Making sound investments in your home when it comes to home renovations is essential. You want to make sure you're getting the most for your money, and the quality of the items in your home withstand future years of everyday usage. Something that gets good use practically every day is your windows. Investing in a durable window pane is essential, which is why a triple pane window can be a top choice. So what exactly makes triple-pane windows a good investment?

Triple pane windows end up becoming an excellent investment and have real long-term benefits of installation. You may not see a drastic change in your energy consumption. Still, throughout living in your home, you will see a significant difference from the day you switched to triple-pane to the day you move on to new places.

We spend much of our time making sure the inside of our home is clean. But how much attention do we spend tending to the outside? Your patio and screened-in areas need Spring Cleaning just as much as the rest of your home. It doesn’t have to be a massive chore if you do it right.

The best way to give your patio a thorough clean is to move the furniture, potted plants, BBQ grill, and other outside items. Grab your broom and sweep the entire area, then spray it down with the hose. If the area is filthy, scrub it with a push broom and warm soapy water, but be careful not to remove any paint from the concrete or pavers. After that, clean outdoor furniture and the cushions with mild soap and water and let everything dry thoroughly before putting them back together.

Will summer ever end? Halloween decorations are appearing. Kids are back in school. But wait...it's STILL September, it's STILL hot, and now our brains are trying to tell us it's about to be Fall? So when is the end of Summer, and when will it feel like Autumn?

Don't get out your boots and pumpkin lattes just yet; we live in Florida, remember? It takes us a few weeks to catch up with the rest of the country when it comes to cooling down.

Summer is here and more people will be enjoying the outdoors and sunshine more. Florida is called the Sunshine State for a good reason, and Floridians love to soak up the Sun as much as possible. Getting out in the Sun every day is right for you, but we all know too much can have damaging, lasting repercussions.

There are ways to enjoy the outdoors while keeping yourself safe from Sun damage. Here are a few rules to keep in mind while spending time outside. 

Twice a year in Florida, we get to experience the "lovely" love bug season. Generally, you have seen them flying around in a pair of two locked together. These creatures stay around us for usually four weeks in both May and September. While these bugs are harmless when it comes to biting or stinging, they can be quite a nuisance. Here are some things to remember about these little bugs as they begin their invasion:

Where do they come from? UF says the bugs migrated here all on their own from Central America, via Texas and Louisiana before making their way to the Sunshine State.

We spend much of our time making sure the inside of our home is clean. But how much attention do we spend tending to the outside? Your patio and screened-in areas need Spring Cleaning just as much as the rest of your home. It doesn't have to be a massive chore if you do it right. 

The best way to give your patio a thorough clean is to move the furniture, potted plants, BBQ grill, and any other outside items. Grab your broom and sweep the entire area, then spray it down with the hose. If it is especially dirty, scrub it with a push broom and warm soapy water, but be careful not to remove any paint from the concrete or pavers. Outdoor furniture and cousins can be cleaned with mild soap and water. Make sure to let everything dry thoroughly before putting them back together. 

We all know the most significant benefit of living in Florida is our super weather. Your patio or lanai is the perfect spot to sip a sweet drink while enjoying the outdoors. It also has bugs, heat, and humidity, which is no good. Screened-in porches and sunrooms allow you to enjoy the beautiful Florida weather while avoiding things like mosquitoes or rain. 

It is an excellent way to add usable living space to your home.

Winter is coming, are your patio screens ready for the chill? There are few things more relaxing than enjoying a hot cup of coffee on a crisp winter morning on your porch. Screens don't keep out all the cold air, but they're still beneficial in the cold months! It's easy to keep your screened-in porch occupied and enjoyed in the winter just like in the summer. There are a few steps to take to make sure you get the most out of your patio screens all year long.

It doesn't take much to prep your screens for winter. Make sure to follow some of these tips here to ensure that you get the most of your patio screens no matter what time of year it is!

When it comes to keeping your patio or lanai cool enough to enjoy here in Florida, we have good news! There are a variety of relatively simple options that work well alone or combined, depending on your needs.

Shade!

Florida is known as the Sunshine State, and that label rings true about 60% of the year (since the other 40% it rains). Thousands of people flock to Florida beaches and other water getaways to take a refreshing dip and soak up the hot sun. Some might even be lucky enough to sunbathe in their backyard. But there is a danger lurking in those warm, inviting rays and that danger is called UV rays. 

You've probably seen the little stickers on the corner of sunglasses promoting that this specific pair can block harmful UV rays.  It's also all over the labels for various sunscreens. UV stands for Ultraviolet, and it's a type of radiation given off by the sun. UV rays are the leading cause of skin cancer since too much of it can create abnormalities in the skin (and sometimes eyes) and cause the body to react. UV can take it's time to be harmful, but in some cases, those rays can get you in a matter of minutes and leave with you an abnormal mole or marking on your skin the following days. The rays aren't visible but can be felt with the intense heat of the sun on a particularly hot day. 

For many of those in Florida, a front porch or a backyard pool are two of the best hangout spots at home.  This is especially true during summertime, where the days are longer, and the sun is hotter! But how can you keep your summer chill spot nice and chill? By adding screen enclosures to all your outdoor living areas! Whether it be a spacious front porch, an in/above ground pool area, or a small, simple patio; a screened in enclosure can make sure you get the most out of being outdoors while still being indoors (kind of). Here we list some of the top benefits to adding a screen enclosure to your home in Florida!

Cut down on harmful UV rays! Adding the screens to your outdoor hangout area will work overtime to make sure you don't have a summer full of sunburns. Along with the help of an SPF sunscreen for your skin, the screen enclosure helps keep those harmful sun rays at bay so you can enjoy your outside time without constant sunscreen application or hiding in the shade.

Tidying up around the house usually involves some vacuuming, dusting, cleaning on and around all types of furniture throughout your home.  There is sometimes one spot that doesn't always get the attention it needs though, and that's furniture you have outdoors. There are all different kinds of outdoor-specific furniture you can set up outside and not have to worry about too much. But when it comes to taking care of it, what is the best process?

Thankfully, a lot of outdoor furniture is made to weather outside conditions. These are labeled as "all-weather" furniture and isn't limited to just sitting under the shade of a covered patio. Here we will list the top 3 materials of all-weather furniture and give a few tips and tricks to keep anything outdoors look like it just came from indoors. 

There's nothing more relaxing than being able to sit out on the front porch or patio area and enjoy some fresh air. Along with that, there's nothing more annoying than having that peaceful time interrupted by some unwanted flying pests - or maybe even something bigger! This is one of the main reasons why it's not just a good idea, but an important idea to make sure your patio is screened in. Keep scrolling, and you'll find a list of the top 5 reasons why you should screen in your porch or patio, and you'll be glad you did!

1. Let's start with something already mentioned, no annoying and uninvited pests! Florida is notorious for swarms of mosquitoes and the dreaded lovebugs, but with a screen installed throughout the patio, this means they can't get in! This also means you can spend more time in your screened in outdoor area, not having to pack it all inside when the sun starts to set. Enjoy a drink on the patio without having to worry if there's a bug floating in it.

One thing there's no shortage in Florida is the mosquito. So, how can you beat the mosquitos back and enjoy relaxing by the pool? Here are some tips from the pros:

Summer’s back and so is that good ol’ Florida heat! There’s not much of a better way to beat the heat on a summer day than to take a nice, relaxing swim in the pool out back. But, there’s nothing more frustrating than getting ready to dive in and seeing all the little bugs that decided to have a pool party too overnight. Or what about getting into the pool and being ambushed by harsh sunlight, making it impossible to swim without sunglasses and 70+ SPF. Well, there are ways to prevent this and make sure you don’t get the swimming pool blues this summer! And it’s so simple that it’s  one step, putting up a screen enclosure around your pool! Besides fewer bugs and less harsh sunlight, there are many benefits to adding a screen enclosure to your pool, and we will provide you will all the pros (since there  aren’t any cons) here!

Spring has sprung on us here in Florida, and with it, some of the not so “fun in the sun” dangers of overexposure to the sun’s harmful UV rays. Fortunately, for those of us who have discovered the benefits of screen enclosures, we’ve learned how to beat the heat while enjoying the great outdoors…..and we’re doing it in style!

While some sun exposure is beneficial to your health by providing a natural source of Vitamin D to the body (which aids in the absorption of calcium and phosphorus - essential for healthy bones), overexposure to the sun is nothing to rest on your laurels about. 

When considering all of the options available to you for your home or office that allow you to enjoy unrestricted airflow and fresh outdoor air without the sun’s harmful UV rays, remember to keep canvas awnings in mind!  There are some reasons these types of awnings are beneficial. The design possibilities are endless with canvas awnings, and with the many fabric selections available, they complement just about any home or building perfectly. Below, are just a few more reasons to make canvas awnings a part of your home:

Adding or repairing a patio on your home can be a lengthy task, and just like with the home itself you have to work from the bottom up. That’s why it’s important to go over your options when it comes to the overall foundation of your patio. A concrete or block patio have endless possibilities which we will explore here, and determine which is right for you!

With the concrete, there are many advantages and ways to create a completely unique look or design for your patio. To start off, the cleaning maintenance of a concrete patio is super low-key. All there is to it is simple sweeping ad the occasion rinse with water straight from the hose. Pressure washing may be desired a few years down the line. Another benefit to concrete is how long it lasts and also stays in the same spot even after years of foot traffic. Creativity flows freely in a poured concrete patio, leaving a blank slate for a stamped design or any other kind of design.  

Things that are typically out of sight tend to be out of mind. This old saying pertains to home repairs especially. One of the big ones that fall under that category would be our gutters. Wonderful in Florida for the ultra-rainy months, but what happens when it’s raining, and your gutters no longer drain? Can it be serious? How often should you have your gutters professionally cleaned? These questions and more will be answered for you today, along with expressing the importance of gutter upkeep.

Gutters can easily become backed up, especially in a wooded area. Lots of fallen leaves and twigs can make their way in them, settling and adding up over the course of time. It can also become a prime location for bird’s nests as well as homes for other little critters. A build up in your gutters doesn’t just mean a nasty clean up later on; it can cause serious damage to your home. A few of them being;

If you’ve bug-proofed your lanai but still find bugs, the problem is likely with your lanai’s construction. Here are a few of the most common problem areas and the best way to prevent or fix them:

Not sure what the exact source of your bugs is? It’s probably time to call a professional to help identify these and other probable issues that are letting the bugs in.

When considering all of the options available to you that allow you to enjoy unrestricted airflow and fresh outdoor air without the sun’s harmful UV rays, remember to keep canvas birdcage awnings in mind. There are some of reasons these types of awnings are beneficial. The design possibilities are endless with canvas birdcage awnings, and with the many fabric selections available, they complement just about any home or building perfectly. Below, are just a few more reasons to make canvas birdcage cover awnings a part of your home:

Far too many beloved pet birds were lost in the flood and devastation of Hurricanes in Florida. A lot of new Florida residents have never lived through a major hurricane, so they rarely anticipate the capability for destruction of birdcage screens. 

Often, during an evacuation, residents feel like leaving home with all of the pets and birds is an overreaction, and rarely there are shelters that accept them anyway.

Front entry screens have always been a favorite feature of Florida homes, but the trend has recently grown incredibly popular for some of reasons. A front screen entrance transforms the curb appeal of your home, making it feel more warm and welcoming. Here are a few more benefits:

With so many options to choose from in the type, look and feel of the screen enclosure, you’re sure to find an option that works perfectly for you and your home.

Fences are a focal point of backyard life. A good pressure washing, paint or stain can take a fence from “drab to fab” but why not take things a step further? Your imagination is the only limit to what your fence can be the backdrop for! Here are three ideas to get you started:

So, next time you’re taking a look at your backyard and wondering how you can brighten it up, look no further than your own fence! For more awesome ideas on how to spruce up your fence, click here.

We Floridians know that our garages are more than just a place to store our cars and tools. A garage can be a great untapped resource in your home, and with a retractable screen garage door, we can enjoy the best of both the indoors and fresh outdoor Florida air. Screened garages are standard in Florida for many reasons, including:

In Florida, there is no better time than now to get outside and make the most of your screen enclosure. Along with all of your other outdoor accessories, your enclosure needs some TLC. Usually, your patio furniture, cushions, and umbrellas can be cleaned using a simple soap and water solution and a soft cloth. Saturate the furniture and pillows with the solution then rinse off using a garden hose. Check your manufacturer's instructions before using harsh chemicals and allow the afternoon sun to dry your furniture and keep it fresh for use.

Unlike your patio furniture,  to clean mold growth from your screen enclosures, you'll need to go a little bit deeper. Mold spores are considered by the US Environmental Protection Agency to be a health hazard. They caution you to avoid coming into direct contact with or inhaling mold spores. Use a face mask to cover your nose and mouth, along with eye goggles and gloves. Scrape as much mold as you can from the screen with a wooden paint stirrer or something you can throw away. Put the residue and tool in a plastic bag and throw them away.

Here are just a few of the reasons why you should invest in a birdcage cover.

Just remember that Quality Screens and Aluminum can handle all of the birdcage screen needs. Call us today at (352) 326-9090.

Summer may have come to an end, but outdoor enjoyment doesn’t have to. In fact, Autumn is arguably the best time of year in Florida to enjoy your screen room. Autumn means cooler temperatures, less humidity and best of all - fewer bugs! With the extremely high temperatures we’ve had this past summer behind us, it’s time for Autumn entertaining to kick into high gear along with all of the festivities that come with this season. Here are a few ideas for entertaining in your screen room this fall:

Change with the season: Autumn colors make your outdoor space feel  cozier and blend in with natures changing colors. Decorating your screen room for the season lets you have fun with complimentary furniture colors, themes, and accessories. Add a container garden with colorful fall plants like mums and aster for a pop of color reminiscent of New England’s changing leaves.