Solar Windows & More is dedicated to offering honest pricing on quality, Ohio-made home improvement products
By Laura Briedis
In the digital age when people tend to form opinions instantaneously, curb appeal is more important than ever.
According to celebrity real estate mogul Barbara Corcoran, buyers decide in the first eight seconds of seeing a home if they are interested in buying it. And many decide before even seeing it in person as they search for homes online and narrow down their picks.
Nowadays, how your house looks online is the modern equivalent of curb appeal. It’s still, however, all about the façade that captures our attention and makes us want to go inside.
Even if you are planning to stay put and not sell your home, upping the curb appeal will add value to your home. And, most importantly, it will make you love your home more.
“If you want to spruce up your home’s exterior—and make it more energy efficient—fall is the peak time to install windows, siding, gutter guards and roofing,” says Mark Uffman, operations manager for Solar Windows & More.
With its storefront on Pearl Road in Strongsville, just steps away from Home Depot and Lowe’s, Solar Windows & More offers a local alternative to the national chains.
With more consumers looking to buy products made in the U.S.A., the company takes its commitment to supporting the local economy a step further by installing products made right here in Ohio, like Sunrise Windows & Doors built in the Toledo area and Soft-Lite Windows custom made in Streetsboro, GutterShutter manufactured in Cincinnati and ProVia Doors from Sugarcreek. Solar Windows & More also makes its own glass block windows in its North Royalton facility.
“We support the local economy by proudly selling American-made products,” says AJ Jaffary, owner of Solar Windows & More.
As a locally owned business, the company takes a friendly, familiar approach to sales. The tone is set by the staff, which includes high school friends AJ, Mark and Sales Manager Herminio Delgado, who all have hands-on experience installing windows and siding.
“We don’t use any sales gimmicks like buy two get one free,” says Mark. “We give you the best price upfront the first time.”
This no-pressure sales approach is working, as the company continues to grow exponentially thanks to word-of-mouth referrals and stellar reviews on Angie’s List and the Better Business Bureau.
Energy-efficient Windows
The company’s knowledgeable sales staff educates homeowners about the importance of energy savings and explains the Energy Star rating, low E-coatings and thermal block energy materials and how they all translate into cost savings and help keep you warm and cozy.
“People do not realize that even new windows can still be leaky and drafty,” cautions Mark, noting the key is how well the window is constructed to stop water and air infiltration, along with proper installation.
The Solar Windows sales staff measures the window openings, sends the specs to the manufacturer who custom builds every window. They are shipped and installed on the home typically in three to six weeks.
And Much More
As its name implies, Solar Windows & More offers more than windows, as it can take care of everything on the exterior of your home, from roofing to the gutters, siding and doors.
“Current popular siding colors mirror what is trendy for interiors right now,” says Mark.
“Grey tones are in demand, along with deep, dark, rich colors. In the past, dark siding tended to warp and fade in the hot sun, but with Alside’s new materials and technology, we are seeing an explosion of these new siding colors.”
“We also have been installing custom trim colors, instead of just the standard white trim, to better complement siding colors,” he adds. “And we are doing a more intricate brick mould bend, which most companies do not offer. It adds artistry and frames the windows to make them pop against the siding.”
Solar Windows & More also offers GutterShutter, a complete rainwater management system.
“We offer a 100 percent no-clog guarantee,” says Mark, noting that in the three years they have been installing the product there never has been a clog. “There are no screens to clog. There are perforations across the hood to take in most of the water.”
The remaining rainwater flows over and around the nose of the GutterShutter by the simply physical law of water surface tension.
The company also is GAF Roofing System Plus Certified.
“When we install roofs, the shingles come with a true 50-year warranty, plus a 25-year stain warranty so you won’t need to power wash stains or moss off your roof,” says Mark.
“We are not a jack-of-all-trades, but rather have installers who specialize in each trade,” says AJ.
“We have a crew that just installs windows, others who are roofers and some who just do gutters. This way we have the best professionals in every craft.”
Solar Windows & More is located at 8367 Pearl Road in Strongsville. Hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, call 440-946-3697 or visit SolarWindowsAndMore.com.