Tag Archives: windows

Five Tips for Timeless Window Treatments

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When you enter any well-designed room, your eyes will likely be drawn to the windows. In fact, your window treatments are inevitably a focal point of the room. Therefore, when shopping for window treatments, you do not want to purchase blindly. Since window dressings are an investment, you want to purchase something that is timeless.

Pick Current Colors

Do you want your window treatments to look stylish years from now? Then you should make sure to use colors that are fresh and current. Choose fabrics that embrace a Contemporary tone. Shades of green, neutral tones, and golds are timeless. You can also use cotton fabric prints just as long as they embrace a neutral color palette.

Warm vs. Cool Tones

In order for your window dressing to stay vibrant for years to come, they should complement the space. Smaller spaces should use drapes with cool colors to make the space appear bigger while warmer hued drapes should be used in oversized spaces to create an intimate feeling.

Neutrals Will Always Be in Style

Whites, taupes, grays, and blacks will always be trendy. In fact, neutral-based window treatments are timeless because even when you change up your furniture, wall color, and accessories, these window treatments will seamlessly blend into the design.

Natural Lighting

Whether it is the living room or the bedroom, natural light is everything. Whatever type of window treatment you choose should allow for some natural lighting to flow into the room. Pleated shades are also timeless because they offer privacy, and they let in natural lighting.

Plantation Shutters

Plantation shutters are a classic window treatment that can be a bit expensive but worth every cent. They bring elegance to a home that is hard to achieve with any other type of window dressing. We suggest wood crafted shutters because they will match your furnishing.

Less Is Always Best

Minimal will always be best when you are going for a timeless look. While heavy draperies are stylish, try stripping away the bulky window coverings and replacing them with simple shades or blinds. You can add . subtle interest by using upholstered cornice or flap valances. In addition, try selecting simple shades that have some sort of texture, such as bamboo or rattan.

We hope you found these six tips helpful, and be sure to subscribe for more expert advice weekly!

Tips for Pressure Washing Your Home

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Whether your home is older or just becoming dirty on the outside, there is no more convenient or cost-effective way to clean the siding of your home than a pressure washer. It can easily blast away mildew, dirt, and muck that would take hours to remove by hand. If you are new to the concept, here is what you should know:

Safety

When pressure washing your home, make sure your siding can handle it. Concrete, vinyl, brick, and stone are all capable of handling a strong pressure washer (even stucco with the proper procedure). If your house has been painted, be cognitive that no lead was used in the paint. This can release harmful vapor you can breathe. Inspect your home for any areas that will need special attention. Remember, do not pressure wash your windows; they will break! Also, you should wear a pair of safety gloves and safety goggles at all time. The high-pressure water is strong enough to literally cut you! It is important to be aware of its power at all times and remember to stay safe.

What Is a Pressure Washer?

Your typical garden hose has an average of 35 psi. PSI is a measurement of Pounds Per Square Inch. A pressure washer will hook up to your house and amplify that tremendously. Some pressure washer will range from 1500-3500 PSI, but you can find some in a wide variety of ranges. Pressure washers can come electric, cordless, or gas-powered. The stronger the PSI, the more heavy-duty grime you will be able to remove.

Setting up Your Pressure Washer

Attach your garden hose and turn on the water. Your pressure washer will have an inlet and an outlet hose. Then hook up your outlet house with your high-power hose. You can select different tips to place at the end of your hose. Most pressure washers will have a wand which can allow you to control turning on and off the sprayer easily. Find out which tip is best for your project. Some pressure washers can be powerful enough to tear right through your siding. Test a discrete area to see which tip is best for the job.

Stucco Specifics

Since we are in Arizona, stucco is the most popular siding option in our area. To make sure you properly use your power washer on your stucco siding, you will want to be cognitive of the following: 

  • First, you should look for chips or cracks in the stucco. You do this because water can come in through those areas. If there is a crack or chip, it will need to be filled before beginning. 
  • Next, you will want to spray the pressure washer in sections. Each section should be completely rinsed, have detergent applied, and completely rinsed again before moving onto your next section.
  • Additionally, while you apply the detergent, you should water the area to soak up some of the excess detergent on your stucco walls.
  • Lastly, you will want a 20-degree nozzle for a standard surface. With your intense stains, place a rotating scrub brush on the hose. 

Since stucco differs from other siding options, ask your pressure washer sales associates for a complete run-down before renting or even purchasing the pressure washer. This will ensure you fully understand its power and capabilities.

Pressure washing your home is an effective way to get rid of dirt and grime. Be very careful when using a high PSI pressure washer. Do not use this on windows or on your car because it can damage them. For more insight on exterior cleaning, make sure to subscribe.

Let the Sunshine In

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Cooley Station 102Arizona is all about sunshine, and sometimes it seems like we don’t take enough advantage of it out here. Yes, it is easy to become too used to having almost every day be a sunny day. But for those people who grew up in other parts of the country, it’s important not to take our sunshine for granted.

One terrific way to appreciate our sunny climate is with plenty of generous windows. It’s important to look for opportunities to bring light inside and brighten our homes. This window at Fulton’s Surfliner model at Cooley Station does that beautifully. Take a look at the way it brings light into this room.

First, it is set at just the right height to comfortably fit a sofa along the bottom. This gives you a strong design option to choose among a sofa, sectional or two easy chairs at this location. With any of these choices, you have plenty of light for reading.

With the view into the yard, this window also gives a pleasant perspective. The right landscaping choices help make the interaction of indoor and outdoor space inviting and workable. A window this large helps strengthen that connection.

Finally, the Fulton Design Center team can help you make the best decisions for window coverings to show off this and every other window in your new home. This allows you to make the most of our sunshine and the natural lighting available to you here in Arizona. For a closer look at this and other models at Cooley Station, visit our website at: http://www.fultonhomes.com/our-communities/cooley-station

 

Fulton Homes: Proud of our Windows

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Mediterranean-at-Ironwood-Crossing-windows-cropped-webAt Fulton Homes, we work hard to keep improving the homes we build for our customers. One example is the decision to use Vinyl Low-E Windows on all of our homes. We began this in October of 2010, as part of our ongoing commitment to build ever-more energy efficient homes.

The Eco-View vinyl window products include the latest technology in providing energy-efficient frame design while not sacrificing style or function. The Eco-view frame uses a sophisticated system of hallways in the frame extrusion. This creates a stronger frame while providing a method to circulate air throughout the frame, making it more energy-efficient. It also helps make it resistant to warping and fatigue. All Eco-view frames are made of 100% virgin PVC (vinyl) material.

Eco-view vinyl windows carry an LC25 light commercial rating. This means that these windows surpass industry standards for residential applications. These windows are part of Fulton Homes’ Energy Star version 3 program. The windows and door systems are also user-friendly and include features that help to guarantee years of reliable service and security.

Eco-view vinyl windows and doors – one more way that Fulton shows its commitment to building homes that are energy-efficient and designed to save you money on your utility bills. For more information, visit the “Fulton Cares” page on our website.