If you have a broken or leaking window, don’t fret. You’re in the middle of the best time of year for household window replacements – the weather isn’t treacherous, or at least, not as much as it is during the winter. If you have a spare afternoon, or even an hour or two in the evening, you should be able to replace a window. If you don’t have the time, or you just want to be sure it’s done right, you can count on us. In this post, we’ll talk about some of the things we do when we replace windows. From there, you should be able to gauge if it’s a project you want to take on, or if you want to leave it to the professionals.

Window Sealing

One of the best ways to know if you need to replace a window, aside from the obvious glass failure, is to check window seals. These can be sources of electrical waste – if you’re using energy to heat or cool your home, leaking windows can render your efforts useless. Every home has the occasional draft, but a broken seal should make for noticeable air movement. It’s possible to repair leaking seals without actually replacing the entire window. However, you should understand that if air is able to pass through it, during the rainy season, water likely will be, too. The summer is a great time to nip these problems in the bud. Even if it seems like a minor issue right now, eroded seals can become serious problems during the winter. Moisture can degrade the wood settings of the window, making it that much more complicated to fix.

Broken Windows

The kids are out playing in the yard. A flurry of laughter is followed by a crash, then silence. When a ball inevitably sails through a window, many react negatively. Replacing windows can be a hassle, but if you look at it as an opportunity, you may be better off. Consider this – new windows are more efficient. If you’ve lost an old single-pane window, take the opportunity to upgrade. It could be what motivates you to replace the windows throughout your home. Double and triple paned windows have remarkable impacts on energy use – even if it costs you a bit to replace your old windows, they will save you money in the long run.

Insulated Glass and Fog/Condensation

A primary reason for replacing residential windows is simply that they’ve lost their immunity to moisture. This doesn’t mean the windows are leaking into the home. Instead, the moisture barrier between the external and internal panes has been compromised. This leads to fogging and moisture buildup. While it may not be doing any direct damage, it can be unsightly, making your home look unfinished. If you notice that your windows seem to sweat, that they become foggy when it’s cold, or that there is grime and buildup on the inside of the window – a place that’s almost impossible to clean – your best option may be replacement.

If you have a glass project in progress, or you simply want some advice about what to do when you need to replace a window, don’t hesitate to contact us. We have more than fifty years of experience with residential glass work – trust us to get the job done right.

Whether it’s a bathroom mirror or a full length standing mirror, reflective glass is important to a number of key hygienic and social functions. Shaving your face without a mirror is incredibly difficult, as is deciding how well an outfit works as a whole. The worse off your mirror is, the harder these tasks become. Fogged glass and cracks make it harder to see a clear reflection. More troubling, mirrors that have begun to warp and shift with age can portray bulges and pinches where none exist in reality. A fully functional, pristine mirror installation is important to healthy living – from bathing to styling your hair to dressing for success. We offer a number of mirror replacement services.

Vanity and Bathroom Mirrors

Perhaps the most important mirror in your home, your bathroom mirror might get the most attention of them all. You use it every day – brushing your teeth, putting on make up, shaving your face, and styling your hair. A foggy bathroom mirror doesn’t do anyone much good. Likewise, cracks in the surface can make it difficult to get a clear image. You should probably know that cracks in a mirror will only get worse. If you need to replace your vanity or bathroom mirror, we can help you. Because we make all of our glass in-shop, we’re able to fit any piece to your existing furniture, hardware, or interior needs.

Shower Doors and Enclosures

Heavy glass shower doors are rapidly becoming the most popular in the industry. They allow for quick assessment of outfits, and bring extra light into the bathroom. Whether you need the mirror replaced because it’s aging, or you want to replace your old shower door with a new reflective surface, you can take advantage of our experience. We offer both standard and custom size glass pieces for doors. Moving out of the bathroom, many people are now choosing reflective surfaces for closet doors as well. They amplify light sources and give the illusion that rooms are larger than they are – great for maximizing space and style.

Custom Mirrors

If you’re an interior designer, artist, or some other creative type, we can supply you with glass pieces custom fit to your projects. We can provide seamed, polished, and beveled pieces that are made to order. Because we manufacture all of our own glass and mirrors, we have incredible flexibility when it comes to employee needs. If you’ve got a project going and you’re just not sure how you’re going to find the glass pieces you need, in the sizes and shapes that you need, you can stop worrying – we’ve got you covered.

If you have any questions about interior glass or mirrors, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’ve been working in the residential and commercial glass industry for more than a decade. Not only do we offer only the highest quality glass, made from premier materials, we provide installation and support services as well. If you’re looking to replace a mirror, or if you have some other glass project in mind, make an appointment with us today!

As we move through spring, we’re seeing a boom in homeowners hoping to get on board the home improvement bandwagon before summer. It’s a wise choice. The warmer weather of spring provides a more consistent and less expensive opportunity to replace residential glass. However, we’re also seeing a lot of people scrambling to get their projects moving, many of them working to piece together what exactly needs to be done, and how they’re going to make the time or budget space to do it. The pace of life is sometimes too rapid for adequate planning for extraneous projects. We have some tips on how to plan for residential glass service before it becomes an emergency.

Symptoms Inside the Home

Every home has the occasional draft. If you’ve been noticing more than normal that your home simply doesn’t retain a comfortable temperature, you might start thinking about replacing or resealing your windows. Home heating and cooling is one of the most significant expenses of modern living – particularly in the Seattle area. On the opposite hand, if there is condensation appearing inside your double or triple paned windows, it could be a sign that your windows are letting in, then trapping, moisture. Identifying these signs early can help you avoid extensive damage later. If the windows are letting air and moisture seep in, you could be facing water damage by next winter.

Watch the Weather

The greater Seattle area doesn’t have a lot of sunny days, but they do happen. Often they happen in strings – a bundle of beautiful days bookended by gloomy skies and rain. If you have a project or an installation in mind, trying to catch the right weather to do it can be difficult. Planning for the weather isn’t an exact science, but the consideration will pay off in the end. This is particularly true if you have skylights that are broken or leaking. Work can be done during the winter months, but considerations for the safety of workers and the ongoing protection of your home both escalate in proportion to degradations in weather.

Emergency Replacements

Sometimes, you simply can’t plan for what happens to your windows. Accidents happen – and they happen more frequently during the summer. The rise in outdoor activities and the increased free time of school children can put glass installations at risk. Fortunately, these things can be resolved with relative ease. Replacing a single broken window is a quick and simple process when compared to replacing all of the windows in a home – those sorts of projects require more planning and greater focus. For the occasional emergency, we are at your disposal. Give us a call and we’ll discuss the type of window you have, acquire a new window, and rush over to install it.

If you have any questions about the residential glass services we offer, or you have any concerns about a current or future project, don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re offering free on-site estimates for residential and commercial customers alike. Schedule an appointment today, and have your beautiful new windows installed by the dawn of summer.

Summer time in Seattle, Everett, Lynnwood, or anywhere else in the Puget Sound can be beautiful. As the trees blossom and the sun shines delightfully for a few days, it’s a great time to realize you have a skylight that needs replacement. Not only do skylights shower your home with natural light, on the clear days of summer, they can give you comfortable views of the rare blue sky. During the summer months, though, it can be difficult to know if you need a skylight replaced at all – the change in weather makes noticing the warning signs that much harder. Here are some things you should pay attention to if you suspect your skylight is in need of service.

The Indoor Warning Signs

Strange condensation, either on or around the skylight, could be evidence that it isn’t properly sealed. There doesn’t have to be a flowing leak for this to be a problem. If moisture is getting in and settling, your skylight may be compromising the integrity of the roof or walls around it. To be sure if it’s a problem with the skylight and not something else, try to make note of when the condensation forms and how long it lasts. Depending on the location and the layout of your home, things like showering and cooking meals may flood the area with vapor. If there’s condensation on the inside of the glass and no obvious source of water vapor, you may be in need of service.

Drafts

Skylight drafts can be difficult to detect, mostly because vertical movement of air is harder for us to notice than horizontal. This is made more complicated during the summer – as most Seattle residents don’t own air conditioners, the placement of fans can complicate airflow. If you think you may have a problem with a skylight, you’ll have to suffer through a testing period without any fans or air control activated. Thankfully, during the summer time drafts can often be pretty easily remedied. Unless there’s a serious breach in the window seal, the entire piece may not need to be replaced. If we’re able to treat the sealant properly during the summer, we can prevent it from wearing through completely during the winter. A little preventative service will help you avoid headaches in the dead of winter.

If You’ve Looked Yourself

In the event you’ve already noticed a leak but have been unable to pin it down, we can help. It’s fairly common for skylights to shift out of their previously secured installation positions. This means that the window installation will look perfect – and it usually is. The problem lies in the insulation and the building paper beneath. If water is leaking into the edge of the building paper, it may be exiting at the opposite corner of the skylight, making it appear that the window is what’s leaking. If there’s a leak and you haven’t tried to locate it yourself, we will find it and fix it.

If you have any questions or concerns about skylights or skylight service, please don’t hesitate to contact us. The summer months are just around the corner, and Seattle residents are preparing for the few beautiful sunny days to come. It’s an excellent time to be out of doors – it’s also an excellent time to be sure that your indoor areas are secured against the elements.

Like any other city in North America, commercial glass services are deemed quintessential in Seattle.  And though glass services have been largely recognized as a residential endeavor, they do have very important applications in the commercial industry.

Seattle has been known to be a great city for growth and industry. And that goes along with having a growing sector of commercial needs. Commercial glass services are, of course, one of them. If you have, or are looking to have, a commercial space in and around the Seattle area, here are a number of glass services that you can avail from.

Glass Storefronts Design, Fabrication and Installation

When it comes to commercial settings, especially in the retail sector; first impressions, last. A storefront speaks volumes when it comes to attracting customers to a shop, and one of the key glass services in Seattle is being able to design an elegant and attractive storefront to entice potential customers to the store.

Even the finest of products won’t sell themselves if they’re kept hidden behind wooden and concrete walls, no matter how great your location in the city may be. Glass storefronts will allow you to showcase your wares to the public while protecting them from thieves and burglars.

Show Case Glass Repair and Replacement

Speaking of showing off your wares, glass show cases are also a great way of parading your products within the store itself, while keeping them safe and protected from meddling hands. Show cases are especially useful for displaying over the counter products, or for putting a premium on higher end pieces on the store floor.

Show case glasses are great for showcasing jewelry and electronic devices, for example. They are also great accents for putting emphasis on collector’s items, memorabilia or other curios and trinkets your store might have. If you really want to be able to highlight your in-store wares, glass show cases are the way to go.

Glass Wall Partitions

In a commercial and office setting, the lay-out can easily become very suffocating and constraining, especially if you’re working in an environment that demands an image of professionalism, integrity and formality. However, that doesn’t mean that the lay-out of your commercial or even office space should conform to a rigid, labyrinth maze of walls.

Glass wall partitions are a great commercial glass service in the Seattle area. They allow that much needed division of work spaces, while instilling a feeling of transparency in even the most rigid of offices. Glass wall partitions are easily a great solution in opening up the lay-out of your commercial area; whether it’s in banks or consultation offices.

Glass Fixtures: Mirrors, Table Tops and Shelving

If you are a commercial space owner who likes a twist of the home life in your interiors, glass fixtures are a great way of keeping your place comfy and homey. Whether its mirrors for your bathroom, glass table tops for your waiting area, or glass shelving for your magazines or books for queued customers, glass fixtures are a budget friendly yet elegant way of putting a touch of warmth in any commercial venue.

A few years ago, an unassuming driver met her untimely demise all because she had failed to repair her windshield while driving along Everett, WA. To her defense, she had been driving under the speed limit been following all other traffic rules.

But due to the sleet brought about by the cold winter months, she had lost control of her car and had alarmingly smashed into a roadside tree whose branches had been perched alarmingly low. The brittle yet sharp branches had penetrated her windshield, causing injuries that would later be the cause of her passing at a nearby hospital.

Investigators and auto technicians who later studied the accident pointed out that the windshield of the victim’s car was unfortunately in need of replacement. Friends and family had also recall that there were distinct cracks in the windshield of the victim’s car, which analysts would later point out, was due to wear and tear.

Experts and investigators were convinced that had she replaced her windshield accordingly, she would most probably be alive today. This true to life accident, despite its macabre retelling, is a gruesome reminder of how maintenance to your automobile can easily be a life saver. And though most people tend to prioritize the engine, steering or brake system of their car, glass fixtures and windshields are just as important.

Much like how engines and brake systems are repairs that shouldn’t be delayed, windshields should be treated with the same respect. Although the accident happened in Everett, windshield repair is just as equally important for any vehicle anywhere in the world. Other incidents reported well outside the Everett, WA area include windshields cracking and shattering seemingly out of nowhere.

Not surprisingly, these were mostly accounts of drivers driving cross country at high speeds along the interstate. Investigators would later conclude that the mysterious shattering of windshields were due to drastic changes in weather and temperature, causing older, less reliable windshields to warp and eventual crack or shatter. For anyone driving at incredibly high speeds along the interstate, this can be incredibly life threatening.

Most people tend to neglect problems to their windshield, chalking it up to their insurance policy in case an accident causes it to shatter. But this kind of thinking can prove hazardous to not only the safety of the driver, but to the passengers as well. In the end, windshields are just as important as any other part of your car. Because of this, they also require the same care and maintenance as any other component.

You’ll never know when your windshield will break on you, and you can be sure that it’ll be when you least expect it. To make sure that you keep you and your car safe and road worthy, make sure to get your auto glass fixtures checked, and have your windshield repaired; without delay.

It goes without saying that cars and trucks of any kind are costly to maintain. Outside of the out of pocket purchase amount, there is the regular maintenance cost of making sure that everything is in perfect working condition, from the engine to the dashboard.

Even something as supposedly simple as your auto’s glass fixtures can be quite costly, so it isn’t surprising that many people from Bothell, Washington all the way to Clovis, California have chosen to delay the repair of these fixtures to curb the burden on their wallet. Although auto glass may not be the highest priority for your car, fixing it now rather than later can end up saving you thousands of dollars in the long run.  Of course that assertion is true for something as critical as, say, your car’s engine; but people tend to forget that the glass fixtures in your car require maintenance as well. And there are very good reasons why fixing the glass on your automobile can be just as cost effective as fixing the carburetor on your car.

An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure

When it comes to the innards of a car, everyone knows that regular maintenance can prevent more costly damages in the future, especially if your vehicle has been out on the road for more than a few years. But the exact same thing can be said about auto glass fixtures. Should you and your vehicle get into a major accident, ill-maintained glass fixtures can easily break or shatter and become more costly to repair in the end. Although one could argue that your insurance policy should easily pay off any major damages to your vehicle, that plan can easily backfire in the future. Especially when it comes to major accidents, insurance premiums can easily go through the roof if you rely on a major accident to do the repair on your vehicle. And although a solid insurance policy will easily save you the burden of burning a hole through your pocket, the additional insurance premium could end up costing you thousands of dollars over the course of a good number of years. But this can easily be avoided if your auto glass fixtures are maintained and replaced in a timely fashion.

Being Fined Isn’t Fine

There are specific traffic laws that don’t allow vehicles with clear auto glass damages to be driven on the road. Whether it’s a damaged side view mirror, or a cracked windshield traffic enforcers can readily fine erring drivers hundreds of dollars just for having their vehicle on the road. By replacing damaged auto glass fixtures, you can save yourself the problem of being fined, costing you money you could’ve easily spent on repairs.

The Cost of Safety

In the end, maintaining and repairing your auto glass fixtures can save you a good amount of cash in the long term. When you add it all up, you can easily save thousands of dollars just by making sure that your car is safer and more driver friendly. With that in mind, it’s important to note that the most important thing of all is the one thing that you can’t put a price on: the safety of you and your family. And that’s worth all the dollars in the world.

When renovating, refurbishing or constructing your house, an important task is keeping in mind how residential glass fits into the design of your home. Glass fixtures, displays and windows are not only an aesthetic addition to any residence; they can also serve a much more apparent practical purpose. Whether you’re looking to install residential glass fixtures to your home in Seattle or to your vacation house in Miami, it’s very important to make sure they’re of good quality. Good quality comes at a price of course, but if you know what you want, and have a reliable glass supplier that can work with you on your budget; you can keep costs low and your home looking great. Just to give you an idea of what high quality residential glass exteriors can do for your home, here are a handful of ideas.

Residential Glass for Decoration

High quality residential glass can act as great accents for your exteriors. If you have the space for a garden based gazebo in your yard, you can easily add a bit of texture to the glass windows by adding frosted crafting on the face of the glass. However, if you prefer a more simplistic and modern approach to glass, one way is to use glass as walls in themselves; most especially with rooms leading out into your backyard or to your garden. This can give your home a very spacious and open feel, with glass exteriors putting an emphasis on both the interior and exterior of your home. In essence, high quality residential glass can make your home look like the palace that it should be.

Residential Glass for Function

Although glass has a variety of practical and decorative uses in and around the home, a good use of high quality glass is for protective purposes. Glass can act as a way of protecting you and your family from the weather, while at the same time opening up your home by allowing you to view what’s outside. A good number of home owners believe that having too much glass might be more of a safety hazard than a safety precaution, but that’s where high quality glass truly shines. There are residential glass types that are not only sturdier than conventional glass, but should extreme conditions cause it to shatter, they are designed to break in a way that minimizes the possibility of injury to people nearby.

Residential Glass for Design

Finally, high quality residential glass can be used as a marriage of both decoration and function; acting as a compliment to the overall design of your home. A good number of home owners subscribe to the belief that design is all about aesthetic, when in fact it is the seamless merger of function and aesthetic working together. Whether its kitchen windows designed to watch over your kids as they play in the backyard, or a master bedroom window designed to wake you up alongside the warm sunrise in the morning, all these glass exteriors can be an extra piece in making your home picture perfect. In the end, if you’re looking to spruce up your home, make sure you have high quality residential glass in mind whether you’re hailing from Seattle, Washington or Illinois.

The windshield is perhaps the most important piece of glass in your vehicle. It’s also the most durable – often cracking and splintering instead of breaking straight away. This design is meant to improve safety as well as durability. When there’s enough force to actually break a windshield, it will break into pebble-sized, round objects that are difficult to cut yourself on. The windshield is the only thing standing between you and road debris that may come flying at your vehicle. If you can imagine a pebble flying toward you at sixty or seventy miles per hour, only to be stopped by a thin piece of glass – that’s your windshield. It does a lot of work protecting you and your loved ones. Give it a little care in return.

Crack and Chip Repair

Chips in your windshield may seem innocuous, but like cracks, they have a tendency to grow over time. There are a number of ways you can treat chips in the windshield without replacing the entire window, though. The most popular method is to use a liquid polymer injection to fill the chip and prevent the weakness in the finish from spreading. This is generally a short- to medium-length solution. No polymer will last forever, but in some cases, it can be a semi-permanent band-aid solution.

Windshield Replacement

If you have extensive cracking in your windshield, you’re putting yourself in danger. Many drivers feel confident that they can just look past the cracks, but anything obstructing your view of the road should be avoided. The police ticket people for having overly cracked windshields – it’s an equipment violation. We can replace all kinds of windshields. We custom make our glass, meaning we can replace any make or model, generally adhering to the original equipment standards. This includes laminated safety glass and flat laminated and tempered glass for classic cars.

Combating the Rain

The Northwest boasts abundant rainfall. Our replacement windshields are guaranteed to keep the water out. More than that, we offer services designed to keep the weather at bay. A replacement set of windshield wipers can do wonders for streaky windows. We also offer Aquapel treatment for new windshields. The rain will bead up and roll off of your window on its own. This treatment dramatically improves visibility in the rain, reduces glare from water, and will last for several months under normal driving conditions. If you have any questions about your windshield glass repair project, don’t hesitate to call. We’re devoted to the safety and security of all of our customers. Our family owned business has thrived on this fact – the satisfaction of our customers speaks for itself. This posting is specific to windshields – look for more information about our residential and commercial services in the future. If you want to have us take a look at your vehicle, have a custom job you have a question or concern about, or simply want to schedule a free estimate, click here.

The Pacific Northwest is home to some of the rainiest weather in the nation. We host the only temperate rain forests on earth, some of the most glorious mountains on the continent, and the among most consistently gray skies. It’s obvious to anyone who lives here – and a shock to many who visit – that rainfall is the rule rather than the exception. In an environment where that’s the case, glass is ever more important. Prompt auto glass repair is recommended.

Keeping Out the Weather

Even if you don’t live out on the peninsula or up in the mountains, the weather can still be a problem. Broken vehicle windows are often fixed with plastic and duct tape – cheap solutions that have only limited success. You see it all the time – the person flying down the express lane with a plastic bag stuck in his window, flapping this way and that in the wind. If you’ve ever been on the inside of a vehicle like that, you know that even the sturdiest plastic is no match for a good downpour. It’s not effective, it’s not safe, and it’s not legal.

Residential Glass

The protection of your home is more immediate than the interior of your car. If you break a window in your home, especially at this time of year, it’s an absolute requirement that it be fixed. Temperature control in a vehicle is hit or miss as it is – but temperature control inside your home? That isn’t something you can just ignore. We offer window boarding services, but you’ll still be losing heat and wasting energy until you replace the window. However, in the intermediate period, boarding will act much the same as the plastic over a car window – it will keep out the elements just enough that you aren’t doing huge amounts of damage to your property.

Maintaining Commercial Glass

The front-facing part of your business needs to look its best. If your business front is fogged or failing, we can help you restore it to its like-new condition. Having beaming and clear display cases gives a feeling of more than just professionalism – a welcoming and visible display will lure people into your business. Give people an excuse to come in out of the rain, and they’ll take it every time. Even if they’re only inside for a respite from the weather, that brief relief may be enough to motivate them to make a purchase. In short – it’s imperative to keep the weather out. Keep it out of your car: replace broken windows and repair cracks in your windshield before they get worse. Keep it out of your home: do the upkeep on your windows, and if they’re broken or leaking, have them replaced. Keep it out of your business: a good storefront will draw people in. Associated Glass can help you with all of these things. Give us a call.