Builders Advice - Windows & Doors

All openings, both windows and doors, want to be weatherproof and secure from intruders

. Openings which are directly exposed to the weather must keep wind-driven rain and draughts out. This is not quick to accomplish and it's best to protect doors and windows on the weather side of a home by placing them under verandas, porticos or awnings.

Window and door manufacturers use unique weatherproofing systems, some of which are more efficient than others. Outward sloping window sills and bevelled window frames will keep water out. Some manufacturers provide a dual weather-seal design in their frames. This consists of two strips of either rubber or mohair inside the frame channel. The most durable and cheapest frames available are made of aluminium which is why they are so commonly utilized. Timber framed windows and doors are considerably more high priced and need ongoing maintenance to protect them from the elements.

Window frames installed in walls that will be rendered ought to have plaster stop beads to enable the plasterer to finish neatly against the frame. They should also have 10mm packers to the underside to raise them up from the sill brick which will probably also be rendered. Exposed beachside locations may need stronger, wind-rated aluminium frames to withstand higher wind forces.

Aluminium frames ought to:

Be anodised to stop oxidation.

Present some warranty against colour fading.

Consist of insect screens or security screens which incorporate insect screen mesh.

Come in significant sizes. For windows over 3m wide the builder will couple together two smaller windows.

Come in individually glazed panels for colonial windows. Colonial bars might also be used. These vary in thickness and appearance between manufacturers.

Be made of sufficiently strong aluminium section to prevent excessive flexing. Larger frames will flex far more than smaller ones. Very large windows are best made of commercial framework so that they do not flex.

Glazing:

There numerous distinct ways to glaze your windows:

Double Glazing:

Double glazing is most effective for keeping noise and thermal changes at bay. Double glazed windows are made with two separate sheets of glass that seal an envelope of air between them. The air acts as an insulator to heat and sound.

Laminated Glass:

Laminated glass consists of a film of plastic sandwiched between two sheets of glass. The tinting within the film reduces entry of ultraviolet light and the film itself makes it quite tough for burglars to gain entry through a broken window.

Toughened Glass:

This is heat-treated glass that is very hard to break but when it does, it disintegrates into tiny pieces.

Smart Glass:

Smart glass has the capability to change shade and let in more or less light according to the intensity of light at any particular time.

Coloured Glass:

Coloured glass is also out there and this provides diverse levels of protection from the sun with the added feature of providing a particular shade of colour to the windows.

Of course, all glazing will have to comply with the Building Codes of Australia. Internal French doors must have safety glass. This can be either toughened glass which disintegrates into small cubes or laminated glass which cracks but does not fall apart. Standard 3mm thick glass is certainly not acceptable for internal doors. In case you want glass panels to be bevelled at the edges then you'll will need a minimum of 5mm thick glass so the thin edge of the bevel will end up to be 3mm. In choosing opaque glass be sure you're happy with the level of opaqueness. You do not wish to be seen as a silhouette in the bathroom by your neighbours. Where sandblasted or patterned glass is to be utilized then it is best to have the patterned side laminated or sandwiched with clear glass so that it can't be damaged.

by: Peter Smith

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