From DCI Products (maker of SmartVent roofing ventilation solutions)

Roof ventilation, or lack thereof, is the leading cause of premature roof failures.
These failures include problems with dry rot, mold, mildew, condensation, warped decking, curling shingles, cracking shingles and structural failures. The proper and complete attic ventilation solutions are the answer when building new homes, remodeling existing homes and making improvements to commercial buildings.

Intake Ventilation
The patented SmartVent creates roof top, continuous intake airflow when soffit vents are inadequate or non-existent. The SmartVent can be used at the eaves edge, slightly up the roof and many other locations such as an exhaust vent on a shed roof or off-peak for firewall protection. The SmartVent can be used virtually anywhere on the roof and may be the only vent product the roofer ever needs. SmartVent has been field tested and approved since 1999 and creates an energy efficient roof system when proper exhaust vents are installed. At 9 NFA SmartVent provides a total of 18 NFA when installed at both eaves. This matches or exceeds all ridge vents.

Exhaust Ventilation
Topping the roof is DCI’s patented SmartRidge I and SmartRidge II. The 100% energy efficient design of SmartRidge I literally sucks attic air out like a straw and is the lowest profile ridge vent with a no street-side lift on one side. Due to this one side having no lift, 100% of the hot moist attic air is siphoned out instead of the short circuit that can occur on most double-sided ridge vents. SmartRidge II provides superior weather protection for ridge and hip ventilation.

What is AAMA?

The American Architectural Manufactures Association (AAMA) is a trade association of firms engaged in the manufacture and sale of building fenestration components and related products.  Tracing its origins back over 60 years, AAMA is active in its role as the “Technical Information Center” for industry’s products such as windows, glass doors, storm windows and related fenestration products.

How are windows tested for structural performance?

AAMA is a third party certification agency with whom manufacturers must certify structural performance for all its products. Recently, AAMA and the NWWDA (National Wood Window & Door Association) have worked together and approved a new combined test specification called AAMA/NWWDA 101/I.S.2-97. It allows vinyl, aluminum and wood products to be tested to the same criteria so consumers can compare products more uniformly and accurately.

Do all windows participate with AAMA programs and testing?

No.  Due to the very tough guidelines and increased costs, not all window manufacturers participate in the AAMA testing program.

Does Home Visions carry windows that are AAMA certified?

Yes.  Home Visions Inc. is proud to offer Simonton Windows as one of our preferred window solutions.  All Simonton windows carry the gold AAMA label which is the highest level of certification a product can receive.

                                             

Home Visions Inc. is proud to offer Simonton Windows.  With a vinyl extrusion plant, vinyl welding plant, a window fabrication location and a dedicated product development center - all located in West Virginia, USA - this replacement window manufacturer knows how to deliver a high quality, error free product each and every time and their recognition proves it!

For two years in a row, Simonton Windows ranks "Highest in Customer Satisfaction with Windows and Patio Doors," according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2011 Windows and Patio Doors Satisfaction Study.  The study measures consumer perceptions of their experience in six factors (in order of importance): Ordering and Delivery; Operational Performance and Durability; Price Paid for Products and Services Received; Appearance and Design Features; Warranty; and Repair and Replacement.

The Simonton window packaged with the professional installers at HVI are a great combination to our ensure our customer's long term overall satisfaction with their investment.

Get an estimate from Home Visions Inc. in Maryland, Northern Virginia or Washington, DC today!

A Home Visions customer from Arlington, Virginia is very happy with the insulation job they had done in their home!

"These gentlemen did an outstanding job, my husband and I were very impressed. They do excellent teamwork, were considerate and respected our home as if it were their own! All of my questions were answered and explained well. We would be happy to have these young men do work on our home anytime.” New Insulation Customer in Arlington, Virginia

For more information on replacement roof, new siding and replacement windows and Home Visions please visit www.homevisionsinc.com.  To get an estimate, following this link.

Press Release – SELECT CertainTeed ShingleMaster Status Achieved January 2012 – Residential/Commercial Asphalt Roofing

Home Visions Inc. is proud to announce certification by CertainTeed  as a SELECT ShingleMaster for roofing installations allowing the company to offer exclusive warranty coverage.  HVI has partnered with CertainTeed for eight years and the relationship has driven continuing education and manufacturer training for all departments within the company.  There are several requirements to obtain SELECT status including production and installation team training, consistent use of responsible business practices, proper insurance coverage and the company has been in business at least five years.

This accreditation will give all of our current and potential customers the confidence that they are dealing with top notch roofing installers and insures that all HVI installers and employees are up to date on the latest details for CertainTeed roofing systems and products.

Continuing education is very important to Home Visions Inc. and along with similar efforts in other branches of the company HVI continues learning in order to stay up to date with state of the art installations.

Thank you to CertainTeed and all HVI employees who put the hard work in through the years to make this possible.

New vinyl replacement windows not only help save you on heating and cooling costs, improve your view, lessen the amount of outside noise and raise your home's "curb appeal" but they also will brighten your day and make the interior of your home more elegant and bring out the interior colors of your home.  Take a look for youself...




 

You remember the song your leg bone is connected to your thigh bone and your thigh bone is connected to your hip bone, right?  Well, this song translates nicely to the exterior of your home because the windows are connected to the siding and the siding is connected to the gutters and the gutters are connected to the soffit and the soffit is connected to the roof.  And, guess what - like any fully functional human body - all of these things need to be in tandem with one another for them to provide maximum performance.

Let's take for example, the soffit.  In order to provide the best air flow system for your roof, the overhangs (soffit) of your home should be vented.  Some homes require the need to create air intake slots prior to installing the soffit.  If soffit is on the radar, there are other factors to consider as well concerning the fascia board and the gutters.

Another good example is the siding.  Deciding to replace vinyl siding prior to replacing the windows could be a mistake for several reasons.  Sill trim, j-channel and caulking is used during a siding project around windows and doors.  Installing a new window in new siding will undoubtedly cause the need to disrupt these features designed to seal the areas.

All of these items are connected to one another and although you can absolutely do exterior projects in stages it is best to make wise choices about the order in which you do them.

Home Visions Inc.

Selection for the Exterior 200 indicates a double honor. 
First, Home Visions Inc. was chosen for the Qualified Remodeler Top 500 earlier this year.  Home Visions Inc.'s ranking of 113 in the United Sates is based on an evaluation of percentage of work reported in the categories of decks, doors, outdoor living, roofing, siding, sunrooms, windows and other exterior work.  To be chosen for the Exterior 200, contractors must perform at least 50 percent of their cumulative business in exterior projects.

We feel as though this recognition speaks to the company's commitment to meeting and exceeding our customer's expectations which allows us to continue to grow through a strong referral program and an excellent track record.

There is a new buzz word in the replacement window world.  At the present time, Energy Star Labels carry huge weight when it comes to establishing a window's worth and in the near future (2013) we will all be evaluating our window buying decisions on the R-5 rating system which needs to be fully understood.

Let's look at the basics:

Currently, in the Mid-Atlantic region, in order for a replacement window to be considered "Energy Star Qualified" it must have a U-Factor equal to or less than .32 and a Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) of equal to or less than .40.  These figures qualify for the tax credit in our region and in many ways if a window achieves these ratings then the end user can certainly expect to see immediate results in terms of the home's overall comfort as well as a reduction is energy costs.

Now, let's compare these figures to a window that has an R-5 rating.  The way to compare is to measure the U-Factor and the SHGC. 
Energy Label  | U-Factor  | SHGC

Energy Star  |   .32              |    .40
R-5                      |  .22               |   .28

Request a free consultation today with one of our trained representatives to learn more about your options when it comes to new replacement windows for your home.

Here are a few things to consider when thinking about whether or not to finance your next home improvement project:

Competetive Interest Rates - a wide variety of plans with interest rates as low as 11.99%.

Low Minimum Monthly Payments - helps make home improvement projects more affordable and allows you to get the work done now, particularly if you have an emergency such as a leaking roof.

Open Line of Credit - You will be able to make future home improvements with ease, because our lender approves you for the line of credit amount for whch you qualify.  Get the roof installed now, pay off the balance and get the siding replacement done next year.

No Equity Required - You do not have to tie up equity in your home to get those old windows replaced done.