Straight answers about glass, windows and Sacramento houses

Every bedroom needs a window you can get out of in a fire. California egress window sizes, sill height rules, and what changes when you replace an existing window.

Thin aluminum frames are everywhere in older Sacramento homes. How vinyl and modern aluminum compare on heat, upkeep, looks and price, and which one makes sense for your house.

Low-E is a thin coating on the glass that reflects heat and UV while letting light through. What it does for comfort, cooling bills and fading in a Sacramento home, and when it is worth adding.

Foggy glass, cracked panes, torn screens and sticky sliders are some of the easiest items for a buyer to put on a repair request. What to fix before you list a Sacramento home, and what can wait.

Retrofit windows fit into your existing opening without cutting stucco. New construction windows attach to the framing. What each one means for cost, mess and the look of your Sacramento home.

A crack that shows up out of nowhere is usually thermal stress, when one part of the glass heats up faster than the rest. Why it happens in Sacramento, how to spot it, and what to do next.

Seven questions to ask any glass or window company before you sign, how to check a California contractor license in two minutes, and the red flags that mean you are about to get upsold.

Before the rain shows up, walk your windows, sliders and screens. A 20 minute fall checklist for Sacramento homeowners, and what is worth fixing before winter.

Single pane or dual pane, tempered or not, ground floor or second story. The handful of things that decide what a glass repair costs in Sacramento, and how to get a price you can trust.

Broken panes, foggy dual pane units, missing screens and sliders that will not lock. How Sacramento property managers can batch window work, keep tenants happy and stay on the right side of habitability rules.

Sizing a bathroom mirror, choosing a polished or beveled edge, why the wrong adhesive ruins mirrors and what makes a gym wall safe. A practical guide to custom mirrors.

Tempered glass is strong and breaks into small pieces. Laminated glass cracks but stays in the frame. How Sacramento shops choose storefront glass for safety, break-ins and cost.

A security door lets you open the house to the evening breeze without opening it to everyone else. The frame, hinges, mounting and lock matter more than the pattern. Here is what to check.

Exterior sun screens stop heat before it reaches your windows. Where they pay off in a Sacramento summer, how 80 and 90 percent fabrics compare and what you give up.

Fog is a glass problem. Drafts, rot and windows that will not open are window problems. How we decide between a simple repair and new windows for Sacramento homes.

Replacing whole windows in Sacramento usually means a permit. What the inspector checks, how energy labels and bedroom egress rules work, and why a glass-only repair is a different job.

A slider that takes two hands and a hip check usually needs rollers, not a new door. What causes the drag, what you can check yourself and when replacement is the better call.

Break-ins, vandalism and storms are usually covered. Foggy dual panes and worn out windows usually are not. Here is how the deductible math works and what to document before you call your insurer.