Writing Portfolio

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Porch WindowsFor homeowners, windows are a wonderful addition to porches. They can help stop bugs and rain. Windows can also help keep floors and outdoor furniture clean, which means that the maintenance of porches are greatly reduced by the addition of windows. The frames and materials of these windows are important considerations when a homeowner is wanting to purchase porch windows. The differences between the window frames offered by us and our competitors will be compared first. Next, information on and the advantages of our vinyl and glass windows will be given.Comparison of Window Frames
There are some common issues with window frames that occur. Some of these issues will be discussed, as well as how our windows solved them through alternative, more advantageous designs. Many vinyl film windows available on the market have a cascading design. The ones in front or on the bottom are wider, and the ones further back and towards the top are smaller. Each frame—commonly referred to as a sash—is a different size and that can also lead to a lacking appearance. However, the ones offered by Valverax are not cascading, meaning that the sashes can be used to replace each other and there is a more uniform look to the windows. There is sometimes an issue with bugs, pollen, or dirt accumulating in the window frame. Because of this, some windows offered by Valverax are solid. They have no grooves or crevices. The lack of grooves means that the aforementioned bugs, pollen, and dirt cannot accumulate in those small, hard to reach places, and therefore, less maintenance is required for these types. Competitor windows also can have issues with the springs and pins required to pull windows out from their tracks. Often, these mechanisms are exposed to the elements; wear from the climate and drying out occurs, which may lead to earlier breakage of these parts. Our windows, on the other hand, employ stainless steel springs that are enclosed by the tracks when they are locked in. These springs are fully hidden and protected from the elements. Additionally, our windows should be locked into the tracks without any necessity to take them out during a bad storm or tornado.Vinyl and Glass
Vinyl is polyvinyl chloride, also known as PVC. Vinyl is lighter and more flexible. It comes in clear and three tints: smoke, bronze, and dark grey. Glass is generally more durable. Windows of glass are either single or double panes. Double pane glass windows are helpful for homeowners looking for insulation, as this type traps heats. Both vinyl and glass are popular options, and are offered at Valverax. Sliders and 4 tracks are two ways for windows to be mounted, or supported. Glass is unfortunately not able to be 4 track due to the element's weight, but vinyl is available as a 4 track option. As for the air flow of each option when fully opened, glass windows can have a 50% air flow and vinyl windows can provide up to 75% air flow.

Non-Fictional: Home Improvement Projects

No one wants to spend their money frivolously. It is always good and necessary for homeowners to be aware of the costs for their projects. Budgeting is an important part of a buyer’s decision. However, it is also important for homeowners to be informed about the long term issues or benefits of certain aspects of those projects, whether materials or warranty. While getting the cheapest materials and installation might save money in the short term—or may even sound like a great deal—it can cause issues down the road. This post discusses important parts of projects for buyers to consider, such as maintenance, warranty, installation quality, and aesthetic.Maintenance is what work will be required to keep up the effectiveness, usability, safety, or appearance of the project once completed. Sometimes maintenance will be needed on a window or deck years to a decade later. One important factor to this is materials used in a particular project. For an example of how materials come into play, a buyer comes to us and is looking to get a new deck. Wood is the cheapest option for their deck. However, for wood decks, they require maintenance every two to five years, such as restaining, repainting, or replacing boards that have rotten or splintered. On the other hand, although they cost more initially, PVC and composite decking requires little to no maintenance and a twenty-to-thirty-year lifespan.The life span and warranty of the project comes down to how long one expects the project to last. Low quality shingles, a ten-year warranty, and no labor warranty is a rather cheap option if a buyer wants to get their roof done. The lower quality, only ten-year warranty, and lack of labor warranty could be a huge problem for those homeowners twenty years later. Instead of the cheapest option, it might be worth investing a bit more into the materials and warranties for a better long-term outcome.Quality of installation is another aspect that can affect projects long term. Some companies will work for less, but their work can reflect that lower price due to cut corners. Those cut corners can cost homeowners down the line in time and money. It is worthwhile to make sure that the company hired to do the work of installation will make sure everything is done well and up to code.Aesthetics and looks are something less tangible than the others on the list, yet still worthwhile to contemplate. A good project is a project that does what a homeowner needs and stays looking good for a long time. Good quality materials and installation will affect the appearance of the finished project. An example of why this is important would be porch enclosures. Some companies when adding screens to create a porch will simply attach the screen by screwing it directly to posts. In the long run, the post will splinter. This creates an unappealing look and maintenance issues. Other companies will employ a snap and wrap around the post, which will help the integrity of the posts and the aesthetic of the screened porch.

Fictional Writing: The Muse

Age 8Micah Cherry was an inquisitive child. It was because of this trait—not yet stamped out by years of schooling—that Micah did not scream for his mother or run away when the odd-looking man appeared in the living room. No, Micah Cherry asked, "Who are you?"The man gnawed contemplatively on his pipe for a moment. He had a well-trimmed mustache and smelled of brine. "Your Muse."Micah raised his eyebrows, unimpressed as any eight-year-old would be at such information. He would rather go back to reading his comic. "What's a Muse?"The Muse shrugged slightly, making light of the situation. "What's a human?"After a few seconds and a staring contest, Micah confessed, “I don’t know.”The Muse nodded. "And I don't know what a Muse is either. What I do know is what we do."Micah closed his comic book. He leaned forward, now eager to solve the mystery before him. "What do Muses do?""We help people with their imagination." The Muse adjusted his dark red tie and navy blue blazer."How?""I don't know. We just do." The Muse harrumphed and peered down at the boy. "You ask far more questions than most. My other charges were all just happy to have help." It didn’t sound mad about Micah’s nature, simply surprised."Help with what?” Micah tilted his head."Creating things,” the Muse said, patiently."How?”The Muse snorted. "We've been over this," he reminded.Micah frowned. "You don't know?""Exactly." The Muse nodded.Age 15It was the summer of his fifteenth year alive when the itch to create something started in Micah's hand. He doodled characters haphazardly, almost without thinking. He started as he saw someone peek over his shoulder."That's not too bad," the Muse acknowledged. Its tie was loose and its blazer lay draped over its arm.The Muse made a few suggestions, and it didn't take long before Micah had created a short comic. It was horribly written and drawn, obviously made by a child, but Micah loved it. Today, he found that he loved making stories.Age 19Micah rubbed his forehead. The words had long blurred into an incomprehensible mess. He would solemnly swear his Pre-Calculus homework had it out for him. When he put down the book and reached for a can of soda, he saw his Muse sitting nearby.“Are you going to go in the medical field like your parents want you to? Or will you risk losing your financial stability to do what you love?” The Muse gnawed on its pipe; it always did when there were big decisions to be made.Micah put down his textbook and pencil. “I don’t know.”“Think about it,” was what the Muse suggested. It was right, as usual.Micah thought. He thought until the sun had disappeared over the edge of the world and birds went to sleep in their nests. He thought until the other college students in his dorm came back. He struggled until he could undo the tangled situation inside of his head. He finally decided, “I would rather be a starving artist than a depressed office worker.”“Fair enough.” The Muse propped its leg up on the desk.Micah’s mind turned to other topics. “I’ve always wondered: do you actually smoke with that pipe or. . .?”In response to the question, the Muse gave a mischievous look and a long puff into his pipe, out came a swarm of bubbles of all shapes and colors.Micah couldn't help but laugh.

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