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5 Creative Ways to Use Eze Breeze Enclosure Systems

July 15, 2020/in Additions, Decks, Exterior /by Epic Webstaff

Forty years after its introduction, the popularity of PGT Eze Breeze has yet to blow over. This incredibly versatile line of products was spawned from the Progressive Glass Technologies division of VinylTech in the 1980s, first offering vinyl porch enclosures. Later that decade, the Florida-based company began manufacturing Eze Breeze windows, opening up even more design possibilities to homeowners. Just as Eze Breeze helped launch a NYSE-traded company (PGT Innovations), it can still help you launch some truly inspiring home remodeling projects.

What is Eze Breeze?

The fundamental building block of every Eze Breeze product is the impact-resistant vinyl-glazed panel. Despite its lightweight construction, it’s remarkably resilient and durable. The panels can be configured vertically or horizontally, with various venting options to allow for as much or little airflow as you desire. Both panels and frames are available in various colors and tints to comply with your aesthetic and privacy requirements, and can be customized to fit any opening. As an added bonus, the panels easily pop out for cleaning and maintenance.

Whether you’re using them to fully or partially enclose a porch, patio, or sunroom, Eze Breeze panels offer an excellent way to meld indoor and outdoor spaces.

Retrofitting with Eze Breeze

The real appeal of the Eze Breeze vinyl enclosure system is its ability to transform and extend the utility of an existing deck, screen porch, or patio. By retrofitting these spaces, you can create a room you can enjoy nearly all year-round. It capably keeps the elements (and critters) out while letting air and light in, and screens UV radiation to preserve your furniture from fading. The standard vertical 4-track unit can be mounted into an opening from the outside (no interior trim required) or inside and is sealed for weather-tightness. With a little assistance from a portable heater or air conditioner, your enclosed porch or patio can maintain a comfortable temperature whether it’s snowy or sweltering outside.

Better yet, after installation, the enclosed porch or patio is still considered a porch or patio — meaning it won’t alter your home’s assessed tax value in the same way an addition would. With an Eze-Breeze retrofit, you get a lot of the functionality of an addition at a fraction of the cost.

What can you enclose with an Eze Breeze retrofit?

Your Eze Breeze porch enclosure can be implemented in a bounty of creative ways.

1. Enclosed Gazebo

Plan an escape within your own backyard with an enclosed gazebo. Totally detached from the house, these outdoor sanctuaries offer a full 360-degree view of your surrounding landscaping while providing around-the-clock shade and shelter. Enclosing your gazebo with Eze Breeze vinyl-glazed panels is an upgrade over mesh screens alone, allowing you to adjust airflow and keep windblown precipitation out as you read, practice yoga, meditate, or just unwind after a long day.

2. Pool House

Tired of wet feet trudging through the kitchen on a hot summer day? Build an enclosed pool house or cabana stocked with dry towels, refreshments, and toiletries — for a truly luxurious feel, you might even add a bar or lounge seating — and drippy kids and houseguests may never have to venture inside again. When the sun goes down and the air gets cooler, Eze Breeze panels can help keep the heat in and bugs out. The pool party is over when you say it is.

3. Greenhouse

Green thumbs will appreciate Eze Breeze in the context of a greenhouse. Bathe fruits, vegetables, herbs, and flowers in sunlight while regulating UV radiation and precipitation infiltration by simply sliding out or removing vinyl panels. A Eze Breeze greenhouse would make a beautiful home addition, patio feature, or even freestanding structure elsewhere on your property.

4. Sunroom

Wake up and smell the coffee — or the sweet fragrance of spring flowers, fresh-cut grass in the summer, or crisp scent of fallen leaves in the autumn — by incorporating Eze Breeze into a sunroom. And because the panels are UV-resistant, your skin can enjoy all the benefits of sunlight without the sunburn.

5. Garage

Garages aren’t just for cars anymore (or storing your tools/equipment/junk either). With PGT Eze Breeze’s garage side slider, you can aspire for more — a home bar, mancave, game room, gallery, studio, or anything else you can conceive — it’s like pairing the functionality of a finished basement with the breathability of a patio. If you’re content with your car parked outside, you’ll be more than content with exploring the possibilities with Eze Breeze.

At Ayars Complete Home Improvements, we love the Eze Breeze enclosure system and we think you will, too. We’re booked through the current season, but would love to see if your project is a good match for us in the long term. Peruse our project galleries for a glimpse of what we can make happen for you.

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Designing a Winning At-Home Sports Bar

August 21, 2019/in Basements, Decks /by Epic Webstaff

You’re ready for some football, but is your home? Win big with your guests on game day with an optimized entertainment space. Creating an at-home sports bar, either as a patio feature or as part of an indoor man cave, is a great way to enjoy time at home and save money on Sundays. Before beginning, however, it pays to have a game plan.

Indoor or outdoor?

In late summer and into early autumn, you can use an outdoor bar to replicate a bonafide tailgating experience. The elements are always in play in New Jersey, so ensure the bar is covered with a canopy, extended ceiling, roof overhang, or awning. Televisions or monitors should either be of the outdoor variety or shielded with an outdoor covering. Lighting should amply illuminate the primary task areas of the bar (preparation, serving, and clean-up) and assist with navigation as the days grow shorter. A firepit or space heater might be incorporated into the patio to help stave off the chill at nightfall.

For year-round versatility, consider converting an unfinished basement into a finished basement bar area. The availability of water and electrical lines should be the first consideration when designing a finished basement — altering or adding plumbing or wiring can be costly, so try to work with what you have if you can. Make fellow fans feel at home while providing the best view of the action with comfortable open seating arrangements. Well-positioned speakers and surround sound work wonderfully in basements – in part due to their natural sound-dampening characteristics. Still, soundproofed materials might be a good idea if not everyone in your house is as into the game as you are.

Dry bar or wet bar?

The difference between a dry bar and a wet bar is the availability of running water. If your bar is going to be easily accessible from or attached to a kitchen, a sink may not be necessary. An integrated refrigeration cabinet or closet allows you to store a wider variety of perishable ingredients, as well as stow beers for quick handoffs rather than long jaunts to the nearest refrigerator. For barkeepers who want to go the distance, leaving room for a home draft beer system such as a kegerator might be a wise move.

What materials will I be using?

For the bar’s framing and structure, construction lumber, oriented strand board sheeting, and plywood provide sturdiness and integrity. Treated lumber or composite materials are advised for outdoor bars to resist moisture and weathering. For aesthetics, trim your bar with hardwood fascia. Countertop workspaces should be resilient and easy to clean — granite, marble, tile, and laminated hardwood or plywood are popular examples.

The best seats in the house

Your bar stools need to:

Complement the decor and be comfortable to sit in for hours at a time
Be positioned to the correct height (28 to 33 inches from the floor, with 9 to 12 inches left for leg space under the counter)
Offer clear sightlines to the action — do not place behind obstructions and keep level with the monitor or screen. If the TV is not behind the bar, swiveling bar stools are a must.

Take time to incorporate these design tips into your at-home sports bar plans and you’ll be sure to ring up the score with visitors. And remember, Ayars Complete Home Improvements is always game to help out with your next patio or finished basement project!

Increase Your Home Value with 8 Home Remodeling Ideas

October 6, 2016/in Additions, Bathroom, Decks, Exterior, Flooring, Interior, Kitchen /by AyarsAdmin

Increase Your Home Value with 8 Home Remodeling Ideas

Did any of your home upgrades pay off when it came time to sell? There are many things you can change and remodel in your home, but these 7 key home improvements are guaranteed to increase the value of your home.

Remodeling the Kitchen

The kitchen is usually the first room in the house that needs updating. After all, the kitchen is the heart of the home. I’m not sure about you guys, but the hang out spot at my house is usually the kitchen. Remodeling continues to have the highest budget allocation.

For many families (mine included), this room is where everyone gathers around or entertains their guests. Holidays, birthdays, a little family get together; this room is definitely utilized the most in a home. For this reason, you can expect to recoup 60%-120% of investments from remodeling a kitchen, as long as you stay within your budget.

Adding a Bathroom

You can never go wrong with having more than one restroom in your home. This is why you can recoup 80%-130% of investments from adding another bathroom. Most homebuyers will use any room with underutilized space or take an extra room to upgrade it into a master bathroom.

Reinventing a Room

This home improvement can be the most expensive upgrade to a house. Adding more square footage to your home can easily accumulate costs but it can bring you a 50%-83% return on investment.

Adding Energy-Efficient Windows

Energy-efficient home improvements not only recoups 60%-90% of investments cost, but it can also reduce energy taxes as well! When you replace your windows or doors with energy efficient models, you can receive a tax credit and 10% of costs, up to $200.00 per window.

Adding a Deck

Outdoor living spaces, otherwise known as staycations, can significantly increase the value of your home. As more homeowners are adding decks and patios to their backyards, it instantly becomes more appealing to prospective buyers when the house is for sale.

Energy-Efficient Insulation

It’s about that time everyone has basic insulation installed, otherwise the cost to live in and maintain an unmodified home can be a burden. Most potential buyers make sure to include this home improvement into their reports.

*One way to ensure your house is well insulated is with the right masonry.

Basic Updates

Making basic updates to your home is a no-brainer. Making small improvements such as fixing a leaking roof, replacing rotting wood and keeping paint fresh will always add the most value to your home. A solid and safe home is always appealing to homebuyers.

So if you plan to remodel or make improvements to your home, remember that even the smallest of projects can make a big difference to the value of your home. Also, focus on making your home safe and energy-efficient because it guarantees lower energy costs in the future.

Flooring

Take a look at your home’s soft flooring. Are your carpets and area rugs stained or worn? Ideally, you may want to replace them all, but if a limited budget puts a snag in that plan, start by replacing the carpet in the room that shows the most wear and tear and replace the others as your finances allow. Hardwood flooring is also an upsell. Visually it’s beautiful, and gives such a natural feel to your home.