Habitat Screens – Summer Shade Solutions

Posted by & filed under Retractable Screens .

Four Benefits of Installing Habitat Screens by Talius

When people ask me what Habitat Screens are, my reply is to think of them as sunglasses for your house. Habitat screens are like interior blinds, however they are on the outside of your home where they have several benefits.
 
habitat screens
 

Retractable Screens

Habitat Screens are adjustable to provide shade when you need it. In the evening, or when you want to open the windows, the screen retracts neatly into a 5″ panel box.

Energy Efficient

energy savings with habitat screens
Installed on the outside of your windows, Habitat Screens absorb the sun’s heat and glare before it reaches the glass, keeping it outside. This saves you money on air conditioning costs and will protect your carpets, upholstery, and hardwood floors from fading caused by the sun’s UV rays. Hardwood in particular can dry out and warp, and Habitat Screens will aid in this not occurring. If you display artwork, the screens will help protect your paintings and prints from fading.

Attractive

Habitat Screens reduce the need for blinds, drapes or other window treatments. This allows the room to appear larger, and can make the room feel less cluttered. Habitat screens are available in a variety of colours, sizes and materials to suit the look of your home. To maintain their attractiveness, all you really need to do to clean your Habitat screen is hose them off.  Habitat Screens are simple to clean.

Adaptable

Habitat Screens are not only limited to your house but can be used for a variety of living spaces. Patios, gazebos, porches, garages, and decks can all be transformed into comfortable living spaces free from the sun’s heat and glare, without sacrificing your view. What’s even better, is that habitat screens are customizable for all sorts of climates. For example, in Ottawa we are prone to high wind storms once or twice a year. While Habitat screens are fine in light wind conditions, they will be damaged in high winds. That’s why Talius offers a wind detection device that will roll up your screens automatically should it detect high speed winds.

Conclusion

Habitat screens are a wonderful way to save money, keep your house cool, and beautify your living space. By buying Talius, you are also supporting Canadian families as Talius is manufactured in British Columbia. Below is a short video provided by Talius which further explains the benefits of Habitat Screens.

Six Benefits of Phantom Screens

Posted by & filed under Phantom Screens .

Phantom Screens are retractable screens, meaning they aren’t fixed, hinged, or sliding. Instead they retract into your wall or a recess where they can be hidden from view. It’s challenging to explain how awesome they really are unless you see them in person, as many people are used to old fashioned screens. This is why we’ve come up with six ways why Phantom screens are amazing.
 
phantom screens
 

1. Phantom Screens won’t obstruct your view

Retractable screens disappear from view when you don’t need them. So, when you close your windows, you can retract the screens and only look through glass, rather than glass and a fixed screen. Fixed screens are there all year round and looking through them can get really annoying. Especially with patio doors, as the view just isn’t as nice with a screen door always in view. With retractable screens you can enjoy the perfect view. This comes in handy if you are an avid birdwatcher or animal lover and you want to snap a quick picture through a window. Fixed screens will distort your picture, however, with retractable screens you won’t have this problem.

2. Phantom Screens can preserve your architectural integrity

Phantom screens come in a variety of sizes, colours and wood grain finishes so they can match any house. Depending on your type of retractable screen, they can be recessed so they are completely hidden from view until needed. You can put phantom screens on windows that stretch up to 25 long, or you can put phantom screens on patios, verandas and decks to enjoy mosquito free meals and lounging. Retractable screens are just that versatile.

3. French doors screens

Putting screens on French doors used to be difficult, however with Phantom screens Jans Awnings can place two screens that are mounted to each side of the door frame. The dual screens meet in the center and are held in place with a hidden latch system. This gives you all the benefits of screens, while preserving the look of your doors. With our system, you only need to open one screen at a time, which makes access in and out of the house easy!

4. Keep out UV rays

Retractable screens reduces the glare of the sun and keeps harmful UV rays out. This stops your furnishings, floors and artwork from fading. The screens then disappear when you don’t need them.

5. Reduce energy bills with Retractable Screens

Retractable screens reduce your air conditioning costs and lower the amount of energy used to cool your home. Exterior mounted retractable screens are much more effective at keeping the interior cool then blinds or curtains, which are on the inside. Because retractable screens are used only when needed, your daylight can be maximized delivering significant payoffs in energy efficiency as you spend less money on lighting the house with artificial light, and the breeze that comes through the screens will save you on air conditioning costs.

6. Phantom screens are protected from harsh weather

Because Phantom Screens retract, they don’t need to be out and exposed to the elements during the sometimes harsh Ottawa winters. All you need to do is retract the mesh into the housing before winter, and they won’t be damaged by wind, dirt or other elements. During those warm days we sometimes get in late winter, you can put the screens out and air out the home with ease.

Conclusion

There are more than six ways why Phantom Screens are beneficial to you. If you are interested in learning more, give us a call at 613-832-2345, or contact Jans Awnings and we can talk to you in person to answer any of your questions about Phantom Screens.

Roll Down Shutters – Security, Sound Sleep, and Savings

Posted by & filed under Rollshutters .

One manufacturer we love to work with is Talius, who produces state of the art Rollshutters that provide so many benefits for your home.  Gone are the days of ugly roll shutters that made your home look like a pawn shop in downtown Detroit.  You can now get roll shutters in a variety of styles, colours and sizes, adding beauty to your home.  Talius is able to work with us and produce custom roll shutters to fit and match your doors and windows.
 
House Rollshutter
 
Rollshutters not only add beauty to your home, but they:

Protect your Windows from Storms

The weather has been getting crazy in Ontario.  The summer of 2013 saw some heavy storms that brought a lot of trees down and broke a lot of windows.  In December 2013, Ontario was hit again with a massive ice storm that damaged a lot of houses and cottages.  With roll shutters, you can sleep more securely during the night knowing your house is protected from flying debris or branches that may come crashing through your window.  If you are a snow bird, you no longer have to worry about a second floor window breaking, and the elements blowing in during the months you are away from home.  Even if you are insured, you don’t want rain damaging your photos and family keepsakes that are priceless.

Prevent Burglary

Talius roll shutters are specially engineered to prevent break-ins and forced entry when you are away on vacation, or at work.  They are also perfect for cottages, where it’s easy for anyone to break in and cause a lot of damage or vandalism during the off season.

The elderly who live in large homes, are subject to break-ins at night as they often suffer from hearing loss and can easily sleep through a break and entry.  Many seniors don’t have the energy to look after a young dog who could deter thieves, nor is it easy for them to figure out how to work out an alarm system (particularity with bad eye sight).  With roll shutters, you have a simple solution to enjoy your golden years in the home you love.

If you own a retail or service business, roll shutters are a fantastic way of protecting your investment.  Even if you have an alarm, it doesn’t take much for a desperate thief to break through a window and steal thousands of dollars of computer equipment.  Because nobody can see what’s behind your windows, roll shutters eliminate a lot of the temptation for someone to smash your window to grab an ipad or a laptop.

Below is an informative video on how you can benefit more from a security point of view from a roll down shutter.

Perfect Home Theater

Roll shutters provide complete darkness when closed, meaning you can watch your television with no glare from the sun.  With the windows closed and the roll shutters down, you can crank up your stereo a few notches while you’re watching that blockbuster movie without worry of your neighbours calling the police on you.

Improve your Quality of Sleep

Roll shutters not only keep noise from escaping your home, they prevent outside noise from getting in.  This makes them ideal for shift workers (who appreciate darkness and silence while they sleep at high noon)  If you suffer from migraine headaches, Rollshutters can block out those brain piercing noises you are sensitive to like lawn mowers, barking dogs, or that kid bouncing his basketball down the road.  Even if you don’t suffer from migraines, not waking up to your neighbor mowing their lawn at 7am on Sunday morning sounds like a great way to enjoy a lazy Sunday.

Save Your Energy Bill

Rollshutters insulate the house, so in the summer as the sun stays out, and the air conditioning doesn’t leak out.  Keeping the sun out of your home also protects your hardwood, walls and furniture from UV rays, so they don’t fade as quick.  In the winter, roll shutters keep the heat in, so you can sleep better at night, as the heat register isn’t constantly turning on and off waking you up. When closed at night, you can reduce heat loss in the winter by 20% which is a huge saving considering the high cost of hydro and heating.

Jans Awnings specializes in installing roll down shutters to save you money and improve your comfort. We can recommend the best shutters to suit your need, and shutters are installed to match your home, so they never look out of place.  If you live in the Ottawa area, contact Jans Awnings or call Jans Awnings today at 613-832-2345.

Extend Your Living Space

Posted by & filed under Awnings, Fixed Aluminum Awnings, Retractable Screens .

After being cooped up in the house for our very long and cold Canadian winter, it is finally time to go outside and enjoy the fresh air and the warm summer sun. Take advantage of the amazing weather and find more excuses to be outside.

Extending your living space is a great way of maximizing your outdoor experience, allowing you to appreciate the weather comfortably. Jans provides several options to create your own outdoor living space and our experts can help you pick the best option for your lifestyle.

Awnings For Your Backyard

Retractable Awning

Retractable backyard awnings are one option that will help create an open concept outdoor escape. Awnings allow you to enjoy hot sunny days on your patio without the uncomfortable consequences of sunburns or burnt feet. Retractable awnings are a good option if you want versatility, they give you the option of relaxing in the shade or sunbathing. Retractable awnings can be effortlessly adjusted with an easy to use crank or for a more luxurious option you can get a remote control to adjust your awnings.

Awnings are also an eco-friendly way of conserving energy. The awnings block the heat from beaming into your windows and decrease the need to exhaust your air conditioning. Awnings will help keep your home cool and comfortable. Lastly Awnings are a great options because they are extremely customizable. You can get awnings in various colours, patterns and textures to achieve the style that you desire. Awnings are versatile, conserve energy and look great! Awnings are definitely a good option when creating your own outdoor living space.

Another way to extend your living space is through fixed aluminum awnings. This option is a more permanent option and will last up to 40 years! Aluminum awnings are nice because they can be customized to complement the exterior of your home and blend seamlessly. This type of awnings is also very durable and will not warp, rot or rust over time. Aluminum awnings are long term investments that will increase your home’s value and provide shade and comfort year after year. The permanent awnings also help extend your outdoor patio furniture’s life span because an awning will keep them safe from the harsh sun and weather. If you love enjoying the weather in a cool shady outdoor living space, aluminum awnings are definitely the option for you!

Screening for your Home

Along with the beautiful weather comes mosquitos and other unwanted bugs. Keep the pesky bugs out of your outdoor living space with screening options. Screens give a more room-like feel and provide you with the breeze without the bugs! Screens are a great option if you are looking to create an outdoor living room. Retractable screens are ideal for entertaining guests or simply relaxing solo because you don’t have to worry about bugs or sunburns. You and your guests will be able to comfortably dine and enjoy each other’s company while appreciating the outdoors in your new extended living space.

Retractable screens effortlessly open and close, and look great on gazebos, patios and sunrooms. They provide you and your family increased privacy and security, without obstructing your view. Nosey neighbours will be unable to snoop on you, but will notice and envy your new beautiful outdoor living space.

Create an outdoor living space that is ideal for you and your family’s lifestyle and start making the most of this beautiful weather. Your extended living space will bring people together and help you enjoy your backyard to the fullest. Card games, dining and life chats are more enjoyable outside where you can breathe in the fresh air. Extend your living space today and start comfortably enjoying the wonders of nature from the comfort of your backyard.