McCann Window Northbrook Chicago IL

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847-562-1212 | 3375 Commercial Ave. | Northbrook, IL 60062
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August 28, 2019 by Kevin McCann

Want Better Health? Use Windows to Bring More Nature Into Your Home

Windows Boosts Wellbeing

Windows Boosts Wellbeing by Connecting the Indoors and Outdoors

Windows are good for you. Really. Windows connect us with nature.

Here’s why: Windows connect you with nature—with sunlight, with views of sky and trees, with fresh air and with changing the weather.

It turns out that connection is very important for your health. Even though today we spend most of our time indoors, human beings evolved in close proximity to the out of doors. So our environment still affects us profoundly. Research shows that patients in hospital rooms with windows that look out on nature heal faster and need fewer painkillers. Similarly, office workers in buildings with views of trees and greenery do better at managing stress, reporting lower blood pressure and heart rates, better emotional functioning, and better levels of concentration.

Windows, it seems, makes us better people.

Windows connect with nature

Biophilic Design Explained

Actually, windows aren’t the only things that are good for us that way. So are plants, water, fire, animals, and natural materials like wood and stone. All are elements of the environment that we respond to in positive ways, often without realizing it.

This emotional and physiological response to nature is behind a hot concept in building called “biophilic design.” The term “biophilic” combines the Latin words for life (“bio”) and love (“philia”). So biophilic design honors our love of living things. And it seeks to introduce more such elements into our spaces. Think: A soaring atrium in an office building, an inner courtyard landscaped with trees, a plug-in fountain that gurgles on your desk, green roofs, fireplaces, even a cat snoozing near your chair.

And windows! Because if a biophilic design works in commercial settings, it definitely works at home, too.

Windows connect with nature

Windows Connect Us With Nature, Safely and Beautifully

Windows are powerful tools in biophilic design because they blur the boundary between indoor and outdoor worlds. Windows allow us to connect strongly with nature in numerous ways while still staying warm, safe, and dry.

The first way windows connect us with nature is visual. We like to look at the natural world: Homes that look out on pleasing views tend to command higher prices. While you maybe can’t change your home’s location to improve the views, you can still use windows to frame existing perspectives in attractive or dramatic ways. Opening up a wall with windows or glass doors that overlook a balcony, deck, landscaped yard or porch suddenly brings nature much closer. Or, add a skylight to a dark corner, dim hallway, or closed-in bath to transform a space with natural light.

Another way windows connect us with nature is through sound and air. You may have all the light that you already want coming in through your windows. But if some of those windows no longer open, you’re missing a biophilic element that can enhance your health. Working windows let in fresh air and wholesome sounds. A breeze moving through the house not only feels and smells good; it also carries the soothing noises of rustling leaves, birdsong, or the patter of rain. These sounds calm us and improve our mood and functioning.

How Can We Help?

While we aren’t trained in biophilic design at McCann, we are experts in figuring out how to get more happiness into your home via windows. So let us take an inventory of what’s working for you and what could be better in your home’s design. We think your house should not only be the place where you feel comfortable, but also the place where you feel and are your best. Give us a call if you have questions about restoring, repairing or replacing your windows and home exterior. We’re ready to serve you and estimates are free. Just visit www.mccannwindow.com or call (847) 892-4071.

Naturally yours,
Kevin McCann

Filed Under: Customer Service, Home Improvement Tips, Replacement Windows Tagged With: biophilic, home improvement, windows

April 25, 2019 by Kevin McCann

Update Historic Windows for Charm and Efficiency

Update Historic Windows for Charm and Efficiency

Keep the Old Historic Windows or Replace them with New?

Replacement windows. What’s better? To replace old historic windows with new, low-emissivity windows and save energy? Or to keep the windows with their historic character and not save as much energy?

The debate rages between preservationists and designers-environmentalists. There is a middle ground: renovating a historic home’s windows for the same performance as new windows, and there’s a substantial argument for saving them.

The original windows add character that makes a house unique, and the those old windows are generally thicker and last longer than today’s windows, says the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Plus, as preservationists like to say, the greenest building (or window) is the one already built. No trips to the landfill. No new resources were used.

Take a look (gallery above from Houzz) at some of the ways that you can update your windows for energy efficiency, for a win-win situation.

Get Inspired!

Replace with Energy-efficient windows that maintain the integrity of the building. Check out a recent Driehaus Bungalow Award winner’s solution for updating the curb appeal of his home.

Some advice from the Oak Park Historic Preservation Commission Community Planning & Development Department “A preservation-friendly approach: Retain, repair, replace. Try to repair what you have. Investigate the historic windows to determine the problems and their causes. Only after weighing the aesthetic, performance, energy efficiency, cost and long-term durability aspects of the proposed work can an informed decision be made on whether to repair or replace windows. If you cannot feasibly repair it, replace it with the same thing. Consider the impact of the new windows on the appearance of the building. Replacement windows should match the historic windows in their materials, operation, and design. If you cannot replace it with the same thing, replace it with something that is similar in appearance. Wood windows are offered with aluminum or vinyl cladding on the exterior, which helps reduce maintenance.”

We are Here to Help You with Your Window Selection.

Let us help you figure that out by evaluating the fit and energy efficiency of your home’s windows and doors. We’re ready to serve you and estimates are free! Please just give us a call at (847) 892-4071 or contact us at https://mccannwindow.com/contact. We’ll be right over.

Warmly yours,

Kevin McCann

Filed Under: Replacement Windows Tagged With: Energy efficient, historic window, home improvement

July 8, 2016 by Kevin McCann

Why Vinyl Siding is the Way to Go

Want to know a pro tip to enjoy life more? Have a low-maintenance home exterior!Vinyl Siding

Today’s vinyl sidings can accurately replicate the look and feel of authentic wood without all the hassles of painting and upkeep. It’s a sound investment that pays for itself within 5-10 years.

Today’s vinyl siding products have many desirable features. Some of which being…

  • Reduce noise by up to 45 percent – which is perfect for blocking out the noise of your neighbor mowing his yard Saturday at 8 am!
  • Won’t fade away! UV inhibitors help keep colors rich
  • It mimics real wood – All of the look, none of the upkeep
  • Insulate your home during the cold Illinois winters
  • Reflect radiant heat helping keep your house cooler during the summer months, saving you money on your air conditioning bill
  • It can stand up to the Windy City’s breezy gusts or tornado-force winds.

So if you want a beautiful home that is safe from Mother Nature and can withstand accidental wear and tear or being driven over (By the way, we don’t recommend driving over your house!) with minimal upkeep, vinyl siding might just be exactly what you have been looking for!

At McCann Windows and Exteriors in Northbrook, Illinois, we can help you choose the appropriate size, color, shape, grain, and texture of siding for your home’s architectural style and neighborhood environment! Contact us today.

Filed Under: Vinyl Siding Tagged With: home improvement, vinyl siding

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