Guest Blog: Which windows work for you?

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By Joann Whetstine of Milgard Windows & Doors

With a custom shed, there are so many possibilities. Because a Modern-Shed is really an extension of your home, it’s important that the design complements the existing look and feel of your house and reflects your vision. Choosing the best windows is an important step as the windows can also help set the tone of the dwelling, based on the type of frame, visual appeal and even the color.

Modern-Shed offers windows in three different frame materials, each with their own benefits, depending on your specific needs and plans for the shed itself. From office to a private retreat or a guest cottage, you can choose the window that is right for you.

Fiberglass Windows

Milgard® UltraTM Series Fiberglass windows are very strong and resist swelling, rotting and warping over time, no matter the weather. With seven exterior, designer colors to choose from, you’re sure to be inspired. With Milgard, the Ultra Series comes with a Full Lifetime Warranty, which includes parts and labor and glass breakage coverage. This window is a great choice for beauty as well as peace of mind.

Milgard Window
This photo shows  shows the color Harmony, which can also be used on the interior

Aluminum Windows

Aluminum windows are popular when you are looking for a modern, contemporary style and the maximum amount of glass available. The Milgard Thermally Improved Aluminum Series is also more energy efficient than standard aluminum, which will help your shed stay warmer in winter and cooler in the summer. The thin frame offers narrow sight lines which are very pleasing to the eye. Choose from Bronze, White or Clear Anodized frames.

Vinyl Windows

Vinyl windows are a popular option based on price and their energy efficient qualities. Most homeowners even notice that new vinyl windows even keep their house quieter, making them a great choice for a custom shed. Vinyl window are also durable and very low maintenance, so, they can look great for many years with little upkeep.

With so many options, you can be sure one of these window choices will be the best window for your project.

Oh, Canada

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Canadianflag
In recent months, Modern-Shed has been getting more and more calls for jobs up in Canada.
We love our Canadian customers and can absolutely ship and sell to our northern neighbors, however, there is one important caveat to remember:
Due to the complexities of international labor laws, it is not legal for Modern-Shed installers to actually come out to your property and install a shed for you if you live in Canada. 
So, to reiterate, we can sell and ship to Canada, but we cannot install. We can absolutely help our Modern-Shed customers in Canada find contractors in your area who can help you finish the job.

Why we use … superior flooring

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Talking about floors may seem boring.

However, a flooring system underpins an entire structure and gets so much use and abuse; it is the backbone of our structures. I mean, have you ever walked, jumped or put a grand piano on your walls?

Our customers use their Modern-Sheds for any number of uses, including home offices, gyms and music rooms. In order to give them the most flexibility with how they are going to use their shed now and in the future, we build our floor systems to last a very long time and endure any wear that may occur.

Modern-Shed flooring — built to withstand any number of musical instruments!

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The Modern-Shed Garage

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Greater Seattle area — When David and his family of four moved into their Pacific Northwest home, built in 1912, there was a major problem sitting in the backyard.

“The home had an existing garage that was maybe 50 years old,” David recalls. “There were raccoons living in the walls. There was actually no back wall. It had totally fallen apart and the whole thing probably would’ve just fallen in.”

The family had the garage removed, but as they explored their options to build another unit in the backyard and expand their living space, they ran into some issues.

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The Modern-Shed Garage, featuring a frosted glass door from Northwest Door. 

“I was originally going to build a garage with a mother-in-law unit, we had it designed and everything, a garage with an apartment above it,” David says. “However it didn’t meet the requirements of the city we live in. It also was going to be very costly.” Continue reading →

The Painter’s Dilemma: Meet Barbara

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Before finding Modern-Shed, Barbara’s large-scale paintings had begun to take over her living space.Before finding Modern-Shed, Barbara’s large-scale paintings had begun to take over her living space.IMG_6718

“I’m a large-format painter, specifically I paint portraits, but for the last seven years I’d been painting in our dining room,” she said. “The last series I did were roughly 30-by-40 feet. Sometimes I do 36-by-72 feet work. I work in panels and by the end of the day I’d have stacks of paintings.” Continue reading →

Why Should Men Have All the Fun?

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SheShed image

Author Erika Kotite spent nearly a year studying the “she shed” phenomenon for her new book, “She Sheds: A Room of Your Own.”
While men have got their man caves, women also need a space of their own, as many of our clients have come to understand. “She Sheds” shows readers how to create cozy getaways with inspiration from across the country.
In addition to building her sister a she shed, Kotite also featured a couple Modern-Sheds in her work.
Buy her book on Amazon and check out other blog posts for more inspiration on ways women use their sheds!

Sustainable Products We Love

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Earth Day has come and gone, but that doesn’t mean we at Modern Shed don’t still care about providing sustainable products.

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Modern Shed customer and artist Andy Yoder’s 200-pound globe created out of 300,000 matchsticks.

Our customers have invested in a wide range of “green” products that enhance their Modern Shed experience, from Green Grid roofs to compost Envirolet toilets, but we also are committed to using products from companies that prioritize sustainability in our structures.

Some of the standard Modern Shed “green” features include use of sustainable products such as James Hardie plank siding, glue-lam beams and Oriented Strand Boards (OSB).

Many of our materials are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, to ensure that our wood materials have been produced by high environmentally conscious standards.

Modern Shed also uses durable materials like aluminum, galvanized metal and concrete-based siding and our windows are 100 percent recyclable.

Here’s a rundown of more of our sustainable options: Continue reading →

Why We Use … Benjamin Moore paint

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We’ve started a new series “shedding” light on the fabulous products we use, such as Benjamin Moore paint.

Modern–Shed is committed to using and offering only the highest-quality materials. One aspect of this is our paint choice. Modern-Sheds are factory-painted, and due the complexity of open-joint siding, we felt it imperative to use long-lasting, quality paint.

Layla Tromble, the store manager at Pacific Paint and Decorating in Ferndale, Wash., has worked with her fair share of paint companies over the years.

By far, Benjamin Moore paint comes out ahead of the pack.

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Benjamin Moore uses the Gennex pigment system, which bonds to the paint on a molecular level.

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Meet Modern-Shed’s Top Producer

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Many of you already know Mike Probach, whose nickname Modern Mike speaks to how closely his clients identify him with the product he sells.
Mike has been with Modern-Shed since Day 1 and has assisted nearly 500 clients with their shed needs, earning the designation of Top Producer last year once again.
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Modern Mike and his wife, Jacki, take a break from cycling through Ireland.
“My favorite part of working with Modern-Shed are the clients,” he said. “They are some wonderful, talented, smart people who all have a unique need for more space.”

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