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It’s important to take precautions and do safety inspections on a regular basis. Here are some commonsense ideas:

1. Keep windows and doors locked even when family members are home.
2. Update the locking hardware on your entrance doors by installing new locksets and deadbolts.
3. Replace short screws in the door plates with longer ones.
4. Replace wood entrance doors with steel or fiberglass doors with peepholes and minimal glass for the best security.
5. Replace old, unsecure patio doors with new, more secure models that have multi-point locking systems.
6. Replace old, easily-breached windows with new, heavy-duty replacement windows.
7. Ensure that window air conditioners cannot be easily removed from the outside.
8. Replace any broken or cracked glass in your windows.
9. Keep drapes or shades closed, during evenings and night, so possible intruders can’t see in. Sheers can help conceal your home’s interior during the day but still allow light in.
10. Upgrade basement windows because substandard basement windows are often targeted by intruders.
11. Consider tempered or laminated glass in areas that require extra security because each is very difficult to penetrate.
12. Keep shrubs trimmed low or totally remove shrubs and trees in front of windows so they can’t hide possible intruders.
13. Install motion detector floodlights near all doors.
14. Keep ladders locked in the garage, not lying in the yard for intruders to use for easy access.
15. Keep the door between your home and attached garage locked.

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Where do you start? That’s a great question! We are going to walk you through choosing an entrance door.

Entrance Door Budget

Budget is an important thing to remember when choosing an entrance door. The more elaborate the door is, the more it will cost. When you begin shopping for a new door, you’ll find a range for each style, option, and feature. There are a couple questions to keep in mind while shopping for your entrance door: 1) How much do you want to spend? 2) What are you willing to compromise on? If you want to keep the cost down, begin shopping for a door without glass (i.e. panel style doors).

Entrance Door Styles

The door style is subjective – ultimately, it comes down to what works for you. If your home is more modern, traditional, or historical, you most likely will gravitate towards a style of door that reflects that. If your home doesn’t have a style or you want to mix it up a bit, the choices and options are endless. There is a plethora of styles of doors to choose from such as panel doors, quarter glass, half glass, three quarter glass, or full view glass. The style of the door is only one of the many important components in choosing a door. Materials and features are where the fun begins.

Entrance Door Materials

Both fiberglass and steal entrance doors offer key advantages over wood. Don’t get me wrong – wood doors are beautiful, but they are also very sensitive to moisture and they are very high-maintenance and costly. Moisture can cause a wood door to bubble, warp, crack, and/or rot. If a wood door is exposed to direct sunlight, it can cause the finish to crack or fade (become dull) over time. They require a lot of maintenance to keep them in tip-top shape. Here at All American Window & Door Co., Inc., we offer Maxima or ProVia steel or fiberglass entrance doors.

• Steel doors – these doors are engineered to resist cracking, splitting, warping, rotting, or twisting. Most steel doors have various gauges. The lower the number, the thicker the steel is. ProVia offers 20-gauge steel and Maxima offers 22-gauge steel.
• Fiberglass – these doors look and feel like a wood door, but they offer more benefits and features that wood door can’t offer. Fiberglass offers beauty, security, energy efficiency, and minimal maintenance.

Entrance Door Features

One benefit to either steel or fiberglass is the fact that both of them are superior in strength and protection; you will not have to deal with them rotting away. Outside of wiping the door with water and a rag, it is a maintenance-free deal! You don’t have to sand, stain, or paint the door.

• All the glass styles are tempered. Tempered glass is much stronger than standard glass.
• Jamb reinforcement plate (not available on all doors) – this provides additional security in the frame where the handle set and deadbolt lock. The strike plate is the piece of metal on the door jamb with a hole for the deadbolt.
• Polyurethane foam insulates the door and provides thermal performance and energy savings.
• Weather stripping lines the perimeter, which insures a seal like that of a refrigerator or freezer door.
• Adjustable hinge plate system allows for easy alignment and adjustment to your home (Note: not available on all doors).

Entrance Door Installation

Maxima and ProVia entrance doors are pre-hung, which means the door, jamb, and frame come pre-assembled. The door is pre-drilled for the handle set and deadbolt installation. At All American Window & Door Company, we pride ourselves in having a maintenance-free product. Our skilled installers will trim the exterior and finish it off with a bead of caulk which is a commercial grade sealant.

We get it – your home is your greatest investment. Our installers are very careful to lay tarps down and be mindful of your interior and exterior space. Call today for your free estimate and to take advantage of our entrance door sale going on.

The post How to Choose a Front Door appeared first on All American Window and Door.

How Do They Look?

Your windows are the eyes to your home’s soul. Go out to your curb and take a good hard look at what others see. Are your windows adding curb appeal or are they an eyesore? Are your windows faded and worn out? Maybe you have old screens that are beyond repair or rotten storm windows that are falling out of the track. Due to gaps between your window mainframe and siding, do you have trees or weeds sprouting?

Windows with cracked frames, rotted or moldy wood surrounding the mainframes, chipped, worn out and/or damaged are a big red flag. Rotting wood cannot be repaired and is a welcome sight to bugs and pests trying to find a way into your home as temperatures rise and fall outside. You don’t want to allow pests to become unwanted residents in your basement or home.

Just remember this: if your window is well beyond a cosmetic repair, you will want to replace it.

How Do They Perform?

Your windows aren’t doing their job if they allow the winter blues or summer heat to come and go. Are you sitting on the couch bundled up in a blanket and you’re currently watching the saran wrap swap back and forth from the breeze coming through?

Drafty windows can be more than just uncomfortable in the winter or summer, they can put extra strain on your heating and cooling system as your HVAC unit works overtime to keep your temperature at the desired setting.

Are your windows distorting your view of the outside world due to condensation between the panes of glass? When your windows get wet and ice builds up on the inside sash, it’s a sign of seal failure. This is why moisture penetrates the space between the glass panes.

Are your windows difficult to open and close? Old parts, rust, warping and other issues can make the simple function of letting some fresh air in a major annoyance. If you’re wrestling with your windows every day, it may be time to speak with one of our professional window replacement installers.

All the above issues are costing you money due to lack of being energy efficient. I don’t know about you, but I certainly don’t like watching dollar signs go out the window (yes, pun intended). Soft-Lite windows has been named national Energy Star “Partner of the Year” for the past 5 years. What does that mean for you? Lower utility bills mean more money in your pocket for Brewer tickets, weekend getaway or

Are Your Windows Safe?

Windows that aren’t opening or closing could be safety issues. If you had a fire, could you get your window open and escape to safety? If your window doesn’t open, you need new windows.

Are you using a stick to keep your window propped open so you can feel the cool summer breeze?

Do you need privacy and security?

Older windows lack in energy efficiency, security and soundproofing.

Not only do our quality replacement windows, siding and doors save you money in the long room, they also keep you safe and sound. Our exterior door replacement service includes upgrading the locking hardware with new locksets and deadbolts. We replace old, unsecure patio doors with new, more secure models with multi-point locking systems.

Don’t wave the white flag any longer. Contact us to replace your windows!

We’ve been serving the Milwaukee area since 1985 and have thousands of satisfied customers. Contact us today at 262-255-7170, stop by our showroom to explore your new window options, or visit our booth at the upcoming NARI Home Improvement Show February 14-16^th..

Don’t delay, contact us today.

You’ll never Regret Choosing All American Windows & Doors for Future Peace of Mind

The post When You Should Replace Your Windows appeared first on All American Window and Door.

We have taken many steps to make you, our clients, and our employees safe as we begin the re-opening process.

What we have done to make you safe and comfortable:

• Continual temperature readings of all staff as they report to work daily.
• Deep-cleaned and sanitized our entire office building and showroom.
• Interior doors are propped open to eliminate contact/touchpoints
• Sanitizer and cleaning supplies are dispersed throughout our entire office building and showroom.
• As you feel comfortable coming into the showroom, we are taking every precaution to sanitize and clean samples.
• Our complimentary coffee bar and water cooler is off limits.
• Our showroom is open Monday-Friday from 9-5pm.
• Our evening and Saturday showroom is not open at this time. When that changes, we will be sure to let you know.

This is an incredibly fluid situation and things are constantly changing all the time. Thank you for your patience as we work through things together. We are here to serve you and your home improvement needs!

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I personally want to thank you for being an All American Window & Door Co., Inc. Customer. We are monitoring the developments of the COVID-19 and taking precautionary steps to protect the health and safety of our customers, employees, and families. As a result, we have taken (and are continuing to improve) the proper steps to ensure that we can still provide the upmost service to you and the rest of our community.

At present, we have not faced any setbacks or backorders of our supplies and products. Our goal is to offer continual assistance to our clients. Therefore, all employees in sales, customer service, and installation are prepared to continue in aiding you in your home improvement projects. We have directed every All American employee to take the preventive steps to avoid the exposure and spread of the COVID-19. This includes closely following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s direction regarding hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette.

As a company, we are using https://www.cdc.gov/ as the source of our information and encourage you to stay informed on the websites’ updates. We are doing our best to take the preventative measures while continuing to deliver the quality you have come to know. We look forward to helping you with your window and door and siding project needs now and in the future.

Sincerely,

Benjamin Lodwick, General Manager

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Six tips for spring maintenance to get your home in summer-ready shape

1. Determine if there are any cracks or openings in your foundation or around windows and doors. Coming off of one of our cold Wisconsin winters, it’s easy to have an idea of whether or not your home is secure. Were you pestered by constant drafts from old windows and doors that don’t shut properly, or worse yet windows that have cracks in them? Did you hear scratching noises in the walls this past winter, or notice animal droppings in your basement or inside your cupboards? Did you go to get a storage bin out of the basement to get out your spring decorations and find shredded up contents inside? Now is the time to seal up those cracks before the ants come marching in or you say happy birthday to baby mice. Did you know that if you trap one mouse, there’s a good chance you have many, many more? The average female mouse has between five and ten litters a year, with 6-8 mice in each litter, so one pair of mice could mean dozens of mice in a few months. Yuck.

2. Take look at your siding. How did your siding stand up to winter storms, snow and ice? Did you have any ice dams form at your roofline? Do you have areas where your siding is moldy or rotting? If your siding didn’t hold up this winter, it may be time to add new siding to your spring remodeling projects this year. At All American Window & Door Co., we have a wide variety of colors and materials to suit your needs.

3. Take a look at your screen doors. Now is the time to get screens fixed before mosquito season sets in and those gaps in your screens are prime entryways for these annoying insects. With West Nile Virus on the rise, it’s no longer that mosquitos are just a nuisance, they can carry some pretty serious viruses that you definitely want to seal your home off from. If you have pets who have made a run at your screen doors and succeed in getting outside see about repairing the screens, or replacing your storm door if your old screen doors are beyond repair.

4. Evaluate your heating and cooling bills from this past winter. Were they higher or lower than last year? Do you have any explanations for the increase if you found one? If not, old drafty windows or doors may be the culprit. If you noticed a lot of condensation on your windows this past winter or saw your windows steaming up quite a bit, they may need sealing or they may need replacement. Our skilled technicians are happy to come take a look and offer up their expert opinions of whether your windows can be saved or you may want to add window replacements to your spring remodeling projects list.

5. Think about upcoming ventilation this summer. Have you ever been frustrated by a lack of airflow in certain areas of your home? Depending on where you have windows placed in your home, some areas just never seem to air out or can’t catch a breeze. We’ve had many satisfied customers who have added windows where before there were none. Or, they’ve replaced an old picture window with a new set of patio doors. During our 35 years in business, we’ve installed and replaced thousands of patio doors. We’ve partnered with industry leader, Soft-Lite, to offer you the best patio doors available. Their Kingsroyal Glide™ patio door selection is the highest quality option in replacement doors for your home. They’re durable, practical and have the luxurious feel you are looking for. With a two- point locking system, safety is built right into these doors. And their “triple-fin weatherstripping system with UltraFresh® antimicrobial protection minimizes drafts, dust and pollen and fights the growth of mold and bacteria.”

Take steps now so you can relax and enjoy our short Wisconsin summer this year

As the Wisconsin Center gets ready to host its biggest event ever this summer, so too can you be ready for all your entertaining needs this summer. There’s no debate that summer is coming. This can either be the year you are ready or the year that typically annoyances put a damper on your family and friend get-togethers.

So whether your home acts more like a dictatorship or a democracy, let the powers that be give us a call and let us assist you with all your window, door and siding replacement needs. We can come to you or feel free to visit our showroom for a free consultation and estimate. Whether you’re looking to build a home, replace all your windows or just one set of patio doors, no job is too big or too small for our expert team of installers.

With this year’s 2020 Democratic Convention, Milwaukee will be seeing 50,000 visitors with more than 1,500 events throughout the region in just four days. Will any of those visitors be staying or visiting you? Be ready to host company or a DNC viewing party by taking steps now to be summer-ready!

The post Spring Remodeling Projects appeared first on All American Window and Door.

Video – WLWT Charity of the Month Feburary

The post Video – WLWT Charity of the Month Feburary appeared first on All American Window and Door.

Why Southeastern Wisconsin homeowners want a free triple pane upgrade

With our somewhat wicked Wisconsin winters, less is more does not apply especially when it comes to windows (nor to adding more marshmallows to hot chocolate). There are many reasons that a triple pane window upgrade makes sense with the climate we live in. With that in mind, here are the top three reasons to purchase during our February sale to receive your FREE triple pane window upgrade:

1. Increased energy efficiency. With each layer of glass on a window, you increase the efficiency, which can add up to significant savings on energy costs. As the name says, triple pane windows have three panes of glass rather than one or two. Their design means increased insulation space which increases their efficiency. Triple pane windows can be 50% more energy- efficient than double pane windows and 25% more energy-efficient than double pane windows.

2. Reduced or eliminated condensation. Because triple pane windows have a higher Ug-value, there is less of a temperature difference between the window panes and the rest of the rooms of the house. The Ug-value is a measure of how good a material insulates, like a wall, roof or window. It measures how quickly heat transfers through a building material. The lower the Ug-value the better the material insulates and the warmer your home stays in the winter and cooler it remains in the summer. Since condensation occurs when excessive warm moisture forms on cold windows, having better insulation reduces this temperature difference and the resulting condensation. As a consumer, when you compare Ug-values, it can help you compare products and make a more informed decision when purchasing replacement windows. With our free triple pane window upgrade, All American Window & Door Co. ensures you’ll have a lower Ug-value and more energy-efficient windows.

3. Reduced noise in your home. In all honesty, triple-pane windows won’t reduce the noise significantly from double-pane, but you will see a difference if you upgrade from old single pane windows and it’s not just because of the increased amount of window panes. Installation is a key factor when it comes to noise reduction, as well as energy efficiency, Even the best windows won’t give you what you are looking for if they are not installed correctly. At All American Window & Door Co., we have the best window installers in the industry and we treat your installation as if we were doing our own. You need your windows to be installed airtight with proper weather stripping to create a good barrier which blocks out the bark of that neighbor dog who likes to be the neighborhood’s wake up call every morning.

Why Choose All American Window & Door Co. for your replacement windows?

So we’ve told you why to take advantage of our triple pane window upgrade sale this month, but why choose us to install your new replacement windows? We understand that you have many choices when it comes to selecting a company to do your home improvement projects, whether that be replacement windows, a new entry door or patio door, or replacement siding.

At All American Window & Door Co., we’ve been replacing windows, doors and siding for Milwaukee Metro homeowners since 1985. Your neighbors, relatives and friends have been trusting us with their home improvement projects for 35 years because we always pledge our best in products, service, care and follow through.

We proudly feature Elements™ windows by Soft-lite

We’ve partnered with the best window manufacturer in the industry to sell the most energy- efficient and durable windows on the market. Elements™ is a clear winner above all competitors in four critical performance categories, as rated by independent third party industry experts. They have the lowest air leakage rating to help keep you comfortable year-round and also have a 70% better water penetration than the industry minimum, to ensure your home stays dry during wet Wisconsin spring storms. And with a two times stronger wind load than the industry minimum, these windows can withstand windows up to 203 miles per hour.

Soft-Lite has achieved Partner of the Year recognition from the EPA and Energy Star and the “Sustained Excellence” level of award for their continued leadership in protecting the environment through superior energy efficiency achievements.

Come visit our showroom on Mequon Road in Germantown, Wisconsin

Still not convinced we’re the right replacement window company for you? Feel free to stop by our showroom to see our windows for yourself and to speak with our expert installers. We know that choosing replacement windows is a big decision and not one to be taken lightly.

From double-hung windows to bay windows and casement windows, we can explain all your options, and walk you through the features and benefits of each style. Whether you’re looking to replace the style of window you already have, or you want to switch it up, we can help you with all the various considerations to make an informed decision.

With a variety of color, design and size options we can custom-tailor your windows to your unique needs and specifications to create the dream home you’ve always wanted.

Read our reviews to hear what your Milwaukee Metro friends and neighbors have to say

Don’t just take our word for it. Hear what previous customers think by reading their testimonials. We pride ourselves on repeat customers and referrals, as we seek to exceed your expectations. Call us today, or email us for more information. And feel free to stop by, one, two or even three times before you decide. The rule of three has you covered!

The post Get a Free Triple Pane Window Upgrade on Us During Our February Sale! appeared first on All American Window and Door.

$1,000 check to a the Charles E Kubly Foundation, who seeks to help those dealing with depression and mental illness.

The post Video – WLWT Charity of the Month appeared first on All American Window and Door.