Blog Archives - Page 23 of 27 - Aluplex Glass and Skylights

6 Common Roof Issues to Watch For

July 2, 2019 By adminAPX

At one point or another, homeowners will encounter an issue with their roof. Just as with every other part of the home, your roof will wear down over time, especially if you’ve have nasty storms roll through.

The roof is not something you want to mess around with or taking your time addressing. A simple leak can quickly turn into a disaster if left alone. Roof problems don’t go away; they get worse.

Keep tabs on the look of the roof and anything happening inside. If you notice one of the following six common roof issues, it may be time to hire a professional.

Leaks

Most likely, the most common issue you’ll come across as a homeowner is a leak in the roof. A leak can stem from many different sources, including a broken shingle, broken weatherstripping, and broken seal around skylights. It doesn’t take long for a simple leak to turn into something bigger, or to cause serious damage to the inside of your home.

Broken Shingles

The shingles on your roof have a lifespan. For basic asphalt shingles, you can get away with having shingles last between 15 and 18 years; other types can last up to 30 years. After that, it’s time to inspect them to see what needs replacing.

Broken shingles can come from several issues, including:

Heavy sun exposure
Large temperature variations
Harsh storms
Trees and other debris
Poor installation
Material quality

Clogged Gutters

Gutters serve a significant purpose in protecting the foundation of your home. After a heavy rainstorm, if there are no gutters, the water would simply pour off your roof and fall anywhere it wanted. The gutters collect the water and guide it to an area away from the foundation of your home.

If the gutters are clogged, it prevents the water from flowing down and away from your house. The water can pool on the roof, which can lead to serious damage.

Tree Damage

Something you don’t want happening to your roof – a falling tree. As much as we love having trees in our yards for various reasons, if the branches come into contact with the roof, and can cause damage to the shingles and wear down the surface of the roof. Keeping your trees trimmed will help prevent any contact between the roof and the trees.

Ice Buildup

Not very often will you hear someone say that ice is a good thing, unless it’s in a cube for your drink. Otherwise, ice in other places like the ground and on the roof will only lead to trouble.

Ice buildup can damage the shingles on the roof. Not only that, once it melts, it turns into water that can seep underneath the shingles and damage not just the shingles, but the structure underneath it.

Poor Installation

Poorly installed roofs are never a good idea. Same with using low-quality materials. For the roof of your house, it’s a project you want to invest in and spend the money on the best materials. Otherwise, you’re left with a roof that won’t do its job (protect the house below), and will only have you spending more money to fix it down the road.

If you come across a roof issue, for your own safety, it’s best to call a professional to do the job for you. Fixing a roof can be dangerous, but it is a necessary task to do. Pay attention to the common issues listed above and fix them as quickly as possible.

Skylight, Roof Light, Roof Window – What’s the Difference?

November 26, 2018 By adminAPX

If you Googled the term skylight, you’ll like come across roof light and roof window as well. Are they all the same thing? Not necessarily. Although similar, there are some differences worth noting between the terms.

Let’s take a look at what a skylight, roof light and roof window are and how they differ from each other. Once you know what they mean, you can then decide which is best suited for your home.

Skylight and Roof Light

First, let’s start with the skylight. A skylight is a window that is installed into the roof of your home. It can be any shape and size, as long as it set into the ceiling (or roof) at the same angle.

The purpose behind the skylight is to allow more natural light into the home. Skylights work best in small rooms, bathrooms, closets, or any other room that requires more light. They also add a unique element to the design of the room by adding a feature to the ceiling.

A roof light, on the other hand, is almost the same thing as a skylight. A roof light is an opening in the roof of your home that is covered by a translucent or transparent material. It serves the same purpose as a skylight – to allow more natural light into the area.

Is there a difference between the two? Not overly, besides the name of them. They both are meant for the same thing and can be made out of the same materials. Basically, you can use skylight and roof light interchangeably and still be talking about the same thing.

Roof Window

What you shouldn’t do, though, is say that a skylight and roof light is the same as a roof window. A roof window has special standards that they must adhere to, like being installed in the same orientation with the surrounding roof. They also need to be weatherproofed through a skirt or flashing.

Unlike skylights and roof lights that can come in different shapes and sizes, roof windows come in standardized shapes and sizes. They also tend to be smaller than skylights and roof lights.

For a roof window to be sold, it must have undergone tests to see how the window withstands to the outdoor elements. It should say how it holds up under heavy rainfall, increased air pressure, and if it can stop against leaks and a draft coming into the home.

Which is Better?

Now that we know that skylights and roof lights are relatively the same, but it is roof windows that differ, which one is better? That answer comes down to what you want the window for and what your house is like.

For pitched roof houses, a roof window works best. If you have a flat roof though, a skylight or window light may be the better option.

Let us help you decide which is the better option for your home, and to ensure you get the best product for you and your family.

6 Simple Ways to Bring in More Natural Light

November 26, 2018 By adminAPX

How much natural light do you have in your home? If your answer is not a lot, you may want to change that.

There are tons of benefits to having natural light instead of artificial. For one, natural light is an excellent source of Vitamin D which will help boost your moods. Natural light will help to keep you more alert and feeling positive. On top of that, you’ll save money on your power bill. Instead of turning on every light, utilize natural light and save a few bucks each month.

How do you let in as much natural light as possible? There are a few easy ways to do so that you can do yourself.

Keep the Blinds Open

Although it’s nice to have the blinds closed for privacy, you’ll block out all the natural light by doing so. Depending on the room, try to keep the blinds open as much as possible. The natural light will brighten up the space, as well as keep the room warm during the cold months.

If you need blinds for privacy, avoid going with heavy fabrics. Go for linen or cotton to keep them light. That way, some natural light can still peak through and not be completely blocked out.

Use Mirrors

If you have a small room and not many windows, an easy trick to get more natural light it to hang mirrors around. Install a mirror opposite a window. One the light shines in, it will reflect off the mirror and disperse throughout the rest of the room. Basically, the more mirrors you have, the more natural light you’ll be able to reflect around the house.

Rearrange the Room

Your furniture can be a culprit of blocking natural light. Unless it’s translucent and plastic, the light won’t be able to go through the furniture. So, rearrange the room as to not block windows too much or glass doors.

Paint With Light Colours

A light colour on the wall will not only help make the room feel bigger, but it will also reflect the natural light more than a dark coloured wall. Try painting the walls with colours like cream, light blues and greys to give the natural light a boost in the house.

Keep Things Clean

If your windows and doors have lots of dirt and smudges on them, those will block the natural light from shining in. Not only that, but the light will actually make them look more obvious.

Have a cleaning routine in which you wipe down all of the windows and glass doors in the house. Keeping them clean will help to let the light shine in without anything blocking it.

Install a Skylight

Although this is something you’ll want to leave to the professionals, a skylight can make a huge difference for letting in natural light. Skylights work great for smaller rooms, closets, bathrooms, or other places that don’t have much space for windows. Skylights also allow light to shine in from a different angle, which increases the amount of natural light you’ll be able to enjoy.

Let Aluplex help you install a skylight into your home today to take advantage of all the natural light around.

How to Liven Up a Small Room

October 23, 2018 By adminAPX

Do you have a small room in your home and wonder what you can do to liven it up a bit? Small rooms shouldn’t be neglected. In fact, many great design schemes that work perfectly for small rooms, and help make them feel a bit bigger.

When it comes to a small room, you do have to get creative with your design plan. However, that is also the fun part about it. That little room could be your new favourite quiet space, or maybe an epic theatre room.

If you walk into your small room and feel bored and confined, it’s time to liven it up. Try out some of the following tips to help make that room the favourite spot in the whole house.

Install a Skylight

Small rooms need something to help make them feel bigger. Windows are one of the best ways to achieve this. However, not every room is fit for a window. That is when a skylight comes in handy.

There are many different types of skylights that you can install into the roof of the room. They help bring in natural light, which is essential for brightening up a small room. Plus, by having a skylight in the ceiling, it gives the illusion that the roof is higher than what it actually is.

Utilize Colours

Typically, many people think you should only have white walls in a small room to help it feel bigger. However, too much white isn’t’ always appealing to everyone. When properly planned, you can bring in some colours that will go beautifully with a small room.

Some colours, like loud and bright colours, actually can work better in a smaller space. Having a bright purple or fluorescent orange all over a large room can be overwhelming. But if you paint one of the walls in the small room with these colours, you’ll get that much-needed pop of colour without going crazy.

Use Mirrors

Mirrors can also help give the illusion that a room is bigger than what it is. Having a wall of mirrors will visually double the space. They will also reflect the light from the windows, which will help keep the small room nicely lit to make it feel bigger.

Declutter the Room

One of the quickest ways for a room to feel small is by having too much clutter. When you have clothes, and personal belongs laying around everywhere, it starts to take up a lot of space. So, keeping the room tidy and putting everything away will keep the small room more open.

Creatively Rearrange the Room

How you lay out the room can also make a small space feel bigger. Keeping things tucked into the corners of the room or against the wall will open up more floor space in the centre. If it’s a small bedroom, lose one side of the bed and keep it pushed against the wall.

When planning out everything, thinking vertically will give you more options rather than spreading everything out. Basically, the more open space you can keep in the centre of the room, the more it will make the small room feel bigger.

How To Know What Size Skylight Will Work For Your Home

September 17, 2018 By adminAPX

After making the decision to install a skylight, one of the important considerations to make is just what size skylight will work for your home. Read on to learn about sizing mistakes and how to plan for the perfect skylight.

Too Small

Cutting a hole in your roof can be overwhelming, which is why a lot of homeowners opt for a smaller size skylight. Small seems manageable, and less intrusive. But before choosing a too small size skylight, be sure to remember the reason for installing a skylight in the first place.

Skylights let in sunlight. This adds a welcoming, natural source of light that can act as a substitute for lamps. Not only is natural light more pleasing to the eye, it is also a lot less expensive than using electricity.

Skylights can also act to warm the house in the winter. This cuts down on heating costs and again, provides a comforting atmosphere to the home.

If you have a too small size skylight, then you won’t be able to benefit from either natural light or natural heat. Instead, you will have a hole in your roof that you may end up regretting.

Too big

Opposite to a too small skylight is a too big size skylight. The phrase ‘go big or go home’ doesn’t necessarily apply when looking to install a skylight.

With regards to light, too much is not always a good thing. If your skylight is in the bedroom, think about if you like waking up in with the sunrise or not. This is especially important to consider during the summer months, when it can become light out by 5 am. A too big size skylight will let more light in, which may disrupt your sleeping patterns.

As for heat, a skylight that is too big may allow too much heat in the summer, and could even let too much heat out in the winter. If one of your reasons for installing a skylight is temperature control, then be sure to pay attention to the size of it.

Just right

Before any installation happens, be sure to talk to a skylight expert. It’s ok, and even encouraged, to come into a meeting with your own thoughts and plans. This is your house, and you know your needs better than anyone else. But an expert can guide you through a sizing chart. They can talk to you about lighting and temperature.

Most importantly, a skylight expert can talk about the mechanics around the installation. Not every roof can be cut through. And not every roof can hold the weight attached to a skylight. An expert will talk to you, look at your plans, and come to your house before any demolition happens. Often you will need to go through a few draft ideas until everyone is comfortable with the end result. Your home is precious to you, and it pays to take a bit of extra time to ensure that everything is done right.

Dome vs. Flat Skylights

September 17, 2018 By adminAPX

So, you’ve decided to install a skylight in your home or business. This is great! You are ready to enjoy all of the benefits that come with a skylight- natural light, boosted moods, and lower energy costs. Now that you have decided to install a skylight, you’re ready to move on to the next step in the process, picking a style.

There are so many styles to choose from. Flat, domed, pyramid, single panel, and so on, are all possible options for your home or business. Two popular choices among consumers are flat and dome skylights. We went ahead and broke down the highlights for both types!

Dome

Dome skylights are an eye-catching way to incorporate natural light in a room. These curved skylights were a huge trend back in the day, and are still fairly popular today.

More Light

The main reason people invest in skylights is to add more natural light to their home or business. Dome skylights typically add more light to a room compared to flat skylights. The curvature in the dome’s design allows it to bend the light from the sun and add just a little extra light to the room.

Weather-Durable

One thing that can put a damper on your mood is to watch your skylight fill up with rain or snow. Dome skylights don’t have this issue. The curve of the design allows for rain and snow to easily slide off of your skylight. This ensures that, no matter the weather outside, you can enjoy clarity through your skylight.

Extra Options for Efficiency

One of the great things about dome skylights is the option to make them even more energy efficient. Typically, dome skylights are made from acrylic. Acrylic is long-lasting and durable, but also more lightweight than glass.

If you choose an acrylic skylight, you have the option to have it ‘double’ or ‘triple’ layered. The layers refer to how many layers of acrylic you want on your dome skylight. A double layer is typical, but a third layer adds extra insulation, making it more energy efficient.

Flat

While dome skylights were a big hit about twenty years ago, flat skylights have become increasingly popular in recent times. The design of a flat skylight allows it to easily align with your roof, giving it a seamless flow. Flat skylights add more of a modern feel to a home or business, all while offering practically the same benefits of a dome skylight.

Choices of Material

One of the biggest advantages of a flat skylight is having the option between glass or acrylic as your material. While acrylic is extremely durable, and has the option for additional layering, glass is extremely energy efficient. Unlike acrylic, glass units can be completely sealed, and are therefore more effective at keeping the heat in during the winter, and keeping the heat out during the summer.

It is important to speak with a professional before deciding on the type of skylight you would like. There are many other factors that play into your skylight options, like the type of roof you have. The pros at Aluplex can help guide you through your questions and lead you to the perfect skylight!