TRENDING...

We have seen two significant trends over the past few years. Homeowners are often looking to effective ways to increase aesthetics (curb appeal) and improve efficiency therefore front entrance door systems are an obvious choice. Often in subdivisions, homeowners are looking to be unique and also improve the quality of the front door system as it is the most utilized part of the home. In many cases, the original door systems were designed to have a useful life span of about 5-7 years, however with a higher quality system a homeowner can expect well over 10 years useful life and much improved efficiency as well as having a unique appearance.   
High Quality Door System
Example of a high quality door system
Example of poor thermal bridging or a insufficient HVAC system:
The other trend we are seeing is contemporary designs requiring oversized windows, often necessitating the client to look to commercial products known as "curtain wall” with aluminium extrusions on the inside and outside. The challenges that often get overlooked in this type of design are; the lack of warranty, very high replacement costs of common components prone to failure, requiring a commercial glazier to service at high cost and extended lead times. This product is not designed for a typical residential application and may be prone to poor energy performance and increased risk for condensation (showers, boiling water, etc), creating higher than anticipated energy consumption and greatly reduced occupant comfort. 
Example of a home that might be found in California
At Cedarport, we have contracted a consultant that has expertise in reviewing the entire building envelope that includes not just the windows and doors but HVAC, site location/solar gains & losses, local climate, building materials etc.. to come up with a holistic approach to ensure the most efficient and comfortable building possible, without design compromise

Finally, a trend that will never go out of style at Cedarport is putting our clients' best interest first. At Cedarport, we care. 
Example of a home featuring standard size Pella windows that are covered under a limited manufacturer warranty of up to 20 years, opposed to zero warranty and reduced comfort in this climate.