Yes, that is very possible. The minimum that needs to happen is to enlarge the opening and put in a new header. That may be easier said than done. There are a lot of variables to consider which will affect the appearance of the new door system, as well as the installation and cost.

For example, if the front of your home is brick, a brick mason will be needed for the opening on the outside. Are there currently windows near the front door? If so, the wall may need to be rebuilt for structural integrity. On the other hand, if your current door already has sidelights, that will change project scope as well.

We provide free, in-home consultations and review all of these details and design ideas with our clients. In my opinion, the best next move is to get a qualified professional to your home so you can find out what is involved in the job and see which options are available to you.

I love these remodeling projects! A new front entry can completely change the look and curb appeal of your home, and make a memorable first impression for a visitor.

If you’d like to send me a photo of the front of your home, I would be happy to talk with you further.

Don’t forget that many doors are eligible for the federal tax credit and energy incentive, so now’s the perfect time to replace a front door.

Good luck with your new doors!

As it stands now, the bill provides two types of consumer incentives:

1)   Silver Star – this provides up-front rebates at the time of purchase for insulation, duct sealing, windows and doors, air sealing and water heaters. Homeowners may receive up to $1500 per improvement, with a total rebate of up to $3,000 or 50% of the total project cost.

2)  Gold Star – rewards homeowners that undertake a comprehensive energy audit and document their energy savings. Consumers may receive $3,000 for a demonstrated energy savings of 20%. For every 5% energy savings after that, they can receive $1,000. The cap is $8,000 or 50% of the project cost.

To make sure homeowners will be able to afford the home renovations, the bill includes $324 million for state and local governments to provide financing options to consumers to manage their share of the cost. This can be a powerful program for homeowners that can take advantage of it before the money runs out.

Projects must be installed by qualified contractors, and the states will have independent quality assurance providers auditing installations in the field to ensure the energy savings will be achieved.

President Obama strongly supports the Act, and agrees that it will not only reduce greenhouse emissions and help consumers lower their energy bills, but it will also stimulate the creation of green jobs (estimated at about 170,000) in construction and manufacturing. The administration views it as a key element of the economic recovery and green job agendas, and it has widespread support.

We have yet to clarify what this will mean in terms of real savings on windows and doors until the bill is finalized. However, upon first review of the bill it is very favorable to window and door replacement.

There is additional concern about the Home Star program being negatively affected by the recent passage of the EPA’s Lead Paint Rule which targets homes built before 1978. I expect to have more details on this in the next few weeks. If you have questions, please make a comment.

We at Mr. Rogers Windows take the dangers and health risks of lead paint very seriously. Our sales consultants and installers have undergone rigorous EPA training, as well as most of our support team. We will provide clients with our EPA Certification, and remain in full compliance with all Lead Safe Work Practices.

If your home or building was built before 1978 you should know that we are actively engaged in the regulations, and up to date with federal and state compliance requirements in order to assure the safety and health of your home and family.

If you have questions or need information contact me, or the National Lead Information Center. Click herefor important lead hazard information in the EPA’s Renovate Rightconsumer brochure.

At Mr. Rogers Windows, I become your advocate if something ever goes wrong with your windows so you would never have to wait 5 years for your claim. And you wouldn’t have to pay for installation again either, which is often times more costly than the windows themselves.

That’s the kind of guarantee you want when you buy replacement windows. Here’s what ours says:

• All windows and doors from Mr. Rogers Windows are guaranteed to perform as well as the day they were installed, for as long as you own your home, no matter what.
• If anything goes wrong with your windows and/or doors installed by Mr. Rogers Windows, other than intentional misuse or abuse, the problem will be fixed for free, no questions asked.
• Regular wear and tear that affects the performance of your windows and doors, and accidental damage or breakage is also covered, free of charge, for as long as you own your home.
• Mr. Rogers Windows’ guarantee covers everything. Parts, supplies, labor, time and clean up are all included. There are no hidden fees, and no surprise charges.

Don’t underestimate the importance of a consumer guarantee. You can read more in my article, “What You Need to Know – Replacement Window Warranty v Guarantee”.

So let’s take a closer look at this phenomenon.

Warping vinyl siding has occurred before. In fact, the Vinyl Siding Institute (VSI) issued a warning about such distortion over 8 years ago. The Institute reported that a number of other variables can contribute to siding distortion:

• outdoor temperature and wind speed
• how close other heat sources are, such as air conditioning compressors
• color and solar absorption of the vinyl siding (darker colors absorb more heat)
• the heat distortion temperature of the vinyl siding (cheap siding has a low distortion temp)
• architectural designs that block wind and trap heat
• angle of the sun and orientation of the glass relative to the vinyl siding
• distance of the window to the vinyl siding

It’s usually a combination of one or more contributing factors that occur before the siding “melts”. Even home-builders are reluctant to blame the neighbor’s windows, and point to a variety of factors that could affect the intensity of the reflected sunlight.

Each case needs to be investigated on an individual basis.

For example, melting can occur from the reflection and radiant heat of a dark roof, or the pavement, or some underlayments. And crazy at it may seem, even an interior vapor barrier installed behind drywall can trap enough heat under the right conditions to affect siding. Alcoves that block the wind, overhangs that trap convected heat, and inside corners that capture glass reflections…these can all contribute to the problem.

A home inspector friend of mine agrees—there are other contributing factors that can cause vinyl siding to warp, buckle and melt. He’s observed it mostly in newer neighborhoods, where the homes are built really close to one another.

And it could be the quality of the siding.

According to current manufacturing standards, normal grade vinyl siding begins to distort at 160 – 165 degrees. That’s pretty low to begin with. Now consider that newer homes and retrofits have darker siding options—grays and beiges—which absorb considerably more heat than white siding when exposed to reflected or even direct sunlight.

Research from Cardinal Glass Industries shows that vinyl siding with high solar absorbency can distort from solar reflections from all glass products, including clear glass as well as glass with one or multiple Low-E coatings.

In my opinion, Low-E windows are not the problem.

Local building codes all over the country now require installation of energy-efficient windows with Low-E coatings. Low-E glass and energy-efficient construction make good sense for your home and for the environment. We’ve saved millions of dollars in energy because of these requirements, plus we substantially reduced greenhouse gas emissions from the lower energy consumption. Low-E windows are here to stay.

I think what’s happening is more indicative of the cheap, lower grade siding commonly used by tract builders. Maybe you’ve heard toe saying, “Cheap is the most expensive price to pay.” Wood and metal siding products, which cost more, react to reflected solar radiation at much higher temperatures. Inferior products just can’t be trusted to hold up under extreme conditions.

So what’s a homeowner to do? Choose siding with a high heat distortion rating, high solar reflectivity, and a light color. If you already have vinyl siding that may be affected by heat distortion, plant shrubbery or trees to deflect heat, and in some cases screens or awnings can help.

For more technical information about vinyl siding distortion, you can read the Cardinal IG technical bulletin here.

Gas fills between window panes have shown a measurable improvement in the thermal performance of windows and patio doors.

Our windows and doors are filled with argon gas. It is inexpensive, non-toxic, clear and odorless.

Krypton gas has a higher thermal rating than argon, but it is much more expensive to produce. It is also clear, non-toxic, non-reactive and odorless.

The tradeoff is that krypton performs best in a window where the space between the glass is about 1/4 to 3/8 inch. For this reason, it is more commonly used in triple pane windows.

The atmospheric pressure can affect windows that have so little space between the glass. Tests have revealed that Krypton has a higher gas leakage rate than argon as well.

The Renewal by Andersen Fibrex composite replacement window is designed with a wider space between the panes, 1/2 inch, and that additional space plus the argon gas, Low E4 coating and Smart Sun glazing provides excellent efficiency, without the risk of seal failure.

Thanks for your question.

Now they’re calling me a SUPERHERO! (I think I like that better than a Plunger.) According to Special Olympics VA, February 6 proved fans will stop at nothing in support of them and their annual Polar Plunge Festival. 2,636 thrill-seekers took the icy dip this year, despite snow, rain, sleet and wind, raising $861,000 (and counting!) for Special Olympics! If you were there, you’re a SUPERHERO too! Thank you for coming out and supporting us. You can see more crazy photos here, and read the full story on my replacement windows website.

The folks at the Atlantic Shores Christian Academy dared me to take a dip into the icy waters of the Atlantic Ocean in support of Special Olympics Virginia. This year I accepted. To date, the event has raised $4.7 million for the organization.

You don’t need to risk hypothermia to be a Plunge hero. IEven though it’s too late for you to register (or take my place) for this year’s bone-chilling challenge, if you’re in the area, please come out and cheer me on while I “suit up” for the winter swim.

Even if you don’t want to catch a few waves or cheer me on, it’s a great cause, and you can make a donation through the Mr. Rogers Windows Foundation (earmark PLUNGE on your check). We can all make a difference, and this is a fun way to do it.

The fun starts Friday night with a rockin’ plunge party, and on Saturday there’s a costume parade and contest, pee wee plunge, ice carving and more before the main event at 2:30 pm. I love the gigantic sand sculptures.

Special Olympics Virginia is indeed a very special organization. They provide year-round programming in sports training and athletic competition specifically for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Serving almost 10,000 special athletes across seven regional offices and through 28 area programs, Special Olympics Virginia is also proudly part of a dynamic global movement, which is now in more than 180 countries and represents over three million athletes worldwide.

Using sports to influence social change, Special Olympics VA wants to open our collective hearts and minds about people with intellectual disabilities.

Their mission is to provide participants with exciting and competitive athletic opportunities that will help them to develop and improve physical fitness and motor skills, as well as build self-confidence and promote a positive self-image.

And thanks to the assistance and generous support of more than 20,000 wonderful volunteers and partners around the state, these special athletes don’t have to pay in order to achieve their dreams.