Window Installers - Universal Windows Direct is Hiring Window Installers

Window installers make it all happen.

Let’s face it.   Deciding to get your windows replaced is a big deal.   Everyone knows they have windows that they might like to get replaced when the time is right, or when they get a little worse, or when they get sick of the plastic or when they finally get paid that bonus they’ve been waiting for.   When you start thinking about getting windows replaced you’re thinking about getting the windows replaced.  Period.

What you’re not thinking about:

1. You’re not thinking about giving up a few hours of your evening to visit with a window salesperson.

2. You’re not thinking about the investment you’re not making in your home and how that could help with resale.

3. You’re not thinking about the hit to your bank account and

4. I’m guessing you’re not thinking about finally making the decision and then waiting 6-8 weeks to see the windows.

What you’re thinking about.

1. You’re thinking about GETTING THE WINDOWS INSTALLED.  The end result!

2. The fresh clean look.

3. The nice grids between the panes of glass.

4. The nice double hung windows that tilt in for easy cleaning.

5. The casement window that actually cranks in.

6. The ability to see through that patio door that has been fogged for months.

We get it.

When it comes down to it, the installers are the ones who really make it happen.    They arrive at your house with your brand new windows in their trailer.   They pull out the windows you have been so excited to get rid of and before they leave at the end of the day they install all the brand new ones.

Basically, they make your dreams come true.

Now hiring:  Dream fulfillers / Happiness Deliver-ers / Window Installers.    We have immediate openings for experienced window installers.   Must be able to work throughout the Twin Cities Metro Area and be available at least 2 days per week and up to 5 days per week.  We install throughout the winter too and our spring season starts in March.   If you or someone you know might be interested and available contact us today.

We need your help to make people happy throughout the Twin Cities.  Call us today for more info.  612-866-2888.

Author:  Melissa Brager, Universal Windows Direct, MN

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Hiring a Window Contractor: Why going with your gut is a good idea

Hiring a replacement window contractor can be tricky.  Go with your gut.   In my “former life” as an HR professional we had to always make decisions with facts.  Facts.  Facts.  Facts.   Hiring decisions were based on skills and work experiences..  We were literally told to ignore our gut.   Guess what?  When you are the homeowner and you are considering making an investment into your home GO WITH YOUR GUT!!

He seems friendly, right?

Like it or not, any home improvement project, from just a window replacement or door replacement or new vinyl siding to a full on room remodeling project means your home is exposed.   Your life is disrupted (if only for a day) and your home undergoes change.  You don’t want to trust that to just anyone.  You certainly don’t want to trust it to just the “guy with the lowest price”.    What DO you want?

1. The best product.   The product that looks and feels like “your house”

2. The best warranty.   You don’t want to buy the cheapest stuff and then go through this all again in a few years, do you?

3. The contractor with a good reputation.  You checked him out, right?   He isn’t the guy the BBB has listed with an “F” rating, or the guy with unresolved complaints against him in the double digits, right?

4. The contractor who is punctual, clean, put together, and well… likeable.   If he is in your home to give you a quote and you ALREADY don’t like him  (because he is rude, or talks down to you or talks over your head, or who you catch in a lie, etc)  why would you invite him back?

5. The contractor who listens to you.   It’s all any of us want, really.  To be listened to.   Ask questions..  Tell him your concerns.  Give him a chance to answer everything and put any concerns you have to rest.   Sometimes the sign of the best contractor isn’t the one who necessarily tells you what you want to hear, but the one who  responds to you the most honestly

So next time you or someone you know is ready to talk to a window, siding, or door contractor they can trust, contact us.   Experience what a non pushy, honest, and trustworthy home improvement contractor can be like!

Author:  Melissa Brager, Universal Windows Direct

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Windows: Interior Color options for Replacement Windows in the Twin Cities

Universal Windows Direct proudly offers 6 different interior window options for replacement windows in the Twin Cities.   So if you are looking to replace your windows you can choose the colors that will be best for you in your home.

Are you someone who thinks that vinyl windows = white windows? You're not alone!

White vinyl windows can make a home look fresh and new.  Some people love them.  Most new construction, in fact, starts with white windows.   But some homeowners fear white windows.  They fear that.  stark WHITE that screams out “HI!  I AM A WHITE VINYL REPLACEMENT WINDOW!”  That fear that the windows will “scream” actually is a reason some homeowners give as to why they don’t want to replace their windows.   We get it.

Your replacement windows don’t have to be WHITE. The exclusive UniShield window offers white, tan, and dark chocolate brown as well as light oak, medium oak or cherry woodgrain interiors.  Your window frames can be tan if that will soften it up.  They can be dark chocolate brown (mmm, like a truffle) if that matches the style of your home.   They can even come in wood grains to match existing wood windows, or the surrounding trim work, cabinetry or wood floors.  Would a light honey oak match well?  Would a medium oak color be better?  How about a deeper cherry?  Perhaps a vintage pecan is a better match...  No problem!  We offer all of those colors.

Do all your windows have to be the same color?   Nope!   So if you have thought about  white replacement windows in the basement to brighten things up down there but you would prefer a  wood grain window on the main level; we can do that. Because all of our windows are custom made for your home we can choose the style and options of window that will work best for you, in your budget, in your home.

Call us today to get started with a free consultation.   We will bring a window into your home in the color you are thinking of, and bring color samples of other options as well.   We can’t wait to work with you to replace those old windows and improve the look of your home.  Join homeowners across the Twin Cities who have improved the look and the value of their home with replacement windows.  612-866-2888

Author:  Melissa Brager

Operations Manager, Universal Windows Direct, MN

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Universal Windows Direct, Twin Cities works home improvement shows and expos throughout the Minneapolis and St. Paul Metro area.   It doesn't matter if we are in a huge convention hall, driving in a parade, or sitting in a tent at an outdoor event.   We love to display our great product!

Here are just a few examples!

Hey Steve!

Looking for a new Entry Door?

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Wave at us in a local parade!

Entry Doors and Patio Doors? You bet!

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Window Wrap Up: Universal Windows Direct Bi-Weekly Wrap Up

It seems the older we get the faster time moves.  Gone are the days when we were kids and summer vacation stretched on from one endless day to another.   These days summer is gone in the blink of an eye and just-like-that we are full on into the mania of fall.    If you have school aged kids you have homework and school buses, activities and conferences.   If you have teeny kids at home you have fun Halloween costumes and treat bags, fall portraits and Christmas planning to think about.   If you own a replacement window company you are full on busy in fall home shows, completing installs from the summer, preparing for the slower months and thinking about planning for the coming year.   No matter who you are or what you have….   Time is moving faster.   The to-do list is getting longer.  The pace of our beautiful glorious life is faster.   The potential of us missing information is what keeps us glued to our phones, our computers and our television screens.

Well, not to worry.   Here at Universal Windows Direct, MN we will do a regular wrap up of all our great content that you may have missed.   Ready to get started?

Factory Direct?  Aren’t all windows factory direct?

Tips on preparing for your window installation

Time Management tips from Entrepreneur Magazine

Burger Friday Recipe – Pumpkin Burger!!

Fall Yard Clean up Tips from  About.Com

Before and After pictures from our Dealer partner in Pittsburgh

Our Fall Newsletter has been sent to all of our past customers!

Baby in the office!!  Beware of one cute infant “doing paperwork”

That is all for now..  thanks for visiting!

Melissa Brager

Operations Manager, Universal Windows Direct, MN

Window install: How to prepare for your window install

Getting your windows replaced can be really exciting.   My favorite phone calls to make are the “your windows are here!  Let’s schedule your install date!”  phone calls.  Often, the next question is “How do I prepare?”

Top 5 ways to prepare for your new window installation:

1)        Clear a path for the installers to get to the  windows.   I am not calling you a hoarder.  But most of us have piles.  And once in a while those piles end up in the basement or in the corner of the bedroom.  Right under that drafty window.    If that happens to be the place at your house,   just move the piles somewhere else so the guys can have easy access to the window without worrying about disrupting your things.

2)     Take down any blinds, curtains or window treatments.  The goal is to have a clean working space for the installers.   If they have to stop and take down your window treatments,  it is an unnecessary delay and  an additional charge will be assessed to you.

3)      Do you have a home alarm system wired to any of your windows or doors that we will be working on?   You will need to call your alarm company before the install to have those wires disconnected  (and then re-installed after the windows are in).

4)     Clear the walls and shelves around the work area.  This includes pictures on the wall, as well as trinkets or collectibles on shelves near the window.    It is just better to be safe than sorry.

If you care about your items, protect them.   That may sound harsh, but it is also common sense, right?

5)     Dogs and Cats.    Oh the stories we have.   Window installation is loud.  There are tools, there are strange voices, there are strange men in and out of the house.    Dogs and cats can get skittish.  They can bite.  They can try and escape.  Sometimes they do escape.   And they RUN.   So kennel them up during the install and don’t worry.

Sound easy enough?

Melissa Brager

Operations Manager, Universal Windows Direct

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Replacement Windows: 5 Reasons Why Choosing Replacement Windows is Like Choosing a Wedding Dress

Curious, aren't you?

Here is the thing. I am behind on my blogging because I have been caught up in the excitement of planning our wedding!!   We are celebrating with 200 people we love and are planning the whole big party in 5 weeks. Crazy, maybe, but fun.

As I get ready for my final dress fitting it comes to me.   Choosing replacement windows and choosing a wedding dress actually have quite a bit in common.

1. Choose your perfect look.   Are you thinking traditional, modern, or purely functional?    Do you want to stick with white or something more interesting like a color?  What options do you have to choose from?

2. Know your deadline and order in advance!   Wedding dresses can take up to 6 months to come in but you can get your custom vinyl replacement windows installed in as little as 6 weeks.   Family coming to town?  Hosting for the holidays?  No problem. Call today to get started!

3. Order the right size!   Doesn't it make more sense to order the exact size you need so you don't have to force fit the product, or worse, pay for the labor of unnecessary alterations later?  Our windows are all custom sizes for your convenience!  Not only that, but with a custom fit they are guaranteed to reduce drafts and keep your family  more comfortable in your home!

4. Think about how you want to complete your final look.   With your dress you think about shoes, jewelry and veils.  With your windows you consider trimwork, painting or staining, and new custom window treatments.   It's really the same.

5. Show it off!!   Once everything is decided and paid for and complete don't you want to show it to everyone you know?   Take pictures!!  Post them on Facebook!

See?   Replacement windows and wedding dresses actually have more in common than you think!   While we can't help you choose your wedding dress, we can certainly help you make a replacement window decision.   Quotes are always free and we'd love to visit with you.   Contact us today!

Windows at the Fair?: Top Questions asked about Windows at the Dakota County Fair

How many replacement windows and siding companies are at the Fair?  If you are anything like me you're freaking out about the fact that its mid-August.    County Fairs mean that summer is coming to a close.   As much fun as we have looking at the animals, watching the demo derbies, eating the fried food and looking at all the cool stuff in the exhibitor buildings we can't deny that school is around the corner, and winter isn't far behind.

As a window girl the County Fairs mean that I basically leave home for a week.  I pack fruit, healthy snacks and sandwiches so I am less tempted by all the Fair Food.  (If you've ever met me, you know this doesn't work very well.)  I bring a book for the hours where no one is around, and I look forward to meeting my neighbors.    I also do my best to tell interested fair -goers about our awesome UniShield windows and doors and answer their questions the best I can.

After 5 days and 55 hours at the Fair,  I have compiled this list of Top Questions asked at the Universal Windows Direct Booth at the Dakota County Fair.

Q: Is that a wood window?      A:   No, the UniShield window is a vinyl replacement window.    We are excited to offer three different wood grain finishes that give you the look of wood to match your cabinets, floors or woodwork, but in a 100% maintenance free vinyl finish.

Q:  Are these replacement windows or new construction?   A: Both.   The majority of the windows we sell are replacement windows, but we do also do  also sell to remodelers and we can order any window you need with a nailing fin.

Q: What if I want to install the window myself?   A: We do sell windows directly to individuals and contractors.   However, installing windows isn't for amateurs.   If you're not totally comfortable installing a window please allow us to install it for you.

Q: What is your warranty?  A:   Universal Windows Direct offers the double lifetime warranty on windows.   This means that your new windows will be covered for as long as you are in your house, and 30 years to the next homeowner.   This is a non-prorated warranty.   We stand behind the quality of our windows!

Q: Do you make awning windows? A: Yes.   We can build any style window you need.  Double hungs, sliders, casements, awnings, hoppers, garden windows, bays and bows.

Q: Where are the cows?   A:  The did leave for a night for a barn cleaning, but no worries...  the next afternoon we had a huge cow trailer parade and they were all returned, safe and sound.

The cows are back!

Q: My window is  really weird size.   Can you do custom sizes?   A: Yes!  All of our windows are custom ordered to fit your rough opening.   So bring us your weirdest size window and we'll replace it.

To everyone who stopped by our booth at the fair, thank you.   I appreciated the chance to tell you about our great windows. If it was a particularly slow time of the day, I appreciate the visit.   If you have any additional questions, or are interested in a free quote, contact us today.

Replacement Windows: How replacment windows are the same and different

Isn't a windows just a window?   Let's clear this up once and for all.   Yes and No.    Every window you see is both the same and different.   As you're evaluating windows for your home, focus on what is different.  Focus on the construction and the quality of the window See below.

Not all windows are created equal.

Windows all have the following things in common!

• They all open and close, letting the fresh air into the house.  (unless they are painted shut or the weights are shot so they can't stay open on their own)

• They all have glass in them allowing you to see outside.  (unless the glass is broken and the window has been taped shut)

• They keep the bugs out.  (unless the screen is damaged)

• They let the light in.   (and sometimes the UV rays too, which is why your sofa is faded).

• They sit in frames in your house.  (Sometimes they sit crookedly in the frames because the wood is rotting)

I think that is it.    Now here are what windows have that make them different

1. Windows are built with materials ranging from wood to fiberglass to aluminum to vinyl

2. Windows may have one, two , or three panes of glass.

3. The glass package may be spaced using metal, aluminum, or structural foam.

4. The glass package may be insulated with nothing at all, argon gas or krypton gas.

5. The "fill rate" of the insulating gas varies by manufacturer.  Yes, argon gas is nice but would you rather have a window with 50% or 98% fill rate of gas?  (hint:  this is not a trick question)

6. The window sash and frame may be glued or screwed together or it could be fused together for ultimate strength.

7. Window glass may be clear or glazed with multiple coats of Low E, which is basically sunscreen for the glass; protecting your living space from the harmful UV rays.

8. We all have a window that sits behind furniture.   Some windows require two hands and a little strength to open and close.  Some require just a finger.  Construction matters.

9. Warranty is essentially how long the manufacturer expects the window to last.   Some windows that look exactly the same will fail after 3 years.   Some will not fail after 5o years.   Which would you rather have?  (again, not a trick question)

10. Finally, we have price.  You can get a poorly made cheap window for anywhere from $189 to $900.   Or you can get an excellent high quality window that will last for anywhere from $500-$1000.   Don't be fooled by price.   Choose a high quality window at a factory direct price and you'll be glad you did.

If you've been dreaming about replacing windows in your home and you've been overwhelmed by the options on the market, we understand.    Contact us today for a personal consultation in your home and a free quote.

Window Terminology: Window Terms Starting with "I"

Insert Window

A window that does not require altering the opening of the home, or re-framing the window space.   Insert windows are installed in the existing opening as is and then re-insulated.   Also referred to as “pocket” windows or “replacement windows”

Insulating Glass Unit

Two or more panes of glass separated by a spacer and hermetically sealed to form a single glazed unit with one or more air spaces in between.

Insulating Value

See U-factor.

For more information on window terminology, and to get your free quote on replacement windows from Steve the Window Guy, click the button below.

Steve the Window Guy for Universal Windows Direct is a full exterior remodeling company focusing on replacing windows, siding and roofing. Steve and his team of are experts in working with people just like you to create a plan for the most cost efficient way to complete your exterior remodeling project. We are part of a national dealer network that has catapulted to be a top 10 remodeling company in the nation. Locally we have an A+ rating with the BBB with zero complaints. Steve has been recognized by Universal Windows Direct as National Dealer of the Year three times for his hard work and dedication to getting things right. We are locally owned and operated in Bloomington, MN and work throughout the Twin Cities Metro. Updating your home can be easy.

We believe Steve the Window, Siding and Roofing Guy was just too long of a name.

*Source: Qualified Remodelers Top 500 List, Published September 2021.

Window Terminology: Window Terms Starting with "K"

Krypton

An inert, nontoxic gas used in insulating windows to reduce heat transfer.  Krypton is more dense than argon and therefore provides an even higher insulating value to windows.   UniShield windows offer Krypton gas as an upgrade in both double pane and triple pane replacement windows.

We are a shop at home company specializing in replacing windows, siding, roofs and front entry doors.   As we sit with you and learn about what you want to change on your home we can provide the best product and color options to you.  You can expect lots of questions from us as we try to understand what you're looking for.  For that reason,  it is best if both homeowners are there.   We commit to giving you a detailed, same day estimate.   Every time.

Steve the Window Guy for Universal Windows Direct is a full exterior remodeling company focusing on replacing windows, siding and roofing. Steve and his team of are experts in working with people just like you to create a plan for the most cost efficient way to complete your exterior remodeling project. We are part of a national dealer network that has catapulted to be a top 10 remodeling company in the nation. Locally we have an A+ rating with the BBB with zero complaints. Steve has been recognized by Universal Windows Direct as National Dealer of the Year three times for his hard work and dedication to getting things right. We are locally owned and operated in Bloomington, MN and work throughout the Twin Cities Metro. Updating your home can be easy.

We believe Steve the Window, Siding and Roofing Guy was just too long of a name.

*Source: Qualified Remodelers Top 500 List, Published September 2021.