Lead Safety – What You Need To Know

Lead Safe Work Practices – what are they and how do they pertain to homeowners everywhere?  On April 22, 2010, the Environmental Protection Agency’s 2008 Lead-Based Paint Renovation Repair and Painting Rule became fully effective.  The EPA issued this law, stating that “federal law requires contractors that disturb paint surfaces in homes, child care facilities and schools, built before 1978 to be certified and follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination.”  Lead is a naturally occurring element found in small amounts in the earth’s crust that can be toxic to humans and animals.  Lead and lead compounds have been used in a wide variety of products found in and around our homes, including paint, ceramics, pipes and plumbing materials, solders, gasoline, batteries, ammunition, and cosmetics.  Though lead is especially dangerous to children under six years of age, it is also harmful to adults and can pose many health dangers.  Before taking on any home renovation project, it is important for any homeowner to educate themselves in Lead Safety and make certain that any company they hire to assist in any future home renovation project is federally qualified to honor and abide by EPA’s Renovation, Repair, and Painting Rules (Rule 40 CFR Part 745).  A.B.E. Doors & Windows is an EPA Certified Renovator and we pride ourselves in providing our customers with proper and professional installation and service.  Our company and staff recognizes the significant dangers of lead poisoning and are compliant in following all Lead Safe Work Practices to assure each of our customers comfort and security.  To learn more about Lead Safe Work Practices, please visit www.epa.gov.

This post first appeared on https://www.abedoors.com

For more than a hundred years, the Better Business Bureau has provided guidance and assistance to the American consumer. Today’s BBB rates businesses on a scale from A+ to F, while offering accreditation to those who qualify. The Bureau also sets standards for business practices, and supports the efforts of businesses to respond to any complaints that may arise in the course of regular work. ABE Doors & Windows earned BBB accreditation on July 14, 2008, and has maintained it ever since. On the BBB’s ratings scale, ABE holds the highest rating: A+. The Bureau identifies no government actions against ABE, and reports no issues related to ABE’s advertising program. For a look at the relevant web page, visit http://www.bbb.org/washington-dc-eastern-pa/business-reviews/windows-installation-and-service/a-b-e-doors-windows-inc-in-allentown-pa-50001077. To be accredited and top-rated by this respected American institution is, of course, a substantial honor to ABE and all its employees. But we believe that what matters far more than our pride in these recognitions is what they mean to our customers. While the ratings and accreditations issued by the Better Business Bureau do not constitute specific evaluations or endorsements, countless consumers have been guided by them through the years. The good name of the BBB is such that businesses who achieve their ratings and accreditations have often been patronized by consumers. And if any difficulties arise, the good offices of the Bureau contribute strongly to fair resolutions for all. We believe that ratings from the Bureau are a legitimate consideration when choosing any business – and ABE Doors & Windows is no exception.

This post first appeared on https://www.abedoors.com

 One of the most common questions and concerns that we address around this time of year is whether or not we are able to perform product installations in the frigid months ahead.  And, yes, we do!  It is a well-known fact that things expand in the summer heat and contract in the freezing winter, but, by using forethought and taking proper precaution, we are still able to complete most types of installation during this cold season.  We use silicone caulk that is rated for lower temperatures.  We also plan each installation before arriving at the job site, in order to do our best in minimizing the amount of time the house is exposed to cold air.  We prep each opening so our installers can replace an older product with the newly ordered product and have it fit right into the opening, without leaving an opening in the home longer than absolutely necessary.  We also back our work up with a 5-year workmanship warranty that we offer on every installation that we do.  The only time that we may need to push back any type of installation is if we should experience severely inclement weather that can cause unsafe working conditions and jeopardize the safety of our crew and the well-being of the home.  In order for us to perform jobs that require the removal and reinstalling of pre-existing siding, it is crucial that temperatures be above freezing.  By following these extra steps with care, winter weather is not an issue for our team of certified installers!

This post first appeared on https://www.abedoors.com

September is here and Fall is quickly approaching!  Autumn welcomes the start of the new school year; and much of our focus is set on making sure that students (as well as ourselves) are supplied with all the required tools to be best equipped for achieving success.  In the often hectic and frantic hustling of change, it is easy to forget to take into consideration exactly how the changing of seasons will affect the home that we live in – one of our most beneficial means for basic survival.  According to the U.S. Department of Energy, “Heating and cooling your home uses more energy and costs more money than any other system in your home — typically making up about 54% of your utility bill.”  On average, it has been determined that a home can lose up to 30% of its heating and cooling energy through air leaks around doors and windows.  Such an essential and costly necessity makes it only beneficial to take every precaution to make certain that your home is not costing you empty and purposeless dollars.

Have you found that any garage doors, exterior doors, and/or windows have developed significant drafts over time? With each year that passes, prestigious product manufacturers within the United States (such as Raynor, Provia, Soft-Lite, and Andersen) are constantly putting to use the latest and most innovative technological testing and designs to create much more efficient and homeowner friendly replacement products.  The garage doors, exterior doors, and windows that are available today provide more quality than anything that was ever available years ago.  So many homeowners have fallen prey to relying on the use of home improvement “Band-Aids” – home-store bought weatherstripping and seals, caulk, door draft stoppers, applying plastic around drafty windows, etc. – which oftentimes only offers a temporary solution to an ever worsening problem and prolongs the inevitable.  Specializing in all things doors and windows, we can attest that updating any problem product on your home is a beneficial and educated investment – saving you from much distress and lost money, in the big scheme of things.  By considering replacing these specific products, any homeowner will gain a greater peace of mind – knowing that they are installing products that meet Energy Star qualifications and will provide for them with protection from the outside elements for many years to come.

If you find that you are interested in the replacement of any garage door, exterior door, and/or window in your home, please feel free to visit our showroom for more information or reach out to us to schedule a free estimate.

This post first appeared on https://www.abedoors.com

Spring is in the air, and people all over the Valley are getting serious about home repair, renovation and improvement projects that have languished for a long time. And that means, we believe, that this year’s Spring Home Show at Lehigh University’s Stabler Arena, sponsored by the Lehigh Valley Builders’ Association, is going to be a well-attended, exciting one.

We’re going all out this year, and we hope you’ll make point of stopping by, April 5 through 7. (We’ll be there Friday 6-10 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-9 p.m., and Sunday 11 a.m.-5 p.m. at booths S068, S069, S070, S083, S084 and S085.) Prime examples from every product category we sell will be on display – windows, entrance doors, patio doors, storm doors, and beautiful wood and steel carriage-house garage doors by Raynor.

The real showstopper, though, is a fully operational Liftmaster 8550 garage door opener – one of the premier models on the market today. This unit features MyQ technology, the impressive cutting-edge application that lets you control all aspects of operation remotely from any smart phone. Another cool aspect of this operator is its ultra-quiet direct-current motor.  Equipped this way, the door starts and stops slow and smooth, without any extra jerks, vibration or racket.

To support our show presence, we’re offering our loyal customers a chance to win a $50 Visa gift card in the ABE Doors and Windows Facebook Sweepstakes. You don’t even have to leave the website to enter – just click over to homepage and use the link there that says Enter to Win. You’ll see how to qualify for our May 1 drawing just by reviewing us on Google, liking us on Facebook, or checking in on Facebook when you visit our showroom. No purchase is necessary to win.

This post first appeared on https://www.abedoors.com

HAPPY SPRING!

Oh my, spring has sprung! … Literally.  What do you do?  Here at A.B.E. Doors & Windows, the word "spring" takes on a whole new meaning.  One of the most common factors that contribute to a misbehaving or inoperable garage door is a broken spring, or two.  Although it is a very dangerous task for any homeowner to address on their own, it’s a problem that our team of certified technicians are trained to properly repair.  Springs counterbalance the weight of a garage door to make the door easy to open and close.  Garage door springs are rated by cycle life, or approximately how many times the door should open or close before the spring will break.  The cycle life of the springs that we provide and install for our customers have a higher cycle life rating than the springs that most manufacturers provide with a new door.  When a spring breaks, it becomes an immediate safety hazard because it will not allow the door to function properly.  It is so important, as a homeowner, to be proactive in the maintenance of your garage door, as you would with any other heavily used appliance in your home.  So whether you hear the tell-tale "POP!" of a broken spring, or realize that your door is just not operating as it should, please remember to put your personal well-being first and call a garage door professional to come out and do what they do best – provide you with efficient and effective service.  To reach our service department at A.B.E. Doors & Windows, feel free to call 610-398-2430 at any time, should you find yourself in any type of predicament.

This post first appeared on https://www.abedoors.com

Regardless of what a groundhog in western Pennsylvania might think, the calendar shows that winter will be with us until late March. It’s really not that long until spring – so it’s not too soon to think about what kinds of garage-door maintenance are appropriate with warmer weather on the way. Here are some tips.

1. Inspect. It’s surprising how many garage-door problems are obvious at a glance. Just give the door (inside and out) and the operating mechanism a careful once-over. If something appears to be loose, broken or somehow just not right, have it taken care of right away.

2. Lubricate. A good lube spray should be applied periodically to the moving parts of the garage door. Make this part of your spring maintenance routine. Remember, though – don’t spray it on plastic parts of the door. It’s a good idea to check your owner’s manual first.

3. Balance. Making sure the door’s properly balanced can avoid serious mechanical problems later on. Start with the door closed. If it has an automatic opener, use the release mechanism so you can move it by hand for this test. You should be able to lift it smoothly, with little resistance, and it should stay open by itself three or four feet above the floor. If not, it’s improperly adjusted – something ABE Doors & Windows can fix for you.

4. Check force setting. To make sure the operating force of your door is properly set, hold on to the bottom of the door while it’s closing. It should reverse direction easily. If not, see the owner’s manual for how to change the setting. You can usually take care of this one yourself.

5. Reversal. This test should really be done monthly, but you can start now if you haven’t been doing it. (Be sure that you’ve taken care of step 4 above before you do this. Trying this test if the force setting is wrong could damage the door.) Open the door all the way, put a length of 2X4 on the floor below it, and lower the door onto the wood. If it’s working properly, the door will change directions when it makes contact. If not, you’ll want to have a qualified technician service it immediately.

6. Check additional safety devices. Take just a minute more to examine safety devices such as photo eyes or edge sensors. If they’re not working, it should be clear after even a quick check.

If your maintenance checkup reveals anything that needs attention, the first call to make is to ABE Doors & Windows: (610) 398-2430. Our expert techs will put things right for you in short order.

This post first appeared on https://www.abedoors.com

“You can have any color you want as long as it is black,” announced Henry Ford in 1909 of his Model T Ford, the first affordable automobile and world’s most influential car of the 20^th century. 104 years later, and look at how far we have come! It is ludicrous for us to even imagine that, at one time, a product was only available in one color or style. Every aspect of our world has dramatically changed through the passing of time, and we currently live in an age where both creative innovation and technological advances allows us to have more options to choose from than we could have ever possibly imagined in years past. 

Until recently, Raynor garage doors were only available in a variety of popular colors: white, claytone, almond, bronzetone, graytone, and brown. On October 30, 2012, Raynor announced that they have developed a new Opticolor™ factory painting program.  The Opticolor™ process applies a third layer of durable Sherwin Williams BP Enamel paint to the already pre-painted and galvanized steel sections, adding an extra layer of protection to the garage door. This finish is available on any style garage door in their Innovations™ and Traditions™ series.

This feature is groundbreaking for both Raynor and homeowners alike, and yet another reason why Raynor is the leading garage door manufacturer in the country and most trusted to put consumers’ needs first. Homeowners now have the option to freely think outside of the box and design a garage door that will more perfectly accent the style and beauty of their home. Whether you have been thinking of investing in a new garage door for your residence, or you are only curious to gather more information at this time, we happily welcome any inquiries and are thrilled to share this wonderful new advantage with you.

This post first appeared on https://www.abedoors.com

When superstorm Sandy landed on the Northeast a few weeks ago, many people learned that they weren’t as well prepared as they had thought. Some had stockpiled food, fuel, candles and batteries; some had even bought crank radios or gasoline-powered generators to help them if power was interrupted.

But there was one problem that few people had even considered. What do you do about your garage door if your electrical service is knocked out? Not everyone knows how to open an automatic door in that situation – or how to lock the door afterward. And let’s face it, during emergencies you need that door to be functional and secure.

During Sandy, we had many calls about disconnecting or reconnecting operators because the power was out. Remember, when you disconnect the operator from the door so you can use it in that situation, the door can only be secured with a manual lock. Often homeowners don’t have a secondary lock for the door, or don’t know how to use it if they do have one. The secondary lock may be disabled so that it can’t be accidentally engaged and damage the opener.

The best advice is to review your owner’s manual to learn what to do when the power’s down. Keep that manual handy near the garage door so you can find it easily in an emergency.

If you don’t have the manual or can’t find it, call us today at 610-398-2430 – we may be able to get one for you or help you search online for a copy. We can also let you know about the right procedures to follow for your specific garage door make and model. We can even tell you about a Liftmaster operator that includes battery backup. That’s an emergency feature, though; if the power’s out for a long time, the backup will eventually run down and you’ll still need to know the correct manual procedures. We’re glad to share the information you need.

This post first appeared on https://www.abedoors.com

As we grow older, most of us develop a mellower feeling about the holiday season. We may no longer have the same eager excitement that animates children as Christmas morning approachs. But however we mark the holidays, chances are that we are still warmed by memories and still enjoy the presence of those we care for most.

A businessperson’s view of the holidays has another dimension. This season brings, to folks like us, a time to reflect on our many blessings – and the proper gratitude that we feel for them. That gratitude extends in many directions. And here at our company, it reaches out powerfully to the people we serve.

Every associate here understands how imporant the trust and loyalty of our customers are. We see ourselves as belonging to a community of service – with our valued customers at the center. Without their understanding that we will always do our best for them, there would be no company.

The holidays come just at the moment when days are shortest, bringing the promise of a gradual return to warmer sunshine and renewed growth. So it’s only appropriate that we should look ahead with a wish to all our customers and associates for the best of times, now and in a happy, healthy and prosperous new year.

This post first appeared on https://www.abedoors.com