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The coat of paint on the exterior of your home is very important. A fresh coat of paint will raise the curb appeal and the value of your home, as well as protect your house from damaging elements. The three main causes of wood failure on the exterior of your home are water, sunlight, and mold damage.

Yearly Inspection

The most important thing you can do to protect the outside of your home is to conduct a yearly inspection of the perimeter of your building. As with illnesses involved with your body, early detection is the key to prevent major dilemmas in the future.

So what exactly should you be looking for during your inspection of the exterior of your home? You want to look for any imperfections, blemishes, or other flaws that may show on the top layer of paint. Check all the painted surfaces on the outside of your house such as cracking, chipping or blistering.

Common areas where these problems occur first are places where there are high levels of direct sunlight, water collection, or other highly exposed areas of your home. Some of these areas include corners, window sills, door sills, edges, rooflines, etc.

Common Symptoms of Aging or Failing Paint

Fading Paint

Probably the most common problem occurring with aging paint is fading. Constant direct sunlight changes the chemical composition of the paint, leading to a lack of sufficient protection of your home. Highly faded paint can lead to other problems such as cracking or warping of wood. Applying a fresh coat of paint is the only way to fix this problem. Fading or poor color retention can also be a result of chalking of the coating.

Blistering Paint

Blistering paint is one of the many symptoms caused by water penetration or extremely high humidity levels. Blistering paint appears as just that: small to medium bubbles or blisters under the paint film, usually occurring on wood materials.

Blistering paint may also be caused by the paint being applied to a hot surface. If a coat of paint is applied to a surface when it is too warm, such as heated by direct sunlight, the vapors from the paint may become trapped under the paint film as the paint dries too quickly for it to escape. Similarly, if paint is applied to damp or wet wood, the moisture may become trapped in the same manner. Dew, rain, high humidity, and low quality paint or insufficient preparatory work will also contribute to paint blistering.

]]> http://www.empirek.com/a-few-common-exterior-paint-problems.cfm/feed 0 http://www.empirek.com/the-many-uses-of-canopies.cfm http://www.empirek.com/the-many-uses-of-canopies.cfm#comments Sat, 09 Jan 2010 10:02:44 +0000 admin http://www.alipah.co.cc/the-many-uses-of-canopies.html

A canopy is like a roof to cover the exterior part of your home. Exterior windows and doors face direct sunlight and rain, which can provide harm to them. To protect your windows and doors from these weather conditions, a canopy is the best available option for you. These canopies are very cost effective and come in different shapes and sizes. They can be made of composite material, aluminum and sometimes a flexible material to fold according to the weather.

Adjustable canopies are available in the market in a huge range. These canopies give the option of shade in summer, and can be folded up in the winter. They are suitable for shops and offices where you don’t have enough space for fixed canopies. Adjustable canopies come with an option of automatic or manual. In automatic canopies you just have to press a button, and it will fold automatically. In manual canopies, there is a rod which is responsible for its movements. Automatic canopies are preferred by many people as they don’t have enough time to adjust them manually.

Canopies are also responsible for reducing your electricity bill in summer, as they cover your windows and stop the heat from entering into your house to some extent. This process will help reduce the energy consumption of air conditioners.

These canopies can also save the wood frames of your windows from rain and snow. The glare of sunlight on your computer screen and television set can also be reduced with the use of canopies.

You can choose from several materials when purchasing canopies. Aluminum canopies have the benefit of great strength and low maintenance, but these are not available in many shapes and colors. Fiber canopies are available in a variety of shapes and sizes, however they require maintenance.

This all depends on you and which canopy will suit you best. Many people prefer the large canopy for extra protection of their patio furniture and other things. Some people use canopies only for the purpose of decoration. To match the exterior of your house, these are available in many different colors and designs.

There is also another type of canopy, which is the mobile canopy. These are especially made for use with caravans and trailers, and for those people who don’t have permanent homes. They are portable and are easy to assemble. These canopies have braces, arm rollers, and fabric shades to make them easy to use. They can also be used for vehicles specially made for commercial use. Mobile canopies have track extenders for small adjustments, as the measurement of every vehicle or trailer is not exactly the same.

Features like cost effectiveness and flexibility make these canopies very useful to give protection to the exterior of your house. You don’t have to spend a high amount of money to get the best canopy for your needs.

]]> http://www.empirek.com/the-many-uses-of-canopies.cfm/feed 0 http://www.empirek.com/energy-efficient-window-and-door-tax-credit-for-2009%e2%80%94up-to-1500-back.cfm http://www.empirek.com/energy-efficient-window-and-door-tax-credit-for-2009%e2%80%94up-to-1500-back.cfm#comments Fri, 25 Dec 2009 20:23:46 +0000 admin http://www.alipah.co.cc/energy-efficient-window-and-door-tax-credit-for-2009%e2%80%94up-to-1500-back.html

If you’re planning a window or door replacement project, then now’s the time. That’s because you can receive a tax credit for 30% of the cost of qualified energy-efficient windows and doors, up to $1,500. This is a huge opportunity for you.

The tax credit was originally a measly $200 for windows and up to $500 for doors. Now Congress and the President have passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, aka “The Stimulus.” Inside is a provision that triples the old tax credit.

This isn’t just a handout. To qualify for the new Tax Credit, you have to be a smart shopper and buy the most energy-efficient windows. Energy Star certification, the old standard, doesn’t cut it anymore. The new standard will help our country become energy independent. Plus, better windows save you money on energy bills and keep you comfortable all year round.

What Are The Requirements For The Tax Credit?

Only windows and doors with a U-Factor of .30 or less qualify. U-Factor is a measure of the window’s overall energy-efficiency. Many windows have U-Factors of .31 or .32. Those don’t qualify.

Windows and doors also need a Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) of .30 or less. A low SHGC blocks the blistering heat that comes through windows in the summer, reducing the load on your air conditioning. Once again, .31 or .32 aren’t good enough. It has to be exactly .30 or less.

U-Factor and SHGC are independently tested and verified for windows by the National Fenestration Rating Council. Any reputable window will have a NFRC sticker.

How To Tell Which Windows And Doors Qualify

To get your $1,500 tax credit, you need to shop smart. Many windows and doors out there don’t meet the new requirements—even some high-end brands you’ve heard of. A lot of companies haven’t processed or don’t even know about the new tax credit. There’s a lot of confusion about this right now—you don’t want to be left empty-handed.

Here’s what you need to do: Make sure that any replacement window or door you buy has a U-Factor and SHGC of .30 or less. If the window company won’t show you the NFRC sticker certifying the ratings, walk away. If you’re unsure or suspicious, visit the NFRC at www.nfrc.org. You can verify ratings in the product directory or contact them directly.

How To Claim Your 2009 Energy Tax Credit For Windows And Doors

1. Purchase and install any replacement window, patio door, or entry door with a U-Factor and SHGC of .30 or below between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2010.

2. Save your receipt and each window and door performance label (NFRC label) with your tax documents.

3. Claim your tax credit on your Federal filing for the 2009 or 2010 tax year.

Terms and Limitations

• The tax credit is for the cost of the product only and does not include installation costs. Be sure to ask for a sales receipt that shows the cost of the product only.

• The tax credit is 30% of the amount paid up to a $1,500 maximum.

• If a combination of windows and doors are purchased, the total maximum credit is $1,500.

• This is a new tax credit for 2009/2010

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