Planning a Remodel? Ask Potential Contractors These Questions

If you’re planning a renovation of your home or business, there are a lot of considerations that go into that. Whether it’s a roof replacement, window or door replacement, or new siding, it’s important to do your research before making your decision on which company to hire. Asking the right questions is key to determining which company is the best choice for you. 

Here are some must-ask questions when deciding which home improvement company you should work with.  

  1. “How long have you been in business locally?” 

It’s okay to ask them how long they’ve been working in your area specifically. The company should have proven experience in the local area. It’s also a good idea to ask for references. They should be happy to provide those to you or direct you to a place where you can find that information.

  1. “What are your online reviews like?”

In our digital era, online reviews are where people go to share their positive or negative experiences. If you ask the company what their online reviews are like, they should be able to answer you honestly. Read through the reviews and if you see a common theme, take note – especially if they are negative reviews. Look closely at customer service experiences, quality of workmanship, pricing, and more. If there are a lot of negative reviews, be aware. 

  1. “Do you have a specialty?”

Your home or business is an investment. You want to preserve your investment – that’s why you want to make sure to use products that will last and keep them looking beautiful for years to come. So, if you’re planning to purchase new windows, doors, siding, or a roof, you want to make sure the company specializes in these things and uses durable, top-quality products. This ensures that they’re able to handle any unexpected issues or problems that may arise during the project.  

  1. “How do your prices compare?”

It’s a good idea to get quotes from two to three companies and then compare them. If the company is reputable, they should fall in line with other companies’ prices that provide similar services. However, if you get a quote that is astronomically high or low, that should be a red flag. A high price may mean they are trying to take advantage of you, while low may indicate that their quality of workmanship may be not up to standard. 

Find the Best Remodel Contractor for You

Ready to get your home or business improvement project started this spring or summer? 

Lifetime Windows and Doors has 25 years of expertise in the local community installing windows, doors, siding, and roofing. We’ve proudly worked on thousands of commercial and residential projects around Oregon and Washington. 

Visit our specials page to see what our current specials are, then contact us today for information on how to get your quote scheduled!

How a Garden Window Can Transform Your Kitchen

Plants in a windowsill ready to go into a garden window

Your kitchen is the heart of your home – it’s often where people congregate and where you spent a lot of time preparing meals for your family and guests. If the windows in your kitchen need an upgrade, garden windows are a simple way to change the look of the room and enrich it with your own flowers or herbs.

What is a Garden Window?

Garden windows are a variation of a bay window, which extends out from the walls of your house. Garden windows are at a 90-degree angle and bay windows are at a 45-degree angle. Garden windows are usually wider and deeper than traditional window designs, which allows for more light to enter the space. This is an ideal location for plants, herbs, or flowers – which is where the term garden window comes from.

Benefits of Having a Garden Window in Your Kitchen

Garden Windows Bring Additional Light Indoors

If your kitchen is dark or dreary, a garden window is a great option for opening the space and letting more natural light in. With four glass panes and a gorgeous, framed view, you’re sure to have a well-lit and open kitchen.

Garden Windows Give You a Panoramic View

Maybe you’ll have a better view of the park, or of your children running around in the yard. No matter what your kitchen window view is, with more light and better views, you might enjoy the space even more. And who knows, it might even make washing dishes or cooking more enjoyable for you, too.

Garden Windows Help You Grow Fresh Foods

You might not have room for a full garden in your backyard, but if you have a garden window, you can start your own mini greenhouse with potted herbs or vegetables that need just a small area to grow. These fresh foods will not only help keep your body healthier, but they’ll also enhance the inside of your home with herbal scents.

Install a Garden Window in Your Kitchen

Whether it’s a new garden window, a big picture window in your living room, a bay window to highlight a panoramic view, or simply new, energy efficient windows throughout, your home will benefit greatly from window replacements. For 25 years, we’ve worked with clients across Oregon and Washington to replace their exterior doors, windows, siding, and roofing, so they can enjoy their homes and businesses. Call us today for a free estimate!

Best Places for Bay Windows

Large white bay window overlooking trees

Bay windows are a show-stopping feature that will captivate anybody who enters your home. By offering an abundance of natural light and sweeping views of the surrounding scenery, they will add charm and luxury to any room. The hardest part of installing a new bay window is deciding where to put it – but that’s where we can help! With decades of experience designing and building custom products, we know where bay windows can have the biggest impact. Read on to gather inspiration for your project!

What Are Bay Windows?

A bay window is more than just a window – it’s also an architectural element that alters the shape of your home. They typically have three sections: one central window (or group of windows) flanked by two smaller ones. All three sections curve or angle outward from your wall, creating an elegant protrusion that is visible from both the interior and exterior of your house. The result is a “bay” inside of a room that provides an airy, beautiful glimpse into the outside world. 

Best Places to Put a Bay Window

If you are looking to upgrade your home with gorgeous bay windows, then the first step is to decide which room you want to transform. To spark your imagination and creativity, here are some of our favorite places for bay windows:

Office or Library

Typing away on your laptop? Cozying up with your newest book? Nothing will keep you inspired quite like having the beautiful Pacific Northwest on the other side of the glass. Whether you want to build the perfect reading nook with a window seat or you’d prefer a floor-to-ceiling option for ample space, a bay window will make your home or office feel like a magical getaway.

Bedroom or Guest Room

Your bedroom is your escape from the outside world, so it should be a place of total relaxation and comfort. A bay window will help you create an irresistibly luxurious atmosphere that will have you excited to bundle up and stay in. And, if placed in a guest room, it will make your home a spot that your visitors can’t wait to return to.

Kitchen

A bay window over your kitchen sink will make dishes feel less like a chore and more like a peaceful daily task. Having a view into the yard will not only brighten up your space, but it also gives you the opportunity to keep an eye on your kids while making dinner or cleaning up. And, a little extra space creates the perfect place to put plants or flowers that need additional sunlight.

Living Room

Grab your favorite recliners and turn them to face a large bay window. With panoramic views and soft natural lighting, these windows create a comfortable place to sit and relax with your loved ones. 

Dining Room

Adding tall bay windows will make your dining room feel more spacious and sophisticated. When you get your dining table, a rug, some plants and window accents added, the dining room will feel welcoming, warm, and ready to host your next holiday meal with friends or family.

Transform Your Space with Bay Windows

Want to see how bay windows can transform your space? Get in touch with Lifetime Windows and Doors! Our team has served Portland, Southwest Washington, and Central Oregon for more than two decades. To give our customers the best results possible, we use highly efficient double-pane products from reputable brands like Simonton Windows and Doors or Milgard. From the design and product selection to the full installation, we can help bring your vision to life! Give us a call today to learn more or get your free estimate.

Benefits of Custom Exterior Doors

Your home or business is a reflection of your design preferences and even your personality. If you want to make a statement, a custom exterior door is one way to do that. Here are some benefits of installing a custom exterior door. 

Style

Open the door to something different when you welcome guests to your home, or customers and employees to your business. Doors come in a variety of sizes, shapes, styles and paint colors. There’s more, too. There are panel and glass design choices, different types of woods, and other customizable options available. Our specialists at Lifetime Windows and Doors will walk you through your options so you can customize your door to match your unique needs. 

Endurance

A custom, top-quality door offers protection for many years. It’s not enough to have a door that looks great today. With our top-quality doors, you can rest assured your door will look beautiful for a long time to come. 

Vision

Your exterior doors provide a glimpse into the rest of your home or business Once you determine the best custom door design, many people feel inspired to extend their design vision throughout the rest of the space. Maybe it means getting the ball rolling for window replacement around your home, or even new siding on your home or business exterior. We can help with these improvements too and have over two decades of hands-on expertise implementing them. 

Return on Investment

Much research has been done to determine which home improvements provide the best return on investment when it comes time to sell. New entry doors, new windows, and updated siding are just some of the home improvement projects that yield great returns. In the meantime, you can enjoy the security, beauty and energy efficiency that new exterior doors provide.

New door installation is an easy and very visible home improvement that will catch the eyes of passersby. With different sizes and styles available, let us help you with select a door that’s perfect for your home or business.  

Your Custom Exterior Door Experts

Want to jazz up your exterior door? Turn to the experts at Lifetime Windows & Doors! Our specialists have been helping people choose custom exterior doors for more than two decades! We have an incredible number of quality door options to choose from. Whether you want a custom door, a patio replacement, or a simple front door for your home, we have dozens of style options for you to choose from! Call us today to get your free consultation!

Aging-in-Place Features For Your Home

If you are newly retired or you are thinking about retirement soon, chances are you are crunching numbers and determining what life will look like after working. Many retirees want to stay in their homes as long as possible, so making their home as updated and convenient for aging-in-place is very important. Here are some things your home should have as you set out toward your journey of retirement.

#1: Updated windows.
Chilly winter days and hot summer nights – we have a little bit of everything in the Pacific Northwest.  New windows are energy efficient and can even help reduce your utility costs each month. That’s a real win when it comes to conserving your retirement dollars!  Updated windows also help keep outside noise out, so you can kick back and relax in the quietness of your own space. And last, new windows add value to your home and enhance curb appeal!

#2: New roof.
A reliable roof is one of the most important parts of your home’s structure. A new roof is one of the best long-term investments you can make for your home. It will help keep you comfortable and protected from the outside elements. We use Malarkey Roofing Products in our roofing jobs, a company committed to protecting the environment in their Energy-Star rated roofing materials. One thing is for sure – a high-quality roof will serve you well for many decades! And, you’ll be confident knowing that the roof above you is doing its job to keep you secure and safe from whatever the weather decides to do outside.

#3: Reliable siding.
Is the exterior siding of your home showing any signs of failing? If so, don’t ignore this. This could expose your home to water, which could lead to dry rot and mold. Not to mention, it can take a hit from the sun and cold weather in the winter. Be proactive and make sure your siding is ready to go for your retirement years. If it isn’t, consider replacement with fiber cement siding. This type of siding installed by our professionals at Lifetime Windows and Doors is one of the best things you can do for your home’s exterior. It is moisture and rot resistant, doesn’t crack, split, or warp, and is resistant to pests.

Contact us today to learn more about how we can help with your home’s aging-in-place projects! We proudly serve the Portland metro area, Southwest Washington, and Central Oregon. Our experience is something you can count on, so call us today!

Why You Should Replace Your Roof This Spring

Your building’s roof is vital to the overall reliability of the structure. For this reason, it’s important to have a reliable roof. If your roof is starting to show its wear, or you’ve noticed that it is causing issues in other parts of the building, it is probably time to consider a replacement. Here’s why you should consider a roof replacement this spring.

#1: It protects your work or living space.
Putting off a roof replacement could increase your risk for damage to the interior of your home or business. For example, you could risk ceiling damage, dry rot, or mold. A new roof will protect the space from this kind of harmful destruction. In addition, it will add value to the space and enhance curb appeal! A new roof is an especially good selling point if you plan to list the home or business for sale soon.

#2: The weather is ideal.
Springtime in the Pacific Northwest is unmatched. It’s not too hot and it’s drying out a bit more! While we do have rainy days, the sunlight is here for longer and there are longer stretches of sunny, dry weather. This is perfect roofing replacement weather.

#3: You can use your stimulus money or tax return.
Got some stimulus money set aside for home improvements? Tax returns are also starting to trickle in, and what better way to use it than by investing it in a new roof! A new roof is an investment that will help you – it could save you from future problems or issues that are incredibly costly to fix! So, designate some of your stimulus money or tax return to put toward a roof. Planning to get it replaced before you’re forced to because of a bad leak or other damage, is the best way to go.

A roof replacement installed by our team of professionals at Lifetime Windows and Doors is a great investment for your home or commercial building. We use Malarkey Roofing Products in our roofing jobs, a company committed to protecting the environment in their Energy-Star rated roofing materials. There’s no doubt about it – a high-quality roof will serve you well for many decades! You’ll be confident knowing that the roof above you is doing its job to keep you protected and safe from the outside elements.  Contact us for more details on getting your roof replacement started.

 

How to Pick the Right Siding Color for Your Home

Are you considering a siding replacement? Picking the right color for your home’s exterior is a big decision. It will be a color you’ll have to live with for a long time and it plays a big role in your home’s overall curb appeal. Here are some tips on how to pick the right siding color.

#1: Know your home’s style.
The architecture in your home will help guide you. For example, if you have a Craftsman-style home, you’ll want to stick with traditional earthy colors. Colonial-style homes are often white. Country-style homes are often lighter, so breezy yellows and blues are a popular choice. For modern homes, stone hues are a good option.

#2: Consider the size of your home.
If you have a large home, it’s usually best to avoid dark, gloomy colors. Dark colors on large spaces can make it look a little overpowering. Smaller homes do better with dark hues.

#3: Coordinate roof color.
Look at your roof. If it’s dark, it’s often best to go with a lighter siding color. If you have a roof that has a mix of light and dark, stick with a neutral siding color. If your roof is brown, light earth tones or off white could contrast nicely.

#4: Consider the neighborhood.
Walk around your neighborhood and pay attention to what other homes look like. You don’t want to pick a color that sticks out like a sore thumb – especially if you plan to sell the home somewhere down the line. You can definitely pick something that is unique to your specific taste and style but consider how that will play into the whole neighborhood feel.

Our experienced team of professional installers at Lifetime Windows & Doors are factory-trained and ready to help install your new siding. We know that your home is one of your most valuable possessions, so we will make sure the job is done right! We proudly carry and install top quality fiber cement siding. It is incredibly durable and won’t swell, rot, or warp when it’s exposed to heat, humidity, or water. It uses ColorPlus® technology, which is uses a baked-on pre-finish that won’t fade or fade from ultraviolet rays.

Contact us today to learn more about getting your siding project started so it can be ready in time to enjoy the beautiful Northwest spring and summer seasons!

Tips on Avoiding Roof Damage This Winter

Your roof plays a key role in keeping you and your family protected and comfortable – especially as winter weather rolls in. So, ensuring your roof is ready to handle whatever winter throws its way this year, there are some important tricks to follow to help avoid roof damage.

#1: Check your gutters.
Winter in the Pacific Northwest is wet. As rain pummels the roof, water will roll off it and route it away from your home’s foundation via the gutter system. If your gutters are broken or clogged, they can’t do its job. This means that the roof could collect standing water, and this could cause damage in the form of mold, mildew, or even dry rot.

#2: Remove roof debris.
Wind and rain will bring tree branches, leaves, dirt, and other small objects that can cause damage. Piles of debris can cause mold build up or even attract pests. Ensuring your roof is clear will help minimize your risk of problems.

#3: Treat mildew and mold immediately.
If you notice any mold or mildew buildup, treat it right away. This type of buildup on your shingles could damage them as well as the sheathing underneath.

#4: Keep nearby trees trimmed.
If you have trees hanging nearby your roof, be sure to keep them trimmed. Fallen branches – especially in the event of a rain or windstorm – could cause damage to the roof.

#5: Don’t ignore damage.
If there is significant damage to your roof, don’t ignore it. This could cause water to leak through, which could damage the structure of your home. This is especially true if your roof is already at the end of its life cycle. The average roof will last about 20 years. But if your roof is older than that, chances are, it will need to be replaced soon.

Keeping your roof prepared for the winter weather is important. Roof maintenance is the key to getting the most out of your roof. Or, maybe it is time for a full roof replacement. So don’t put your home’s exterior in jeopardy by waiting to replace it! A roof replacement can happen at any time during the year, including the winter! Whether you’re looking for a shingled roof, metal roof, or tile roof, our skilled team at Lifetime Window and Doors can help answer your questions! We’ll ensure you have the right high-performance roof to keep you protected and comfortable all year long.  Contact us today!

Why DIY Window Replacement is a Bad Idea

“Do it yourself” (DIY) projects are popular. But that doesn’t mean they are all a good idea. Home improvement projects can be expensive and doing them yourself can save money. However, when it comes to window replacement, relying on experienced window installation contractors is key. Here’s why.

#1: It can get complicated.
Measuring for windows is more complicated than you might think. Incorrect measurements could cause big problems including gaps or leaks around the windows. Windows that won’t fit into existing frames can be a difficult problem to fix. In addition, removing existing frames means cutting through connectors and caulk. Without the right tools and training, you could bend or chip the framing or damage another important area around the new window space.

#2: Do you know how to level?
Leveling your windows is critical. If they are not leveled accurately, they will be installed crooked. The crooked windows will sink, settle, and shift. Over time, that could pull away from the frame and leave leaks and gaps that allow heat, cold air, or humidity into your home. And this wastes energy and lets out your heated or air-conditioned air, too. This in turn, makes your heating or cooling system work harder than necessary.

#3: Mistakes can be costly.
Unfortunately, DIY mistakes are common. Improper installation could cause water to get inside your windows or window frames which could lead to mold or dry rot later down the road. All of this translates to expensive fixes and even health problems.

#4: Industry standards must be adhered to.
Did you know that certain home improvement projects require permits or code inspections? If you don’t have the proper paperwork done, you could be looking at a fine later. Our team at Lifetime Windows and Doors are trained to install windows according to proper building codes outlined by city and state requirements.

Our professional window contractors are expertly trained for proper assembly and careful installation. So, save yourself time, hassle and potential stress by hiring our team to do the work for you. Our work and positive reviews speak for themselves. Whether you choose Milgard or Simonton Windows, our product selections are of the highest quality in both energy efficiency and innovation ratings! We will work with your budget and your style preferences. So call us today for more details on getting your window replacement project started this autumn!

How to Stay Comfortable While Working from Home

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way people go about their daily lives. It’s also changed work environments around the country. Many offices have shut down and told their employees that working from home is the new norm. If you are working from home, you’ll want to be as comfortable as possible. Our team at Lifetime Windows and Doors can help. Here’s how.

#1: We can update your space.
Did you know that your windows play a key role in keeping your home’s heating and cooling evenly distributed? Old, energy inefficient windows can leak outside air in. That means your heat during the fall and winter months can make its way outside and cold outside air could create cold spots in your home. That means your heating and cooling system must work harder to keep the temperatures evenly distributed. Because of that, your utility bills will likely increase. So, consider window replacement for your home! We have a variety of options that will fit your home’s unique style and most importantly, your budget.

#2: Replace your doors.
Your exterior doors are also an important part of creating a comfortable home and work environment. We carry a variety of brands including Simonton, ThermaTru, Simpson! These doors are affordably priced and can even be ordered custom. Our team of installation specialists can take a look at your current doors and make recommendations for replacement based on your style preferences and budget guidelines.

Home renovations like these will not only make the space your beautiful and comfortable, but they can help increase your home’s value! That means when it comes time to sell it, you will have a greater return. The money you spend now is well worth it, because it will create an opportunity for a easier, smoother home sale later down the road.

Contact us today to talk about your home improvement projects. We have been working with customers around Oregon and Washington since 1998. We have the products you need and the experience you can count on.