General

Ready, Set, Cruise with Houston Design Center

The Houston Design Center is hosting its 8th Annual Cruise Party & Open House April 17 from 5:30 – 8:30 PM. This is a special event to raise money for the ASID Student Scholarship Fund.

Tried and True Texan: The Bluebonnet

You know it is officially Spring time in Texas when you begin to see Bluebonnets pop up around town. We’ve found some fun and interesting facts surrounding this native plant.

Put a Spring in Your Curb Appeal

The inside of your home has been decluttered, reorganized and cleaned, so now it is time to tackle the exterior of your home. These tips will help your home ready to greet spring on the right foot.

The 1, 2, 3 of Organizing Your Home

 You’ve decluttered your home and either threw away or donated your unused items. Now it’s time to start organizing everything that’s left! We’ve found some great tips that will help you organize every room in your home.

No Clutter Allowed: Decluttering Your Home for Spring Cleaning

Winter has finally ended and your home could use a breath of spring to get it back into shape. Though before you can actually clean, you need to declutter your home. Well say no more because Renaissance Windows and Doors have found some great ideas to get your home ready for a good Spring Cleaning.

Rodeo Time in Houston

Spring means Rodeo time in Houston. This year the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo will be celebrating their 80th year. As all of us at Renaissance Windows and Doors along with the rest of Houston prepares for the rodeo’s kickoff on February 21st, let’s take a look at all the exciting activities that will be happening this year.

Join Us at 27th Annual Texas Home and Garden Show

It’s that time of year again and all of us at Renaissance Windows and Doors would like to invite you to join us at the 27th Annual Texas Home and Garden Show. The show will take place this Friday, February 8th until Sunday, February 10th, at Reliant Center. This is your chance to explore “the widest range of the newest home and garden products” for all your home’s needs.

Introducing The 2013 Home Design Trends

How far have you gotten with your New Year’s resolution to put a little more excitement into your home decor? With some help from these 2013 home design trends, you can transform your home in no time.

Baby’s Room Remodeling

No matter how many times you read “What to Expect When You’re Expecting,” we promise—a new baby will bring a lot of surprises to your house! Renovating a room for a new addition to the family is an exciting proposition, and offers many opportunities for substantial, investment-type renovations (new windows and doors, a new bathroom) as well as cosmetic changes that don’t require quite as much commitment in terms of time and money (think paint and window treatments).

Remodeling Fever

There is a phenomenon known to us in the home renovation industry, one that we call “remodeling fever.” If you have lived through a remodel, you might recognize the symptoms: early excitement gives way to anxiety; even with deadlines and goal dates, it feels like there is no end in sight; small setbacks start to feel huge.

Back to School Escape: Three, last-minute getaways

It’s hard to believe that summer is almost over, and the kids will be going back to school soon. We know there isn’t much time left to take a big summer vacation, but why not one last, long weekend with the family before the kids go back to class? There are a lot of great things to do in, around, and just outside of Houston. Here are our top three suggestions for fast, last-minute family mini-vacations that everyone will enjoy.

Meet Our Newest Team Member: Andre Lee

We want to take the opportunity to introduce our clients to the newest member of the Renaissance Windows & Doors team, sales representative Andre Lee. Andre joined us in March, and sat down to tell us a little bit about himself, and what brought him to the industry.

Professional Showrooms vs. Big Box Stores

If you really want to know the difference between shopping in a professional showroom and shopping at a big box store you need only walk through our front door—one visit to Renaissance Windows and Doors and you will see it with your own eyes. It’s all about context.

Houston Rodeo Is Here!

Texas Home and Garden Show February 10-12

The team at Renaissance Windows and Doors invites you to join us at the 26th annual Houston Home & Garden Show at Reliant Center, February 10-12, 2012. This is Houston’s premier “One Stop Shopping Opportunity” for your home and garden needs. Not only will you find windows and doors, but ceilings, floors—and everything that goes in between! Visit Reliant Center February 10-12 and find over 700 experts, products, services, and ideas to every home improvement and lifestyle project you can imagine.

Houston Heights Holiday Home Tour

The best way to get into the holiday spirit, while also getting a fix of local home design and renovation inspiration, is to attend the 2011 Houston Heights Association Holiday Home Tour. On Friday December 2 and Saturday December 3, you can tour six of Houston’s most unique home spaces, which reflect the rich architectural tradition of the Heights, one of our city’s most charming neighborhoods.

The Answers You Need: Online and In-store

Online and in-store, the staff at Renaissance Windows and Doors has the answers you need. We know that window and door replacement projects are huge investments of your time and money, and that going forward is a big decision. We’re here for you every step of the way, and that is why we have provided so much information for you right here on our website. Today’s blog is going to take you on a guided tour of the Renaissance Windows and Doors website, and we hope that when you are done you will stop in to our showroom to continue the tour!

Hurricane Season

If you are a Gulf Coast resident, you probably already know that hurricane season started on June 1st. Hurricane season extends from the beginning of June through the end of November, and while that doesn’t mean a hurricane will happen, it means we have to be prepared in the event that it does. We’ve shared some of our thoughts on hurricanes and taping windows in the past, but we thought it would be useful to give you a more comprehensive overview of hurricane preparedness and what it means for your home and family.

Certificate of Completion

From start to finish, Renaissance Windows and Doors makes every client—and their home—a priority. We start by answering your questions when you stop in to our showroom, and every step of the way after that. At Renaissance we understand that your house is more than a house; it’s your home, your safe haven, the center of your family life. In addition to bringing you top-quality products like Infinity by Marvin and Hurd, we also promise you the installation advantage of having those products installed by our professional installation team rather than contract workers hired “by the job.” This installation advantage works to your advantage in several ways: our installers are employees which means we have vetted them and they are insured; all installers are certified for lead paint removal; installers follow step-by-step guidelines for product installation which ensures quality work and protects you via our installation warranty.

Installation Process: Step by Step

At Renaissance Windows and Doors we like to say that we deliver world class products along with Old World craftsmanship. How do we do this? We start by offering you products from the top names in the business—like Infinity and Hurd—and we employ the best installers, professionals who take pride in their work because they believe in quality for its own sake.

Installation Materials: Infinity Installation Warranty Comparison

We’ve talked about what makes the Renaissance Windows and Doors installation special in previous blogs: the difference professional installation makes; product warranties and our own installation warranty program; details and testimonials from customers on our professional installation team. Choosing the right products for your home is half the battle, but proper installation is the other half. At Renaissance Windows and Doors we are committed to a positive client experience, from product selection to installation to performance. To that end we know it is important for you to understand the details behind what makes us different from other installers, and what benefits we can offer you to get the most for your money. That’s why we have put together the Infinity Installation Warranty Comparison, so you can see a side-by-side comparison on what we offer compared to other installers, as well as the benefits. This warranty comparison is good when you purchase products from our line of Infinity Windows and Doors.

Frequently Asked Questions

We encourage our clients to ask us questions: about our products, our installers, our warrantees and guarantees, about government lead paint requirements—about anything! We know that replacing your doors and windows can be as overwhelming as it is exciting, and we want you to feel confident and comfortable in choosing Renaissance Windows and Doors as your home renovation partner. We want to review a few Frequently Asked Questions with you here on the blog, and encourage you to contact us with any other questions you might have regarding window and door replacement.

Government Requirements and Lead Paint Certifications

Government regulations and guidelines regarding lead paint are serious business when it comes to your home. There are severe fines and penalties for improper handling and removal of lead-based materials during home construction projects, and more importantly, proper removal of materials containing lead—or even potentially containing lead—will keep your family safe from lead poisoning. At Renaissance Windows and Doors we aren’t just committed to protecting your family, through certification and proper removal guidelines, we are committed to giving you the information you need to understand why this issue is so important.

Architecture & Style: Choosing the right design for your home

There are a lot of factors to consider when choosing the right windows for your home: cost, climate, durability, and energy efficiency, to name a few. In previous blog posts we’ve discussed some of your options for increasing the value and performance of your windows with glazes and glass, taking advantage of extended tax credits, and the importance of manufacturer warranties and installation guarantees like our Peace of Mind maintenance plan. But there is another thing to consider when choosing your doors and windows—something that realtors have been talking about for years: location, location, location. Where you live is important in terms of geography and climate, but beyond that your location in your chosen city matters, too. Read on:

Entry Door Accents: Accessories and Décor Ideas

Accessorizing your entry door doesn’t have to be reserved for the holiday season. Choosing the right hardware and decorative accents will help you customize your home’s entry door to create a welcoming feel for family and friends alike.

Glazes and Glass: What’s the Difference?

When choosing replacement windows style is important, but substance is what matters. At Renaissance Windows and Doors we strive to deliver both by carrying top-of-the-line products, and by providing expert installers to install them in your home. When you factor in our Peace of Mind Maintenance program—which warranties windows and doors installed by Renaissance for two years from the date of original installation—you can be confident in our commitment to client satisfaction.

Peace of Mind Maintenance Plan

Product warranties are only half the story at Renaissance Windows and Doors. All of the manufacturers we carry offer product warranties that cover their windows and doors:

The Renaissance Difference: Installation Advantage

Your path to new windows and doors starts on our showroom floor; once you’ve selected the product that is right for you, the next step is the installation process. When you choose Renaissance Windows and Doors for your home project, you are choosing excellence, including a professional installation by a master installer on our staff. We don’t use contract labor for installation, which means that you benefit from experience when our installers are on the job.

Jeld Wen: Fiberglass Doors

For over 50 years JELD-WEN has been dedicated to crafting and manufacturing high-quality, reliable windows and doors. Over the years they have grown from the original one-millwork Oregon plant into a company that employs over 20,000 people across the world. One thing that hasn’t changed is JELD-WEN’s commitment to community, efficiency, quality, and performance. Choosing a JELD-WEN exterior door for your home doesn’t require sacrificing style for energy-efficiency; no matter where you live, JELD-WEN fiberglass doors will contribute to the energy efficiency of your home, and look beautiful in the process.

Financial considerations when buying new windows

Buying new windows for your home is a big financial investment, one that pays off in the long run. That doesn’t meant that you don’t have to worry about the short run, though, and that’s where we come in. We know that new home constructions and remodels can be stressful, so we want to make the process just a little bit easier on you. Peace of mind goes a long way and our special offers are designed to take away some of the burden to let you enjoy the process and in turn, your new windows.Whether you are looking for tax incentives, financing, or money-off-the-top for purchasing in quantity we have a selection of special offers to help make window replacement more affordable and less stressful. Read on:

Industry Links: Why they are important

Have you ever visited our Industry Links page? We are proud of our association with these organizations and we encourage you to take a closer look at them. They will give you insight into our industry and the players who work together to bring you the highest standards in fenestration. • Fenestration: the arrangement, proportioning, and design of windows and doors in a building.

Values: Seeing is Believing

We hope you enjoy our blog and that it provides you with plenty of useful information that helps you make the right decisions for your home. We also hope that you will go a step further and stop into our showroom, talk to one of our professionals, and ask questions to get the answers you need to choose the best windows and doors to fit your home and your budget. We firmly believe in the exceptional quality of our products and the skill and professionalism of our staff.We recently blogged about window styles, and we included information about our Infinity by Marvin line of products. You can see the styles and options “in action”; check it out!

Door Styles

In last week’s blog we brought you an extended feature on window styles, the materials that windows are made of, the environmentally-friendly and energy efficient options they offer, and how to integrate them into your new or existing home design style. This week we are blogging to help you choose the most efficient and stylish doors to fit your budget. Are you ready to update your exterior doors? Or are you building a new home and need to choose doors and windows? Let our experts at Renaissance Windows and Doors help!

Tax-Credits

Timing is everything, isn’t it? If you’ve been considering a replacement project for your home’s windows and doors, the time is now. Tax credits for 2011 are available and you can take advantage of them if you purchase qualifying windows and/or exterior doors for your home. 

Quality in Details

Martin Van Buren once said, “It’s easier to do a job right than to explain why you didn’t.” We happen to agree, which is why quality in details is so important to us. When you make a selection from our wide range of high-quality windows and doors it’s up to us to convert that selection—via installation—into an investment in your home. We don’t just want you to love our products; we want you to love the final outcome: beautifully designed and installed windows and doors that add beauty and value to your home. The quality of the things you don’t see—like shims and caulking—should enhance the quality of those that you do, the windows and doors themselves.Rot-proof and non-rot shims

Check for the EPA Lead-Safe Certification and Keep Your Family Safe

In 2008, the EPA finalized the Lead Renovation, Repair, and Painting Rule (LRRP) to ensure building contractors follow Lead-Safe procedures when working on homes built prior to 1978.  This requires contractors to become trained and certified to practice lead-safe operations by the EPA.

Happy Holidays!

Your friends at Renaissance Windows & Doors wish you all the best this holiday season and a New Year filled with health and prosperity.  

Decorate Without the Damage

Decorating for the holidays is a festive and creative way to show your friends and neighbors how much spirit you have this season. However, when it’s time to pack away the decorations until next year, you don’t want your doors and windows to show signs of seasons past. To make sure your doors and windows stay pristine all year long, don’t tape, tack or nail your decorations - hang them with care. We’ve found some great products which will allow you to add festive touches to your home without having to touch it up afterward.

The Deadline Approaches!

Last week we informed you of the upcoming deadline to qualify for Federal Tax Credits for Energy Efficiency, what qualifies, and what it means to you. This week, we’re letting you know that in order to have your windows and doors installed before the December 31 deadline, you’ll need to schedule an appointment as soon as possible. 

What Makes Our Warranty Different

A warranty is a manufacturer or seller’s promise to stand behind its product. According to the Federal Trade Commission, “federal law requires that warranties be available for you to read before you buy even when you’re shopping by catalog or on the Internet.” When making major purchases such as windows and doors, comparing warranties is as important as comparing style, materials and price.

Superior Installation Products Mean Your Windows Will Last a Lifetime

Last week, we told you about our exceptional installers, and promised to expound on the some of the products they use to make sure your new windows will perform as promised. Everyone at Renaissance Windows & Doors prides themselves on using only the highest quality products when installing your replacement windows and doors. It is the combination of these products and our expert installers that will make your windows the best performing on the market.

Bragging Rights: Our Master Installers

 “Your installers did a very nice job, cleaned up beautifully after themselves, were on time and did all the work exactly as agreed.” At Renaissance Windows & Doors, we constantly get positive feedback about our installers. The few testimonials we’ve put on the website don’t even begin to do them justice. So, for the next five months, we are going to feature a different member of our installation staff in their own blog post. Look for our first one in a few weeks! Before you meet them individually, however, we wanted to tell you why they and our installation process are unique.

Financing Made Easy From GE Money

New windows and doors are a huge investment in your home. In the long run, they will save you money on your electricity and increase your home’s value. However, the short-term investment may be a little daunting for some. We have never wanted our customers to sacrifice quality for price. In that spirit, Renaissance Windows & Doors has introduced no to low interest financing through GE Money, so you’ll never have to make that decision. All you have to do is choose the plan that is right for you.