Heat Stopper Technology: UniShield Windows Now Offer Heat Stopper Technology

This blog provides a brief overview of the Heat Stopper Technology found in the exclusive UniShield line of Windows from Universal Windows Direct, Twin Cities

The heat stopper technology, as shown in a window sill

Heat Stopper technology.   It’s one of the latest enhancements to the exclusive UniShield line of replacement windows!    We know you have so many options when choosing a brand of replacement windows for your home; and we are confident that the heat stopper technology is going to make you love the UniShield windows even more!

What is heat stopper technology?  Simply put, it is technology that will stop the heat from escaping your home, keeping you more comfortable all winter long.  Put another way,  It is an ENVIRONMENTAL GREEN™  polyurethane foam-filled window frame and sash.

Replacement windows with heat stopper technology will provide you with increased energy savings all year.   This is because windows with heat stopper actually have an increased level of thermal performance.  They stop any cold air from circulating inside a hollow frame, which would cool down the overall window unit.  Stopping that cold air keeps the window warmer.  The performance of the heat stopper technology will lower the window’s U-value and increase the R-value.    Savvy homeowners know that better ratings equal better investments and lower heating and cooling costs.  The UniShield line of replacement windows can do both.

Heat Stopper technology is environmentally safe.   It provides a higher energy efficiency rating.   And it’s available exclusively in the UniShield window offered by Universal Windows Direct, Twin Cities.  Take advantage of our factory direct pricing and start saving  money this winter!

What are you waiting for?  Contact us today for an in home demonstration and free, no obligation estimate.     We will show you samples of the windows and you can see the benefits of the heat stopper with your own eyes.

Author:  Melissa Brager, Universal Windows Direct, MN

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Patio Door Replacement: Replace your Patio Door with Universal Windows Direct

Now is the time to get your patio door replaced with Universal Windows Direct.

Patio door replacement.   Amazing when it happens, but not exactly something most people look forward to.    It just doesn’t seem fun, right?   It seems like all winter when the door is closed and there is 15 feet of snow piled up on the other side of it you can forget all about it.   The door is just one with the house, keeping the snow out and perhaps making you wistful about warm spring days on the deck or hot summer afternoons by the pool.

 Vinyl Patio Door

Not only that, but in the winter there are more fun things to spend your money on.   Like gifts for the holidays, entertaining, and winter vacations.    Or your windows.   (There is nothing better than replacing a drafty window with an air tight window in the dead of winter).  Hardly anyone replaces their patio door in the winter.

Spring is really the best time to replace your patio door.   Winter is melting away, it is starting to warm up outside and summer is right around the corner.   You start thinking about summer but it isn’t actually here yet, so you have time to get the door replaced.   You haven’t opened that door for the first time to realize, with dread, that it didn’t magically get more awesome over the long winter.    The door still sticks.  You still have to fight with the screen door to get it to open.   There is still that hole at the edge of the screen from when your neighbor tried to walk through it.  The wood frame is still moldy.  It might even be more moldy now, not that you look at it.   And look at the top of the frame.   Is it actually rotted through and sagging?  Great.  The entire door is basically an eyesore.  And you still don’t like it.

Let’s replace it.  Once and for all, let’s get it replaced for you.   Sick of the mold?   Our exclusive UniShield patio door comes in 100% pure virgin vinyl.   It will not mold.   Concerned about color?  The doors come in white, tan, or dark brown vinyl.   We even have three different wood grain interiors that are all maintenance free.  Concerned you have an odd sized door?  We offer standard and custom sizes! Looking for quality?  With fusion welding on the frame and on the door you know it is a solid product.  Add a foam filled frame for greater insulation value and a warm edge spacer to keep the entire door warmer.  Have a pesky pet?   Upgrade to a durable and longer lasting pet screen!

As always, enjoy factory direct pricing and the option to have us do the install, or pick it up and install it on your own.

Steve The Window Guy sells more than just windows in MN!  So contact Steve the Window Guy to have him come to your home and give you a free quote.  Or you can always call us at 612-866-2888. 

How long have you been putting off replacing your patio door? Contact us today to start your free, no obligation estimate.  

Author:  Melissa Brager

Universal Windows Direct, Twin Cities

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Universal Windows Direct at Father Hennepin Days 2013

Universal Windows Direct will be participating in the Father Hennepin Days Business Expo June 8, 2013 !

We have done so many Home Shows and Summer Events that we have preparing for them and packing down to a science.   We bring different samples for different size booths, for example.   We bring carpet to an indoor event and lots of bungee cords and weights to outdoor events so our tent doesn't blow away.   When we are done packing the back of the truck is a work of art.  Every single thing is in its place.

But that was before baby.  She is 13 months now so she is at a more "normal" place schedule wise.  This means we can take her with us to more of these summer events.  So Father Hennepin Days is officially moving into a Family Fun Day that won't even feel like work!     We can spend some time in the tent with Steve and then we can explore the rest of the Festival.   I checked the Father Hennepin Days Event Schedule today and in addition to the Business Expo there is a Craft Fair, Carnival Rides, a Petting Zoo and a Skateboard Park...  just to name a few events.  We'll just bombard her senses and then she'll take a huge nap.   Right?   The weather is supposed to be very nice and mild so she might even get to nap in the stroller outside in the fresh air.    I don't know about you, but that sounds divine to me.

That's all for now.   We'll post pictures of the fun tomorrow on our Facebook page.

Oh - PS - If you are in the area we'd love for you to stop by our booth and see Steve the Window Guy!   We'll have samples of windows, siding, doors and roofing, brochures, and even some coupons.

Enjoy your weekend!

Melissa Brager

Universal Windows Direct, MN

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Townhome Window Replacement: Universal Windows Direct replaces windows in townhomes.

Customer spotlight:   Jerry  and Linda.

We met Jerry and Linda at one of our outdoor events this summer.   They are  a couple living in a town home development.    A town home development with windows in dire need of being replaced.   After seeing a quick demo of our UniShield window they really liked the quality they saw and they wanted to get an estimate on replacing their windows.   But….  Being in a town home they were worried about your windows conforming to the rules.

No problem.

We have worked with multiple town home communities throughout the Twin Cities to replace windows, patio doors and entry doors.   We have met with town home boards to pitch our product and we have met with groups of homeowners to help them gain consensus.

What we have found is that the outside appearance of the windows is generally the determining  factor in buying decisions.    The town home community wants the look to remain consistent.  I get it.  If everyone has dark brown windows, the guy who replaces his with white stands out like a sore thumb.  Similarly, if everyone has their white windows wrapped in white, but suddenly someone wraps theirs in dark green, the conformity of town home living is gone.

Our UniShield replacement windows and doors are 100% pure virgin vinyl with  a smooth, streamlined exterior.   Standard colors are white, tan and dark brown.  Available upgrades include  exterior paint colors including black, bronze and dark green, which tend to be very popular colors at town homes.

So what should you do first?  Check with your town home association  about the rules they have.   You might get lucky and be in the same situation as Jerry and Linda.  They learned that as long as they replaced their windows with WHITE  2 lite sliders, and then wrapped them in maintenance free smooth aluminum in a coordinating tan they could replace whatever they wanted.  The appointment started with matching exterior wrap colors, and once we knew we could meet the requirements, we continued the discussion, and ended up replacing all of the windows in their town home.  The neighbors liked how they looked so much, we ended up doing work for a few of them, too.

What is the moral of the story of Jerry and Linda?    Don’t be afraid of calling us if you live in a town home.   There may be  a few extra hoops to jump through, but we are more than happy to do that.  It is all in the name of new windows!  Contact us today to get started!

Melissa Brager

Universal Windows Direct, Twin Cities

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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!

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Entry Doors and Patio Doors? You bet!

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Home Improvements: Why a Home Improvement Can Be Small

Small effort can mean big results.   As I sit with my newborn I think like this all the time.    I think, "If I only have 45 minutes during this next nap, what can I get done that I’ll feel good about?”  or “I’m exhausted but I have chores.   What is the smallest thing I can do to feel progress?”  or my favorite “Hooray, I took meat out of the freezer! Dinner is practically done!”    Silly maybe, but I’m guessing I am not alone there.

Making home improvements can actually be like this too. Too often people think that to make a home improvement they have to commit weeks and weeks to meetings and discussions and shopping and details.   I think people worry about the thousands of dollars it will cost to replace every single window in their house or to do everything they dream about all at once.   It really doesn’t have to be like that.  We have lots of customers that talk to us about their dreams and then we work together to figure out what part of that dream they can accomplish first.   Maybe it’s just the windows in the living room, maybe it’s the windows in the front of the house, or maybe it’s the whole first level.   My point is that it doesn’t need to be a huge overwhelming process.   It can short.   It can be focused.  And it can be inside your budget.

Not ready to replace your windows?  No problem.  There are a number of small home improvements you can make that will take very small effort or expense, but can make a big change in how a space looks and feels.   So get ready, I’ve put together my favorite ideas!

Top 5 ways to quickly brighten up a space

1. Buy a large flowering basket or plant a large pot of colorful annuals to put in front of your house for instant curb appeal.

2. Replace the hardware on kitchen cabinets.

3. Choose a bright lampshade to brighten up a dull space.

4. Switch up the linens you use in the bathroom.   A few bright hand towels and new rug will make small space seem new again!

5. Keep a centerpiece on the kitchen table, the dining room table, or any surface that you see a lot.   Fresh flowers, bowls of fresh fruit, or even a stack of books can make boring spaces seem completely different.

No matter what small change you make to your living space, just make sure you love it.    When you want to talk about replacing a few windows or doors, give us a call. We’d love to work with you!

Melissa Brager

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Severe Weather: Universal Windows Direct MN can help after Severe Weather Strikes

Did you do it?

Yesterday when the severe weather sirens went off did you look at the sky? Or did you quickly try and remember what day and time it was? I did it. I heard the siren, I turned my head to the window, then back to the person I was talking to as I realized it was not 1:00 on a Wednesday. My very next thought was.. “It really IS spring!!”.

I don’t like severe weather.   Tornadoes scare me. 

I’m not one of those contractors that gets the glimmer in her eye when she sees a storm might roll in. You won’t find me devilishly rubbing my hands together in anticipation of serious damage in a neighborhood. I’m too soft hearted for that. I don’t want anyone’s home ripped apart or destroyed and I certainly don’t want anyone getting hurt or forced to move. It happened to me once and it was too stressful. I didn't like it one bit.

But I digress.

National Severe Weather Awareness week is an important right of passage into spring storm season. Cities check their sirens, school children practice their “duck and cover” and evacuation routes and families talk about what would happen if they were home when they heard the sirens or experienced bad weather. The best way to stay safe is to have a plan. Know where to go. Stock the freezer with popsicles so in the middle of the night when you hear the sirens and grab sleeping kids out of their beds to rush to the basement at least you can offer them an icy treat. Life is less scary with a Popsicle. (right, Mom?)

When the storm has passed and you realize your home has seen some damage you don’t need to dread the onslaught of hungry contractors knocking on your door every 5 minutes. Just call Universal Windows Direct. We’ll stop out and give you our factory direct price on replacing your windows, siding, front doors or sliding glass patio doors. We can price the job with or without installation. Take that price to your insurance company or to your contractor and call us when you’re ready. We know you’ll love our prices and our non pressure sales after a storm. We also know you’ll love the solid construction and energy efficiency of our UniShield Windows, the construction of our doors that repel moisture from getting in to your home, and the hail resistant properties of our insulated backed siding products.

Here is to a safe and storm free spring!   (eat a Popsicle anyway!)

Melissa Brager, Universal Windows Direct

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