Happy Memorial Day and Happy Start to Summer!!

by ohdct. Posted on May 29, 2014

Thank you to all the men and women in the military who have served or are currently serving to protect our country and its freedom. With the observance of Memorial Day we think of these freedoms of which we are given, and we think ahead to the wonderful season of summer and how we might spend time enjoying those freedoms. One thought comes to mind when thinking of being outside on these warm, sunny days, and that is the idea of relaxing under the delicious and refreshing shade of the beautiful awnings we sell. Our awnings are made of durable, weather-proof, UV resistant materials, and are available in both motorized retractable and non-motorized retractable options. We also offer for sale fabric or aluminum window and door awnings and canopies. Lab test measurements have shown awnings will protect one from the sun’s harmful UV rays, as well as lower the temperature of the deck or patio it is covering by up to as much as 20 degrees. By blocking the sun’s rays from penetrating the house, it can also reduce cooling costs and help conserve valuable energy, making it a smart and green choice for consumers. Our awning styles, colors, and fabric choices are many, and each would be custom designed to fit your outdoor living space at an affordable price. A well-placed awning will extend your living space without the high price of costly additions, and will add thousands of dollars to the resale value of the home. Think of how much more time you can enjoy outside on the hottest of summer days or even when a rain storm is coming through that might otherwise send you inside.

Stop by any of our 3 showrooms conveniently located in Preston, Tolland or Brooklyn, or call us to have a sales representative meet you personally to discuss your awning desires and make those dreams an affordable reality.

88 Rt 2A, Preston/860-889-3849/1-800-462-4003

70 Merrow Rd, Tolland/860-872-1466/1-800-462-4003

93 Hartford Rd, Brooklyn/860-779-8910/1-800-462-4003

Please join us on Saturday, June 7, 2014 from 9am — 2pm at our Brooklyn showroom located at 93 Hartford Rd, Brooklyn for a fabulous Open House sale and to take advantage of our incredible summer savings on awnings, as well as garage doors.

Let us help you make the summer of 2014 your best one yet!!!

How to Improve Curb Appeal and Retain Value

by ohdct. Posted on December 18, 2013

Remodeling magazine’s 2014 Cost vs. Value survey shows that homeowners who upgrade their garage doors with either mid-range or upscale replacements can expect to see some of the best returns on investment (ROI) among popular home renovation projects. Even better, the survey found that garage door replacement is incredibly economical compared to other projects like family room additions, deck additions and kitchen remodels. For example, the nationwide average cost for an installed, mid-range garage door is just $1,534, while the cost for an upscale door is $2,791. This compares to room, deck and kitchen projects that can run into the tens of thousands of dollars.

Down the road when it comes time to sell, the survey says mid-range garage door replacement will yield an average 83.7 percent return on investment (ROI), while an upscale garage door will deliver an average 82.9 percent ROI. Why so high? Take a look at your home and you’ll see. For many homes, a garage door comprises up to 40 percent of the façade. That means that when you replace an ordinary or old door with a new one, your home becomes the stand-out in your neighborhood.

after As in the past, this year’s survey determined the ROI for garage door replacement by evaluating the average cost to replace a basic garage door with a mid-range door model. The survey found the value of that replacement at home sale to be $1,283, or 83.7 percent ROI; an increase over last year’s 75.7 percent ROI. In the upscale home improvement category, the survey evaluated the average cost to replace a mid-range door with an upscale door and found a $2,315 value of the project at home sale, which equates to an 82.9 percent return; an increase from last year’s 75.2 percent ROI.

The study details not only the national average value returned on common home remodeling and renovation projects, but also the expected ROI in nine U.S. regions and 101 U.S. cities, so it’s easy to see what ROI you could expect in your city. Full results of the report are available at www.costvsvalue.com.

Garage Safety Basics

by ohdct. Posted on August 11, 2013

11 Aug

The garage generally is not a safe place for an unsupervised young child to be, and it’s best to keep it off-limits to her. That doesn’t preclude taking the following precautionary measures to prevent accidents however.

Think about what’s in your garage, workshop, or storage shed for a moment and it quickly becomes clear that it’s a potentially hazardous environment for children. These spaces house not only a car, but often sharp tools and implements, toxic and flammable substances from insecticides and fertilizers to pest poisons and gasoline, perhaps empty bottles and cans, plus countless items that could fall over onto a child and cause injury. Even the garage door can be dangerous. The garage generally is not a safe place for an unsupervised young child to be, and it’s best to keep it off-limits to her. That doesn’t preclude taking the following precautionary measures to prevent accidents however.

Use cabinet and drawer latches and electrical outlet covers as you would in other parts of the house, and keep hazardous implements and substances safely locked away.
Don’t leave lengths of rope lying around or hanging down from hooks.
Store ladders in a horizontal position, so a child cannot climb up them.
Disconnect power tools when not in use. Plug locks are available that attach to cords and prevent their insertion into electrical outlets.
Properly dispose of any incendiary materials such as piles of old newspapers and magazines, old clothing, and soiled, oily rags. Do not store gasoline or other flammable liquids near gas and hot-water heaters.
Never store a discarded appliance in a garage without first removing the door.
Lock the car doors. Little fingers are easily crushed by a car door and there are plenty of potential hazards inside the car should a young child enter it unsupervised.
Use special precautions with garage doors. Garage doors are heavy and can cause serious injuries. Both automatic and manual doors can crush fingers and cause severe head injuries, even death. The safest kind of manually operated garage door has a counter-balance system rather than a long coil spring. Make sure automatic garage doors have a device that automatically stops the door or reverses it when it comes into contact with an object.