A.B.E. Doors & Windows Blog

Keep your home warm and save some money on utility bills by ensuring your house is prepped for winter. Let’s take a look at areas that commonly let in cold air (or let heat escape), so you can address them. 

Check for drafts. Examine the seals around the outside and inside of doors, windows and vents. Inspect caulking and weatherstripping for wear or areas that may be peeling away. Replace if necessary. Electrical outlets, switch plates, baseboards and attic hatches are other places you may feel some cold air entering your home. Some of these areas can be fixed with caulk or a foam sealant. When dealing with electrical areas, you should consult a professional. A drafty window could benefit from curtains or you could use a draft stopper for the base of a door. You may want to use a film insulation kit as a draft blocker for windows. If you find you are making more and more repairs to fix drafts, it may be time to replace these problem areas.

Let’s face it, we all procrastinate from time to time. But when it comes to our homes, we need to recognize when things need to be replaced, like your windows. Here are some telltale signs that your windows may need to be replaced.

In 2018, Provia implemented a new packaging system to better protect their windows during shipping. All the windows are individually shipped fully-enclosed in custom-sized boxes. By shipping their windows like that, Provia adds the benefits of lowering the risk of damage, keeping the windows clean, keeping all components together, and allowing for a professional appearance on the job site.  Even better, all Provia’s boxes are recyclable!

Yellowstone National Park

Did you know that A.B.E. Doors and Windows doesn’t have any ‘On Hold’ Music? Instead, we have ‘On Hold’ Trivia.

The question: What is the United States’ first National Park?

The answer: Yellowstone National Park!

The heat is on! Your garage is a great place to store items, but when the temperatures rise, there are some things that should never be kept in the garage. Look at this list and make some adjustments if necessary. We want all your belongings safe and in good shape for the years to come. 

Your spare refrigerator. We know it’s the ideal place to have one, but when temps start climbing, your fridge works overtime to keep it’s contents cold. That means more energy consumption and higher bills. Fridges work best when kept in a room that is around 65 to 78 degrees. If you have a spot in your basement or other room in the home, keep it there.

Introducing the Raynor Encore!

New this year, they have come out with the Encore! The residential two-sided steel door is filled with 2” thick polystyrene insulation resulting in an excellent 10.0 R-value. For the lifetime that you own your home and their garage door, Raynor guarantees the door against defects in materials, workmanship, and rust. With seven different panels designs, eleven colors (including red and wood tones), and nineteen window styles, there’s a lot to like with this new model. 

This review made our day! We are so thankful when a customer takes the time to leave us a review. We wanted to share this one in it’s entirety with you.
 

“I recently had the pleasure of engaging A.B.E Doors and Windows for a garage door spring replacement at Austin's Auto Service in Bethlehem. I cannot speak highly enough of their quick service and immediate response.

From the moment I reached out to, their professionalism and efficiency were evident. They understood the urgency of the situation and promptly scheduled the service, ensuring minimal disruption to our operations. Their commitment to providing exceptional service is truly commendable.



 

Our Spring Cleaning Tips

Lasting Finish!

Provia recommends using any spray-on car wax to preserve the finish and shine of their entrance doors, either steel or fiberglass. You can spray the wax directly on the door and then polish with a soft cloth or apply the wax to the cloth and then wipe down the door. It will help to keep your door looking as good as the day it was installed. 

Your garage door is by far the largest, heaviest object that moves in your home. That’s why it’s so important you maintain it properly and ensure it’s safety with these tips and precautions.

Talk to your children (and their friends) about not playing with the door or the remote control. There are over 40,000 injuries to kids every year caused by the garage door. Keep yours safe by explaining they should never hang on to door when it is moving and always stay a safe distance away when the door is in operation. Keep remotes away from curious little hands and mount the opener button high enough that small children can not reach it.

If you cannot find something to love with Provia’s twenty-one Decorative Glass styles, you also have nineteen Art Glasses to choose from. You can apply the art design to seven different obscured glasses or keep it clear. The featured Art Glass patterns can be filled with your choice of any standard or trending color in the catalogue. They also have five different colored resin beads to outline the design, giving you an endless playground of artistic license even if you can’t draw yourself. If the available designs don’t tickle your fancy, you can also create your own unique Art Glass. 

We want your home to be a safe place for family and friends alike. As we usher in warmer weather, and the opening of windows, let’s review some potential window hazards and solutions.

Many newer models of window shades are cordless, as they are now incorporated into the design. If you have any shades with cords, make sure they are not a temptation to smaller children that may want to pull or try to swing from them. You could use a cord wind-up device to keep dangling cords out of reach or cut the cords so they do not reach to the base of the window. Cord cleats, which allow you to wrap the cord in a figure eight manner are also a great option to keep excess cords out of the way.

 Provia’s 2023 literature has been released and let me tell you just how excited I am to finally get something I’ve wanted forever! Drum-roll, please. Provia has alphabetized their Decorative and Art glasses! That doesn’t sound like much until you’re trying to find a particular style in the giant catalogue and have to leaf through every page looking for it. Now, those days are behind me!

We wanted to celebrate and recognize the role of women in construction this month. Often thought of as man’s profession, we’d like to introduce you to a few women who have had a big impact on the construction scene. (Including our own wonderful gals in the ABE office!)

Lady Elizabeth Wilbraham (1632-1705), made a name for herself by drawing up her own designs for grand homes for her extended family. She was also involved in the designs of hundreds of buildings and several churches in the London area, Unfortunately, she was not allowed to take credit for them and they were attributed to another gentlemen at the time. 

Let’s face it, all things weather and fade over time. When it comes to your home, it’s important to know when something, like your front door, is truly in need of replacement. Take a look at these situations to help you determine if it’s time for a fresh look.

More Than Just a Dent

Your front door sees a lot of use on a daily basis. Over time it will get bumped and bruised by people, animals and things (that chair you were sure would fit through.)

A deep dent or scratch could cause problems in a metal door by compromising the structural design or allowing moisture into the frame.

Cracks in Wooden Doors

Wooden doors may be affected a bit more by moisture from outside and inside the home. This may cause cracks along the edges and in the panel design of the door. I think we’ve all wrestled with a stuck door at one time. If left untreated, your door will lose it’s energy efficiency and continue to get more warped.

Fun fact, if you have a steel garage door (which you probably do) the door is magnetic! In this modern day and age, you no longer have to drill holes into your door to mount decorative hardware. You can take advantage of your door’s innate magnetism and add some decorations as easily as putting a magnet on your fridge.