Accessories to Make Your Home’s Entrances Safe & Elegant

The front door Pittsburgh to your home is the first thing people will typically notice. You want to make a grand impression, but also have safety measures in place. You don’t have to choose, you can have both safety and curb appeal. Three elements we recommend changing for added safety and aesthetics are lights, door handles, and locks.

Light the way to better curb appeal.

Lights come in a variety of styles and sizes and are a great way to make your door stand out during the day and especially in the evening. Lights are a great accent to your door when properly sized and should match the overall theme of your door as well. The lights will typically be matched to your handle for its material type and color, so you’ll want to make sure the light fixtures match the door as well as the exterior color of your home. Be mindful of lines, in the door and along the walls. These lines can either add to the appealing appearance of the door or clash with the overall fit and finish of the installation. If you have doors installed that use perpendicular lines, it would be appealing to use light fixtures that represent the same type of line or structural pattern. Lights can brighten the outside of your home and also become a great safety feature. Having proper lighting installed can help reduce crime and property offenses by 20 percent, according to the National Institute of Justice.

Door handles & locks can be both charming and discreet.

Door handles and locks are the most important features of your new front door Pittsburgh and can also add to the overall style of your home. Locks come in one of two ways, either inside the assembly of your handle, or separate from the handle. Today there are some pretty sophisticated locking systems on the market and depending on your budget or need for security, you can buy keyless door locks as a way of adding another layer of safeguarding to your home. Keeping with the style of your doors and the aesthetics of your home, your door handles and lock can serve an important function and give you peace of mind while at home.

Spring Cleaning & Maintenance for Your Awning

Having your awning clean and clear can help prevent damage and ensure your patio looks in tip-top shape when guests come to visit. In this article, we discuss how to maintain your aluminum and retractable awnings Pittsburgh.

Fixed Aluminum Awning Maintenance

The best way to care for your fixed aluminum awning is to begin by clearing off debris that may have accumulated over the fall and winter. It’s best not to wait until it’s extremely dirty to begin cleaning, as it can begin to rust or cause other possible damage. The less maintenance you do on your awning, the more problems can arise. Next, you will want to grab a ladder and a broom to clear any debris that might have collected on your awning. Be cautious and don’t stand directly beneath the awning while trying to remove the debris with a broom. You could be injured by a falling branch or a larger item. Debris can also damage your awning, so be careful when removing larger objects. Secondly, the easiest way to wash your awning is by using a pressure washer. Lastly, inspect for any signs of damage and if there is anything that needs to be repaired, be sure to call a professional.

Retractable Awning Maintenance

Caring for your retractable awning involves a couple of extra steps since the awning has more moving parts. Start by using your ladder and broom to remove all debris that has accumulated. Next, you will want to begin washing the awning using a cloth or soft brush using a gallon of water with some mild natural soap or dish liquid. If you notice any buildup of mildew, add a cup of bleach to your solution to remove it. Ensure that you have cleaned the entirety of it as any leftover soap will get chalky which will accumulate over time and add to the cleaning time later. After that, you can move on to hosing down the frame and fabric of the awning and check to be sure it’s completely dry before retracting it. If you happen to notice any damage while cleaning the awning, be sure to let a professional know so they can make those repairs or get the awning re-covered for you in time for summer. To maintain the cleanliness of your awning, rinse it with a hose and, using a broom, brush the underside of it on a monthly basis.

Remember to retract your awning before it rains or gets over 20mph winds to prevent weather damage. Additionally, the acid produced by vines and shrubbery can be damaging to the fabric, so try to keep all plant life away from your awning. If you’re interested in installing fixed or retractable awnings Pittsburgh, PA, call Thomas V. Giel Garage Doors today.

You want to add curb appeal to your home, but where do you start?

Having professionally installed doors is a great way to start adding some curb appeal to your home. But where do you start? Do you go with something timeless or trendy? Do you want your door to stand out or blend in? Below we’ve provided some tips for choosing the right entry door Pittsburgh.

Picking the Proper Aesthetic For Your Home

The overall look of your doors can go a long way when communicating your style. Depending on how well your door style matches the home, you can install doors that last generations. The front door is the entryway to your home and is often the first thing that people notice about it. So making a strong, or smart, impression here is key. You want to pick a door that first matches the home in its level of intricacy. Doors that overstate or understate the complexity of the home’s design will look out of place, especially at first glance. Consider your home’s architectural style, the shape of windows, etc when deciding on an entry door Pittsburgh that will blend seamlessly with your home’s aesthetics.

Picking the Proper Aesthetic for the Neighborhood

Don’t pick your doors based on what others may think. However, it is important to at least match the overall appearance of the neighborhood in terms of grandeur. The appearance of your home can do one of three things: 1) It can draw more attention than the others, which has its pros and cons. 2) It can draw just as much attention as any other home. 3) It can draw less attention than other homes. It is important to note that your door choices can strongly impact the amount of attention that is drawn to your home. It is important to weigh the consequences of each and determine which of the three categories you would rather fall into. A more stand-out appearance is great in terms of wanting to place a home on the market in the near future, but you may also get more solicitors. You certainly want to make your home feel like your own, so making it fit your needs is what is important.

Repetition Isn’t Always a Bad Thing

You want your home to be your own and make it unique, but sometimes it’s not a bad idea to use the same type of doors for the exterior of the home. It can be difficult for individuals to determine if something actually belongs, and it may come down to personal opinion in the end. But finding something that looks out of place can be fairly obvious. You want to play on this natural tendency for the human eye to pass over similar objects, by coordinating the exterior appearance of your home. For example, doors that have windows or panes can be easily matched with garage doors with windows, and of the same type and style.

What Color and How Much Color?

There are homes that have an eye-popping colored door. And while they may be appealing to some, they may not always appeal to a large audience. Color can often match the home and/or housing type. For example, red doors would be perfectly fitting on a barn but might look strange to some when featured prominently on the front of your house with green shutters. It’s important to at least touch on some artistic terminology when it comes to the color selection of your doors and overall appearance of your home. Things that are “monochromatic” will naturally be easier for the human eye to take in and enjoy. Different shades of a single color, or at least within a certain color range, are naturally more appealing than vastly different colors or ranges of colors that adorn the exterior of your home. Color choices on the exterior of the home can also easily be carried into the home if done properly.