Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Purchasing new siding for your home is a decision with major significance, both aesthetically and functionally. Unlike a fresh paint job or decorating scheme, new siding is something youll likely commit to for many years.

By making the right decisions regarding color and material, your siding will be a source of pride whenever you pull into your driveway. Keep reading for a rundown of what to consider when purchasing new siding for your home.

Check it out!

Our Companies Are Backed by the Best Pick Guarantee. Call One Today!

Siding replacement has a great return on investmentyoull recoup approximately 93 percent of the money you spend on the projectso its almost never a bad decision. But since siding work does involve a significant financial investment, its worth waiting until replacement is truly necessary.

Here are a few tips to help you determine whether your existing siding needs to be replaced:

Using a screwdriver, poke beneath the warped siding and note how firm the layer under the siding feels. If this layer feels rotted in any way, its probably time to replace your siding.

Peeling paint or sagging wallpaper indoors may indicate that your aging siding is allowing moisture to seep beneath it and into your wallboard. The moisture can damage your homes interior walls, so its something you should get checked out as soon as possible.

Another sign that your siding allows too much moisture into your homes walls is the presence of mold or mildew on the exterior of your siding. While its not always a sign of failing siding, mold or mildew often signifies additional issues. Call in a pro for further investigation.

Dry rot, one of the more common problems with wood siding, is not always visible to the naked eye. To detect it, tap various areas of the siding with the bottom of a screwdriver or hammer to expose an area that has succumbed to dry rot, as only the topmost layer of siding will be intact. Pay special attention to areas around windows, doors, and protrusions, such as chimneys and porches.

If you find any areas of dry rot, you may be able to get away with just replacing the damaged sections, especially if the rest of the siding is in good shape. Depending on your homes age, the condition of the rest of the siding, and the extent of the dry rot, however, your contractor may recommend a full replacement.

Since dry rot may compromise the structural integrity of your home, this is an area where youll want to defer to the experts.

The color of your siding has no impact on how well the material protects your home from the elements, but there are some things you should think about before you commit to one shade over another.

What colors predominate in your neighborhood? While that canary yellow might have looked sharp in a magazine, you may not want your home to stick out too much in the context of your neighborhoods palette.

Remember too that your neighborhood or homeowners association may have rules on the books regarding color options. Dont risk a fine or a lawsuit: do your due diligence before deciding on a bright or unexpected paint color.

If you live in a hot climate, you may want to consider siding in a lighter shade that wont absorb as much heat as a darker shade. Lighter colors do a better job of reflecting the suns rays, which helps you save energy and money as you keep your home cool in the summer.

Notice the colors of your doors and window frames, and try to imagine your new siding juxtaposed with those. Better yet, ask your contractor for samples of the siding products youre considering in the colors you like. Take a few days to look at the samples in different lights. Do the colors complement each other?

If youre planning on changing the trim color or making other exterior home updates in the future, consider how your homes new color and design scheme will harmonize with your siding.

Think carefully about how the material you select is related to its color. Wood siding, for example, will need to be repainted in the future, so youll have the opportunity to change its color. Aging vinyl siding, on the other hand, is much harder to paintand modern vinyl siding products should not be painted at all.

Naturally, material is one of the biggest decisions youll have to make when you replace house siding. There are many options to choose from, and the best choice will depend not only on the benefits youd like to get from the siding but also on how much maintenance youre willing to take on.

Here are some questions to ask yourself as you decide:

If all the homes on your block have the same kind of siding, choosing a different type ofsiding for your home might have a negative effect on the market value of your house.

Ask your contractor what type of siding would be best suited to your climate, taking into account not only heat and humidity but also the probability of termites. You may also want to consider insulated siding if energy efficiency is a top concern.

Most siding products made from synthetic materials (or combinations of natural fibers and synthetic bonding agents) are low maintenance. As long as you keep shrubs and vining plants from growing too close to your house and neighborhood kids dont start up a baseball game in your yard, the most youll need to do is give the siding an annual rinse with your garden hose, removing any stains with a gentle scrub.

Wood siding will require the most maintenance, and youll need to budget for a new paint job approximately every five years. If you opt for factory-painted fiber cement siding, expect to need a new paint job every fifteen years or so; factory-primed fiber cement will likely need repainting after approximately ten years, but this varies on climate as well as the quality of the exterior paint.

If youre in the final steps of deciding to replace the siding on your house, youre probably well aware of your budget. Siding isnt cheap, but its an aspect of your home where you truly do get what you pay for.

High-quality siding that is professionally installed adds significant value to your home. Heres what to keep in mind as you make your decisions:

Most importantly, work with a licensed, reputable siding contractor to make sure that you get the best product and installation for your investment. All Best Pick siding companies are fully vetted and covered by state-required licenses and insurance policies for your protection. When you work with a Best Pick, youll be pleased with the entire experiencewe guarantee it.

Read the original post:
What to Do Before Replacing Siding | Best Pick Reports

I want to thank you for getting things organized as quickly as you did for us and for the follow up calls and site visits that allowed us to get this work done and meet our schedule dates for the road work. As well, your product knowledge and ability to provide the technical support when dealing with the consultants was a major help in getting the system approved and installed correctly.

Bob T, Project Manager, MGP Construction Ltd.

Not only was there a substantial cost savings realized by the client, there was also a benefit to the road structure as well. The original design road structure number was 3.780 and a calculated traffic (ESALs) of 2,147,000. The revised road structure number using the TX5 is 4.260 and a calculated traffic (ESALs) of 4,593,000.

Jim B, C.E.T., Senior Project Manager, WSP Canada Inc.

Nilex was an invaluable asset in the successful completion of the Troutbrooke Drive Slope Stabilization project in Toronto, by providing engineering assistance, installation training and continuous on and off site technical support.

Terraprobe Engineering

The CULTEC system was simple to install. We will be recommending, and looking forward to using the Cultec system for future projects.

Kang Construction

We love you guys for getting this project [Energy Environmental Experiential Learning (EEEL) Building Grounds] completed in the timelines required.

S. Chan, EllisDon

Go here to see the original:
Frac Water Ponds | Nilex | Geotextile Materials, Erosion ...

What affects retaining wall design? Consider the possibilities.

Video: Planning your retaining wall

Having a detailed site plan that is drawn to scale will help foresee design and construction challenges and provide an accurate reference for estimating your project. This will become your working or approved plans for the project.

Your city hall will have a copy of your lot survey on file. The survey will not only identify property lines, but will provide an accurate scaled template of your site to help with planning.

Buried utility lines are not only dangerous, they may prevent you from locating your landscape project where you want. Call the local utility companies and have these lines marked.

Building permits may be required if the retaining wall is above a certain height. Check to see what your local city code requires. An approved engineered wall design or an Allan Block pre-engineered solution may be needed in order to get a building permit. Contact your local AB Dealer for more details.

It's always nice (and smart too) to let your neighbors know about your project before you begin.

Clay soils put more pressure on a wall than sandy soils because they hold moisture. Identify the soils at your site.

To identify the soils, a good test is to pick up a small handful of the soil in the palm of your hand and squeeze it to form a ball. Take a sample from at least 12 in.(300 mm) below the surface.

Clay Soils

Clay soil will stick together to form a ball. Clay soils retain moisture which will add pressure behind the walls. Typically most soils will be classified as clay and can be used in your project. However, they may require additional reinforcement.

Sandy Soils

Sandy soil, will not stick together because they are granular with no silty fine particles. These soils allow for good drainage and are ideal for building walls.

Organic Soils

Organic soils will stick together but will not hold once the pressure is released. They should only be used to finish off the top 8 in. (200 mm) of a wall. NEVER use organic soils to build the wall.

Learn more on working with soils on your project site.

Existing trees and other vegetation can be designed into the wall layout as needed. New plantings can be added to enhance the total landscape. Any plantings directly behind the wall need to be done carefully as not to disturb any reinforcement that may have been added when the wall was built.

You must build on solid ground. If your site has soft, wet soils, or if the area was previously excavated, the foundations soil may need to be replaced with good base materials and firmly compacted.

Determining retaining wall height

A detailed understanding of the site elevations and grade changes are needed to determine wall heights. Starting at the lowest point, mark your grade changes in 1 ft. (0.3 m) increments on the plan. Sketch in the drainage patterns.

Cut Site

Fill Site

If building on a hill or a slope, the placement of your wall will determine how much soil will need to be removed or brought onto the site

A cut site is where you cut into the hillside and remove the soil. You will need to decide ahead of time what will be done with the excess soil.

A fill site is where you will need extra soils to fill in behind the entire wall. You will need to plan ahead to have good backfill materials brought onto the site.

Read more:
Retaining Wall Planning - Allan Block Wall Systems

Skip to a section:

San Diego, California considers trees an integral part of their city, contributing to energy savings and enhancing residential values. Check out what the average prices are tree care in the San Diego area so you as a resident can keep that green value on the up and up down the road.

Tree removal for residents in the San Diego area costs on average $593. This takes into account height, circumference of the trunk, branches, project hours and general labor costs. Depending on the extent of the project, the price can fluctuate lower or higher between $495 and $691.

Removing a stump from the ground can vary depending on whether the stump is medium or larger sized. Tree service professionals in San Diego will likely quote a price between $350 and $400, and it will take them one to two days depending on the process to get the stump out of the ground. They might approach it by uprooting it directly from the ground, or they might grind the stump down into wood chips. Discuss these options with the arborist to see which theyll take, and what works best for your budget.

Tree trimming, pruning and cutting in San Diego will cost San Diego tree owners an average price of $804, depending on the state and number of trees they own when the arborist first comes out to do the job. From there, the price can vary from $698 to $810, depending on the frequency of maintenance jobs and extent of work needed on the trees.

San Diego has over 250,000 trees in its urban area. Who knows how many more trees could be planted in the residential sector, if homeowners are willing? Find information below on what residents of the area need to know about tree planting and selection before going to the nursery and picking the best tree for them.

Tree removal on private property in San Diego does not require a permit. However if the tree is an oak, a permit has to be requested, since this tree is protected under state law. Consult the arborist coming to take down the tree, as they will be knowledgeable of city code.The best time to remove a tree in San Diego is during the late fall or the winter. Its also the best time to consider heavy maintenance like pruning, trimming and cutting.

Southern California Edison, San Diegos utility company, urges residents to plant taller trees far away from overhead power lines. Any trees that reach higher than 25 feet should beat least 20 feet awayfrom power poles or overhead lines.

California chose two redwoods as their state trees in 1937: the coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) and the giant sequoia (Sequoia gigantea). The coast redwood is the tallest tree in the world, reaching almost 300 feet in height. The giant sequoia is the largest in the world with 30-foot trunks. These trees can be seen in certain parts of the city and throughout the state but are not recommended for growing, since they can reach such staggering heights. However, there are smaller versions of the coast redwood that can be found and grown indoors like bonsai plants, if San Diego residents want to grow a piece of state symbology.

Native trees are always best when planting and maintaining trees in residential districts. Some that thrive the best in San Diegos temperate climate include:

Because of its temperate climate, San Diego can also support a wide variety of fruit trees throughout the year-round harvest season. Apples, cherries, figs, apricots, nectarines, and peaches are just part of the selection that San Diegos can support. Any kind of fruit tree that enjoys warm climates will flourish in San Diegos environment.

Red river gum (Eucalyptus camadulensis) trees have a hard time surviving in San Diego recently because of psyllid infections, which is the spreading of small jumping lice from one plant to another. Willow trees (Salix) are usually hard to grow in San Diego because theyre weak-wooded and not native to the area, except for the desert species. San Diego can experience inclement weather, especially during storm seasons that blow off the Pacific, which can cause willow trees to break and possibly be a danger to the home. Sticking with the desert willow is a safer option both for the yard and home landscape as a result.

Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) is a disease caused by a bug that can stunt growth or kill citrus trees, discovered last year in the southern California area. Goldspotted oak borer is another pest thats been killing oak trees in the San Diego mountain area in the last decade. Cankers disease has also been reported in the last year in the San Diego area and should be watched for. Contact an arborist if you worry your trees might be showing signs of disease.

Here are the plant hardiness zones for Southern California as provided by the USDA:

Image Sources:Giant sequoiaBlue palo verde

8016 Raytheon Rd. Ste. BSan Diego, CA 92111Phone: 619-423-0199Service Areas: San Diego, CaliforniaServices Offered: Tree Services, Tree Removal, Tree TrimmingWebsite: http://www.emmatreeservice.com

See the rest here:
San Diego Tree Removal & Stump Removal Services | San ...

How to Identify Termites

Termites and flying ants possess a very similar appearance, enough so that, without closer inspection, you may mistake one for the other. In order to effectively treat your pests, you must properly identify which insect is responsible for your infestation.

Ants

Thorax and constricted abdomen are clearly defined

Front pair of wings is larger than rear pair and only a little larger than the body

Distinct elbow-shaped antennae feature an elongated first segment

Termites

Ribbed abdomen is one continuous, thick piece with no visible waist

Two pairs of vein-filled wings are equal in length and twice the length of the body

Antennae are straight and somewhat short, and they have no eyes

In addition to identifying termites by sight, there are a number of signs that indicate their presence. Termites often build mud tubes, which are thin mud structures as small as -inch diameter that connect the ground to your house, garage or other wooden structure.

Inspect wood structures closely for signs of decay by gently tapping on them. If a solid beam sounds hollow, chances are you have termite trouble. Discarded wings are a physical sign that termites may be in the house, as reproductive termites shed their wings once they find a new place to set up a colony.

While you should leave termite removal to the professionals, knowing the methods they will use can help you in understanding the best ways to treat the problem and help prevent it from recurring.

One popular termite-removal method involves treating the soil around your house with an insecticide, such as imidacloprid or fipronil. Wood can also be treated directly if termites are inside.

Termite baits are strategically placed around your yard to lure termites in. Once there, the termites are covered with a slow-acting insecticide or insect growth regulator. They then return to the colony and poison the other termites.

Taking steps to prevent termites can save you a great deal of money. Moisture is an absolute necessity for termite colonies to survive and thrive, so eliminating damp areas around your house is essential to preventing termites.

For resources on DIY pest control, visit our other insect elimination guides: How to Get Rid of Ants, How to Get Rid of Fleas and How to Get Rid of Gnats.

Read more here:
Termite Control - The Home Depot

When it comes to building new homes, we generally split our services into three categories:

Each has their advantages and disadvantages, and deciding the best route to take depends entirely on your needs, budget, time, and desire to control the details. To get started, lets take a look at what makes a new home truly custom.

A custom home project is one where you work directly with a homebuilder (and possibly your own architect) to design, plan, and select every single detail about the homes construction, layout, and finish. And when we say everything, we mean EVERY-THING. Youre responsible for selecting everything from the number of bedrooms to the color of the doorknobs.

As such, custom homes are perfect for people who enjoy a detail-oriented process and generally are not willing compromise on their vision.

At a high level, heres an example of the types of decisions you can expect to be responsible for if you choose to build a custom home:

Generally, we try to make the home selection process simple by creating what we call allowances, which means we set aside a specific amount of money for a certain item such as flooring. For instance, you might have a flooring allowance of $2,000 for high-end LVT flooring. As long as you dont exceed that allowance when picking your floors, you stay on budget and the overall cost of your home doesnt fluctuate.

Sometimes, a homebuilder might lower their estimates by basing allowances on the price of less expensive, builder-grade selections. Later, if you decide you dont like your choice of flooring, lighting, and plumbing selections, youll be upcharged to get what youactually want. This could inflate your initial estimate by $10,000 or more!

We dont do that.

When we figure allowances, we have our customers actually look at samples in order to make an informed decision before we price the home. This way there are no surprises, and you leave knowing exactly how much your dream home is really going to cost.

Like all things middle-of-the-road, semi-custom homes often offer homebuyers the best of both worlds, perfectly situating them between the ease of purchasing a move-in-ready home and the complexity of designing one from scratch.

Usually, semi-custom home construction happens like this: A homebuilder has a library of designs theyre familiar with and can economically source materials for. From this list, you select a plan that meets your expectations and fits your familys needs. Then, you work with your homebuilder to customize the homes selections, materials, and finishes.

If you have a clear vision for your new home but arent interested in spending the time and money needed to fully customize it, a semi-custom home might be perfect for you.

We eliminate a lot of tedious choices in order to make the customers decision-making easier. For example, on a semi-custom home, we might show a homebuyer six preselected door styles that are most popular with other homebuyers. This cuts down on a lot of the noise that can come about during the custom home process. Whereas, on a custom build, we might go through a 300-page catalog with the homebuyer to select a door.

Phil Reinbrecht on Semi-Custom Homes

If you want a tailored home, fast we can price an entire semi-custom home in as little as an hour. On the other hand, a custom home usually requires several meetings, a trip to a designer or architect, and a few weeks to get the plans finished (plus an additional two weeks to calculate final sale price).

When resources are available, its common practice for homebuilders to build move-in-ready homes on new lots. These homes, which are known in the homebuilding industry as speculative (or spec for short) are built with the average homebuyer in mind.

Spec home designs are accommodating and outfitted with selections that appeal to just about everyone, which is the whole point. If you know you want a new home, but arent interested in the process of customizing one from scratch, then you should look into buying a spec home.

Plus, since spec homes are designed to sell, they make excellent investments in case you need to move in the future.

When deciding the new home route thats best for you, its important to keep an open mind. Explore all your options and choose a project-style that checks all your boxes without breaking your budget.

Lets recap your options:

Building a Custom Home: The homebuyer has near total control of the homes layout, look, and feel. Custom homes tend to take longer to build and are generally more expensive than pre-built homes, but the end result is a true expression of the homeowners style and priorities.Building a Semi-Custom Home: The homebuyer selects an existing plan in their homebuilders wheelhouse and customizes the look and feel of the interior and exterior.Buying a Spec Home: A move-in ready home built by the homebuilder to meet the needs of the average person. Spec homes are cost-effective ways to get a new home at a good price.

Read the original here:

Custom vs. Semi-Custom vs. Spec Homes

Performing your own Termite Inspection might sound like a daunting task, but it is an important part of the termite control process and with our expert help we will show you how to get the job done like a pro. The first step in termite control is to perform a thorough inspection. Its not a difficult process, but there are a few things you need to know before you get started. If you need help identifying termites, click the link to our Termite VS. Ant video in the description below. Youll need a few tools to make your inspection easier. Coveralls will protect your clothing when you are inspecting crawlspaces or foundations. A bright flashlight will help aid you with inspecting dark spaces like basements and attics. A sharp-ended object, like a pocket knife or screwdriver, can help probe wood for damage and expose termite galleries in wood. Now to begin your inspection, you should focus on certain areas that are more likely to have termite damage like basements and crawlspaces. Within these areas, pay special attention to all wooden construction elements, support posts, sub floors, joists, support piers, wooden decks, and porches. Especially window seals, window frames, wood piles, debris near your homes foundation, also tree stumps and wooden fence posts. Areas where concrete meets wood, like on steps, concrete slabs, and porches. And cracks in brick construction, their expansion joints, and also cracks or spaces in cement, where termites might gain access. Now that you know where to inspect for termites, keep your eyes open for these common termite signs. Winged termites, individually or in swarms located near indoor or outdoor windows. Their presence can indicate a nearby nest. Mud tubes, which are tunnels made by subterranean termites to get from the soil to the wood. These may be present on wooden elements, concrete slabs, or walls in your basement or crawlspace. Other signs include piles of wings, damaged wood- especially small homes in the wood, and cracking paint. If you see any of these signs, take the sharp tool and probe these areas. This will expose any tunnels and their termites. Now you know how to complete a thorough termite inspection. The next step will be treating these areas with products the pros use. So make sure to check out our other videos in the termite series for product recommendations and application instructions. And its that easy with the expert help from Do My Own Pest Control.com

When inspecting for a termite infestation there are a few things you will be looking for such as mud tubes, damaged wood and/or live termites.

Potential Problem Areas

Continued here:
Termite Inspection Guide - Do It Yourself Pest Control ...

Patios create a beautiful extension to your living space. They come in all different shapes, sizes, and materials. No matter how large or small a patio you have in mind, Agolli Construction LLC is the company to call. Having been in business since 2018, Agolli Construction LLC has the experience and creative eye to make a stunning, usable outdoor addition to your home. For your Secaucus, New Jersey patio construction project, call the experts in the area at (973) 218-5038.

Whether it's a concrete patio to brick patio, there are so many options to choose from. Some of these include:

Having a beautiful stone patio is definitely aesthetically pleasing, however, there are additional benefits in having a stone patio vs. wood. Some of these benefits include:

There are several reasons why you should call the expert masons at Agolli Construction LLC.

Patio construction in the Secaucus? Look no further. Call the patio experts of Secaucus at (973) 218-5038 today.

5 - "Highly recommend Agolli Masonry! My front path and steps look great and he took the time to salvage the brick to reuse!"

Lisa in Verona, NJ

5 - "They are pleasant, friendly, did a good job"

Merita J., Cement and Concrete in Garfield, NJ

5 - "These guys take their time doing the job and not rushing it. Pavers look great."

Sammy V, Pavers in Belleville, NJ

View all testimonials

View post:
Patios Secaucus NJ - agolli-construction.com

Now on Flickr

View our collection of HiPerformance modular homes we've built over the years on Flickr. We have thousands of photos with monthly updates.

Learn More

Tour this new model

Nationwide Homes opens a new HiPerformance model in Martinsville, Virginia. The Homestead V is one of 8 models in our popular c... Read More

Nationwide Homes has the resources and experience to build and deliver the high performance modular home you want. From selecting the plans and features to the finished home, we make building a modular home easy. Builders looking to improve their business or homeowners looking to create a home with exactly the design and features they want, let us show you how easy building a high performance modular home can be.

If you are a builder or a homeowner working with a builder, we will make building modular homes easy by managing and implementing all of the details. Whether you are looking to build 1,000 or 4,000 square feet, we believe that building the modular home you want should be an exciting, hassle free experience.

We dont just build modular homes. We build HiPerformance systems-built homes.

HiPerformance homes include: HiPerformance Construction, HiPerformance Design and HiPerformance Green.The benefits of building high performance modular homes with modular construction are ease and efficiency that is greater than site-built counterparts. Our high performance design offers a no-compromise approach that result in high-quality modular homes built for long-term living with lower utility costs.High performance modular home design also includes many shades of Green building levels that outperform site-built homes.

Nationwide high performance modular homes are backed with over 50 years of experience. Experience you can build on.

Nationwide high performance modular homes are available through our network of approved builders in Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington D.C. and West Virginia.

Start by searching our modular home floor plans for the features you want: square feet, bedrooms, bathrooms or number of floors. Were sure that youll find what youre looking for.

The rest is here:

Nationwide Modular Homes

Steps // How to Clean Windows Like a Pro

1Wash with a strip applicator (Picture Window)

Step One // How to Clean Windows Like a Pro

Picture windows call for large tools. The long cloth head of a strip applicator soaks up a lot of soapy water and knocks dirt loose without scratching the glass. For a cleaning solution, Weingard usesjust a squirt of dishwashing liquid in a bucket of warm waterthe less suds, the better.

2Wipe clean with a squeegee (Picture Window)

Step Two // How to Clean Windows Like a Pro

Starting at the top left, pull the squeegee over the soapy pane in a reverse-S pattern (left-handers would start at the top right). At the end of each stroke, wipe the squeegee's blade clean with a lint-free rag. Cloth diapers or old linen napkins are perfect for this task.

3Dry off remaining drips (Picture Window)

Step Three // How to Clean Windows Like a Pro

Remove any water remaining on the edges of the glass with a damp, wrung-dry chamois, which soaks up wetness without leaving streaks. Dry the windowsill with a rag.

4Customize the squeegee (Multipane)

Step Four // How to Clean Windows Like a Pro

To clean a divided-light window, you need a squeegee that fits the panes. Weingard uses a hacksaw to cut one to size. He trims the metal channel inch narrower than the window pane, then files the cut edges smooth. With a utility knife, he cuts the rubber blade to the pane's full width and fits it into the channel so that it projects 1/8 inch at each end.

5Scrub the panes (Multipane)

Step Five // How to Clean Windows Like a Pro

(Multipane)

A handheld sponge or hog-bristle brush works best on multipane windows. Weingard prefers natural sponges. "They're firmer and more absorbent than synthetics," he says. Using the same solution of asquirt of liquid soap in water, he rubs each pane from left to right, top to bottom, working the sponge edges or brush bristles into the corners to loosen dirt.

6Wipe clean with a squeegee (Multipane)

Step Six // How to Clean Windows Like a Pro

Pull the squeegee down each pane in a single stroke from top to bottom. After each stroke, clean the blade with a rag so it doesn't leave streaks. (If the squeegee squeaks a lot, add a bit more soap to the water.) As above, remove any streaks on the glass with a chamois, and dry the muntins and sill with a rag.

7Get rid of stubborn spots

Step Seven // How to Clean Windows Like a Pro

Over time, hard-water runoff from masonry or rain falling through metal window screens leaves stubborn mineral stains on glass that normal washing can't erase. So after a regular cleaning, Weingard wets the glass and gently "supercleans" it either with fine 000 steel wool (if the panes are small) or withBarkeeper's Friend, which containsoxalic acid. (Other brands of powder may scratch the glass or fail to remove stains.) He mixes the powder into a paste on a wet towel, rubs away the stains, then rinses and squeegees the glass twice to remove the residue. Even with that treatment, the staining generally comes back in about six months.

To get rid of stains for good, Weingard recommends the application of 3 Star Barrier Glass Surface Protectant, a clear polymer coating. "After the stains are gone, you just put the coating on with a strip applicator and squeegee it off," he says. Protection against staining is permanent, as long as the polymer is reapplied after each regular cleaning.

Read the rest here:
How to Clean Windows Like a Pro | DIY Window Cleaning