Archive for January, 2012

It doesn’t matter if you’re building a new home or want to replace your old, drafty windows – Quality Window & Door has the window selection you need. As a leading window and door company in the Maryland, Washington, DC and Virginia area, we offer a wide array of products, including transom windows!

Transom windows can be used for homes (both contemporary and older) as well as office buildings. Do you want to learn more about transom windows so you can be sure you’re installing the right windows for you? Find out everything you need to decide from Quality Window & Door!

What is a Transom Window?

Transom windows are the ones you’ve probably seen above doors in older homes – they became a traditional part of Georgian style architecture in the 19^th century. Transom windows are placed above or on either side of your door and are available in many different shapes (rectangular, semi-circle, fan, etc.).

Benefits of Transom Windows

Transom windows are used as accent windows on many homes, but they offer a number of benefits. Advantages of installing transom windows include:

Appearance: the obvious benefit transom windows offer is the enhanced architectural detail they add to your home. Often they are used solely for aesthetics!

Natural light: transom doors can easily lighten your foyer or front hall. In this way, you can even save a little on your electricity bills by keeping the lights off longer and letting your windows bring in natural sunlight!

Durability: most transom windows are stationary and don’t have moving parts that break or get worn down, making them one of the most durable windows on the market.

Ventilation: like to let in the breeze on warm days? Some transom windows open and can give you the additional ventilation you’re looking for. In the summer, when used with a ceiling fan, transom windows can really help you cut down on AC use and help reduce your energy bills!

Our Selection of Transom Windows

If you want transom windows for your home in Maryland, Washington, DC or Virginia, Quality Window & Door has you covered. We offer windows and window products from leading manufacturers, including:

• Weather Shield
• Milgard
• Norwood
• Parrett

Contact our transom window experts to learn more about transom windows and how we can help you choose the best windows for your home or commercial building. The next part of What Are…Window & Door Series is coming soon!

It’s the beginning of January – we won’t be seeing warm weather in the Maryland, Washington, DC and Virginia area for a few more months, so it’s more important than ever to make sure your doors are energy efficient. Not only will they make your home more comfortable, but they can also help lower your energy bills!

Importance of Energy Efficient Doors

The obvious benefit of having energy efficient doors is higher energy savings, but there are a number of benefits energy efficient doors offer in addition to this:

Comfortable environment – energy efficient doors will make your home more comfortable, hands down. If your doors aren’t airtight, your home will be drafty, and air can more easily escape out and leak in. What does this mean? A home that is warmer in the summer and colder in the winter – not ideal situations!

Tax credits – it gets even better than reduced energy bills and a more comfortable home! Many energy efficient doors are ENERGY STAR rated, and purchasing them makes you eligible for tax credits. In some cases, you can get a tax credit of up to 30 percent of the cost of the door!

Mold control – homes with doors that aren’t energy efficient tend to have more mold growth in these areas. Mold and mildew often grow on the frames of doors that aren’t airtight (and energy efficient).

Enhanced appearance – many energy efficient ENERGY STAR doors are attractive and can enhance the appearance of your home, on both the inside and outside. If you’ve had your doors forever and you’ve found mold is starting to develop around the frames, it’s time for a replacement!

Our Selection of Energy Efficient Doors

With an energy efficient model from Quality Window & Door, you can also have complete peace of mind your new door is extremely durable and made of the highest quality materials. We offer energy efficient doors in a wide variety of styles – French, sliding, bi-fold, lift and slide, etc. – from a wide variety of manufacturers, including:

• Weather Shield
• Milgard
• Hurd
• Parrett
• Panda
• Peachtree
• ProVia
• Simpson
• Therma-Tru
• And more!

Whether you want a new, energy efficient front entry door or patio door, you’ll find what you’re looking for in the extensive collection Quality Window & Door offers. We are the Washington, DC Metropolitan area’s best replacement door company, and we have helped hundreds of homeowners find the right products for their homes.

Contact our energy efficient door experts today to learn more about our replacement doors in Maryland, or if you’re ready to replace your doors for newer, more energy efficient models!