There are garage doors ... and then there are garage doors. Anyone seeking something that really adds to the design quality and beauty of a home should consider the Distinctions Series from Raynor.

Distinctions Series garage doors utilize select, high-quality materials. They're built to the highest standards of craftsmanship. Just as important, they offer many choices in color, finish, style and detail - so much so that a door can be tailored to perfectly complement your home design and landscaping.

Among the outstanding choices in the series:

- Arbor Shore. This collection features stainable, vertical grain cut lumber, true-divided built-in windows (known in architectural terms as lites), and a consistent wood tone throughout - at prices that are competitive with any comparable doors on the market.

- American Rivers. These solid-wood carriage-house doors include hand-forged hardware and architectural glass options for a custom handcrafted look.

- Timber Bay. In swing-up, swing-out, accordion and bi-fold styles, these doors deliver the beauty of Western Red Cedar and African Mahogany - ideally suited for older and newer homes.

- River Pointe Carriage House Doors. This carriage door line makes outstanding features and quality available at an affordable price level. Also available at modest cost are Raynor's StreamWood, RockCreeke and StyleView collections, each providing exceptional appearance, durability and overall value.

In wood, steel or aluminum, a Raynor Distinctions Series custom model is not just another garage door. This series delivers the finest features the industry has to offer, along with the widest range of design options available. See for yourself - the ABE Doors & Windows showroom at 6776 Hamilton Boulevard features a full-size Distinctions Series ArborShore door in beautiful natural wood.

For the tenth time in the last 11 years, ABE Doors & Windows has been named to Who's Who in Business in the Lehigh Valley.

We've once again been chosen as the Who's Who Leader in the Door and Window Replacement category.

Sponsored by Lehigh Valley Style Magazine, the Who's Who in Business Survey bills itself as the region's only statistically accurate survey of consumer preference. Conducted by Polk-Lepson Research Group, an independent market research firm from York, Pa., the survey identifies the region's leaders in a variety of business categories as determined by Lehigh Valley residents. And that's why we're especially proud of the selection.

"What makes these Leader selections significant," said ABE Doors & Windows President Jim Lett, "is that consumers make the choices. That tells us we're doing well with the audience that matters most - the people we serve in the residential door and window markets."

WDDA Names Jim Lett Member of the Month
Jim Lett, president of ABE Doors & Windows, is honored in January as the Member of the Month by the Window and Door Dealers Alliance. It’s appropriate that he should be selected as the WDDA’s first honoree. His sense that window and door dealers nationwide needed a coherent voice made him an early participant in the project that developed into the alliance. And it’s his belief today that the alliance has provided that unified voice and much more.

“WDDA fills a need that went unmet for years before it was organized,” Jim said. “It’s a great source for relevant information and a terrific forum where dealers can exchange views and experiences. We believe no other organization is really looking out for the interests of dealers in our industry in this way, and we at ABE Doors & Windows support it strongly.”

Doing it on your own – up to a point
Like many WDDA members, Jim is accustomed to making things happen on his own. ABE Doors & Windows started off immediately after Lett finished college as a company that installed steel cellar doors. Before long, his growing firm was handling garage doors, entrance doors and a wide variety of windows – in short, a full line of attractive, high-quality products. In the process, ABE Doors & Windows had grown to be a top regional dealer and installer.

But there’s only so much any one company can do by itself. Lett saw the importance of an industry organization providing new strength, reach and capabilities that would benefit every member. As such, he was an enthusiastic early participant in WDDA.

Strength in numbers
As a prime example of the alliance’s value to its members, Lett cites its work concerning safe work practices for lead paint. He’s a firm believer in the importance of EPA’s continuing dedication to lead safety. ”We all want everyone to be safe,” he said. “I think it’s also important that EPA should be able to enforce these regulations in a fair way, so that everyone is able to compete on a level playing field.” He believes that the WDDA’s efforts in this field contribute to helping promote true competitive balance.

Beyond representing member interests in legislative and rule-making situations, Lett says, WDDA helps make dealers’ work easier and more successful in many other ways. He values the alliance’s development of training and educational resources, and enthusiastically supports its work around meetings, trade shows, seminars and publications. In all these ways, he believes, WDDA is helping shape the professional character of the door and window industry, making it better not only for dealers and installers, but also for vendors and end users.

“It’s a special honor to be chosen,” said Lett. ”This organization does important work on many fronts. I couldn’t be prouder to be recognized as someone who’s contributed to its efforts.”

The wind is howling and it's a blustery day today in the Lehigh Valley.  It's time to start thinking about tips for staying warm this winter. 

Here you'll find strategies to help you save energy during the cold winter months and keep warm!

1.  Call A.B.E. Doors & Windows!

Most importantly, if you haven't already done so, contact A.B.E. Doors to look into energy saving Windows and Doors.  This can be the most effective means for staying warm and reducing your energy costs.  Contact us for your Free Estimate Today!

2.  Take Advantage of Heat from the Sun

Open curtains on your south-facing windows during the day to allow sunlight to naturally heat your home, and close them at night to reduce the chill you may feel from cold windows.

3.  Cover Drafty Windows

Use a heavy-duty, clear plastic sheet on a frame or tape clear plastic film to the inside of your window frames during the cold winter months. Make sure the plastic is sealed tightly to the frame to help reduce infiltration.  Install tight-fitting, insulating drapes or shades on windows that feel drafty after weatherizing.

4.  Adjust the Temperature

When you are home and awake, set your thermostat as low as is comfortable.  When you are asleep or out of the house, turn your thermostat back 10°–15° for eight hours and save around 10% a year on your heating and cooling bills. A programmable thermostat can make it easy to set back your temperature.

5.  Find and Seal Leaks

Seal the air leaks around utility cut-throughs for pipes ("plumbing penetrations"), gaps around chimneys and recessed lights in insulated ceilings, and unfinished spaces behind cupboards and closets. 

6.  Maintain Your Heating Systems

Schedule service for your heating system.  Find out what maintenance is required to keep your heating system operating efficiently.

7. Reduce Heat Loss from the Fireplace

Keep your fireplace damper closed unless a fire is going. Keeping the damper open is like keeping a window wide open during the winter; it allows warm air to go right up the chimney.  When you use the fireplace, reduce heat loss by opening dampers in the bottom of the firebox (if provided) or open the nearest window slightly—approximately 1 inch—and close doors leading into the room. Lower the thermostat setting to between 50° and 55°F.

8.  Lower Your Water Heating Costs

Water heating can account for 14%-25% of the energy consumed in your home.  Turn down the temperature of your water heater to the warm setting (120°F).

There are a few things that everyone thinks of to secure the safety of their home when leaving on vacation:

• leave some of your lights on
• stop the mail or newspapers
• activate any alarms
• lock all windows and doors
• etc.

However, there are a few garage door tips and everyday habits that can help you protect your family and your home. 

• Keep your garage door down even when you are home.  This prevents burglars from scoping out the contents or any entrance ways to inside the house.

• Keep the door that leads from your garage to your house locked. 

• Avoid leaving your garage door openers in cars parked outside the garage.

• Consider replacing your old remote with one featuring rolling-code technology. Even if a burglar uses a scanner to try obtain your remote signal, the rolling random code can  make it impossible to get your code.  
  • If your opener doesn’t have a rolling-code technology system, be sure to change the manufacturer’s standard access codes on the operator and remote control.  Using the standard factory settings can leave your garage vulnerable to break-ins.

• Wireless keypads which activate the garage door opener with a personal identification number  or PIN are available for most garage door openers. This allows family members to open the door without the use of a key or remote.

• While on vacation or away from home for extended periods of time, unplug the garage door opener unit or use a wall vacation lock console security switch, which is usually an optional accessory on some openers.

No matter what, always remember to give your A.B.E. Doors & Windows professional a call 610-398-2430 - they're happy to answer your questions.

Have a safe vacation!

Recent storms and tornadoes throughout the country have experts reminding everyone that garage doors, doors, and windows can play a significant role in protecting homes during severe storms.  

The most budget-friendly ways to keep a home or business safe is by protecting openings like garage doors, windows, and doors.  Doors and windows are often the weakest link during a storm.  Having a new and sturdy garage door can protect a home or business from bad weather and natural disasters. A strong garage door will help protect your home from generating internal pressure during a storm with heavy winds.  If your garage door is not strong enough and fails to hold up during a storm, pressure can increase and knock out walls and ceilings in the home.

Make sure that you're protected by contacting A.B.E. Doors & Windows for some cost effective ways to stormproof your home or business.  A few upgrades can prevent dangerous weather from having disastrous consequences.  Allow us to help put your mind at ease, prevent costly damages and help you confidently weather any storm.