

Instead, use fiberglass storm material for your beach door as this will not rot or rust in the moist coastal air, therefore, giving your beach house design a long lifecycle once you are given the handover from construction.

Structural Loads

Make use of beach doors that meet the required structural integrity in a beach setting. Be aware of the structural loads that can impede and cause stress and deformation in your beach house design. Install beach doors with properties and materials that meet the wind, thermal, hurricane-resistant and impact-resistant loads since these are all naturally inclusive in a coastal landscape. Durability of the elements is of utmost importance in a beach house design. Look for materials that already passed rigorous testing methods and inspections.

Style

When choosing a door style for your beach house design, do not constrict yourself with bland options. Combine beauty and function seamlessly. Splash your Dutch or French doors with aqua blue or pastel yellow so you can naturally let light and ventilation in while displaying a tropical beach vibe. Dutch doors operate two-way – you can shut the upper half closed while leaving the bottom half open.

Looking for a door facelift on your beach house? Let Bright Windows expertly install your beach door in a climate-specific configuration. Browse our website to see our unmatched alliance with our manufacturers, or take a tour at Bright Window Specialists showroom located at 135 East 57th St 18-106, New York.

The Benefits of a Summer Window Installation

Are You Looking into Window Installation this Summer?

Do you often wonder when is the best time to replace your old, worn-out windows? Are you sick of the all-pervading frosty drafts infiltrating your home during winter? Or, are you a recent homeowner who wants to make sure your home is weathertight as possible for energy-efficiency?

Whether you undergo new construction, remodeling, or the replacement of windows in your home – summer is the best time for your window installation.

Longer Days

Often times, summer is the busiest time of year for window installation. To get ahead of the competition, you should schedule with plenty of time in advance so that you can have your windows constructed, remodeled, or replaced.

Although the installers’ availability is scarce, you can have your windows up and running in just a few days depending on your proposed scope of work, since summer tends to have longer duration of good weather and natural sunlight. Longer days mean less labor and installation costs, resulting to more efficient savings for you.

Less Climatic Elements

Winter puts a halt on labor productivity when the cold, chilly breeze hits your installers. This is especially true during snowfall and icy winter rains, which cannot be avoided.

During the dog days of summer, swatting bugs out and keeping the allergens from penetrating your home could be the drawback. Make your home bug-proof by fortifying the temporary open fenestration with boards, tape, plastic, and insect screens to shut the elements out.

Caulk Adhering

Depending on what type of caulk will be used for your window installation, sealant typically acclimatizes in warmer temperature. Caulking is one of the critical benchmarks of energy-efficient windows, and certainly, requires a rigorous expertise from your installers to detect air leaks and clear the gaps.

Sealant often expands when heated and contracts when cooled. Consider this at hand and seal your windows shut with latex-based sealant when the temperature is between 40-80°F, since faulty caulking could lead to adhesive or cohesive failure. Silicone-based sealant is more advisable for cooler climates, but should be initially warmed up before set in place.

Substrate Movement

Like sealants, your choice of framing material for your window installation responds accordingly to the temperature. Whether you use wood, steel or aluminum, substrate expands and contracts under hot and cold climates, respectively.

Be aware that installing in such extreme temperatures could lead to adverse effects; thus, find the middle ground for optimum equilibrium. Too hot of temperatures mitigate proper curing of caulk, while too cold results in cracking when the inevitable temperature drop happens.

Decreased Energy Bills

When you conduct your window installation during winter, your exposed home will surely receive more cold drafts – leading to your HVAC system exerting more energy and pumping more heat than necessary.

To avoid the skyrocketing of your energy bills, it’s wise to install during summer. Plan ahead of time with your installers to keep an ideal indoor temperature quality for your home. Isolate the area where the work is to be done, board up bare window openings, and move from space to space while maintaining your home’s comfortable temperature range.

Get the most out of these exceptional benefits by having your first-rated windows installed during the summer months. Browse our website or take a tour at Bright Window Specialists showroom located at 135 East 57th St 18-106, New York.

Ways to Incorporate a Skylight Window in Your Home

The Placement of Skylight Windows in Your Home Can Make a Huge Difference

Scenic views, energy efficiency, sound reduction, wind resistance, natural light, and ventilation — there are limitless reasons on why your newly constructed or renovated home could benefit from a skylight.

Selection

Your needs should be carefully assessed when you select a skylight for your home. At Bright Window Specialists, in partnership with Solar Innovations, we deliver custom-fit skylight solutions of all shapes, sizes, and styles more than the three general types available — fixed, ventilating, and tubular.

Fixed

Fixed windows are your go-to if you only want an additional light from a fixated opening. They are relatively the most common, easiest to install, and usually remain shut and sealed with no water leakage if furnished perfectly. You can adorn your dimly-lit attic, hallways, or living room with a classic, curvy statement of dome or barrel vault skylights. For snow run-off, pyramid or double-pitched skylight windows with multiple angles works perfectly.

Ventilating

If you want daylight with increased airflow, choose ventilating skylight windows. Rather than fixed, you can open and control them manually or mechanically with motorized components. Embed them with automation options like temperature sensor, remote control, and actuator for your easier operability.

Ventilating skylights are ideal for your kitchen and bathroom to reduce condensation and mitigate moisture build-up from humidity. For an emergency exit with copious amounts of daylight, Solar Innovations 90° operable skylight fully expands 100%. You can also utilize Solar Innovations retractable skylights for their improved thermal performance.

Tubular

Tubular skylights, or sun tunnels, are circular-shaped solar collectors that bring daylight to your relatively compact, interior spaces. Use walkable skylights with non-slip material in high-traffic zones where you need visibility above or below like basements and patio decking.

Placement

One of the critical factors that you have to consider with skylight installation is its proper placement. You can minimize or maximize your daylight levels and passive solar heating by properly positioning your skylight windows. When flawlessly executed based on sun-path orientation, this leads to your decreased energy bills.

North-facing skylights receive fair and constant illumination levels with indirect sunlight, while south-facing skylights are ideal for winter solar heat gain with a drawback on unwanted solar heat gain during summer. You can get the most out of your morning light with east-facing skylights, and afternoon light oppositely with west-facing skylights.

Glazing

Your skylight windows can either be glazed with plastics or glass. Plastics like acrylics and polycarbonates usually become brittle and discolor over time, leaving you with high-maintenance costs. Although more expensive upfront, safety glass like tempered and laminated glass can provide you greater structural integrity and high-impact resistance due to the polyvinylbutyral (PVB) layer sandwiched in-between the low-E, insulated glass panes.

Installation

Good or faulty installation can make or break the optimum performance of your skylight windows. Other than the selection, placement, and glazing, consider also the slope, moisture control, and other issues that could arise out of the skylight installation.

Slope greatly affects how your skylight windows can optimize winter or minimize summer solar heat gain. Low-slope skylight means more heat during summer and less warmth during winter. To avoid this, the general rule of thumb is to add five to fifteen more degrees to your slope’s geographical latitude. Moisture leakage can be effectively mitigated if your skylight windows are mounted above the roof, installed with waterproofing layer over flashing, and the joints are sealed tight.

If you would like your skylight windows to operate at a maximum efficiency, choose Bright Window Specialists for high-quality installation. Browse our website or visit our showroom at 135 East 57th St 18-106, New York.