subject: Door & Window Frames - Builders Suggestions [print this page] Door and window frames: Door and window frames:
Good installation of window and door frames is required if these items are to perform as intended. Bricklayers must guarantee that the frames are square, undamaged, and that fixing ties are set in the brickwork according to the manufacturer's specifications. Brickwork ought to be right up against the frame and large frames need to be supported until overhead brickwork has set correctly.
External timber door frames and windows usually look extremely impressive when initially installed however it ought to be remembered that they will need ongoing maintenance if they are to survive the weathering impact of the sun and rain. Varnished timbers will most likely need attention every second year, while painted surfaces will need repainting every three to four years. If you need to minimise maintenance expenses then aluminium frames and windows are the best choice. The colour of aluminium framework will affect the amount of maintenance required. Darker frames will gradually fade in the sun and will also show up any scratches.
Some builders use metal door frames on external walls. It ought to be remembered that metal door frames aren't rustproof. The zinc anneal treatment only makes them rust resistant, and consequently they should only be employed internally. All door frames to external walls really should be of a hardwood timber which ought to be primed and painted.
Varnished hardwood timber door jambs are another choice for internal use and besides their exclusive look they are also low maintenance compared to metal frames which show paint chips and knocks. Special architectural frames might be fabricated for specific purposes and made of timber, steel or aluminium. Metal door frames have the hinges welded on at the manufacturing stage so it's necessary that the builder nominate which side the hinges are to be. Some people don't know when asked if they want a frame with right or left hand hinges, mainly because this will change depending on which side of the door you stand. The most effective way to remember this is to pretend you are opening a fridge door (i.e. towards you) and then say which side you want the hinges on.
Frames employed in restricted spaces for instance a water closet must have lift-off hinges for safety reasons. In the event you plan to install a security door at a later stage then make sure your entry door frame is double rebated to take the security door. Also, you must make certain that the frame is of adequate width to prevent the two door handles from clashing. Off-the-rack security doors don't allow you to vary the handle location but custom made items will cost more
The sill of any timber frame really should be bevelled outwards and ought to have a brass or aluminium weather bar installed to stop rain blowing under the door. The door itself should also have a weather strip fixed on its inside lower edge. If wheelchair access is desired it is easier not to have a sill on the frame of the entry door and to just install a good weather strip to the bottom of the door.
