An experienced developer once told us, “roofs don’t leak, it’s windows that leak.” And while there is an exception to every rule, we at AJH have found that it’s important to specify and install a quality window if you want to keep your home leak free! Over the past decade of building we have had opportunity to fit Jeld-Wen Windows on many different homes. Their classic double hung units with grids between the glass or simulated lites fit seamlessly in the suburban 5 over 4 with-a-door or in a Charleston-style row home. AJH appreciates the ability to manipulate the scale of their double hung units to match the exterior elevation character with light for the interior spaces.  When we build in the mountains, their ultra slim plate units capture the views while keeping out the wind and cold, and they can be engineered to withstand mountain storms.

“Jeld-Wen provides options for our customers in multiple lines and styles all while backing their windows up with a consistent warranty.”

Jeld-Wen offers low maintenance vinyl windows in several integral exterior colors; from traditional white and clay to dark bronze and black. In the past, AJH has relied on the their all-wood product when building in a historic overlay zoned districts. This product line also offers both stain or paint grade exteriors, and while the wood exterior does require a more attentive maintenance routine, there is no better way to match  historic fenestration. The Jeld-Wen aluminum clad product line is our go-to product and offers over 20 standard aluminum exterior colors and can even be customized to a color of your choice. We have yet to encounter a selection that we were unable to fulfill in the clad product line.

When specifying and purchasing windows AJH recommends Jeld-Wen because the lifetime cycle of their windows coordinates with the exterior finishes we install. It’s not smart to install a window that won’t last 10 years in a thoughtfully detailed exterior that will easily weather 50 years of sun, rain and cold! Choosing from Jeld-Wen’s product lines lets AJH match the right window both aesthetically and functionally to the home. And it allows our clients to enjoy beautiful views with peace of mind.

Key to that peace of mind is knowing AJH & Jeld-Wen will be there to service any issue that might arise. Whether in the frame of the window or the glass itself their warranty department is ready and willing to help AJH correct it, so our customers don’t have to live with anything less than an optimal unit.

Check out Jeld-Wen by following this link!

Have you ever driven by a wide country expanse with a farmhouse on it? Now, let it be said that people can do what they wish with their own property (as long as they're not in a historic overlay district!). But, given that, there are still style standards in the world, and some homes do not belong in an urban setting while others should not be found on rural acreage. Charleston-style homes are meant for narrow urban lots. Even the timeless Georgian was always an in-town dwelling for the wealthy when away from their manor home in the country. The Georgian should not be built in the country unless the manicured gardens are built as well.

This is not to say that every home in the country should look the same, nor that urban housing should be uniform up and down the street (though in some applications, like Brownstones, it should). It is simply to say that some home plans are country, some are city, and some shouldn't be found outside a track-home subdivision. This is the rationale behind historical overlay districts, as urban planners seek to preserve a unique architectural style within certain more homogenous neighborhoods.

That being said, it should also be noted that rarely does one find a pure architectural style. The analogy of facial symmetry applies here: studies have shown that perfect facial symmetry (something that very, very few people have) is both beautiful and somewhat off-putting. Applied to architecture, one might stand in awe of the Taj Mahal, but still realize that it is cold and intimidating (of course, it was designed and constructed as a mausoleum, so the analogy does kind of break down with regard to a home!)

Still, just as the quirks and idiosyncrasies of the human face give both character and warmth, so the blending of architectural styles make a house more inviting and even attractive. Thus, in the residential design process, there are far more hybrids than pure-breeds.

We at Designed for Downtown, LLC and AJH Custom Homes, LLC continually study architectural designs as well as the various applications and hybridizations of those styles. This enables us to make suggestions to our clients based on their often quite diverse idea photos. Give us a call today to begin planning your new home design; we can make it both suitable for the location and beautiful to behold.