Blog

 

Does your home have a skylight? If so, you probably enjoy the many benefits it provides you with, such as increased natural light, less energy usage, and if it opens, additional fresh air! However, for many people, since skylights are high up and out of sight, they can sometimes also be out of mind. Today we will go over a few ways you can maintain your skylights so that they remain in peak condition.

Clean

At least once annually, make sure you clean your skylights. Using a mild soap and water mixture, be sure to scrub away any grime that could cloud up the glass, or compromise the seal. While up there, move on to step two.

Inspect

Next you should inspect your skylight for any signs of damage. This means you should check out all of the inner workings of your skylight, such as any gears or seals. You should also look carefully at the glass for signs of cracks or chips.

Replace

If your skylight is not opening properly, or if the glass has been damaged, you should call for replacement parts right away. A damaged skylight can allow water to leak into your home, or cause other worrisome problems.

If you need skylight repair in Fort Worth, TX, call Armstrong’s Glass & Mirror today at 817-937-6267!

The temperatures are dropping steadily. If you have noticed a chill near the windows, you may have a draft. This means that not only are you losing heat, but your wasting money; drafty windows makes it hard for you to keep the house warm, and your heating system has to work extra hard. Save on heating with better windows this winter.

Repair and Prevent Drafts to Save on Heating

Sometimes, you can repair the draft. When you find the source, you might be able to fill the spot with caulking. For large gaps, removing any of the old caulking before using the new. Self-adhesive weather strips may help, too. Remove old, cracked strips before applying the adhesive. You can make sure it worked by using a dollar; close it in the window, if you can’t pull it out, your weather strip is working. Other cost-effective solutions include a draft snake. This is just a stuffed tube of fabric that you put down in front of the window sill to block the draft. You can make your own with socks and rice.

Insulated Glass

These are options if you want to avoid professional glass repairs or replacements. However, sometimes new glass is simply the best option.Replacing your old windows with better-insulated upgrades could save you in the long run. You don’t always have to replace the entire window; you may be able to replace the pane, alone, depending upon your needs. Dual pane windows can be a great benefit in cold weather. They are known for helping people save energy in both winter and summer, as they offer better protection from extreme weather.

When it’s time to for better windows, call 817-937-6267. We install insulated windows and more Fort Worth, TX.

While windows provide beautiful natural light and a sunny disposition for your home, they can also let in substantial amounts of cold air in cooler months. However, performing a few simple tasks before the weather turns cold can help you keep your home warmer and less drafty while keeping your energy bills low.

Layered Curtains

One of the easiest, most fashionable ways to keep the cold outside this Winter is to hang multiple layers of curtains. This will provide layers of protection from cold air while offering substantial style and fabric choices to accommodate your home. Remember the more layers, the better when trying to keep out cold.

Weather Seals

There are a plethora of choices available for weather sealing your windows. You can choose from a caulking formula that sets as it dries or a foam weather strip that sticks when applied. There are also weatherstripping options that seal any drafty areas for good. Each of these options can be applied by a professional or can be found at your local hardware store for a do-it-yourself project.

Reinforced Layering

Whether you opt for inexpensive plastic sheeting that insulates your windows, or you choose more costly storm window installation, layering the protection on your windows can drastically reduce the cold air that enters your home. Both selections can also help protect your glass from cracks and other damages.

The cold Winter air doesn’t have to mean a spike in your energy bills. Reinforcing your windows with a little extra protection can help you keep your home comfortable this season without breaking your bank. Call Armstrong’s Glass and Mirror at 817-937-6267 for more information.

Do you have glass shower doors in your bathroom? Beautiful glass doors or walls are a great way to give your bathroom a larger and more modern appeal, but many homeowners in DFW are consistently frustrated by their glass shower doors becoming foggy and clouded over time. This is caused by one of two things, soap scum or hard water. Soap scum is usually fairly easy to remove, but hard water buildup can really put up a fight.

Today we will discuss a few ways you can prevent hard water stains, as well as remove existing ones. However, it is important to act quickly. If you leave your shower doors with hard water build up for too long, such as several years, you may not be able to remove it at all. If that’s the case for your shower doors, give our team a call at 817-937-6267 for new and improved glass doors that are sure to impress!

Prevention

If you’d like to prevent buildup on your clean shower doors, you have a few different option. Simply wiping down the walls and doors with a squeegee or towel after using the shower will prevent the water from depositing any residue. some clients additionally keep a solution of one part water and one part vinegar next to the shower, and clean the doors with it after every use.

Removal

If your shower already has residue on it, here are 3 cleaning methods to try out:

White Vinegar: Spray whole or part vinegar onto the glass. make sure the door stays wet with your vinegar or vinegar solution for five minutes, and then scrub the glass in a circular motion. the residue should then come off with a bit of scrubbing.

BarKeeper’s Friend: You can buy this product as a liquid or a powder, but either way, you will want to coat your glass with it. Scrub thoroughly and rinse.

Baking Soda: Baking soda is another great way to clean your bathroom, and it has been known to tackle tough hard water deposits. Mix it with water to form a paste, and then apply it over the glass. Allow to sit for a few minutes and then scrub. Rinse and enjoy the results!

The windows in our home’s are very essential. Not only do they keep us safe, they also provide protection from inclement weather and other outside elements. Because of this, our window’s should always be in good condition. However, there are times when a window replacement is necessary. But when should you replace your windows? Below are a few signs you should keep in mind when you aren’t sure you should replace your windows.

The Window Frames Are Damaged

A good indicator that you should replace your windows is that the frames are cracked. Because the frames play an important role in how your windows stay put, it’s probably best to talk to someone about window replacements.

The Window Itself is Damaged

While homeowners can have windows repaired, there are some instances where a window replacement might be the best or only option. If your window is broken, has warped glass, or possesses other damages, consider a window replacement.

Your Energy Bills Are High

Whether it’s cold or hot outside, your windows can’t seem to keep any of the indoor heat or cooling in, resulting in more expensive energy costs. With newer windows, it is possible to reduce the cost of heating and cooling bills.

You Want to Boost the Value of Your Home

While whole home renovations can be pretty costly, there are some things you can do to enhance your home’s value. Replacing your windows with newer ones can really increase the value and curb appeal of your home.

If you need replacement windows in Fort Worth, TX, call Armstrong’s Glass & Mirror today at 817-937-6267.

At Armstrong’s Glass & Mirror, we install customized glass table tops, to best fit the needs of Fort Worth homeowners. We will send a specialist to your house, to determine the best glass table option for you and your home. We offer a wide variety of glass types to best suit the needs of individual customers. Here are some of the advantages of glass table tops:

Aesthetics

Let’s be honest, glass table tops look really good. Not only do they allow homeowners to accentuate dining room features like rugs, and tableware, but they create an illusion of space. When you walk into a dining room with a glass table top, you feel a sense of ease and well being. The aesthetic qualities of glass table tops should not be understated, and are something you have to experience to fully comprehend.

Maintenance

Glass table tops are extremely easy to clean. Instead of table cloth stains, or wooden water stains, glass table tops can be wiped down to look as good as new. Water rings don’t stick, and food stains, slide off easily, making glass more than just about style. The ease of maintenance in comparison to traditional table tops, is something homeowners can really enjoy.

Refurbishing

Do you have an older table that is very durable, but not very attractive? Glass table tops can extend the life of your table, by adding to its appearance, while taking advantage of its construction. Protect the environment and save money with a glass table top refurbishment.

UV Ray Protection

Have you considered the effect of UV rays on outdoor furniture? Wooden furniture that sits outside can be severely damaged by UV rays, cutting down the lifespan, and causing visually unpleasant deterioration. Call 817-937-6267 for glass table top installation in Fort Worth, TX.

Improve your well-being with natural light

Purchasing new windows to add natural light and and sun into the home and workplace is beneficial in numerous ways, for inhabitants and consumers as well as building structures themselves. Positive results include boosted vitamin absorption and other health related benefits, less energy related emissions which age the building structure and mood improvement.

Transform your home

Allowing more natural light into your home is an essential to your lifestyle, regardless of the kind of life you lead. Sunlight boosts the amount of vitamins you absorb and also affects the mood of those around you and your own mood in a positive way. However, many houses and office spaces built in the DFW area and other warm, sunny places as such are built almost completely excluding extra light-emitting windows, closing you and your co-workers or your family into artificially lighted areas.

Install energy efficient windows

Skylight and sun tunnels are just one great way to bring in more light to your space. They let in the natural daylight and can be installed using energy efficient glass, keeping in the warmth when it’s cold outside and keeping out blistering heat when it’s summer.

Many homes in our southern, warm area may need window upgrades. Technology has improved energy-efficiency options for storm windows and other energy saving windows, meaning it may be time to replace your own. As a homeowner you can find affordable options to replace or make new space for bigger and better windows to add more natural light.

If you’re simply looking to brighten the place up, look no further than Armstrong Glass & Mirror for available options today. Call 817-937-6267 or a location near you for more information.

Your windows provide a portal to the outside world. In addition to light and fresh air, many windows — especially older ones — leak the cool or warm air from your HVAC out into the world. This causes your air conditioner or furnace to work harder, which wastes energy. To solve this problem, you’ll want to install energy efficient windows.

At Armstrong’s Glass and Mirror, we serve as the local experts for energy efficient windows in Fort Worth, TX. In addition to the windows themselves, we offer Low-E coating, a microscopically thin layer that gets added to your windows. The installation of energy efficient windows or Low-E coating benefits homeowners in the following ways.

Save Money

Energy efficient windows, doors, and skylights will lower your energy bill. How? Through the prevention of energy loss around loose seams and untreated glass. With energy efficient windows, the heat or cool air your HVAC produces will stay within the house. This means that you can run your air conditioner less, which results in fewer greenhouse gas emissions.

Get Comfortable

Energy efficient windows, especially those with Low-E coating, make your home a comprehensively comfortable space. These windows help regulate the temperature within your home, so you have fewer cold drafts or overheated spaces. Even seats near windows will remain just as warm or cool as the rest of the house.

Valuable Protection

As part of their function, windows with Low-E coating reflect UV rays and prevent their entry into your home. UV rays can damage valuable carpets, floors, furniture, or decor. If you have heirloom paintings or photographs, you will definitely want the protection of Low-E window coating.

Contact Us Today

To install energy efficient windows in Fort Worth, TX, trust the experts at Armstrong’s Glass and Mirror. We honor all our customers with prompt and professional service. Call us anytime at 817-937-6267.

 

 

At some time in your life, a situation will happen where you have to deal with broken glass. Whether it is the ever popular baseball through the window or an accidentally dropped piece of dinnerware, the important thing is to know how to deal with these situations. Mishandling broken glass can lead to injury. It is no joke to say a cut from broken glass can require medical attention! Be sure to handle broken glass with care and follow these simple steps to make sure you and your loved ones remain unharmed.

How To Properly Handle Broken Glass Situations

#1 Protect Yourself & Your Loved Ones

When glass breaks, many people’s first instinct is to crowd the area and clean the mess. In fact, you should do the exact opposite. Try and clear the area of friends, family, and pets to avoid injury to any of them. Thank them for their desire to help and direct them to another room. You are actually doing them a favor and saving them from injuring themselves. As for yourself, protect your hands with rubber gloves is available. This will prevent the glass from piercing your hands as easily during clean-up.

#2 Assess The Situation

Take a look at the broken item. No matter the object, you need to assess the damage. Certain items, like drinking glasses, may be completely obliterated. Other items, such as window panes, may still be salvageable. How bad is the damage? Can you patch it temporarily until a repair can be completed? Do you need to replace it immediately? These are all questions you need to ask yourself prior to cleaning to get the full picture.

#3 Use The Right Tools

Firstly, do not use your vacuum. Not only can you injure yourself if the vacuum flings little shards of glass, but you can completely break down your vacuum. Your best tools are your hands, a broom, and duct tape. Pick up the larger pieces with your rubber gloved hands. The rubber will protect you from damage. Once the bigger pieces are gone, go ahead and sweep the area to gather all of the little pieces. Be sure to sweep the entire area as little glass fragments can scatter over a wide range when the glass is smashed. If you do not have a broom, you can also use duct tape, lightly pressing it on the area with small glass. Lift up lightly and throw away the glass shards.

#4 Do You Need Replacement?

As per your previous assessment, you should have already determined your course of action. If your glass has been broken beyond repair, you will need a replacement. Contact your closest glass repair or replacement source for services as soon as possible.

These simple steps will keep you and your loved ones safe from damage, disposing of glass carefully and without hazard. Armstrong’s Glass & Mirror offers glass repair options for you in Fort Worth, TX and the surrounding area. Let’s get started today! Dial 817-937-6267 for Armstrong’s Glass & Mirror in Fort Worth, TX!

Take a look at your current shower door – how does it look? Are there any noticeable cracks, leaks or missing handles? Does it work the way it’s supposed to, or do you struggle with opening and closing it each use?

If your shower door is not up-to-par, consider getting a repair or replacement from Armstrong’s Glass & Mirror – before it becomes a bigger problem. Your shower is one of the most important parts in your bathroom and home, so it’s a good idea to call a professional right away at the first signs of problems.

Here are a few things you should look for if you think you need a shower door replacement or repair:

• The framing is corroded or has rust
• The door does not close or open all the way (or needs excessive force)
• The door does not fit properly (which was hopefully taken care of right after installation)
• The glass is discolored or cracked
• You are finding yourself mopping water off the floor after use (a sign of a leak)

Because the bathroom is a high-moisture area, there is not much you can do to prevent build-up on your shower and shower door besides regular cleaning. If the door is older, you may want to look into a replacement as mold and mildew is more likely to gather overtime.

Armstrong’s Glass & Mirror should be the first name that you think of. Give us a call today 817-937-6267 for your shower door help, we’re here for you through the entire process, from start to finish!