Keep Cool with Allied Siding and Windows

As summer temperatures rise, many Texas homeowners are looking to renovations that will not only boost their home’s curb appeal, but keep it cool and comfortable as well. Here are a few renovation projects to tackle this summer to improve your home’s appearance, comfort, and energy efficiency.

Home Window Replacement

Energy-efficient windows are the key to keeping your home comfortable. Allied Siding and Windows offers a range of affordable window replacement options, including Andersen, Simonton, and Don Young. Simonton windows feature energy-efficient vinyl profiles with optional Low-E/argon-filled glass that helps reduce heat transfer during the warmer months, making them ideal for the long Texas summer. With a 75-year reputation for excellence, Simonton is a top choice for home comfort. Allied Siding and Windows offers the best products from the most trusted brands to ensure optimal performance from your replacement windows.

EnergyWise Radiant Shield (EWRS)

Your attic is the primary source of heat loss or gain in your home. EnergyWise Radiant Shield (EWRS) reflects heat away from the home before it enters your attic, keeping your house cooler from top to bottom. EWRS is a thin reflective radiant barrier that is professionally installed on the underside of the home’s attic. This barrier is as effective as a 7-foot thick piece of traditional insulation, stopping 97 percent of radiant heat from entering the home. EWRS helps you maintain a comfortable indoor environment — and a lower energy bill.

Hardie Home Siding

During the daytime in summer, sunlight can cause the temperature of your home’s exterior walls to rise to as high as 200 degrees, making it harder for your air conditioning system to maintain a consistent, cool temperature. Not only are you left with an uncomfortable indoor environment, but your cooling cost increases as well. Allied Siding and Windows has partnered with the James Hardie brand to offer HardiePlank siding with foam insulation technology. James Hardie fiber cement siding reduces thermal bridging (heat transfer) to help keep warm air outside and cool air inside. HardiePlank resists warping, cracking, and other external damage, ensuring your home is properly sealed. A special foam fills the gap between the siding and your walls, keeping heat transfer to a minimum. This sound-dampening, fire-resistant siding will also keep pests out of your home. Hardie home siding is available in a variety of colors and textures. Installed by crews that are trained in James Hardie’s best practices, and backed with a 30-year limited warranty, HardiePlank promises to keep you cool for decades to come.

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Preparing Your Home for Hurricane Season

Hurricane preparation is always something to keep in mind when you live on the Texas Coast. If a hurricane approaches, you need to have a well-thought-out plan in place that will protect your home. Make sure your home is hurricane season-ready by following the steps below!

Assess Your Tree Line

One of the most dangerous factors related to hurricane damage is the potential for loose tree limbs to harm your home. It’s important to remove damaged limbs, and/or trees in their entirety, when they show potential to break or uproot. Leaving loose branches and trees around your home, pose a threat in the middle of a hurricane. Make sure the trees you leave in your yard don’t have weak branches, have branches no longer than five feet, and have established root systems that won’t shift in heavy rain.

Consider a Generator

Should you lose power during a hurricane, a generator will provide the necessary backup power. Portable or fixed generators are available for purchase depending on your preference and need. Residents with generators should keep the backup power at least 20 feet away from windows to protect it from moisture and keep it stable.

Install Protective Windows

One common misconception surrounding hurricanes is that taping or boarding windows can serve as effective protection for your home. In reality, taping is most often ineffective. While it can cover tiny air passages around ill-fit doors and windows, it does not protect your home from debris damage.

At Allied Siding & Windows, we offer true debris protection with the Simonton Storm Breaker window panes. These windows are specifically created to reduce the risk of storm damage caused by window breakage. They are certified by the AAMA and designed with an impact-resistant KeepSafe Maximum glass, which serves as barrier against storms as well as theft.

If A Hurricane Approaches

When hurricanes do approach, it’s important to stay calm and informed. Stay tuned to the weather service for predictions on the storm and advice on staying safe. Make sure all doors and windows are secured, and if you are staying in your home, keep the generator and necessary supplies near you. Although hurricane protection planning can protect you and your home, they are never the substitute for staying alert and aware of the immediate situation.

To learn more how specialized storm windows can protect your home (as well as cut down on your energy costs), call one of Allied Siding & Windows three locations: Houston (713) 946-3697, Austin (512) 674-3464, or Dallas (972) 888-9988.

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Steps to Lower Summer Utility Costs

According to Fox Business, energy prices are expected to raise 13% by the year 2020. If you’re interested in saving money on energy costs, there are several steps you can take to lower your summer utility bills.

Clean and/or Replace Your Air Filters

Dirty air filters lower the efficiency of your air conditioning unit. The accumulated dust on a dirty filter restricts the airflow from the unit, therefore reducing its ability to cool. By replacing your air filter monthly, you remove the potential airflow resistance that slows your conditioner down.

Keep Your Blinds and Shades Closed

While it may be nice to let the natural, Texan sunshine light your home, direct sunlight can drastically effect your utility bill with single-paned windows. Learn to be strategic about your home lighting. Whenever possible, keep windows that are in direct sunlight covered. Try using window-light from areas of your home with indirect sun. Covering all windows each time you leave your home will also greatly reduce utility costs. This method works by trapping your cool air in the home, reducing your energy need and keeping your home cool.

Install Energy Efficient Windows

If you currently have single-pane windows, consider upgrading to energy-efficient replacements. Energy efficient windows work by preventing solar heat gain. This means that they act as a barrier between your internal home temperature, and the external heat. Since this style of window pane does not absorb heat, you can enjoy window light at any time of day.

 

At Allied Siding & Windows, we offer several brand-name window products that are energy efficient and attractive for your home. Additionally, we never charge extra costs to remove and dispose of old windows. Each window is custom-made and fitted, which eliminates pairing poorly fit stock windows with pre-cut framings. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, energy-efficient windows often “pay for themselves” thank to reducing heating costs as well as less lighting costs.

Consider Going Up a Degree or Two on Your Thermostat

Even single degree changes on your thermostat can make a difference in utility costs. In order to save this summer, consider increasing the baseline temperature of your home by one or two degrees. As a goal, shoot for a thermostat setting of 78 degrees. Studies show that 78 is the most energy-efficient temperature. As an alternative or additional method, program your thermostat to a higher temperature while you are away from your house each day, and then lower when you are home.

To learn more about how energy-efficient replacement windows can help you cut heating costs in your home, call one of Allied Siding & Windows three locations: Houston (713) 946-3697, Austin (512) 674-3464, or Dallas (972) 888-9988.

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Why You Should Demand a Brand for Your Home

There are times when getting a generic, no-name brand product can be okay. After all, it can be a great way to save money at the grocery store. But when it comes to your home, it’s important to carefully research the brands you install. While they may represent an initial investment, it is one that often pays off in the long run in terms of fewer repair costs.

Where to Get Started

Whether you are constructing a new home or are making repairs to your existing home, getting started means contacting companies who provide services you are looking for.  When you do, talk to the company’s personnel about the brands and products they use.

Once you find out this information, it’s time to do your research. A simple Internet search can often reveal information about the brand’s products. If possible, read reviews from satisfied (or unsatisfied) customers regarding their experiences with particular products.     You can also read the sites to determine if the brands have been recognized as industry leaders in their respective fields.

For example, we offer James Hardie fiber cement siding products. These products have a unique Hardiewrap weather barrier that offers exceptional moisture protection in your home. More than 5.5 million Americans have James Hardie Siding on them. They are also backed by the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval and feature many testimonials regarding their products.

Even if you choose to utilize a different company to meet your needs, it’s important to always ask what brands are being utilized and do your research before you agree to the installation.

The Value of Quality

When it comes to quality, it is important to remember that there are some things you shouldn’t sacrifice for. Using high-quality, brand-name products over generic, used, or slightly damaged components may mean you will be replacing these items in your home as much as 10 years sooner than you would if you hadn’t.

In addition to replacement costs, using high-quality products can also cut your immediate costs, particularly in terms of your electric bill. For example, we install EnergyWise Radiant Shield barrier, a product that goes in your attic and will reduce the rate of radiant heat transfer. As a result, we guarantee a reduction in your energy costs of 25 percent.

While brand-name products may represent an investment on the front end, they have offered greater returns and long-lasting results to our customers. Contact us today to find out if our products and services could benefit you.

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Green Home Improvements for Earth Day

Earth Day is on April 22. Are you ready? Earth Day is all about increasing awareness, and doing things that will make a positive impact on the environment. Several green home improvement projects can do just that now, and for years to come as well. Below are a few examples of how our favorite products double as green home improvements for Earth Day:

Change your HVAC system’s filter

Homeowners often forget this important task. Clean air filters make your HVAC system more efficient, reduce your energy bills, and help to extend the life of your system. Not only should you change the filter on Earth Day, you should plan on changing it at least every three months. This is one of the easiest and cheapest green DIY projects you can do.

Install Energy Efficient Exterior Doors

Therma-Tru doors feature triple pane insulation and solid foam cores, resulting in dramatic energy efficiency improvements. With less heat or cool air escaping your home, your HVAC system won’t have to run as long or as often and your energy bills will go down. Therma-Tru is an Energy Star Partner.

Install HardiePlank Siding

HardiePlank siding is manufactured using environmentally friendly practices such as its Zero to Landfill program and locally sourced raw materials. In addition, HardiePlank siding reduces the need to repaint the siding every few years, resulting in an extended paint cycle and less paint used over the lifetime of your home. Plus, with its 30-year warranty, HardiePlank siding is built to last. It resists flames, moisture, and pests.

Install Energy-Efficient Windows

Did you know that by upgrading single paned windows to Energy Star windows you can save up about $266 per year? That’s according to Energy Star, and the annual savings add up. How is this a green improvement? Again, it comes down to reducing your energy consumption. You can get even greater energy efficiency gains by choosing insulated windows, which typically include low E/argon gas in between the panes.

Install an EnergyWise Radiant Shield

How does saving 25 percent off of your energy bills each month sound? Sounds like a great way to celebrate Earth Day! Installing an EnergyWise Radiant Shield works in winter and summer, reflecting heat back into your home in the winter and deflecting it out of the home in the summer. As a result, you’ll waste less energy heating and cooling your home.

Any of these green home improvement projects would be kind to the environment — and kind to your monthly household budget thanks to lower energy bills.

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Dangers of DIY Home Improvement Projects

In theory, DIY home improvement projects sound great: do it yourself and save a lot of money. In reality, you could be making a costly mistake by doing some projects yourself. Below are a few pitfalls to look out for as a homeowner interested in DIY home improvement projects:

Biting off more than you can chew

It’s not unusual for a small project to become a much larger one. For example, you might attempt to install a garden window in your kitchen only to realize that the exterior siding will need to be fixed afterward. Then, as you replace the damaged siding, you realize the new and the old don’t match and you’re faced with a huge DIY siding job you hadn’t planned on. Licensed contractors can anticipate problems like this before quoting the project, and typically have strategies that contain the scope of the project.

Choosing the wrong materials for the task at hand

Your local big box hardware store with its large selection of materials can be overwhelming. It’s easy to buy on impulse or on price, both of which don’t necessarily take more important considerations into mind such as energy efficiency, durability, or resale value. Licensed contractors can recommend the most appropriate materials for your home, style preferences, and resale value.

Installation mistakes

Unless you’re an experienced craftsperson, you’ll likely make a few installation mistakes. Some may be cosmetic and others functional. Meanwhile, some DIY mistakes can be downright dangerous if not fatal. Perhaps you can live with a poorly hung interior door, but you could get seriously injured should you fall from the roof while fixing the roofing or installing rain gutters. Either way, are you willing to take these risks or re-do the work? Instead of hiring a licensed contractor to fix your mistakes, consider avoiding mistakes in the first place by starting with a licensed contractor.

Failure to comply with various regulations

As a homeowner, you probably don’t know about every possible regulation affecting residential home improvement projects. No one expects you to — unless you decide to tackle one of these projects. You may be responsible for pulling permits or ensuring that newly installed windows comply with fire safety regulations. Licensed contractors are well aware of local, state, and federal building codes and regulations affecting residential home improvements.

Each of these pitfalls, and many others, can be avoided by working with a licensed contractor for major renovation projects like window and door upgrades, roofing, and home siding repair.

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Preparing Your Home for Winter

Winter’s chill means more than just adding an extra layer of clothing and throwing another log on the fire. Your home requires some winter preparation as well. As winter’s chill sets in, prepare your home to stop those avoidable emergencies from happening this season. A few quick upgrades and easy preventative measures around the house can result in fewer problems and less stress during the long and cold winter.

Check Your Windows

Even when your heater is working properly, you might notice that your home feels chilly and poorly insulated windows are often the culprit. Letting cold air seep into your home counteracts the reason you even use your heater, causing it to run around the clock which racks up your energy bills. Upgrading your windows is a smart investment. Not only does it increase the value of your home and decrease your monthly heating bill in the winter, but it’ll also keep the hot air out during the summer, saving you money then as well.

Upgrade Your Door

Likewise, an aging or builder-grade front door might not be able to withstand winter’s chill, which invites cold air to slowly creep into your home. If you think your door is letting that cold air in, it’s time to buy a new front door. New doors, combined with brand new weather stripping can stop almost all outside air from entering the home. Just like new windows, upgraded front doors will save you money year-round with your heating and cooling bills, and bring a great return on investment.

Protect Your Pipes

Frozen pipes spell disaster for any homeowner. When those pipes inevitably burst, your home is powerless to stopping significant water damage. Preventing frozen pipes during the winter is essential and so incredibly easy. When temperatures plummet, wrap accessible pipes in extra towels or blankets to give them an extra layer of protection against the frigid air. On especially chilly nights, don’t forget to leave your faucets slowly dripping overnight to keep water running through the pipes, reducing the risk of freezing.

Keep Your Pets and Plants Safe

If winter’s temperatures are too cold for you, they’re definitely too cold for your pet. Bring your pets inside during the winter, and make sure they’re in a warm room with plenty of water. Remember, an unheated garage might shield your pet from snow and ice, but the temperature could reach dangerous lows for your furry friend. Likewise, bring hanging and potted plants indoors during sub-freezing temperatures, and cover ground plants with even more towels and sheets to protect them from the cold, frost and ice.

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New Year’s Resolutions for Homeowners

Now that 2016 is here and off to a fast start, people are settling in to their New Year’s Resolutions. Maybe you resolved to lose weight, or quit smoking. Or maybe you’d like to learn a new hobby. But maybe your New Year’s Resolutions should be to update and modernize your home. Even if your home is relatively new, there are still changes to make that could save you time or money in 2016. And if you’re thinking about selling your home in the near future, these improvements are often a wise investment and can increase the resale value of your home. Here are four resolutions for your home that can bring it up to date! Read more

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Six Ways to Survive Texas Heat without Breaking your Bank

Summertime in Texas is infamous for being scorching hot.  So much so, that even the shortest walk outside during the summer in Texas can leave you breaking a sweat.  At the end of each hot day, you eagerly make your way home, in anticipation of being refreshed by cool air the moment you open the door. It seems as though you are beating the heat, but then your electricity bill comes – and needless to say, you feel a bit cheated by the heat.

Here are six ways to beat the Texas heat without breaking your bank this summer.

  1. Switch to energy efficient blinds. Blinds that work to fend off heat and block sunlight are your best bet during scorching hot summer.
  2. Invest in energy efficient windows, such as the Simonton Generations windows offered by Allied Siding and Windows. To see a demonstration of how the Simonton Generations windows keep out the heat, check out this video from Great Day Houston. Using Allied’s easy payment plan, you can get new windows for $5 per month per window.
  3. Switch your ceiling fan to spin counterclockwise. Fans spinning counterclockwise produce a heavier breeze, allowing you to stay cool in hotter months.
  4. Change your sheets to cotton. Fabrics made from natural materials, such as cotton, are the most breathable and help to absorb and disperse perspiration throughout the night, as opposed to synthetic fabrics which do not allow ventilation.
  5. Change your ac filter. This simple fix is often overlooked.  Changing your AC filter in preparation for the summer heat can help AC units more efficiently pump out cool air.
  6. Install a radiant barrier in your attic, such as the Energy Wise Radiant Shield offered by Allied Siding and Windows. Allied even guarantees this product will lower your energy bill by 25% year round.
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Radiant Shield an Energy Saving Solution

Radiant ShieldThe idea of using radiant barriers to stop the sun’s heat from entering through the top of the house has been around for more than fifty years. These radiant barriers have become quite popular recently with the green-building movement and they have been certified in recent years as energy-efficient home additions by the Environmental Protection Agency. Radiant barriers are typically made of thin sheets of aluminum, which is a highly reflective metal that serves as a springboard for solar radiation to jump right back into the atmosphere. The aluminum is supported by materials such as craft paper, sheathing plywood, cardboard, mylar webbing, or fiber.

Radiant barriers can be either one or two-sided, and both styles definitely improve a home’s insulation. Homeowners looking for high quality radiant barrier insulation materials will want to use a well-known brand with a very low emissivity rating (the ability to distribute heat and light internally) and a high reflectivity rating (the ability to push back solar radiation as it hits the barrier).

Radiant barrier insulation helps to save home energy costs typically by preventing the descending transfer of solar heat from the roof of a house down to the ceiling, through the walls, and finally to the floors. Other forms of insulation, such as fiberglass batts and air-bubble foam insulation insulate the house by absorbing excess heat from the outside. Radiant barrier insulation acts like a shield, deflecting the burning rays of sunlight from hitting the home and penetrating it. Radiant barriers work best when installed in the uppermost part of the house, reflecting as much as 97% of all solar radiation trying to push into the house. Installing radiant barriers in the outside walls of the house will also help deflect incoming heat caused by solar radiation.

In the southern “sunbelt” states and in tropical countries around the Equator, homeowners who choose to install radiant barrier insulation often experience an impressive reduction in their electricity bills. Radiant barriers may reduce up to 40% of the entire flow of heat into the house, thus reducing stress on your cooling system. With less heat coming in, less energy will be needed to operate the air-conditioning units. Since less energy is used, homeowners experience a substantial savings on energy expenses.

It is certainly easy to understand why radiant barriers are fast becoming preferences in homebuilding, and it is not only because of the safe and environment-friendly energy cost savings; Radiant barrier insulation is lightweight, yet durable, and resistant to moisture, thus preventing mold and mildew from growing in the walls and attic space.

EnergyWise Radiant Shield™ uses the “radiant barrier” technology originally developed by NASA. The cross-woven polyethylene materials, along with an aluminum layer, are used to create a radiant barrier and vapor retarder in residential, commercial, and agricultural buildings. Radiant Shield™ is specifically engineered to include vapor-retarding properties that help reduce condensation that can lead to corrosion and deterioration of metal siding and roofing materials.

Allied Siding and Windows uses only top name industry-leading products, including EnergyWise Radiant Shield™ radiant barrier insulation. If you are looking to reduce your energy costs in a safe and eco-friendly way, call Allied Siding and Windows today at 713-946-3697 for additional information. The professional staff at Allied Siding and Windows uses only high quality products, along with very stringent production practices, to ensure satisfaction for every client. You will be pleased with their top-notch service and their results.

Call Allied Siding & Windows Today!

HOUSTON
(713) 946-3697

AUSTIN
(512) 674-3464

DALLAS
(972) 888-9988

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What Our Customers Are Saying

— ★★★★★ —

The whole process was very easy. The work was done very professionally. I would definitely recommend them to do any work.

I contacted Allied with a last-minute project of adding siding to my home and they were prompt getting back to me and even fit the sales presentation into my very busy and crazy schedule, and he came out on a Saturday morning to meet with me. The estimation process was made quick and easy.

Quality, workmanship, and value. We continue to enjoy our choice from three years ago – our choice was Allied Siding & Windows!!

I used Allied Windows on my previous home, and when I moved, I never even checked the competitors. Extremely pleased with their work and prices.

I was very happy with everyone that I dealt with at Allied, from the office staff, my salesman, the crew leader and his entire crew that installed my windows and siding. Everyone was truly professional, courteous and kept me informed on my repairs.

The project was quick, and the results were awesome. The workers were well skilled and courteous. I am very pleased with the overall project.

Allied has worked for me on two occasions, both times the service was excellent.

Great company to work with. Ease of business. Quality work. Truthful experience.

I love Allied. I have used them on multiple occasions, and they did a great job. Their representative was a wonderful salesperson who knew the product well, and working with the office at the beginning to get this all set up was a pleasure.

If you want to save time and money, go to Allied Siding and Windows first! We worked with a big box company for 5 months and they were never able to deliver and install the product we had requested. Allied had it done in two weeks, at a cheaper price and the house looks great!

We are very pleased with our beautiful new windows and doors installed by Allied. We also had our old vinyl siding removed and replaced with James Hardie siding. We have had numerous comments that our 26-year-old home looks brand new.

We had 19 Simonton Generations replacement windows and James Hardie siding done on our home of 22 years by Allied Siding & Windows. The workmanship and attention to detail is why we chose Allied in the first place.

The Allied team did exceptional quality work and we are incredibly pleased with the project!  We have had a patio dream for some time, and when we happened upon the Allied website, there was a photograph of practically what I had been hoping for — and the team delivered.

We had a representative give us an estimate. He was very friendly, and very knowledgeable. My wife and I were both impressed with his professionalism. Allied stands behind their product and they are trained professionals and insured. Great sales personnel and company!

The Allied representative was extremely professional. With his experience he was able to properly assess my request. He was able to give me a couple of ideas that would enhance the look of my home. I truly appreciate his time.

I purchased gutters from Allied for my home. My salesman was very professional and knowledgeable in explaining the different materials and colors along with associated costs. The entire process was quick and efficient! I would strongly recommend. The installation team was polite and courteous

Have had several great experiences with this company in the past. Roofs on 3 different houses, complete siding, and replacement windows on one…

Very professional and very upfront with all issues that concern my home. Great options with styles with very competitive pricing. I would definitely recommend talking to them on your projects.

Great company! They are Far and Away better than most of the window replacement companies you’ll find out there. They always cater the products to your needs and are willing to go the extra mile to make the project excellent! Highly recommend.

The representative was extremely helpful and knowledgeable. He talked my wife and I through the entire process and listened attentively as we talked through the different ideas we had in mind. Based on the initial quote alone, I would highly recommend Allied…

Very comprehensive and professional presentation; it was obvious that this company is customer-centric and dedicated to exceeding expectations.

Fantastic job; these guys are incredible!

With over 50 years in the construction business, I’m hard to impress.  These guys did it; incredible craftsmanship and team work.  Already recommended them to neighbors.

“How incredibly pleased and impressed we have been with the work and craftsmanship of everyone on [the] team!  The awning and everything – all the details – are so beautiful!  We retreat out to the patio each evening just to admire the complete transformation of our home!  We couldn’t be more thrilled!”

They did a great job.  I have them doing 2 other jobs right now for me.

Three Convenient Locations to Serve You

Houston

(281) 357-8801

Austin

(512) 674-3464

Dallas

(972) 888-9988

Three Convenient Locations to Serve You

Houston

(713) 946-3697

Austin

(512) 674-3464

Dallas

(972) 888-9988

Schedule a free, in-home estimate

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Allied Siding & Windows

For over 35 years Allied Siding and Windows has been a leader in Texas. As you local Home Replacement Window, Hardie Plank Replacement Siding, New Home Roofing, Gutters, and Patio Covers in Texas. We proudly serve Houston, Dallas, Austin, Texas and all surrounding areas. We only use quality products like HardiePlank Home Siding, Hardie Plank Lap Siding, Simonton New Home Replacement Windows, and Andersen Replacement Windows.

Houston
(281) 357-8801

Austin
(512) 674-3464

Dallas
(972) 888-9988

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