GlassNow provides a 24hr 7day mobile glazing service, as such we have a team of glaziers on the road helping our many customers when they need it most. To do this GlassNow requires great systems and to make a constant investment in new technology of both hardware and software. Online saas or cloud based software specifically as it makes sense from a convenience and price perspective. This has recently seen us make the investment into a new self compliance system which allows us to create evidence of our completed compliance obligations as measureable tasks.
When choosing windows and doors for a building, it’s not just what you like or what you can afford that counts… There are many other indicators that need to be considered.
First of all there’s the crucial question of where the block is located, how it’s positioned, and which way you want to have the doors and windows facing. Some people use basic compass readings for this while others rely on Fung Shui methods, which are explained below:
“A good Feng Shui house is a house that attracts good Feng Shui energy, nourishes it and channels it throughout the whole house. From good quality air to a strong Feng Shui front door, there are several basic requirements for good Feng Shui in any house”.
Dominique Vorillon
Feng Shi is the art or practice of positioning objects, especially building entries, based on a belief in patterns of yin and yang and the flow of Chi… The main entry door of a Feng Shui house should be designed to welcome, strengthen and channel incoming energy throughout an entire building. Believers say this will nourish a home and create good fortune for its occupants.
Believe in this practise or not, placement strategy of doors and windows — in a new or a renovated building — on particular walls can determine the kind of natural light that enters a home, and even the temperature inside. So it’s a really important decision.
Climate definitely plays a role, and doors and windows facing south will receive sunrays from morning to night, (south and west where the sun shines in the hottest part of the day receive the most heat). Glass doors and windows facing south or west should have overhangs to protect them from the harshest weather.
With windows, those that are south facing receive the most winter sun, while north facing windows are better suited to warmer climates with subdued inducted light and heat. Reflective surfaces and shading glass options as well as energy efficient factors should be considered to aid in year-round comfort.
The truth is that most of us have moisture on our home windows. There are so many reasons for this, ranging from natural causes such as frost to things we do in our homes such as having a high moisture content in the air with insufficient ventilation.
The scientific reason for the condensation that we see on our window panes is that moisture in the air collects on a cold surface. We have all experienced the steaming up of windows when we are cooking without using a fan for ventilation or the ‘sweat’ on the glass holding a cold drink on a hot day.
The problem with long term condensation in a home is that it can lead to health issues through mildew and mold growth and also can affect the physical structure of your home by damaging your window sills and frames.
Here is our guide to measures you can take to prevent condensation in your home by cutting back on humidity (the moisture in the air):
Turn on those ventilation fans in your bathroom and kitchen when you are bathing and cooking. They cut down on the moisture in the air dramatically.
If you use a humidifier check that it is working properly and not adding too much moisture to your air.
Make sure that your dryer is properly vented to the exterior of your home. Clear lint from the vent at least once a year to avoid blockages.
If your home has single pane windows consider replacing them with Energy Star rated windows. This is particularly relevant if you have metal frames.
If you can’t afford to replace your windows right now, consider storm windows as an alternative.
A very affordable, short term solution is to buy a window insulation kit from your local home center and to line the panes with a shrink film or polythene sheet until you are able to replace the glazing.
All of our glazing experts will be able to discuss your options with you, to ensure that you get exactly what you Accutane need keep your home healthy and safe.
Contact us now to discover the many options open to you.
A great do it yourself project that could add value to your home as well as give it some unique charm is adding window boxes to the outside of your home. First you will need to decide on what type of wood you would like to utilize. A good choice would be pre-treated Cedar planks as this type of wood can withstand the drastic environmental changes outside. Cedar planks also give your house a natural rustic look.
To begin this project, you will need to measure the length of the window you will plan on building the box under. This will determine the amount of wood needed as well as determined length needed to complete this project. Below you will find the dimensions and amount of wood needed:
(2) ¾ inch cedar planks measuring 8 inches x the length of the window
(2) ¾ inch cedar planks measuring 11 inches x 8 inches (this is for the sides)
(1) ¾ inch cedar plank measuring 11 inches x the length of the window (bottom)
(1) Pre-treated 2 x 4 cut to the length of the window.
Now you are ready to assemble your box.
First take the two 8 inch x window length planks and the two 11 x 8 inch sides and assemble them together portray a box using wood glue and clamps along with 1 ¼ inch exterior wood screws (ensure you secure them together well). Next take the 11 inch x window length plank and secure it to the bottom once again using wood glue and exterior wood screws. Ensure the wood glue is fully dried and all exterior screws holding your box together are tight – this will help increase durability.
Once window box is fully assembled and dried it is now time to mount your window box under the desired window. This can be difficult depending on how you mount it as the window box can become quite heavy depending on what you may plan on putting inside. I have found the best way to accomplish this is by using a cleat. In order to use a cleat, first determine where the bottom of your window box will sit outside of your window. This will help to keep it steady and secured to your home. Take the pre-treated 2 x 4 that is cut to the length of your window and mount it to the wall where the bottom of your window box will be by using ¾ inch concrete screws. Ensure that your cleat is leveled and in the desired position before mounting it.
Once your cleat is mounted set the window box directly on top of ensuring it is flush with the wall. Secure the window box to the cleat using exterior wood screws, screw from the inside of the window box into the cleat. (You may have to use a number of screws to be sure that the window box is securely mounted to the cleat).
Your window box now can be decorated and filled. If you are planning on using soil inside your window box, it is a good idea to use plastic planters or line the window box with plastic as this will help with durability as it will be exposed to soil and moisture which can damage the wood. Your window box can be filled with anything you desire; from plastic plants to pinecones or even sand and sea shells. You can customize your window box any way you choose. You are only limited to your imagination so enjoy!
When installing windows, most homeowners think that’s it for the life of the tenancy but that’s not always the case… Windows very often need to be changed for a variety of reasons. And the choice available is endless and sometimes overpowering to the point that an expert opinion is required to confirm a homeowners’ selection as being both practical and feasible.
External window frames are mostly made of corrosion-resistant aluminium in modern houses because it’s a material that is strong, long lasting and far more cost effective than wood and more environmentally friendly in that no trees need to be chopped down to accommodate the householder’s desire for beautiful wooden frames.
And, even if wood does end up being the definitive choice for your window frames, there’s still a number of decisions be made there as well. For one, there’s the type of wood to be used. Pine is popular, and so is mahogany (which is quite expensive), then there’s fir, alder, and even grand old oak. Different woods have very different characteristics that include natural colour, grain and even sap content, which all add to the overall finish and the additional choice of whether to varnish, natural stain or paint for end effect.
Other window-frame choices include vinyl, which is strong and durable but not overly exciting, and wood-cladding also known as clad-wood, which is a clever combination of wood and metal, which is maintenance friendly and does not necessitate outside painting. This is also a very popular choice in Australia. Budget restrictions certainly lessen the field of choice and many people on low to medium incomes use this as a rule of thumb and only select from materials that come in under budget.
Window shapes are also endless and include tilt and turn, bay, casement, garden, double-hung and sliding styles to mention just a few. Energy efficiency is very important and, I believe, worth starting with in the consideration stakes. Also the style of glass; dual panes offer much better insulation than single panes and comes in many qualities and with glass as with most everything else… You get what you pay for!
Creating better security with your doors and windows starts by evaluating what you have in your home to start with and identifying the changes that need to be made. Protecting your home against intruders does not mean having to spend a great deal of money. Instead, what you are trying to accomplish is making your home less vulnerable so that potential burglars will pass you by.
Improve your Door Security
What often get overlooked when it comes to the security of your doors are not the locks or the door itself, but the jamb that often gives way when struck with enough force. All it takes is a good, hard blow and the jamb itself will rupture no matter the number of deadbolts or how strong the door itself is. Many entry doors have backup features, but not service doors so these need to be addressed. You can install a strike plate on the backside of the jamb that will make it very difficult to break. This improvement does not change the appearance of the door at all, yet it will provide much greater security.
Another simple improvement on entry doors that do not get used, like from the garage to the backyard for example, is to place a bar across the door. An old-fashioned bar will make the door virtually impenetrable to an intruder unless they have a chainsaw.
For glass doors, intruders will often cut or break the glass to unlock the door. However, if you install a key deadbolt lock on the inside, then the intruder cannot open the door unless they risk cutting themselves on the glass. However, in the case of fire you will want to have the key nearby and accessible so that people can escape.
Improve your Window Security
Always lock your windows, especially in rooms that are not being occupied because they make the perfect place for intruders to enter.
Casement windows are a good example for security because they have a crank inside to open the window outwards. Basically, these types of windows are not accessible to open from the outside because of the position of the handle. So, an intruder will not be able to open them from the outside and will have to look elsewhere to get inside.
A sliding window is basically a single panel that opens to the right or left. However, because of the design it is actually easy to operate many of these windows from the outside, including removing the entire window panel. A simple bar will prevent the window from being opened and operated which makes it impossible to enter from the outside without breaking the window.
A double hung window moves up and down and comes with a cam lock to hold both windows together so that neither can move. Adding a small tab into the face of the frame of the top window allows the bottom one to be moved freely. You can extend the tab and the window will not open.
Using a little common sense along with a few inexpensive items can really improve the security of your home.