Glass Tips for Homeowners

Simple Shower Solutions: How to Re-Caulk Your Shower

The stained caulk around the shower door or odd puddles outside of the shower are both signs that your shower needs some attention. If you are experiencing extensive leaking issues, it may be time for a new shower door. However, updating the caulking is an inexpensive and fairly simple way to gauge if your shower door needs a quick fix or a total replacement.

Why Updating Your Shower’s Caulking Is Important

Normal use takes its toll on shower doors in general. The sealant used to hold your door frame steady and to keep water off your floor and walls is put to the test daily by soap, shampoo, and household cleaners.

Products and abrasion cause discoloration and can cause breaches that promote mold growth within your shower. Replacing shower door caulking will leave the stall looking and feeling cleaner, and if done correctly, the new sealant will protect the bathroom walls from leaks and dampness.

Related Read: Is Your Shower Making You Sick?

Where to Start

Begin by examining the caulking around the glass door. Also, check the status of the caulking on the rest of the shower surround and tub. Identify the leaks and get smart about what kind of material the shower is made of and the most appropriate caulk to use.

Next, Gather Supplies:

Utility knife to cut away old caulking.
Putty knife to scrape away caulking and debris.
Sandpaper is optional, but can be used to further clean and smooth the surface.
Mold and mildew cleaner (or diluted white vinegar) to clean the seams and gaps and kill the mold and mildew spores.
Stiff bristled cleaning brush for scrubbing the seam before reapplying caulking
Caulking, particularly a mildew resistant type to prolong its life in your shower (Make sure you know the difference between grout and caulk, and the different caulking materials and colors available.)
Caulking gun which is used to push the caulk from the tube. A helpful hint: try borrowing one because you will need it rarely
Dry, lint-free cloth

Follow These Steps

Use the utility knife and putty knife to cut and clean away the old caulking; be sure to wear a mask to prevent mold inhalation.
Thoroughly clean the seam with anti-mildew cleaner or slightly diluted white distilled vinegar.
Let the area dry completely. Examine the seams, lightly sand any rough areas and use the cloth to wipe the area clean.
Apply a bead of caulk in one fluid line between joints, each time using a moist finger to remove excess caulk and evenly fill the seam.
Repeat on all seams until the shower is re-sealed.
Let dry completely, between 12 and 24 hours, then visually check the work as well as wet-test the areas to make sure the leaks are resolved.
Finally, you can admire the fresh clean look.

Watch This: How to Properly Caulk a Shower Stall

The experienced home improvement hobbyist can expect to spend between two and four hours doing this project, not including drying time. However, this is not a project for a novice; there is too much at stake. For instance, trapping water behind the caulk or failing to identify the real cause of puddling or mold can lead to more extensive, and expensive, problems.

To have shower caulk replaced correctly, the source of water leakage or puddling must be definitively identified. Only once the source is identified, can homeowners rest easy knowing their bathroom is ready to get back to its daily role of keeping you clean.

Looking to install a new glass shower door? Contact Janssen Glass today, and check out our blog for more helpful tips and tricks to care for the glass in your home!

Go Frameless & Show Off Your Shower Door

Glass shower doors have come a long way in recent years, offering different textures, color, design, and configuration. Shower doors are no longer used to simply keep water in the shower, but as a design element and focal point in bathrooms everywhere.

One shower door trend that is sweeping the nation is frameless shower doors. Today, we are giving you all the details on this popular trend, and how Janssen Glass can help transform your bathroom from drab to fab with one simple update: your shower door.

Why Go Frameless?

A few decades ago, frameless shower doors weren’t an option because the thin glass being used within this industry wasn’t able to stand alone without a frame for support. However, with today’s option of using heavier glass, the possibilities and benefits are endless. Below are just a few reasons to consider going frameless.

A Minor Update with Major Results

Frameless shower doors have the ability to update any bathroom. Since the introduction of frameless shower doors, framed doors are starting to look very dated. Because heavy glass is used to make frameless doors, you can stop focusing on tacky door frames. Adding a frameless shower door is a great way to update an outdated bathroom, while also adding resale value to your home.

Related Read:2016 Shower Trends to Update Your Bathroom

Expand Your Bathroom Without the Hassle of Renovation

Because frameless doors are so commanding, going frameless will make the biggest impact on updating your bathroom, especially in a smaller bathroom. By adding a frameless shower door, your bathroom will feel exponentially bigger, and will allow guests to focus on more beautiful, important aspects of your bathroom instead of your outdated shower door.

Related Read: Understanding Cost Variation In Frameless Shower Doors

Re-Focus Your Bathroom Focal Point

Replacing your shower door can provide a brand new focal point to your bathroom. Frameless glass shower doors open up your bathroom, allowing guests to appreciate the tile work and other design elements within your shower, instead of focusing on not-so-pretty things, like the toilet beside it.

Related Read: Heavy vs. Light Glass Shower Doors

Need It Customized? No Problem!

At Janssen Glass, we have over 20 glass patterns to choose from for both light to heavy glass shower doors. So if you’re just looking to repair or update the glass in your existing shower doors, we can do that.

But if you really want to be inspired, visit our residential gallery online and see how beautiful heavy glass shower doors can be. We can design and custom cut glass for any kind of shower enclosure you may need.

Ready to give your shower door the update it deserves? Contact us today or visit our website for more information on how we can make your bathroom vision a reality.

The Prime Time to Wash away Your Pollen Problem

Springtime brings loads of pollen and dust in the air, leaving that pesky green and yellow film on your outdoor glass and furniture. Many feel the urge to clean these surfaces the moment they start seeing green, but depending on the time of year, cleaning may not be worth it.

Knowing when pollen season starts and ends in your area can save you time and help you avoid useless cleaning. No one needs to waste time cleaning a mess that will reappear the next day, which is why Janssen Glass is explaining the best time to clean pesky pollen and when to wait it out.

Pollen Primetime

In general, pollen season typically lasts from early spring to late autumn, but different plants release pollen at different times.

Tree Pollen is the first to fall, starting mid-March and continuing until mid-May.

Grass Pollen is next, arriving in mid-May and staying into July.

Weed Pollen is the last pollen to fall, from the end of June all the way to September.

Helpful Tip: Depending on where you are located, find out which types of pollen are worse in your area to decide on optimal cleaning times.

To Clean or Not To Clean

With steady pollen arriving all spring and summer long, choosing when to deep clean your windows and outdoor surfaces can feel like a guessing game. However, if you wait all season long to clean, built-up pollen can be a pain to power through. In some cases, pollen buildup can get so bad that it may even require professional cleaning to completely eliminate.

To avoid this issue, we suggest staying on top of pollen problems by cleaning these outdoor surfaces once every month, followed by a deep clean in early September. If the pollen is light, it may be enough to spray it down with a hose, followed by a wipe down with your preferred glass cleaner. However, some pollens are stickier than others and may require more work to remove. For those pesky pollens, check out these alternative home solutions that can make cleaning your windows a breeze.

Pollen season doesn’t have to be a bother. Plan ahead with these tips and regular upkeep to spend less time worrying about pollen, and more time enjoying springtime.

Is Your Shower Making You Sick?

Showers are meant to cleanse away everyday grime, not add to it! The shower is the perfect place for mold to make its mark, and many people think a small amount of mildew won’t make a difference, but in reality it can make you sick, especially if you are allergic.

Here are a few ways the professionals at Janssen Glass & Door suggest getting rid of this pesky fungus.

Hot Water + Soap + Baking Soda

This solution can be used for mild cases of mold in your shower. Here’s what you’ll need:

One teaspoon of liquid soap
One cup of baking soda
Enough hot water to form a paste

Directions: Spread this solution where mold is present and let it sit for an hour or two. After sitting, rinse the area and repeat if necessary.

Helpful Tip: Add a few drops of essential oil to your mix reduce the moldy odor.

Bleach + Water

This solution is for more stubborn, matured mold. Bleach is good for this because it doesn’t just remove mold, it kills it.

Spray bottle
Gloves
Scrub brush
1 part bleach
2 parts water

Directions: Mix this solution together and spray the moldy area with solution. Let it dry completely and then spray the area a second time, this time scrubbing the area with a brush. After that, rinse and repeat until mold is gone.

Related Read: How to Clean Shower Door Tracks

Mild White Vinegar

This is a great way to not only remove existing mold, but to prevent it from coming back. Vinegar reportedly kills 82% of mold species, so spraying shower surfaces with vinegar on a regular basis will make it very hard for mold to come back.

Spray bottle
Mild white vinegar
Towel

Directions: Put the undiluted vinegar into the spray bottle and spray moldy surfaces. Let this sit for an hour and then wipe the area clean with hot water, and dry the surface after.

Helpful Tip: Hydrogen peroxide is also commonly used to clean tough shower stains, but be careful because it can cause some shower surfaces to fade.

Other Useful Tips

After going through the trouble of cleaning your shower, prevent mold from coming back with these helpful tips:

Leave the lights on! After showering, leave the lights on for about fifteen minutes. Light helps reduce the growth of mold spores, so leaving the blinds open or leaving the lights on for a little can do wonders for maintaining a clean bathroom.
Air it out. It may help to crack a window or turn on your ceiling fan while showering. This will prevent condensation and help eliminate humidity for mold to grow in.
Wipe it down. Make sure to wipe down your shower if there are areas that tend to stay wet long after the shower is used.
If it can’t be cleaned, it may be time to replace it. Stubborn mold and other shower messes may be too bad to fix yourself. If that’s the case, it may be time to re-grout or caulk your shower.

Call us today at (913) 677-5727 or (816) 472-5330 for more glass shower door tips or to install your new custom glass shower doors with Janssen Glass & Door.

Janssen Glass’s Quick Spring Cleaning Guide

The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and the flowers are blooming. Spring has finally made its way to Kansas City!

Cue the cleaning supplies and rags, it’s time to freshen up and spring clean your home. Spring cleaning can seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. The team at Janssen Glass put together a handy checklist to help you spruce things up.

Spring Cleaning Tips

Where to Start:

Work your way from top to the bottom. We recommend starting with the ceiling and making your way down to the floor.

Cleaners to Use:

Today there are so many different types of chemical cleaners used. However, many people are now turning to non-toxic homemade cleaners. They can clean the dust and grime and still leave your house fresh and safe. For those who prefer the chemical-free route, the Janssen Glass team put together a DIY guide for creating your own glass cleaner.

What Materials to Use:

Another tip for cleaning ceilings and walls is to use a sponge mop to help you reach higher areas. As for glass, use a squeegee or a microfiber rag. To clean the glass, use a circular motion, then go back over wiping vertically.

Where to Clean:

Think of all the places in your home where dust or dirt can collect. Cleaning these areas will not only look better but by cleaning areas where you don’t necessarily notice dust and dirt, you will help improve the overall quality of your home’s air. We recommend cleaning these areas:

Ceilings
Walls
Baseboards
Floors
Windows & window screens
Mirrors
Light fixtures

Looking for more glass cleaning tips? You can find them in this glass care article. For help with your home’s glass, call Janssen Glass & Door at (913) 677-5727.

Don’t Make These Common Mistakes Caring For Your Glass

Glass is a beautiful component to a home, whether it is for functional or decorative purposes. Oftentimes, however, homeowners aren’t sure how to properly care for their glass. Knowing how to clean and care for your glass is essential to keeping your class features looking great. Janssen Glass shares our top tips for doing just that!

Glass + Paper Towels = A No No

A common misconception when it comes to cleaning glass windows is that you can use paper towels. Because paper towels are fibrous and delicate, they tend to leave behind a lot of lint, which can leave you with a bigger mess than when you started. While you can use newspaper instead, as it is unlikely to produce any loose fibers, keep in mind that some newspaper inks can leave behind streaks. Your best option for cleaning your glass? A microfiber cloth.

Ditch the Ammonia

A common misconception is that using ammonia is good for glass. However, ammonia can actually leave behind a film that collects dust. We recommend using Sprayway glass cleaner, because it works as a protectant as well as a cleaner. Another option to consider is creating your own glass cleaner using common cleaning supplies. The Janssen Glass team put together a DIY guide for creating your own glass cleaner here.

Mirror Musts

When cleaning mirrors, be sure to never use abrasives. Abrasives, as with glass, can scratch and seriously damage the mirror. Keep in mind that you never want to apply the cleaning solution directly to the mirror itself because it can pool and damage the frame and backing.

Tips for Glass Tabletops

Glass tabletops look beautiful in a home and caring for them is actually quite easy. Remember, they are fragile, so take care not to set heavy or objects with sharp edges on the table. Always use coasters and tablemats to protect your glass tabletop. Don’t forget to clean these tabletops often, as they collect and show off dust and fingerprints more than most surfaces.

How to Spruce Up Any Old Coffee Table

A coffee table is a must for most living rooms and family rooms, but do you really need to break the bank when choosing one? Not with Janssen Glass’ tips for sprucing up your old coffee table! Below are the must-haves that we would add to your standard wood coffee table.

Paint Your Table

First things first, you will want to paint your coffee table. Follow these simple steps:

Remove Old Paint: If you’re using an old coffee table with existing paint, you should first remove the old paint so that the wood is exposed. We recommend using paint stripper with a putty knife.

Remove Stain/Finish: If your coffee table was originally stained then you will need to use a different method to expose the wood. We recommend sanding by hand with an 80 – 100 grit paper. The higher the grit of the paper, the smoother the wood will be.

Prime: If you’re using a table that isn’t wood, you will want to first prime it. We recommend using the same method to apply primer that you are using to paint the table.

Paint: Now it’s time to apply the paint! Some paints require multiple coats, so testing on a scrap piece of wood beforehand will give you a good indication of what to expect. Trending today: chalk paint, grays, and whites.

Add a Glass Top

Being a glass company, we believe that glass makes anything more elegant. To really spruce up your coffee table, have a custom glass top made for it. Not sure how to do that? Use this step-by-step guide from the Janssen Glass team.

Style Your Table

Lastly, you will want to style your table. Using magazines and candles or drink trays and plants, there are numerous ways to style your table. Try these tips from Good Housekeeping.

Voila! Your coffee table has now gone from drab to fab. Looking for more helpful tips? Stay up to date with Janssen Glass’ Tips & Tricks for Homeowners.

Moving with Mirrors: Getting Your Mirror Moving Day Ready

When relocating to a new home, there are a number of different items and personal belongings to pack during the process of loading up your old home. One of the main challenges that comes with moving is transporting a mirror or glass without breaking it. To ensure that the product is protected and stays intact, the Janssen Glass team wanted to share a few important tips to follow to prevent it from shattering.

Step 1: Masking Tape & Wrapping

One of the most important steps of properly wrapping a mirror is to cut masking tape and place it in an X shape over the glass to protect it from breaking. You can also fit cardboard over the corners for added protection and to prevent scratches from developing. Then, use more cardboard to cover half an inch on the back and front of the mirror. Use thick towels or sheets on top of the cardboard and wrap it with packaging tape to secure the linens. You can also use bubble wrap after you’ve wrapped the mirror with the packing tape, which will offer extra padding on the mirror and prevent damage.

Step 2: Styrofoam & Boxes

Styrofoam is one of the best materials to use when wrapping a mirror before moving it to protect it from shattering. This can be added on top of any towels, tape, or cardboard that is used. Additionally, you can place the mirror in a fitted box for added protection that will allow it to remain secure as it’s transported to a new location.

Tip: Label the box “fragile” to ensure that professional movers or other people in your family are aware that the item needs to be handled with care!

Step 3: The Handling

If the mirror is awkward in its shape or size, ask a friend or family member to help you move the product when lifting it into the moving truck for proper support. Use gloves to ensure that you have a good grip and that your mirror won’t slip out of your hands.

When packing the mirror into a moving truck or vehicle, it’s important to avoid laying it down flat for transporting. This can cause extra pressure to be applied to the glass, from other boxes and items that are packed, possibly resulting in a shattered mirror.. Instead, place the mirror on its side and avoid packing too many items close to the product to avoid excess pressure on the item. The mirror should be easy to slide in and out, not jammed into place.

If you do happen to break a mirror or glass, no worries! Janssen Glass provides custom glass cutting services. Just give us a call, at (913) 677-5727.

2016 Shower Trends to Update Your Bathroom

Whether you’re planning a complete remodel, or you just want to make a few minor updates to liven up your old bathroom, 2016 is bringing lots of exciting trends and ideas to the world of bathrooms. Here at Janssen Glass, we do a lot of work in bathrooms, so keeping up to date on trends is part of the job. Here are some of the top bathroom trends we are seeing for 2016 that will be perfect in your Kansas City master bathroom.

Minimalist Showers

Clean, simple and elegant designs are here to stay, especially in bathrooms. We’ve seen this trend in the kitchen for a couple of years, and now bathrooms are headed in the same direction. Monochromatic looks, with all white, grey or black are uber popular. You’ll also see showers and shower doors staying on trend with minimalist designs. Heavy glass shower doors, are paired with minimal and simple hardware. Soaking tubs are either non-existent or simple white stand-alones.

Related Read: How to Fix a Dripping Shower

Universal Design

Exclusivity is out and inclusivity is in in a big way. With an aging population and a more disabled-aware public, home design trends are following suit. This means usual problem areas for the senior and disabled, like kitchens and bathrooms, are catching onto a new trend: universal design. Universal design makes bathrooms work for everyone, regardless of age, size and ability, ensuring that your shower will serve you well for years to come. In bathrooms this means zero entry showers, with an open concept design. You won’t see any ledge to step over in the shower, and nozzle heads will be adjustable or handheld.

Square Shaped Fixtures and Showerheads

It’s actually good to be square – at least when it comes to bathroom design in 2016. Geometric inspired square faucets and fixtures are finding their way into master baths and powder rooms everywhere. Angular designs are making appearances in bathtubs, shower heads, tile design and soap dishes.

Water Efficiency

Rising water bills and increasing water supply concerns are influencing bathroom design in a big way. Water efficient appliances and designs are going to be big in 2016. Appliances like low flow toilets, water efficient showerheads and water saving bathroom faucets are going to be everywhere.
When it comes to bathroom and shower design trends, you can count on

Janssen Glass & Door to help you create a space you’re going to love. Call us today at (913) 677-5727 to help you get started.

How to Fix a Dripping Shower

Leaking Shower Head Drip, drip, drip . . . It has to be one of the most annoying noises to a homeowner. Other than leaving a rag at the bottom of the shower, how do you fix it?! While installing a new shower will fix the problem, it isn’t always the most cost effective for everyone. So, the shower experts at Janssen Glass & Door did their homework to help you fix that dreaded drip! Most single-handle, cartridge-style faucets can be repaired in an hour or less with basic tools. You’ll need a 4-in-1 screwdriver and an adjustable wrench. Here’s how to do it:

Remove the Shower Handle Cap

First things first, turn off the water supply to your shower. Turn off the water at the fixture shutoff valves or at your home’s main valve. Next, pry off the handle cap so that the internal handle screw is exposed.

Take out the Cartridge

Next, pull off the stop tube. Pry up the cartridge retaining clip with a small screwdriver. Remove the handle washer and then twist the cartridge stem loose and pull it out with pliers. Virtually every faucet manufacturer has a different method of securing the cartridge to the faucet body. Look for a clip or spring and remove it. Cartridges are often difficult to pull out. Some manufacturers include a removable cap with new cartridges. Align the cap with the old cartridge ears and try to twist the cartridge loose. Then pull it out with pliers.

Look on the handle or trim for the faucet brand or manufacturer. Take the old cartridge with you to a plumbing parts store or a home center to find an exact replacement. A sales associate at a plumbing parts store may be able to identify the brand and model from a photo.

Install the New Cartridge

Turn the hex screw by hand until it bottoms out. Snug up the hex nut by hand and tug on the cartridge puller handle. If the cartridge won’t pull out, hold the puller handle steady and tighten the hex nut two full turns. Pull the cartridge out of the faucet body. Buy an identical replacement cartridge, align it properly and reassemble the parts.

And that’s it! Some faucets will require different instructions. In that case, it’s best to contact the manufacturer. If you decide it’s just time to get rid of that old shower and faucet, contact Janssen Glass & Door at (913) 677-5727. We can help make the new bathroom of your dreams a reality.

Category: Tips for Homeowners