A.B.E. Doors & Windows Blog

This month we recognize the importance of garage door safety. Every year over 20,000 people suffer injuries from garage door accidents. We want to lessen that number by mentioning the most common accidents and how to avoid them.

Playing with the doors. Children sometimes view garage doors as a cool “ride”. They cling to the door as it travels up & down the tracks or race to see if they can duck under the door before it closes. Prevent this by explaining the dangers & enforcing it is not a toy. You may also want to include that the button to open or close the door is off limits as well and only to be used by an adult.

The past few weeks have allowed us to really focus on some areas of our homes that we may not always get to. Many of us have been spring cleaning and getting our homes ready for warmer weather. While you've probably hit all the familiar areas, let's walk you through some spots you may have missed.

In the Kitchen

Your counters are probably wiped clean at the end of the day, but when was the last time you gave some attention to your back-splashes? No doubt they see their fair share of food, splashed beverages and dish water. Wipe them down with warm water with a few drops of soap.

The trash can see all kinds of goodies thrown in it through-out the week, and even the best liner can't stop a tear here and there. All of a sudden, that old spaghetti sauce you thought was contained is inside the can. About once a month, take a peek in there before you replace the liner. Wipe it down inside and out.

As you go about prepping your windows for the warm breezes of spring & summer, take a few minutes to ensure your windows are safe for kids, adults and pets alike.

You may not think of it when planning for emergencies, but if you have a two story (or more) home, you should have an escape plan from those upper floors. Do you have a window on each floor that can be opened quickly and support a ladder for people to climb down? Look at window air conditioners too, are they blocking a potential exit?

This coming April will mark the 50^th anniversary of Earth Day. Originally started to bring awareness to air and water pollution, the event is now recognized in over 190 countries. The environmental issues may have changed over the years, but the focus of helping our planet remains the same. Let's take a look at some of the ways that are making a big impact now.

Sustainable Goods

These are items that are usually made from raw materials (think bamboo, hemp & organic cotton) that serve a function now, but will also be easily broken down or recycled in the future.

Recent examples would be people using metal straws instead of plastic or choosing reusable sandwich bags in lieu of the fold-over baggies.

AccuVent is ProVia’s proprietary design for both the venting and locking of their patio doors. It features a two-part mechanism that connects at both the midpoint of the panel and ratchets at the top of the frame for multiple venting options. It also acts as a secondary lock so say goodbye to putting a stick in your door!

There’s nothing better than a pop of color to spice up something, whether it be a drab desk in an office or a bright pillow on a comfortable couch. Color touches our entire world and now, thanks to Provia, color can touch our homes too. Provia offers their patented Inspirations Art Glass to perk up any entrance door, storm door, patio door, or window glass. A design is first laid out by Provia’s computer software and then applied on the glass by a CNC machine. All of the patterns are created by Provia’s employees and you can bring them your own idea to ‘inspire’ a creation especially for you. There are no limits to the colorful options!

Home maintenance can be a tricky thing. You can go for years with no issues, and then one day look around and notice not one, but all of your windows are drafty and in sad shape. If you don't have cash set aside to make the necessary improvements to your home's windows, (or door replacement) there are financing options to help you cover this cost. Let's take a look at some common choices.

Using an Existing Credit Card

A great option to consider if the dollar amount is on the lower side. This also avoids you having to open up another loan, which means no waiting for an approval. If you have a credit card that rewards you with cash back that is a nice perk, just make sure you can pay it off in a timely manner so you don't negate that benefit. You may also want to check your current interest rate. If it on the higher side, another loan-type may be a better option.

Chocolate as we know and love it began in Southern Mexico where it was first enjoyed as a fermented beverage as early as 450 BC. The Aztecs believed that the cacao seeds, from which chocolate is made, were a gift from their God of Wisdom, Quetzalcoatl. The seeds of the cacao had so much value to the ancients that they were even used as currency. [One hundred seeds could buy you one turkey!]

With all these great things happening, it’s easy to get caught up in the nostalgia and forget that Prohibition was also active from January, 1920 to December, 1933. Like much of our history, even Prohibition has been romanticized with restaurants and bars shaping themselves as a callback to that era of gangsters and flappers. After all, who doesn’t love the idea of giving a password and being let into a speakeasy to steal a drink under the cover of the star-spangled night? If you’d like to feel that vibe when you come home, Provia has got you covered.

 Like any good birthday cake, it would not be complete without a rich layer of icing and perhaps some adornments as well....candles, cake toppers, celebratory words. It's the same with your entry-way, the lighting (candles) and hardware (cake toppers) you choose, all work together to make the cake a focal point for the guest of honor. Let's tackle this area one layer at a time.

Lighting

The goal of entryway lighting should combine beauty and make guests feel secure at night. As an added bonus, it may lower your electric bill depending on the bulbs you choose.   

Here’s the truth—working in an office is dull. We’re stationary all day everyday like a bunch of barnacles stuck to a ship. Lucky for us, our office manager Shannon is one of the most active people I know and she motivated my coworker, Joe, and me to start off our morning strong with our now-trademark Office Plank.

As the new year approaches, we all take the time to think about things we would like to improve or focus on for ourselves in the new year. How about making some resolutions for your home? It makes sense to enhance the area you spend much of your year in. Feel free to add some or all of these suggestions to your resolution list. 

Deck the halls with boughs of holly…! Tis the season to be—damaging your door with Christmas decorations! Well, it’s that time of year again when we all decorate our house to the nines and the winter weather blows in and makes a mess of all the pretty decorations. My personal nemesis is the wreath that I hang on my door. It seems that the wind is always making it crooked and twisting up the lights. Here are a few out-of-the-box ideas to try to minimize the frustration of hanging your wreath on the door.

No matter where you hail from, there is a legend about the origins of winter weather. In Russia, it is represented in Father Frost, a blacksmith who binds water to earth with heavy chains. In Germany, she is an old woman who causes snow by shaking white feathers from her bed. In the United States and Britain, Old Man Winter is responsible for nipping the noses of lovers and the toes of young children. In Norse mythology, he is a minor demi-god called Jokul Frosti meaning “icicle frost.”

A.B.E. Doors and Windows deals in LiftMaster brand electric operators for garage doors. A recent addition to our in-stock operators is LiftMaster’s WLED. It is driven by a belt system and has a quiet yet powerful DC motor. The combination offers a soft and quiet start/stop function, smooth operation, and long-lasting service. The 12V DC motor and belt come with a lifetime warranty.