May 2016 - Advanced Window Products

Spring Cleaning? Our Top Tips Cleaning Windows

Posted on May 16, 2016January 26, 2026 by import

Let’s discuss our top tips for cleaning windows! Cleaning house windows every spring can be a bit of a chore, but having a basic window maintenance plan – as well as reviewing options for necessary replacements – can save you money in the long run. Cleaning the windows annually, along with an expert inspection from the folks at Advanced Window Products, helps keep your home’s value on the upswing, as well as its heat and cooling efficiency intact.

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Vinyl vs Stucco for Utah Homes

Posted on May 11, 2016January 26, 2026 by import

What’s better, vinyl vs stucco for Utah homes specifically? One of the most important aspects of house value is simple curb appeal. It not only influences property values, but also sets the stage for how the interior of the home is perceived. Perhaps no decision more impacts the look of a house than choosing an exterior surface for your home. But which should you pick? Both stucco and vinyl have their advantages, as well as drawbacks. When thinking about redoing the exterior of your home, consider Advanced Window Products for your siding and window replacement needs.

Should I Choose Vinyl Siding or Stucco?

Vinyl Siding and Stucco are two of the most popular home exteriors, but deciding between the two can sometimes be difficult. Both are sturdy materials which are impervious to rot and extremely resistant to infestation by termites or other insects. There are other aspects however where they differ greatly. There are several factors you will want to take into consideration when making a decision.

One of the first factors many home owners consider is appearance. While both exteriors give a finished look to a home, they fit two very different styles. Vinyl siding creates a clean and classic look with interlocking panels, while stucco forms a single surface which is irregularly organic and unique. When it comes to appearance, personal taste is really the deciding factor between the two.

You will also want to consider the differing maintenance needs of the two materials. Stucco lasts longer overall, but needs more maintenance than vinyl siding. Installation may also be a factor. Vinyl siding is relatively straightforward and easy to install, meaning the process can go very quickly. The unique look of stucco requires a certain artistry to create, and can take longer to install. Installation of both exteriors can usually be completed within a week, but the costs involved may be very different.

Beyond the installation costs, which will include both the costs of the materials as well as the labor to install, there are other costs to be aware of. First, you will want to consider ongoing maintenance costs, as well as how long the exterior will last until it eventually needs to be replaced. A lower up front cost is usually a key factor in homeowner’s decision, but this may be offset by a material with high maintenance costs, or materials that will need to be replaced frequently. Another financial consideration is the potential reduction of your utility bills that you may get due to energy savings. Different exteriors have different insulating properties and may have a large impact on your monthly bills. Both exteriors also provide different levels of protection from the elements, impacting potential repair costs after rough weather.

Benefits and Disadvantages of Vinyl Siding vs. Stucco

Benefits of Vinyl Siding:

Cost effective – Vinyl siding is one of the most affordable housing exteriors, with low material and installation costs.
Variety –Vinyl siding comes in a wide range of colors, styles, and textures.
Low Maintenance – Vinyl siding is extremely durable, and requires little to no upkeep. The color will not fade with time, keeping the look of your house fresh and new.

Disadvantages of Vinyl Siding:

Paint – Unlike stucco, vinyl siding is unable to be painted. This means that updating or changing the look of your exterior would require that the siding be replaced.
Energy efficiency – Although there are insulated options for vinyl siding, it is not as energy efficient or protective against the elements as stucco.
Distinction – Some people may feel that vinyl siding just does not give a home the same distinctive and unique look that stucco can provide.

Benefits of Stucco:

Energy Efficient – Stucco is one of the best insulating exteriors, and can have a large reductive impact on your home’s energy costs.
Distinction – Stucco provides a unique and high-end look which some people may feel cannot be matched by vinyl siding.
Protective – Stucco is extremely durable and protective of your home. It is nearly impervious to damage by wind, hail, or other natural elements.

Disadvantages of Stucco:

Cost – Stucco is very expensive overall, both in materials and installation costs.
Maintenance – Unlike vinyl siding, stucco requires continual upkeep. Stucco absorbs moisture and can easily develop cracks as your home settles and shifts. Leaving these cracks unattended can lead to the stucco flaking off or other moisture damage.
Variety – Although stucco has a unique look and can be painted many different colors, the overall style offers little variety.

How Advanced Window Products Can Help

If you choose vinyl siding for your home, consider Advanced Window Products. AWP offers vinyl siding in a wide variety of colors and styles, and our focus is on high-quality installation. We are so confident of the quality of our services that we offer a VIP limited lifetime warranty on parts and labor to prove it. AWP is also the #1 window replacement company in Utah, and also offers sliding doors and other exterior products for your home. Check out our 30th anniversary specials, which include our vinyl siding. Contact us here, or call 801-505-9622 to learn more, or schedule a free consultation on any of our services.

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The Do’s and Don’ts of Buying a Pet Door

Posted on May 6, 2016January 21, 2026 by import

We love our dogs, but sometimes we’re not always able to let them out ourselves. With the right dog door, though, our dogs can come and go as they please, and we won’t worry about finding chewed up door frames when we get home. We’ll cover the do’s and don’ts of buying a dog door, and explain how the experts at Advanced Window Products can help install the right dog door for you and your furry friend.

Things You Should Do When Buying A Pet Door

Determine which door you’re going to install into
The first part is easy: Which yard does our dog need to access, the front or back yard? Once we know that, we can decide which door that opens to that yard works best for a dog door. This one can be a bit trickier if we have more than one door to that yard, since the door we choose for installing the dog door does have an effect on cost. Sliding glass doors are usually the best choice, especially with the services of Advanced Window Products. There’s no cutting into the existing door, we simply replace one of the panes of the sliding glass door with an energy-efficient pane that has the dog door built into its frame.

Decide what style of dog door works best
We know which door gets the dog door, but how do we know what kind of dog door to install? Not all dog doors are created equal. Most dog doors have a flap made from either a rigid or flexible material that hangs in the door and swings in and out. Rigid flap doors are usually made of a hard plastic and tend to do better keeping a tight seal. However, dogs can get their legs caught in the flap as it closes. Flexible flaps are much better for the dog, but many don’t keep a very tight seal. At Advanced Window Products, we’ve got the best of both with the Endura Pet Flap. It’s soft and flexible, and with the magnetic strips along the sides and bottom, it seals tight against any weather or unwanted pests that might try to follow your dog inside.

Measure your dog to make sure you get the right size door
After figuring out which dog door we want and what door to install it into, we just need to know how big the dog door needs to be. For that, we need to measure the largest of our dogs that’s going to use the dog door, and lucky for us, it’s pretty simple. Here’s a handy guide from Advanced Window Products.

Things To Avoid When Buying A Pet Door

Don’t buy a dog door before doing your research
Sometimes we’re tempted to buy the cheapest option, but it’s always a good idea to research how well a product performs before buying. It helps to look at reviews and see if other customers are as happy with a product as we’re hoping to be, otherwise you could be looking at even higher expenses to replace the pet door and actual door if the product you choose doesn’t work how you wanted or needed it to.

Don’t assume the most expensive dog door is the best dog door
As much we love our furry friends, the rest of us have to live here, too, and we can’t break the bank on the dog door. The goal is to find a good quality dog door, that is reasonably priced and can be installed at a very reasonable price as well. At Advanced Window Products, not only do we offer an affordable and energy-efficient pet door, we also offer deferred payment options at 0% interest for 60 months!

Contact us here or call 801-505-9622 today to learn more about the perfect dog door solution for you, as well as other available opportunities to increase the energy efficiency of your home!

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