Tile and Flooring Trends That Will Make a Room Stand Out [Infographic]
How long has it been since you've made changes to your home flooring? According to Business Insider, you should replace a linoleum floor every 25 years; a vinyl floor every 50 years; carpet every 8 to 10 years. If you know it is time to make some changes and integrate new flooring in certain rooms or your entire home, you really do want flooring that will make a room stand out.
There is a multitude of new flooring options out there to pick from, and the most popular flooring tends to be that which injects a certain unique design element into a space. Take a look at a few of the current flooring trends that will make your room pop.
Colored Tile
Whether you are remodeling your kitchen, renovating your bathroom, or simply installing new flooring throughout the house, make sure you take the time to get familiar with some of the popular tile flooring trends, specifically colored tile. For a while, ceramic tile styles were a little mundane because most people were gravitating toward neutral or earthy tones. However, go pick out tile these days and you will find all kinds of impressive colors.
Colored tile can totally change the appearance of a room. For example, if you swap out a grey-toned ceramic tile for a bright red tile in your kitchen, your entire room takes on a new personality. You can go with solid-colored tiles or really get creative and use tiles in a collaboration of fun colors.
Uniquely Designed Tiles
Take a look at new flooring options 2018 and you will see something reminiscent of vintage times: uniquely designed tiles. Tiles that are imprinted with different imagery, have inlays of colorful gemstones or boast geometric indentions are all examples of what is out there. If you have a room that is fairly plain and mundane and you want to up the ante, installing uniquely designed tiles on the floor can really be a game changer.
Patterned Wood Flooring
When you think of wood flooring for your home, you probably envision the usual long slats pieced together in a shingled way. However, even wood flooring can be even more interesting than what it is in its traditional form. Skilled contractors can take wood flooring pieces and lay them out in all kinds of different ways. For example, they can:
- Install the flooring in a squared design to create an almost spiraled effect
- Install the flooring in small pieces to create a multitude of geometric patterns
- Install the flooring in varying widths and angles to create a more contemporary look
Patterned wood flooring is not actually a new idea; it has been used for a lot of years, but sparsely because it has historically been a lot harder to install. Parquet wood flooring is a good example of patterned wood flooring from the past. However, the availability of modern tools and equipment, as well as a greater access to wood materials has allowed the patterned flooring to be a more feasible option.
Takeaways to Remember
- Multicolored or colored tile can be just as effective as carpet or vinyl in creating a unique space
- Patterned wood flooring gives your home a unique style element
- Tile with intricate designs perfectly ups the designer appeal or an otherwise boring space
Installing the right flooring in a room is one of the easiest ways to make it look and feel completely different. Flooring is the platform that sets the stage for how the room is perceived, so it is absolutely important to watch flooring trends, do your research, and find what's best for your room. Reach out to us at RWC Windows, Doors & More for help finding the right flooring for your home.
How Replacing Your Windows Can Help You Save Money This Winter
With just a bit of research on the internet you will find many useful tips on how to lower your electric bill in Winter - from keeping your furnace clean to only heating the rooms you actually use, every bit of cold air you can keep out and any heat that you can get to stay in, will work together to reduce your heating costs. But the best energy saving tips really concern your windows and doors. According to Energy.gov - Heat gain and heat loss through windows are responsible for 25%–30% of residential heating and cooling energy use.
Understanding Heat Gain and Heat Loss
The thermal performance of your windows will depend on the tightness and material of the window frame, the configuration of the glass panes, along with additional features such as E-coatings. The windows in your home can allow heat loss in the following ways:
- heat radiating through the glass
- heat leaking out around the frame
- heat conducted out via the frame material
In the winter, these three factors will increase your energy costs. And even though windows also allow some heat gain from the sun's rays and the transfer of heat by convection from the outside into the home - during winter months, heat gain is minimal. Replacing your windows that are causing substantial heat loss is the most important of winter energy saving tips.
3 Ways to Reduce Heating Costs
Tip 1 - One way to reduce energy cost is to reduce the heat radiating out through the glass. Consider replacing your single pane windows with double pane, or insulated glass windows. Double glazed windows are separated by a vacuum or gas-filled space which acts to reduce heat transfer from indoors to outdoors - and vice versa.
Tip 2 - Choose replacement windows with frames that help limit the transfer of cold from the outside. Window frame materials that offer low heat conductance include fiberglass, insulated or hollow vinyl, and wood framed windows. Since wood is so prone to deterioration, if you have wood framed windows consider replacing them with an engineered material such as fiberglass.
Tip 3 - If your windows are old and the frames are showing signs of damage such as cracks, mold, dents, or frame separation, then replacement windows are the best solution. You will find some homeowners using plastic film or weather stripping to keep the winter winds from blowing in around the window frame, but this temporary solution is not practical as the cold air will still transfer through these materials.
Best Energy Saving Tips for Winter
- When you choose energy efficient windows with the Energy Star label, you can save "$27–$111 a year over double-pane, clear glass replacement windows."
- To reduce energy use from increased lighting during winter months, add motion detectors and timers to turn off lights in unoccupied rooms.
- Use shades or drapes on windows that are prone to high winds, and replace old door sweeps with heavy duty versions to block drafts that enter under the door.
- Get an energy audit to see where the most energy loss is occurring in your home. Often, leaky HVAC ducts, basements, and attics are causing a loss of heat in the home.
- Invest in a smart thermostat that automatically adjusts the temperature depending on the time of day or during preset times such as during work and school hours.
Takeaways
- Use multiple winter energy saving tips to get the most savings on your utility costs.
- If window frames are allowing cold air drafts, the best solution is to replace the windows in your home to lower electric bill in Winter
- Plastic film and weather stripping are only temporary solutions to heat loss through faulty windows
- Vinyl and fiberglass are the top performing materials for winter window replacement
RWC provides bathroom and kitchen remodeling, including design along with door installation and window replacement to homeowners in northern New Jersey. Contact us today to see how we can help prepare your home and windows for the Winter season!
4 Key Factors to Consider When Replacing Your Front Door
Architectural designers use the principle of establishing a focal point as a way to purposely draw the eye to a central feature of a home. Your front door is the focal point of your home's exterior and it is the first thing visitors really focus on. Create a striking, visual first impression by replacing an ordinary front door with a distinct architectural style or one that fits your family's personality.
A front door replacement not only adds a sense of style to your home, a good front door acts as a barrier against the great outdoors. According to energy.gov, "Your home's exterior doors can contribute significantly to air leakage, and can also waste energy through conduction, especially if it's old, uninsulated, improperly installed, and/or improperly air sealed."
Before installing a new front door on your home, consider these 4 key factors to making the right decision.
The Best Main Door Style for Your Home
If you’re wondering, what style front door should I get? The answer depends entirely on your preference. You will certainly find a wide array of exterior door styles when you visit a quality window and door replacement service provider - from high-end architectural styles to traditional doors that simply function as an entry into the home. You may not know but entry doors are divided into style classes such as single panel, flush, arched, and double entry doors. Within each style class, you will find many decorative residential options including etched or glass panels, and doors with sidelight panels.
Choosing the best style for your house can be purely intuitive. When you see the perfect door for your home, your instincts simply know that it's the right choice. You can also choose a door based on your home's architectural style. The internet is the perfect source to view your type of home featured with beautiful doors that compliment the home's exterior.
Qualities of a Door for Safety
Protecting your family against intruders is the main feature of your front door. For this reason, avoiding Big Box retailers and instead partnering with a window and door specialty company will give you access to important door knowledge that can help you choose the right door for security. More often, a secure door is one that has quality hardware and hinges is set in a strong frame and has an excellent locking mechanism such as a Grade 1 or Grade 2 deadbolt.
With this in mind, a good front door will be sturdy, solid, and able to withstand the elements for many years of useful service. Armored security doors are an expensive investment and keep in mind any door is only as good as the door frame and hardware.
Front Doors for Privacy
The entrance to your home is its largest opening, which is why the right front door must be chosen to add a level of privacy and intimacy to the home. You can have privacy and additional light by choosing a door with window panels that are made of safety glass or are frosted for privacy. Other options include doors with windows that are above eye-level, such as arched glass panels above the door.
A full glass front door offers a lovely view of nature and allows a stream of sunlight to enter the home. While they may be appropriate for wooded lots or private access homes, these doors do not allow for a level of privacy or security that most homeowners desire. You will find many options for doors that allow some light to filter in while providing a higher level of privacy.
Consider Your Budget
The front door replacement cost you’ll encounter depends on the door type, style, and material. Some cost factors for replacing a door include materials, labor, location, type, and framing needs. Most projects require hiring an expert for proper installation. When you consider your budget, consider the many door materials and types available:
- Wooden Door
- Steel Door
- Iron
- Fiberglass
- Composite
- Aluminum
- Solid Core vs. Hollow Core
The door purchase should be the greatest expense when you consider your budget. When you work with a reputable company, they will explain any compromises you make concerning costs over quality. But considering the importance of privacy and security, replacing your front door should not be an area to cut corners.
Takeaways
- Your front door is the focal point of your home's exterior.
- The best style selection can be intuitive or fit a specific architecture
- The safety of your door is directly linked to the strength of the frame
- Frosted glass panels allow for both increased light and privacy
- The largest part of your budget should be reserved for a quality front door
Want new front doors installed? RWC is an experienced home improvement contractor that provides high quality front door installation and window replacement for West Caldwell, NJ and surrounding communities.
Unique Interior Doors to Incorporate in Your Home
Most homeowners put a lot of thought into picking out the perfect exterior doors for their home, but the interior doors are just as important. The doors that stand as the dividers between your bedroom, dining room, or bathroom and the rest of the house really are critical design points, so you shouldn't simply stick to paneled doors that blend in. Unique interior doors can tie together a specific design idea. Take a look at some of the more unique interior door ideas for your home.
Sliding Farm Doors
Sliding farm-style doors, which are sometimes simply referred to as barn doors, have been showing up all over interior design conventions, and it is for good reason. These modern interior doors inject a certain rustic feel to a space while remaining stylish to accommodate a contemporary home. These unique doors are seated on wheel trolleys across the top so the door simply slides from one side to the other when it needs to be opened.
Country Barn Doors
If you have a house that is incorporated with a lot of country-style elements, barn doors really do make an excellent choice in interior door designs. These custom interior doors tend to look a lot like actual barn doors right down to the angled wood slat pieces or crisscrossed panels. To further up the country-rustic appearance, most homeowners go with hardware that compliments the beautiful style, such as wide-angled hinges or stately handles.
Half Doors
If you have a room that really only needs a basic divider but not a full-on closure at all times, half doors are a really cool option. Just as the name implies, half doors can be opened at the top, bottom, or both ends.
French Doors
Making a dramatic impression at the entry point of one room to the next can be as simple as installing a set of french doors as the interior divider. French doors have been a popular home element in rooms like dining and living rooms for a really long time, but are most often an exterior feature. They work just as well to elevate the level of class inside of the house, and you can go for either inexpensive versions or top-end designs depending on what you like. You can find french doors between $350 and $4,000, which shows just how basic or extraordinary you can go.
Shoji Screen Doors
If you're going for a Zen feel in your bathroom, Shoji screen doors really set the stage for a true Asian-like spa experience when you step into your bathroom. These doors, which are quite traditional in European or far-eastern countries, have a wooden frame with screened squares that allow natural light to stream through. The screens are not see-through, so you still get that same level of privacy you want in a private space.
Takeaways On Interior Door Ideas
- Unique interior doors can tie together an overall interior design theme
- Unique bedroom doors are becoming more and more popular
- Choosing interior doors should be a carefully considered process
- Not every interior door has to be the same type
Interior Door Replacement Services in NJ
The interior doors you choose for your home can make a huge difference in the overall design and value of the house. If you would like help with choosing interior door design ideas for your home, reach out to us at RWC Windows, Doors & More for professional assistance. We’ll handle everything from generating internal door ideas to complete door installation!
What to Look For When Hiring A Window Company In The North Jersey Area
When you decide to replace the windows in your home, the first decision is not which window material or window styles you will choose - but instead, you may wonder what to look for when searching for contractors or comparing the best window companies in NJ. High-pressure sales tactics can be one warning sign that the company may be hiding a lack of quality workmanship or they may be selling substandard products at an unreasonable price.
To make sure your window replacement experience doesn't end with regrets, here are some ways you can tell if you're dealing with an unqualified, outdated marketing tactic or a company built on performing the best job for their customers.
Choosing the Best Window Companies NJ
Research - References, Reviews, and Ratings
A good window company will reference some of its best work in a photo gallery as a visual testament to the work they are most proud of. This is your first indication of if the company is right for you, especially if you need custom windows or are looking to add windows that increase the architectural style of the home. Some companies choose to post completed projects on social media sites instead, which is also great because you can look at any comments that are posted by customers.
In addition to checking the company's business website, look for customer reviews and ratings from independent sites. Yelp & Facebook are local consumers' most trusted review sites, followed by Google & BBB.org
Comparing Costs is Relative
If you have a budget you must stick to, then carefully comparing costs is essential, but you must compare apples to apples. Home improvement cost analysis sites such as HomeAdvisor will offer a ballpark range, but it really depends on the quality of windows and the company that you choose. Homeowners should be wary of companies with low window replacement costs - there is a reason why they can reduce their prices and it usually indicates low-quality material or labor.
Use the ballpark cost projections in addition to other information as a guideline that indicates the quality of the company's services.
Choose Certified Window Installers
Window quality is important, but installation is even more important. When you choose a window replacement company that certifies their technicians, it means they have been fully trained in window company best practices. A quality installation will follow the window manufacturer's requirements along with ASTM Standard E2112 Standard Practice for Installation of Exterior Windows, Doors and Skylights. Speak directly to the company about how their technicians are company-trained and if they are nationally certified.
Avoid companies that use 1 or 2 trained workers with a crew of laborers - every window installed should be level, plumb, square, watertight, sealed, and allow for thermal expansion.
Checking the Company's Paperwork
All reputable companies should have ready access to certain documentation that proves they are working above board. These include a strong manufacturer's warranty (based on length of time and level of coverage) and also ask about the process involved if there is a problem with the installation itself. Whatever company you choose they should always carry the necessary liability insurance, workers compensation, technical data on any windows that are labeled energy efficient, in addition to a General Contractor's License.
Takeaways
- High-pressure sales tactics may be a warning sign that should not be ignored.
- Always research the company's website and independent reviews and ratings.
- Ask questions about the window company best practices and window design ideas.
- Make sure the company has liability insurance and is a licensed contractor.
- Comparing costs can be misleading - rule out extremely low or exceptionally high services
Don't leave a major home improvement project like residential window replacement to guesswork. Do the research, ask the questions, and check the paperwork before you sign on the dotted line. RWC specializes in bathrooms renovations, door replacement, window replacement, and kitchen remodeling so feel free to contact us with any questions you may have - we would be happy to help!