Why Do My New Windows Have Condensation?
Windows in areas like the kitchen and bath are more likely to have condensation. However, even if you find condensation in other areas, it doesn’t always indicate a problem.
COVID-19 Updates
For the most up-to-date COVID-19 modifications, please click here.
Dear community members, friends, customers:
We hear you. We get it. We’re with you. These are scary times to live through, but that is indeed what we are doing: living.
We want you to know that the Door Store and Windows is open. We intend to service our customers as best we can, with virtual, social-distancing options available.
If you are home and noticing a drafty window or door, let us know. We can help.
If you are sitting on your couch, browsing the internet for design ideas, we can help.
You can keep your home improvement projects moving during this time. We are able to do a virtual visit to our showroom, or a virtual visit to your home. We are also fully capable of taking all measurements of door and window openings from outside, never needing to enter in your home.
There are options available and we are willing to work with you in a safe manner while we wait out this international challenge. Please call us at (502) 896-1717 for more information and to discuss all of the options.
Please note that as of Monday, March 23rd, our hours will be as follows:
Monday through Friday: 9am-5pm
Stay well, Louisville! This local, family business is here for you.
Historic Window Replacement
How do you know that our products are the highest quality? We use them in our own homes! In today’s blog, our long-time teammate, Karen, shares the story of her brand-new window recently installed in her St. Matthews home.
The Problem
Like many in St. Matthews, Karen’s is an older home. Her original front window added a great deal of character and charm. However, at this point in its life, the window was not efficient. Karen mentioned that while sitting on the couch in that room, with backs to the window, she and her husband could feel a breeze on the backs of their necks. Something had to give. They didn’t want to sacrifice the beauty of the window, but they needed to control the air getting into the house.
The old, drafty window let an uncomfortable breeze into the room.
The Solution
They decided to go with a Marvin replacement. As they made their selection, it was very important to them to keep the overall historic look of the home. Thankfully, Marvin excels at historic replacements, and had all of the design features that Karen wanted. She and her husband chose a narrow divided light, vertical grid on the top portion of the window (precisely like the original window), and no dividers on the bottom portion.
Karen and her husband were able to select a Marvin window that perfectly matched the original window.
One thing that we love about working with the Marvin products is their attention to historic detail. These elements help us maintain the look of historical homes in neighborhoods throughout areas like St. Matthews and the Highlands. More importantly, thanks to new technology, Marvin windows perform better and last longer.
In today’s world there’s no reason to have a window that lets in drafts, so let your window work for you. Whether you’re building a new home or replacing a window from the 1930s, we can help you choose the best design and look for your home, no matter the size or scale! Give us a call or stop by our showroom to get started on your next replacement project.
Click here to see Karen talk about her replacement project!
Food Pantry Collection at the Door Store and Windows
Door Store and Windows is proud to be supporting the efforts of a local institution, Redeemer Lutheran Church. Redeemer Lutheran has been located on
River Park Drive in the Shawnee neighborhood since the 1950s and has a robust community ministry program. In addition to offering a yearly community street and health fair, an annual giveaway of warm clothing, and offering monthly HIV testing through the Health Department, Redeemer Lutheran also operates a Food Pantry.
On the fourth Wednesday of each month, the church Food Pantry is open from 8:00am to 11:00am. Volunteers distribute bags of food to about 150 families, with each bag containing enough food for about six meals. Over the course of one year, the Food Pantry may distribute tens of thousands of meals to community members.
This year, Door Store and Windows wanted to be even more hands-on and involved with the great work that Redeemer is doing in the community. From November through January, our wonderful staff will be volunteering their time to the Food Pantry, and we will also be taking up food collection for upcoming pantries.
If you’d like to make a donation for January’s food bag, we are in need of:
- Boxes of tissues
- Cans of tuna
- Hamburger or tuna helper
Please drop off any donations by Friday, January 17 at Door Store and Window’s Showroom at 4625 Shelbyville Rd, Louisville, KY 40207 during regular hours:
Showroom Hours:
- Monday – Thursday: 9am – 6 pm
- Friday: 9am – 5pm
- Saturday: 9am – 2pm
- Sunday: Closed
Learn more about Redeemer Lutheran Church’s mission on their website. Thank you to everyone who has donated to-date. We are so proud to be supporting this great cause in our community.
Door Store and Windows Rises to Any Challenge
Palladian Window Replacement – Part One
With over twenty years of experience and a talented team of experts, Door Store and Windows (TDSW) is uniquely equipped to tackle even the most challenging installation projects. Recently, a client came to us after consulting with three other window replacement companies who were unable to complete their project. They asked us to replace their 25-year old, two-story Palladian window, and we were confident in our ability to make the client’s vision a reality.
Our largest replacement to-date: a two-story Palladian window.
To begin the process our Sales and Design Consultant, Karen, met with the client at their home to assess the window and evaluate the project needs. The window was severely rotted, and at 10 feet by 17 feet, it was the largest that we had ever replaced. During the visit, Karen took extensive measurements and then began the process of developing preliminary window drawings. Given its majestic size, Karen, Jim, and Craig of the TDSW team worked with the Marvin architectural team to engineer a custom replacement window built with structure and stability in mind.
The old window was severely rotted.
The homeowner wanted to preserve key design elements and the feel of the original window. We communicated with the client regularly during the design process, discussing options and architectural details to ensure the final product was a strong, durable window suited precisely to their tastes. Once the client was satisfied with the design, the Marvin team fabricated the window. A window of this size is too large to be transported in one piece, so it was designed to be installed in five sections at the job site.
The new window was designed to be installed in sections.
It’s not only custom designs and complex replacements that warrant this kind of thoughtful attention to detail. As a local business, we pride ourselves in treating each customer as a neighbor, being communicative, helpful, and willing to go above and beyond to solve any door or window design problem that you may have. Consistent customer service, no matter how large or small the project, is one of the many reasons why Door Store and Windows is your most trusted exterior design source.
Curious about the installation of the two-story Palladian window? Click here to read the rest of the story!
At Door Store and Windows, our goal is to provide peace of mind and customer satisfaction throughout the entire replacement process. If you have any questions, feel free to give us a call at (502) 822-5424.
Team Member Trivia: Part 2!
It’s time for the second installment of Team Member Trivia! At Door Store and Windows our people are our stars. They create an enjoyable experience for both our customers and strategic partners and make it fun to come into work every day! We hope these fun facts help you get to know our team a bit better.
Today we offer two people who joined us last summer. These two dynamic individuals, though relatively new to the team, have become an integral part of carrying out our company mission (hyper link to page) and Core Values (another hyperlink) each day. Meet Chris Valdez and Jane Rudnick.
Chris Valdez, Installation Coordinator
Chris joined us last August, and is the one charged with keeping our window and door Installation Team straight. That’s quite a task…and may be a bit of the reason he feels like his life is like a sit com. Learn more about Chris:
Who would play you in a movie about your life?
Ray Romano, my life is a lot like that show.
If you didn’t work at the Door Store and Windows, what would be your dream job?
A tour guide to historical landmarks, or a history professor.
What’s your favorite local restaurant?
A tiny place in Clifton called “El Mundo.”
If your best friend described you by naming a car, what car would they name?
A Ford Mustang (the watered down 1975 version with no “guts”).
Your dream home – contemporary or traditional?
I’ll go with “Modern Rustic.”
Winter or Summer? Why?
Summer, are you kidding? (We’re with you on this one, Chris!)
Soup or salad?
Tortilla soup
When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
This is not a lie! I wanted to be either a school bus driver or an astronaut. (I became neither.)
If you could have any super power, what would that be? What would you do with it?
Flying! I dream about it all the time. Actually it’s more like hovering, but it’s still cool.
What’s your favorite childhood memory?
Moving across Continental America with my uncle and father in a Volkswagen bus in 1974.
Do you have any hidden talents?
I can cook, but only on my terms!
If you were a door or window what kind/style would you be?
I would love to be a new Ebony Marvin Modern Direct Glaze Tall Window Assembly, with
Low E2 insulated glass filled with Krypton, overlooking breaking waves crashing over rocky cliffs somewhere in Malibu.
Jane Rudnick, Marketing Coordinator
Jane joined us in June of 2018, straight out of graduation from Bellarmine. Jane is our “Yankee Doodle Dandy,” with a love for summer and ice cream. Learn a bit more about Jane:
What’s your favorite local restaurant?
I like Bombay Grill!, I’m a big fan of Indian food—the spicier, the better. Comfy Cow is a close second. I’m from Cincinnati, so we don’t have Comfy Cow but we do have Graeters, which is also good!
What’s your coffee order?
Every day: Mocha Frappuccino. Fall: Pumpkin Spice Lattes (basic—but a classic!).
Winter: Peppermint Mocha
Winter or Summer? Why?
Summer because I love to travel, go to the beach, swim, and tan! I’m also a Yankee Doodle baby, born on the 4th of July! The 4th is filled with fireworks, cake, and presents!
Soup or salad?
Salad! Cobb Salad.
If you could have any super power, what would that be? What would you do with it?
Teleportation. I would use it when I want to be on time or if I’m lost. It would allow me to be right where I need, right away!
What’s your favorite childhood memory?
I have two. I loved going to Hilton Head with my family and going to the beach. My other one is when I was 9-years-old, I went to my first concert and saw Hilary Duff with my friend! I loved her hit TV Disney show, Lizzie McGuire.
Do you have any hidden talents?
I can do Jacob’s Ladder with string!
Team Member Trivia
At Door Store and Windows our people are our stars. They create an enjoyable experience for both our customers and strategic partners and make it fun to come into work every day! For this reason, we are excited to introduce Team Member Trivia – fun facts to help you get to know our team a bit better.
Team Members Visit ProVia for Entry Door Training
Recently, three of our team members traveled to Amish Country in Ohio to participate in a training and information session at ProVia, one of our entry door suppliers. Dena Shoemaker and Karen LaMontagne, both window and door sales consultants, and Brad Keith, our service manager, experienced ProVia’s state-of-the-art production facility first-hand and came away very impressed.
Impressive Facility and People
“The first thing I noticed about the facilities was the cleanliness,” noted Karen. Dena agreed, “The facilities were extremely clean and the employees worked hard and were very efficient.” Brad has more than a decade of experience in door manufacturing and came away totally impressed with the facility and people. “Their high tech automated system made door manufacturing look easy and the people were awesome and friendly,” says Brad.
“One-at-a-time” Door Craftsmanship
Quality and craftsmanship was a theme that resonated for our team. ProVia is located in the heart of Amish Country in Ohio and employs many skilled Amish craftspeople, but they also utilize some of the latest manufacturing techniques and technology. It’s a combination of “one at a time” craftsmanship with the efficiency of a streamlined production system that can address the unique requirements of each homeowner’s custom-built door. It also results in an entry door product that reflects the care and attention of each ProVia employee.
Some Photos From The Trip…
ProVia Goes The Extra Step
Everyone in the group learned something new during the visit. From the thickness of the steel used in steel doors (49% thicker steel than competitors) to the fact that they manufacture their own threshold (because they could not find one good enough for their doors), ProVia definitely goes the extra step to guarantee a great door. And the finishing areas (particularly the hand staining) was “hands down the most impressive part of the visit”, according to Dena. All agreed that ProVia’s investment in their painting and staining areas really shows in the beauty of their finishes and the longevity of their finish warranties. Karen adds, “The attention to detail is amazing!”
If you’re looking for a new entry door, contact Karen or Dena at 502-896-1717 to set up an in-home consultation.
A Visit to Warroad, Minnesota – Home of Marvin Windows and Doors
As we build relationships with Louisville area builders, remodelers and architects, we try to provide opportunities for those groups to learn more about our windows and doors. One way we do this is to show them the design and manufacturing skills of our suppliers and that often means a road trip to Warroad, Minnesota, corporate headquarters of Marvin Windows and Doors.
Always an interesting trip, Warroad is only five miles from the Canadian border in northern Minnesota. We recently escorted four Louisville-area remodelers and one local architect on a trip to Warroad and had a chance to see the magic behind Marvin’s production process.
The trip included a visit to the Wm. S. Marvin Training and Visitor Center with some classroom time and history of the company to set the tone of the visit. Plant tours highlighted Marvin’s expertise in customization, milling, and extrusions. From Marvin’s “zero waste” recycle/re-use program to using milling knives so sharp that sanding is unnecessary, our group was impressed!
And to add a little fun to our trip, we visited an indoor archery range. Check out the pics!
Overall, it was a fun and educational trip that once again makes us proud to be a partner with Marvin Windows and Doors.
Our Process for Finding a New Window or Door Supplier
We value a strong relationship with our suppliers and think that we have put together an outstanding supplier team. But as styles, colors and other trends change we must constantly evaluate our offerings. We want to offer products that meet the specific needs of Louisville-area homeowners and sometimes that means supplementing our existing products with those from additional suppliers to fill those needs.
We recently welcomed a new supplier, ThermaTru Doors to our team. We thought this might be a good opportunity to talk about what goes into selecting a new supplier. While we don’t make many changes to our product line, when we do, it’s a process that gets our complete attention with a full background investigation. Why? It’s important to us that we don’t test products on our customers. By the time we add a new supplier, we’re 100% confident in that company and their products.
Here’s how we do it:
Step 1: Find Out What Our Customers (You) Want
Meeting the needs of you, our customer, and providing you “an outstanding customer experience” is our primary mission. That means listening to your needs and giving you what you want. In this instance, through discussions with our design consultants and customers, we identified specific fiberglass door styles you wanted that weren’t available from our existing suppliers.
Step 2: Determine Who Offers What We Need
We stay on top of the industry by regularly reading industry trade publications, reviewing industry websites and attending industry trade shows. We have become window and door experts not only through the thousands of windows and doors we’ve replaced in the Louisville area, but also by keeping up with what’s new and interesting in windows and doors. For example, earlier this year, three members of our team, Ann Gregory, Laurie Scarborough and Don Erickson, attended the 2014 International Builders Show and spent time visiting with several manufacturers at the show, including our current suppliers.
Step 3: Uncover The Company That Best Meets Our Needs
We have a checklist of “must-haves” based on our experience with dozens of manufacturers and thousands of product installations. We’re sticklers on component quality and finish, product performance in the field, and delivery lead times. Competitive pricing is always on our checklist. Marketing and training support are also important to us.
Step 4: See The Entire Operation In Person
Having identified our top prospect, we hit the road to touch and see the product. Watching the manufacturing process provides valuable insight to better understand product strengths and quality control initiatives. Visiting with manufacturer R&D teams helps us know how the company is planning their future. For the ThermaTru road trip, Ann and Laurie traveled 863 miles through four states to visit four different facilities in order to see the entire ThermaTru operation from start to finish.
Step 5: Train and Continually Educate Our Team
So after we agree to terms with the supplier, it’s time to train our team on quoting, ordering and installing the new products. The manufacturer sends a representative to our location for in-depth training (usually a half or full day) and to answer questions from our team members. Factory training for our installers and regular news updates are also a part of on-going training programs.
A Customer Experience Investment
Ensuring an outstanding customer experience means making sure all of these steps lead to a great supplier. We invest our time to make sure we’re doing what is best for our customers…even if it means a “Thelma & Louise” style road trip for the owners.
Find out more by contacting one of our design consultants at 502-896-1717 or by filling out the form on our Contact Us page. We look forward to helping you with your next window or door project.
WHY BUY LOCAL?
Kentuckiana is our community! We’re locally-owned and operated, not a franchise, so you get attentive, local service.
OUR AWARDS
