Windows Sarasota http://www.windowsarasota.com/blog Your Discussion Guide to Remodeling and Window Installation and Replacement Wed, 05 Jun 2013 15:14:40 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 Tropical Low in The Gulf of Mexico http://www.windowsarasota.com/blog/tropical-low-in-the-gulf-of-mexico/ http://www.windowsarasota.com/blog/tropical-low-in-the-gulf-of-mexico/#comments Wed, 05 Jun 2013 15:14:40 +0000 admin http://www.windowsarasota.com/blog/tropical-low-in-the-gulf-of-mexico/ Our first wave of tropical weather has been hitting the Gulf Coast of Florida this week and is reminder to all of us living on the Gulf to be prepared for any foul weather that may occur.

June 1 was the official start of the Atlantic Hurricane Season so you should be prepared. 

At Grayhawk Window Systems we want to ensure your preparedness is as easy as possible with Miami-Dade hurricane rated doors, windows and hurricane shutters available. Visit us today if you need to get prepared, don’t wait until its too late!

]]> http://www.windowsarasota.com/blog/tropical-low-in-the-gulf-of-mexico/feed/ 0 Now is the time to prepare for the 2013 Atlantic Hurricane Season in Florida http://www.windowsarasota.com/blog/now-is-the-time-to-prepare-for-the-2013-atlantic-hurricane-season-in-florida/ http://www.windowsarasota.com/blog/now-is-the-time-to-prepare-for-the-2013-atlantic-hurricane-season-in-florida/#comments Thu, 30 May 2013 14:04:35 +0000 admin http://www.windowsarasota.com/blog/now-is-the-time-to-prepare-for-the-2013-atlantic-hurricane-season-in-florida/ The Importance Advanced Prepping for Hurricane Season The only good thing about hurricane season is that it is predictable. It starts in June every year, but people are still seen scrambling for supplies last minute when a storm is about to hit. The last place anybody should be before a storm is out on the roads. It’s important to prepare for hurricane season in advance. This can take a lot of the stress and worry out of a difficult season.

Gather Supplies

First, it’s important to gather plenty of hurricane supplies. Water is at the top of the shopping list. Each family member should have at least one gallon of water each day in the event of a hurricane. A week’s worth of water will keep a family well hydrated during and after a serious storm. Non-perishable food items and toiletry supplies should also be purchased and stored. Next, it’s important to have supplies for securing one’s home. Plywood and duct tape are incredibly useful items. 

Make an Emergency Evacuation Plan

It’s critical to have an emergency evacuation plan in place. Children should know where to be if a disaster hits during school hours. It’s also important to make a plan for pets. Making this plan in advance ensures families can stay calm and focus on their own safety.

Stay Calm

When all of the details are taken care of, families can relax. The only thing a family should have to worry about is their safety during the storm. They shouldn’t have to worry about running out of food or water. Electricity may be out for more than a few days. Shopping for supplies in advance means that a family can stay off of dangerous roads when a storm is approaching. Grocery stores can quickly run out of fresh water when a hurricane is getting ready to hit. Home supply stores may also run out of important items. 

 

]]> http://www.windowsarasota.com/blog/now-is-the-time-to-prepare-for-the-2013-atlantic-hurricane-season-in-florida/feed/ 0 Hurricane Ready http://www.windowsarasota.com/blog/hurricane-ready/ http://www.windowsarasota.com/blog/hurricane-ready/#comments Tue, 28 May 2013 14:23:11 +0000 admin http://www.windowsarasota.com/blog/hurricane-ready/ The National Weather Service has predicted a number of violent storms for the Gulf Coast in 2013. There are a total of eighteen tropical storms predicted for this area this year, and half of these will be hurricanes. This means that a number of Floridians will have to protect their homes from these potentially violent storms in order to prevent serious damage to them.

Grayhawk offers hurricane protection with their windows, which are manufactured specifically for Florida residents who want to keep their homes and belongings safe. These windows are known as impact windows and can be the difference between shattered glass all over the floor during a storm and pricey renovations, and a solid, strong, undamaged home that makes it through the fiercest storms with the strongest winds.

Impact windows are different because they are made with more than one layer of glass and an intermediary layer between the glass layers that adds extra resilience and resistance to fracturing. These windows, which are offered by Grayhawk, provide those who purchase them with a great deal of peace of mind. This is because all anyone with impact windows needs to do during storm season is just to make sure their windows are shut and locked in order to prevent a major disaster. Hurricanes do not have to destroy anyone’s windows or homes if they get impact windows that can protect them.

 

]]> http://www.windowsarasota.com/blog/hurricane-ready/feed/ 0 Benefits of Automatic Hurricane Shutters http://www.windowsarasota.com/blog/benefits-of-automatic-hurricane-shutters/ http://www.windowsarasota.com/blog/benefits-of-automatic-hurricane-shutters/#comments Tue, 30 Apr 2013 18:22:46 +0000 admin http://www.windowsarasota.com/blog/benefits-of-automatic-hurricane-shutters/ Hurricane season along the Atlantic Coast officially begins June 1 and lasts through November 30. Homeowners who want to secure their properties as thoroughly as possible against hurricane damage should consider the benefits of installing automatic hurricane shutters.
 
Many homeowners prefer automatic hurricane shutters because their appearance does not overwhelm the existing décor of the home.  These shutters are securely stored away in a box installed above the windows when not in use and are hardly noticeable.  Then, when they are needed to provide protection against heavy rainfall and winds during a hurricane, they can be automatically and easily lowered into place using a motor which can be controlled using a wall switch or by remote control. Automatic hurricane shutters also serve double duty beyond hurricane season when used to control the amount of light and sound entering a building, in addition to providing extra security and weather insulation.
 
Another great feature of automatic hurricane shutters is the use of wind sensors which cause their automatic deployment as soon as wind speeds reach a pre-designated level, so homeowners do not even have to be on the property in order to have their shutter system in place. Automatic hurricane shutters come in a variety of colors to complement the home’s appearance and are available with viewports or constructed of clear materials that accommodate full visibility once deployed. Automatic hurricane shutters can easily be deployed by one individual. Since they stay installed on the building year-round, there is no need for extra labor or expense to install them as they sit ready to help protect the property at the first warning of hurricane weather conditions.

]]> http://www.windowsarasota.com/blog/benefits-of-automatic-hurricane-shutters/feed/ 0 The importance of hurricane protection http://www.windowsarasota.com/blog/the-importance-of-hurricane-protection/ http://www.windowsarasota.com/blog/the-importance-of-hurricane-protection/#comments Sun, 28 Apr 2013 17:03:07 +0000 admin http://www.windowsarasota.com/blog/the-importance-of-hurricane-protection/ Those who live in an area where they are vulnerable to hurricanes know the importance of hurricane windows. Hurricane windows are those that are designed to ride out a hurricane and last throughout the storm. These windows may sometimes be referred to as High Impact Windows, and they are known for remaining intact despite wind gusts of 180 miles per hour, which is even greater than that experienced in a hurricane that registers as Category 5.
Another feature of these windows is they offer homeowners impact glass that is insulated.
This glass has a heavy sheet of polyvinyl butyric plastic, which is set between glass that is double-laminated for extra strength. Then another sheet of double-strength glass is added. This glass is tempered, and the result is that the glass has an extra layer of insulation. This setup makes it much less likely to shatter in the event of a hurricane. Grayhawk is proud to offer these windows to the residents of Sarasota so that they may be better able to protect their homes during a storm. Protect your possessions, your safety, and the safety of your loved ones by purchasing these state-of-the-art, upgraded windows offered by Grayhawk Windows Systems.

]]> http://www.windowsarasota.com/blog/the-importance-of-hurricane-protection/feed/ 0 Busier Than Normal 2013 Atlantic Hurricane Season Predicted http://www.windowsarasota.com/blog/busier-than-normal-2013-atlantic-hurricane-season-predicted/ http://www.windowsarasota.com/blog/busier-than-normal-2013-atlantic-hurricane-season-predicted/#comments Fri, 26 Apr 2013 16:50:41 +0000 admin http://www.windowsarasota.com/blog/busier-than-normal-2013-atlantic-hurricane-season-predicted/ Home and business owners from Sarasota, Florida to Portland, Maine should be advised that experts at the National Weather Center have predicted a busier than normal Atlantic hurricane season for 2013. This year’s hurricane season along the eastern seaboard of the U.S. officially begins on Saturday, June 1 and extends through Saturday, November 30. The 2013 forecast includes 16 named storms, 9 hurricanes and 5 major hurricanes, well above the average of 12 named storms and 6.5 hurricanes. Warmer than usual waters in the tropical Atlantic Ocean with low pressure along the surface of the water leads to weaker trade winds and much easier formation of tropical storms.
Also influencing the 2013 forecast of a busier than normal season is the fact that there is almost no chance of an El Nino situation in the Pacific Ocean, which greatly increases the chance that hurricanes will form as a result of low air pressure and weak trade winds. There is a 72% chance that a major hurricane will make landfall along the Eastern seaboard sometime during official hurricane season, and a 48% chance that the population of Florida will be hit, a 17% increase over the past century. There is a 61% chance that the Caribbean Islands will be hit by a major storm, and a 47% chance that the Gulf Coast region extending from the Florida Panhandle west to Brownsville, Texas, will be impacted by hurricane storm activity.
Storms that form in the North Atlantic throughout 2013 repeat those names used in the 2007 hurricane season. They include Andrea, Barry, Chantal, Dorian, Erin, Fernand, Gabrielle, Humberto, Ingrid, Jerry, Karen, Lorenzo, Melissa, Nester, Olga, Pablo, Rebekah, Sebastien, Tanya, Van and Wendy. Scientists report that weather conditions this year most closely mirror those six years in which the Carolinas suffered the most devastating damage from hurricane storms.

]]> http://www.windowsarasota.com/blog/busier-than-normal-2013-atlantic-hurricane-season-predicted/feed/ 0 Do you want your home improvement project to meet both time and budget – call Grayhawk! http://www.windowsarasota.com/blog/do-you-want-your-home-improvement-project-to-meet-both-time-and-budget-call-grayhawk/ http://www.windowsarasota.com/blog/do-you-want-your-home-improvement-project-to-meet-both-time-and-budget-call-grayhawk/#comments Sat, 30 Mar 2013 12:23:13 +0000 admin http://www.windowsarasota.com/blog/do-you-want-your-home-improvement-project-to-meet-both-time-and-budget-call-grayhawk/ At Grayhawk we strive to keep you happy and the best way to accomplish that is to ensure your project is completed with the utmost in standards and professionalism. When we are working on your home we ensure to the following guidelines:

  • Complete projects on time, every time
  • Work efficiently & stay within your budget
  • Send teams that offer only superior service
  • Provide only excellent products
  • Create custom windows and doors
  • Design & build an acrylic room or patio enclosure
  • Provide you with an energy-efficient property

We offer the following services so give us a call when you are ready – we will make your job top priority:

  • Window / Door Replacement and Upgrades
  • Interior and Exterior Painting
  • Drywall Repair
  • Stucco Repair
  • Texturing
  • Pressure Washing
  • Acrylic Rooms
  • Bathroom Remodeling
  • Kitchen Remodeling
  • Flooring
  • Roofing
  • Brick Pavers

Visit us online at www.windowsarasota.com for more information on any of the information listed above.

]]> http://www.windowsarasota.com/blog/do-you-want-your-home-improvement-project-to-meet-both-time-and-budget-call-grayhawk/feed/ 0 The time is now to prepare your home for hurricane season http://www.windowsarasota.com/blog/the-time-is-now-to-prepare-your-home-for-hurricane-season/ http://www.windowsarasota.com/blog/the-time-is-now-to-prepare-your-home-for-hurricane-season/#comments Fri, 29 Mar 2013 13:19:30 +0000 admin http://www.windowsarasota.com/blog/the-time-is-now-to-prepare-your-home-for-hurricane-season/ Enjoy Mother Nature even when she throws a tantrum. Coastal windows and doors with Stormwatch protection are always ready, even when you are not there, safeguarding your home without sacrificing beauty.

At Grayhawk we offer a full line of Andersen and Jeld-Wen Products that can be purchased at below retail cost. We offer full installation and remodeling services so don’t stop at just replacing your windows and doors, let us get your home up-to-date and up-to-code. We want your home to be a safe haven from the storm. We have fully automated hurricane shutters, impact resistant windows and glass and doors that can withstand what mother nature wants to throw at them.

We offer many design choices from vinyl to aluminum and wood to fiberglass and we are ready to help you make the choices that not only beautify your home but protect it as well. Contact us today or visit us online at www.windowsarasota.com and take a look at what we have to offer. You won’t be dissappointed with either our service or our price!

]]> http://www.windowsarasota.com/blog/the-time-is-now-to-prepare-your-home-for-hurricane-season/feed/ 0 Budgeting for hurricane shutters http://www.windowsarasota.com/blog/budgeting-for-hurricane-shutters/ http://www.windowsarasota.com/blog/budgeting-for-hurricane-shutters/#comments Fri, 01 Mar 2013 00:27:09 +0000 admin http://www.windowsarasota.com/blog/budgeting-for-hurricane-shutters/ When you are dealing with a weather emergency, every second counts. However, the time to prepare for severe weather is long before the emergency occurs.
If you live in an area that is prone to hurricanes, you know how important it is to protect your home. Proper protection can make the difference between losing your home and only having minimal damage. 
Many homes in tropical areas need to be outfitted with hurricane shutters. There are numerous types of hurricane shutters, but they can be broken down into two categories. Automatic hurricane shutters can be quickly and easily activated in an emergency, while self install shutters require a good amount of time and effort to apply.
It can be difficult to decide on the right shutters for your home. You want your home to be safe, but many homeowners are also working on a tight budget. Generally, self install shutters are less expensive. However, you need to know how to properly apply them when you receive a hurricane warning. If these shutters are not installed correctly, they will not protect your home.
Automatic hurricane shutters are a great choice for homeowners who want to be sure that there home is protected. These shutters can be activated in a few short minutes, and they are very easy to use.
Greyhawk of Sarasota offers hurricane shutters, hurricane windows and other products that can keep your home protected in severe weather. We realize that purchasing these items is a big investment, so our friendly and knowledgeable staff members will be there to guide you through every step of the process.
Please contact greyhawk today if you have any questions about how you can best protect your home and possessions in the event of a hurricane. We will be happy to help you find solutions that meet your needs without exceeding your budget.

]]> http://www.windowsarasota.com/blog/budgeting-for-hurricane-shutters/feed/ 0 Install Hurricane Shutters and Feel Secure http://www.windowsarasota.com/blog/install-hurricane-shutters-and-feel-secure/ http://www.windowsarasota.com/blog/install-hurricane-shutters-and-feel-secure/#comments Thu, 31 Jan 2013 13:02:28 +0000 admin http://www.windowsarasota.com/blog/install-hurricane-shutters-and-feel-secure/ When it is time for Sarasota snowbirds to head back home, they need to remember that as the weather warms throughout the country, it sometimes becomes unpredictable. Hurricane season can pose serious problems to homes in Sarasota that are not properly protected. Hurricane-force winds can turn unsecured objects into dangerous projectiles capable of hurtling through glass and damaging interiors. Hurricane shutters offer homeowners a way to protect their windows and their homes. There are several types of these shutters to consider. The right one to select can be a matter of personal preference, based on price, ease of installation and appearance. Read on to learn about a few of the more popular styles.
Storm panel hurricane shutters are an economical choice. These strong shutters protect from hurricane destruction and are removable when the season, or the threat, is over. These can be stored in a garage or shed, and they stack together neatly.
Accordion shutters are permanently attached to the home. These shutters are folded in when not in use and can be closed when threatening weather approaches. Furthermore, some have locks, which can act as a theft deterrent. Accordion shutters can look awkwardly large on some homes, so that is a factor to consider.
Colonial shutters are the traditional style that most people envision when thinking about shutters. They mount on either side of the window and can be closed as bad weather nears. These shutters are aesthetically pleasing as well as functional. They can match the siding, brick or roof of the home to complement the exterior décor.
Having hurricane shutters installed on a winter home in Sarasota prior to returning north gives a homeowner peace of mind. Hurricanes can cause devastating damages to homes. When windows are shattered, winds can blow debris inside a home, and heavy rains can cause excessive damage to carpets, drapes and furniture. Taking the proper measures to ensure that windows are safeguarded from storms means less worry for Sarasota snowbirds who are up north seeing the bad weather in their winter retreats.

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