A.B.E. Doors & Windows Blog

Looks like the warmer weather is finally here. People are getting their homes ready for another summer, planning vacations and gearing up for fun with family and friends. Since you may see more traffic at your home and on the street, please make sure your garage door and surrounding areas are safe and secure.

Do a General Clean Up

A lot of debris can accumulate in and around your garage over the winter months. Give your drive-way and some of the curb area a good sweep and pick up any trash. Avoid a puncture to your tires! Do the same in your garage, it’s amazing how much can blow inside when the door is open.

As we prepare our homes for the warmer months ahead, it’s a good time to make sure your windows, and the area surrounding them are safe for children (and certain curious pets) of all ages. Here are some tips to get you started.

• If you are letting the fresh air in, open the window from the top, not the bottom if possible. Always lock your windows when not in use.

Life is given meaning by celebrating little victories and we have another success story here at A.B.E. Doors & Windows. Our general manager’s son, Dylan, just received his second-degree black belt in karate. Congratulations Dylan!

Spring cleaning is underway in and around the home again. Windows are sparkling, cobwebs are disappearing and the lawn is getting prepped for another summer. In the midst of all the sweeping and shampooing, cleaning the garage door often gets overlooked. We get it, there’s a lot going on. Between work and focusing on your family, washing down the garage door is last on the list. We want to encourage you to make time for this important chore.

Check out why…

When maintenance and proper care are observed, your garage door should have a life span of about 20 years. Washing it on a regular basis, (twice a year is recommended) helps protect your investment and extend its life. 

A day in the life of an A.B.E. installation technician. After working at A.B.E. Doors & Windows for four years, I finally got to take a field trip out of the office and into the field. I was invited along with two of our technicians who were installing a brand-new Provia entrance door with two sidelights.

The past few weeks have teased us with a day here and there where the temperatures hit above 50 degrees. A gentle reminder that spring is on its way. Here are a few items you can do now to ready your home for the warmer months ahead.

Repair Drafty Windows and Doors

We’ve had enough chilly days that probably exposed an area or two that needs attention. Plus, if chilly air is getting in, your air conditioning is going to leak out during summer. If you see areas that could be treated with a line of caulk or weather stripping, that may remedy the situation for a little while. A really bad draft should be examined by a professional who may recommend replacing the entire window or door. This repair will help regulate temperature in your home and save you money on the electric bill.

In a few weeks, we will all be collecting our receipts and financial statements in preparation of filing our income tax returns. If you are one of the lucky ones getting some money back, consider investing back in your home if spring projects are on your to-do list.

If you are looking to get the best return on investment (ROI), the following improvements may help your home retain or increase it’s value.

Bath Remodel

Who doesn’t enjoy an up to date bathroom! Plus if you are anticipating a move soon, it’s one of the rooms potential buyers focus on. Your tax return may not be thousands of dollars, but changing the vanity, installing a rain shower-head and updating the lighting can really transform the space.

Life is all about celebrating the little things and we have a lot to celebrate in the A.B.E. family. Today, we’re highlighting the achievements of our office manager’s daughter, Makena Seng.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Wishing our customers all the best!

Nothing lasts forever, including the locking mechanisms on your doors. We’ve highlighted some scenarios that should warrant replacing, to ensure your home is safe & secure.

You Bought a New Home

One of your first tasks after signing those mortgage documents should be replacing the home’s locks. You really don’t know the kind of people that lived there or who they may have given a spare key to over the years. You want to go to bed with the knowledge that only your family has the privilege of coming and going into your new abode.

Besides the obvious front and back doors, also check for locks on cellar doors & doors leading to or attached to the garage.

If you are using an existing garage door opener, you may want to look up how to re-code the opener.  

In this day and age we have a world of goods at our fingertips via the internet. We can order a product that will be at our door in just a few days or look up information to solve practically any problem. While these solutions are handy, they lack personal service and attention to detail, which are still important. Let's not forget the ways small businesses can enhance your shopping experience.

The difference of knowledge.

Have you ever done a bit of research to replace a part, ordered it, only to have it not fit? Now you’re on the phone, chatting with someone miles away and getting little resolved. Small business owners spend hours making sure they know their inventory inside and out. You can rest assure if a replacement part does not fit or work properly, they will get to the bottom of it. Earning your trust is essential to the heart of their business.

You may not think lead exposure is still an issue after all these years, but approximately 4 million households in the United States have children living in them that are being exposed to lead. It is shocking to know that over 1 million children, most under the age of 5, have lead poisoning. This is why it remains so important to identify where lead may be present, recognize the signs of lead poisoning and seek treatment if necessary.

That fixer upper may look charming, but the walls and woodwork may contain lead based paints if the home was built prior to 1978. 

On the heels of every rainstorm, the phone here at A.B.E. Doors & Windows starts to ring off the hook. Every third call begins with the same dialogue, “After the rain last night, I need to replace my basement windows,” someone will say. To which I begin our patented, ‘Fish Tank Conversation.’ Here’s the long and short of it.

We’ve had a few days that remind us the cooler seasons are coming...along with the weather it brings. Now is the time to be proactive in getting your home and garage ready for harsher weather. Here are some suggestions to keep the heat in, and the water out of your home and garage.

Outside the Home

Remember last year’s snow that dropped 2 feet in most areas? As it melted, many homes experienced leaking and damage around windows and doors that had small gaps or cracking where a nice tight seal should have been. If you have any windows or doors that are ground level, check them for gaps that may be problematic. You may be able to address smaller cracks by replacing caulking or using a spray insulation product. If you see larger holes or rot, replacement of the whole window may be required and a professional should be called.

We all appreciate getting the most life out of items around our home, but there comes a time when things need to be replaced. Your garage door may still look okay and function well, but it is important to know the signs of when the door needs to be upgraded. Consider the following:

Frequent Maintenance Calls

Yearly maintenance is common, but if you find yourself calling the service techs more often, it may be time to replace. The time and money spent on these calls, plus labor and parts can add up quickly. Not to mention a faulty door could pose harm to your family and the contents of your garage. Investing in a new door is a wise investment.