OTTAWA, ON…
After a long winter, your natural instinct is to open up your windows and let the warm sunshine soak into every nook and cranny of your home. Yet before you get too crazy opening up windows and curtains, you should take into account the effect sunshine can have on your furniture and your energy costs.
DirectBuy, the leading home improvement and furnishings club with direct insider prices, offers some tips on giving your windows the treatment to get ready for the warmer spring and summer weather.
“For starters, direct sunlight on your furniture can do more harm than good. Light colors reflect sunlight and dark colors absorb it, so you may want to move some things around in the spring when your shades and blinds are drawn a bit more with the nicer weather,” said Frank Andree, owner of DirectBuy of Ottowa.
While protecting your furniture and rugs from the destructiveness of too much sun is an important consideration in selecting your window treatments, just as important is planning to maximize energy efficiency. Many of the same methods you use in the winter to keep cold air out, you can also use in the summer to keep cool air in.
If installing new double pane windows isn’t in your budget, you can still help halt energy loss (and gain, in the summer) by first caulking, sealing and adding weather stripping to your windows and doors. Then, spend some time researching not just what types of window coverings help block heat from coming in while holding your cool air inside, but also the various window films available for those purposes.
Cellular and honeycomb shades make use of pleated fabrics which can help stop heat from coming into your home. Outdoor window treatments, like shutters and awnings, can also make an impact on your energy bills if fitted properly. Window films can help insulate your windows, preventing heat and cold from affecting your interior temperature, and are a fairly easy project for even the most inexperienced do-it-yourselfer.
And let’s not forget, aside from functionality, window treatments present some stylish, economical options for sprucing up your living areas without the headache of a major remodel. Some window treatments to consider for both shade and style include:
· Wood and faux wood blinds
· Roman shades
· Plantation shutters
· Vinyl blinds and mini blinds – great for high humidity areas (e.g. kitchens, baths)
· Curtains or drapes (can be customized to match your existing upholstery)
· Cornices, valences, and swags
“By giving your windows an aesthetic and functional makeover in the spring, you can create a nice, new seasonal look and improve your home’s efficiency,” said Andree.
DirectBuy offers nearly everything you need for your windows—from replacements to treatments—all at insider prices direct from the manufacturers and their authorized suppliers. In addition, DirectBuy also employs product specialists and designers, so if you need some assistance in selecting products or just a second opinion, you have seasoned professionals at your service.
For more information on a DirectBuy membership, you can visit http://www.directbuycares.com.
For more than 37 years, DirectBuy has been showing thousands of consumers unparalleled ways to save as they shop for virtually everything for in and around their homes – from furnishings, home improvement and flooring, to entertainment and outdoor products, accessories and much, much more. With more than 160 locations in North America, DirectBuy offers its members access to approximately 700 brand-name manufacturers and their authorized suppliers in the US, and more than 500 brand-name manufacturers and authorized suppliers in Canada.
Consumers interested in seeing DirectBuy’s savings, service and selection up close may obtain a Visitor’s Pass to attend an Open House by visiting www.directbuy.com or www.directbuycares.com.
Locations of DirectBuy by province are:
Alberta:
DirectBuy of Calgary Unit 17 3900 106th Ave. SE, Calgary, 403-543-1620
DirectBuy of Edmonton, 10427 174 St. NW, Edmonton, 780-413-8242
British Columbia:
DirectBuy of Greater Vancouver, 91 Golden Drive Unit #1, Coquitlam, 604-552-5252
DirectBuy of Vancouver, 2659 Lillooet St., Vancouver, 604-251-5822
DirectBuy of Central Okanagan, #5 2260 Hunter Rd, Kelowna, 250-763-4130
DirectBuy of Greater Victoria, 350B Bay Street, Victoria, 250-412-0238
Manitoba:
DirectBuy of Winnipeg, 180-117 King Edward Street East, Winnipeg, 204-925-4190
New Brunswick:
DirectBuy of New Brunswick, 950 Mountain Road, Moncton, 506-384-3009
Nova Scotia:
DirectBuy of Halifax, 60 Williams Avenue, Dartmouth, 902-446-4355
Ontario:
DirectBuy of Toronto Northwest, 2500 Williams Parkway E Unit 37, Brampton, 905-793-0639
DirectBuy of Ottawa, 1392 Cyrville Road, Ottawa, 613-749-2700
DirectBuy of London, 4093 Meadowbrook Dr. Unit 108, London, 519-652-0552
DirectBuy of Toronto North, 205 Torbay Road, Unit #2, Markham, 905-948-1911
DirectBuy of Mississauga, 4120 Ridgeway Drive Unit 26, Mississauga, 905-608-9244
DirectBuy of Kingston, 1121 John Counter Blvd, Kingston, 613-545-1200
DirectBuy of Toronto East, 1735 Bayly Unit 17, Pickering, 905-839-7747
DirectBuy of Hamilton – Niagara, 589 Barton St, Suite 102, Stoney Creek, 905-643-8271
DirectBuy of Toronto Downtown, 20 Banigan Drive, Toronto, 416-467-0078
DirectBuy of Waterloo, 755 Bridge St. Ste. 14, Waterloo, 519-885-3231
DirectBuy of Windsor, 2705 Kew Drive, Windsor, 519-945-3200
DirectBuy of Barrie, 320 Bayfield Street Unit 63, Barrie, 705-719-2999
Saskatchewan:
DirectBuy of Saskatoon, 201 Robin Crescent, Saskatoon, 306-683-3490
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Consumers interested in becoming members may obtain a Visitor’s Pass to attend an Open House by contacting DirectBuy at 1-800-DIRECTBUY or visiting www.directbuycares.com. You can learn more about the superior value and benefits of a DirectBuy membership also by visiting www.directbuycares.com.
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