Does laminated glass look different to the naked eye? Is it equally energy effient etc? Any difference other than cost? What R rating do you recommend for a climate mild in winter, hot hot in summer? I am pushed to make this change because the windows are not tight at all and lose too much AC in summer impossible to cool properly on 95+ degree days. Thanks for letting me pick your brain on all this.

L R. We have a ranch and have all non-grid windows. It definitely suits the house better. We are in the process of adding a garage and selected windows for the garage without grids and the front door will also have no grids. I think it does look odd when there are grids on the front door and none on the windows. I'm sure you can find some images online to help you decide.

Ideally I would paint the ugly brick but that isn’t an option now. I want to downplay the orange color. The roof is being replaced with ”Weathered Wood” by Pabco (laminated premier shingles) and the gutters will be replaced at the same time since they have to come down to repair something to do with the roof replacement. The porch will be stained a walnut brown to get the red tones out. The windows are vinyl and have to stay white. Planning to paint the trim around the garage and above the windows (and the basement window trim) close the the mortar color. The gutters will be replaced but the (ugly) maroon trim won’t be changed immediately. I’m thinking of matching the gutters to the roof and eventually will paint the trim at the roofline either dark gray or off white to match the mortar. Front door will someday be replaced with a frosted glass door. Should the storm door stay white? The front door is not staying white but not sure what color. Also not crazy about the white garage door. Thinking of trying to use a gel stain to match the front porch (which will be stained darker brown no red undertone). Also should the under side of the porch roof be the same color as the porch, which it is now, or painted/stained a lighter color to show off the height of the porch?

Its a ranch, not a bungalow, and it is a very nice looking ranch house. I wouldnt do a thing with the brick. It will go with your black windows, etc just fine. I would have a front door painted in a bright color (not the blue you have now). Spend your money on landscaping, rather than on staining brick, that doesnt need to be stained. You do need a lot of new landscaping. As for shutters, you may not need them, but, if you do, please repaint them. The white is not doing the look of the house much. Take the shutters off, and then look at the house for a while without them, and see how you like it without any.