
A resource for those seeking information on organizing and transforming spaces.
The Advantages of Using Tempered Glass for Your Home
We have been using glass as a building material for our homes for a long time.
We use glass primarily for windows at home, but we have since been using them for doors, interior partitions, shower enclosures, and stair rails, among other things.
The most commonly used type of glass in homes is annealed glass. Also referred to as standard or plate glass, annealed glass is a popular choice mainly because it tends to be cheaper.
However, you might want to consider tempered glass instead the next time you need to replace a glass window, door, or partition at home.
We have been using glass as a building material for our homes for a long time.
We use glass primarily for windows at home, but we have since been using them for doors, interior partitions, shower enclosures, and stair rails, among other things.
The most commonly used type of glass in homes is annealed glass. Also referred to as standard or plate glass, annealed glass is a popular choice mainly because it tends to be cheaper.
However, you might want to consider tempered glass instead the next time you need to replace a glass window, door, or partition at home.
Many residential and commercial glass providers recommend tempered glass for home use because it offers several advantages over standard glass, including:
Unmatched Strength and Durability
Tempered glass is reputed to be four times stronger than annealed glass.
Making tempered glass requires heating glass to 600 degrees Celsius, then cooling it through “quenching,” a rapid and high-pressure process that gives the finished product much of its strength.
While it takes 6,000 pounds per square inch (psi) to break annealed glass, tempered glass is proving tougher to break at around 24,000 psi.
If your home is located in an area regularly battered by strong winds, tempered glass would be an excellent choice.
Enhanced Safety
Glass will always break, regardless of how tough it’s supposed to be.
Even supposedly “bulletproof” (the more accurate term is “bullet-resistant”) glass eventually breaks when struck by bullets repeatedly in the same spot or hit by higher-caliber firearms.
When standard glass breaks, anyone close by is at risk of sustaining deep cuts because of the resulting sharp and jagged shards. Cleaning up the mess could also prove difficult and risky, as even the tiniest pieces can break the skin.
No such risk is present with tempered glass.
Instead of producing deadly pieces of broken glass, tempered glass shatters into hundreds of dull, harmless pebble-like pieces when it breaks.
Making tempered glass even safer when it breaks is the fact that all its shattered pieces interlock with one another, which means they mostly stick together, making it so much easier to clean up.
The safety that tempered glass provides makes it ideal for homes with energetic kids who are at risk of accidentally breaking glass fixtures at home and injuring themselves.
Better Heat Resistance
Regular glass breaks or gets bent out of shape when regularly exposed to high temperatures.
However, tempered glass has a much higher tolerance for heat, thanks to the unique process it goes through during production.
Tempered glass can withstand temperatures of up to 243 degrees Celsius, which makes it perfect for use in the hotter-than-usual parts of your home, like the kitchen and the bathroom.
Crystal Clear Clarity
Some might think that the process of producing stronger tempered glass affects the clarity of the finished product, but it doesn’t.
Every pane of tempered glass coming out of the factory is crystal clear, making them perfect for windows, doors, cabinets, and display cases.
Improved Scratch Resistance
One of the more annoying things about regular glass is that they scratch easily. Glass panes with visible scratches don’t look good in any setting and are often a reason for some homeowners to replace them altogether.
On the other hand, tempered glass is better at resisting scratches, thanks to the process that makes it thermally tough. If you use tempered glass for glass doors, windows, and display cabinets, you can rest easy, knowing they will remain crystal clear and scratch-free for a long time.
Creative Versatility
While homeowners generally prefer the crystal-clear quality that tempered glass offers, there are homeowners who go for a bit more creativity in its look.
Fortunately for them, tempered glass can also come in a variety of designs, patterns, colors, and styles.
Frosted tempered glass is popular, and so is the stained variety. Some homeowners want their tempered glass panes engraved as well.
Whatever your creative preferences and needs, you can be sure that there are tempered glass panes to suit them.
The Best Applications For Tempered Glass
Tempered glass is quite versatile, as you can use it for any part of your home.
It’s great for windows, patio doors, walls, balcony enclosures, and stairway landings.
Tempered glass would also be excellent for shower partitions or bathroom doors. After all, the risk of slipping and falling is always present in the bathroom. With tempered glass doors, the likelihood of suffering cuts when they break would be minimal.
The next time you shop for glass panes to use at home, always remember to ask your home glass provider about tempered glass and its superior characteristics.
Tempered glass may be more expensive than regular glass, but its advantages, particularly regarding safety, make the added cost worth it.
Guest Post - How to Protect Your Home From Pests
Bugs can enter your home through openings in your walls. They are often more prevalent during the winter months, but they can invade at any time of year. To help keep your home protected from pests, follow the tips below.
Bugs can enter your home through openings in your walls. They are often more prevalent during the winter months, but they can invade at any time of year. To help keep your home protected from pests, follow the tips below.
1. Trim Your Trees and Use Less Mulch
Cutting off excess tree branches reduces the chance of bugs entering your home. The extended limbs can act as bridges for them. Make sure to trim the ones closest to your house first.
Also, when doing yard work, limit the amount of mulch you use. Mulch can be a hiding place for many pests. Consider using rocks as an alternative ground covering.
Here are some other alternatives to mulch that you can add to your garden:
Pea gravel
Newspaper
Leaves
Grass clippings
Pine needles
2. Seal Doors and Windows
Pests can squeeze through the cracks in your windows or doors. This is why it is essential to inspect them regularly. Also, look out for any rips or tears in your window screens. Properly sealing your doors and windows can help eliminate these gaps. You can use either caulk or weatherstripping to close up any holes.
3. Remove Animal Nests From Your Roof
Insects can create nests on top of your roof. During the winter, they enter your home through small openings within your exterior. Regularly perform a roof inspection to keep your house protected. You want to get rid of these nests before the bugs reproduce and you end up with an infestation.
4. Properly Dispose of Any Trash or Litter
Your garage can attract pests inside your home, so make sure your garbage bins are tightly covered. You should also rinse out the cans and remove any food spills.
Here are some additional ways to keep your trash can pest-free:
Keep all garbage in the bag
Clean out any containers before throwing them away
Repair holes
Install motion detectors
Spray ammonia
Your yard can also provide homes for pests to hide in. Keep your lawn free of debris, such as leaves, paint clippings or standing water.
5. Use the Right Lightbulbs
To help reduce the number of bugs around your windows and doors, add high-power pressure sodium vapor or halogen lights. Bulbs with pink, yellow or orange tints can help keep pests away. Yellow lights are often used because bugs confuse the light source with the moon, which they use as a navigational tool. They will want to keep a distance from the light.
You may also consider changing the location of your lights. It is common for exterior lights to be located near your doors. Instead, you might want to place them further away from your home on a pole. This can draw insects away from your house.
How to Keep Your Home Pest-Free
Your home should be a place to relax. However, bugs can find their way in through gaps in your exterior. Consider these tips to keep your house safe from unwanted pests.
Author bio: Rose Morrison is the managing editor of Renovated, where she offers advice on home renovation, maintenance, and organization.
What To Look For in Your New Apartment
Are you searching for a new apartment but don’t know exactly what to look for? Check out our guide on what you should be looking for in your next apartment.
Figuring out what to look for in your new apartment is no easy task. There are so many aspects to consider, and when there’s a plethora of options on the market, it can be hard to narrow down what’s most important to you. Hopefully, this guide will help you get a better idea of what’s necessary for your next apartment and what isn’t.
Check Out the Neighborhood
Nobody wants to move into the bad part of town, but sometimes you don’t have that luxury due to price restraints or what’s available at the time of looking. The key thing to remember is not all sections of the bad area are all that horrible. Some neighborhoods might be better than you originally heard. Be sure to do your research before making a decision.
On the other side of things, even if you’re looking at the best apartment complex in the whole state, it might not be the best fit for you. The neighbors might be unbearable. The owners might nickel-and-dime you for every little thing that goes wrong. It could even have horrible construction nearby that will make you late for work every day. Many overlooked details could make a place that seems great be the wrong choice for you.
Ask About What’s Included
It’s a good idea to know what you’ll be paying for in your new apartment. The common things to ask about are electricity, water, gas, and Wi-Fi, but there are plenty of other things to consider as well. Find out if there are washers and dryers. If there are, ask if they are in-unit or communal. The same goes for parking. Figure out how many spaces you get, if they cost extra, and if there is guest parking. If you have pets, ask them what their policy is for them or if they’re even allowed in the first place.
These are some of the most important questions to ask. There are plenty of others that might be more relevant to you, so make sure you list them out and set aside some time to get them answered.
Find Something That Fits Your Style
When people ask friends and family what to look for in a new apartment, one thing that no one ever seems to suggest is to find something that fits your style. If you’re going to be paying a lot of money to live there each month, we would hope that it’s something that you enjoy living in. When searching, make sure you like the layout of the apartment. There are so many aspects to consider when looking at the floorplan.
If you can’t find the perfect fit for your style, ask the landlord what you can change. Chances are there won’t be too much you can change, but it doesn’t hurt to ask. Some apartment complexes don’t mind you making changes as long as you change them back when you leave. This can open a lot more opportunities for you if making changes is an option.
How to Feel Settled Into a New Home After Moving
When you move into a new house, it can be hard to feel comfortable there at first. The house might feel like it still belongs to someone else or that it just is not home to you. There are some things that you can do to feel more settled and comfortable in your new home.
When you move into a new house, it can be hard to feel comfortable there at first. The house might feel like it still belongs to someone else or that it just is not home to you. There are some things that you can do to feel more settled and comfortable in your new home.
Fill the Home With a Scent that You Love
If there was a certain scent that you always used in your last home, you might find a way to fill your new home with that scent. If you love using an essential oil diffuser, you might get one of those started up in your new home while you are still unpacking. The smell of a house can make the place homey or not, and you have the power to fill your new house with any scent you like.
Set the Home Up With Comforts and Conveniences
If you have to get out of your car to open the garage at your new house, you are not going to feel settled there. You should purchase garage door openers and get your garage set up so that the door will open for you at a push of a button. You should also set your home up with other conveniences that you are used to, such as smart speakers, a dishwasher, and a refrigerator that is easy to use.
Give Yourself Time in the New Home
If you want to feel comfortable in a space, you need to spend time there. It can be hard to have time at home when you have just moved, but you should try to limit your plans so that you can spend time just being in your new house and getting to know it. Spend time relaxing in the new place and figuring out which rooms you like to spend time in the most.
Get to Know Your New Neighbors and Neighborhood
When you do feel the need to get out of the house, spend your time walking your neighborhood and getting to know all that the area offers. Talk with your new neighbors and get to know them. Try to make connections in the new area where you are living. You will feel more at home when you know those living around you.
Moving can be stressful and tiring. With a little time, though, you can get settled into your new home and love living there.