How To Choose Glass For Windows

In the last blog (7 questions to ask earlier choosing the all-time windows and doors for your dwelling house) I took you through the ways I decide how to position windows and doors, and decide what they need to practice.

This blog [Part 2!] is intended as a next step – a helpful guide to choosing the best and most suitable glass window or door for each situation in your dwelling house. In this blog, I'll exist sharing diverse things to consider in choosing the glass window / door itself. Glass windows and doors are also called "glazing" or "fenestration". This blog'southward a long one, and by no means exhaustive. Withal, I've tried to cover most bases yous need to be aware of, or may accept questions nearly … so hither goes!

Glazing frame types

Glass windows and doors can be framed in timber, aluminium or steel. And believe it or not, you can get a hybrid timber and aluminium frame too – where it's timber on the inside, and aluminium on the exterior.

Timber framing

Timber windows are mostly higher maintenance, every bit they require refinishing over their lifetime in your home. They can create a cute natural warmth to your habitation, and if your aesthetic preference is for a more than traditional style, you lot may prefer this choice. There are companies that practice stunning large, expansive and contemporary timber framed glazing also – so don't think it'due south express to traditional homes. These large sliding doors and windows can have very simple, seamless thresholds and sliding tracks as they tin can exist superlative-hung and work gorgeously to create that indoor-outdoor connection we desire.

Timber framed windows [Paradigm Source: Duce]

Aluminium framing

Aluminium framed glazing is used extensively through building domestically and commercially. Based on your budget, your aesthetic preferences, and the size of your openings, you lot tin choose standard residential framing, commercial aluminium framed glazing, or a level in between. Y'all can choose a powdercoated cease, or anodised. Each manufacturer will have a standard range, or y'all pay a premium to cull from an extended range.
Standard residential glazing volition generally be the most economical of all frame types. Its maximum overall height is 2,400mm. Taller heights, and actually big areas of glazing can be done in semi-commercial, or commercial form aluminium framed windows.

Aluminium framed sliding doors [Image Source]

Steel framing

Steel framed glazing is fantastic for that industrial aesthetic. Thinner in profile than timber or aluminium, it's too more expensive, simply such a stunning pick for a dramatic impact on the way of your dwelling house.

Steel framed windows create a very fine and delicate appearance in a wall of glazing [Image Source]

Special annotation

Please never choose a material that's fabricated to wait like some other. Y'all can purchase timber grained aluminium framed windows – they're fifty-fifty powdercoated in a 'timber-await' powdercoat. Materials should look similar they are. Honesty in design is always the better choice.

Window opening types – or types of operable windows

There are so many different window and door opening types. I'm going to run through some of them here, and some specific things to consider. This is not an exhaustive list, but goes through the main types. Generally for each type also, you lot should also think about screening, security, cost and touch on the space (so keep reading for those sections).

Fixed drinking glass

Like it sounds – drinking glass that doesn't open up. Sometimes you lot just want the view, and not necessarily ventilation equally well. Don't think every flake of glass y'all put in your home has to be operable. Fixed glazing generally has a finer frame, and can exist keen where view, only not ventilation, is the priority.

Sliding

In aluminium frames, sliding windows and doors are the least expensive of all operable window types. They're easy to screen as they move within the frame. Aluminium sliding windows and doors mostly have the track for screens already congenital in as a standard.

Awning

Awning windows push out from the base, either using a winder organization, or 'friction stays' (levers you unlatch to then push button the window out). Of class, winders accept a chain attached to them, so the amount the window can open will be restricted. To screen these, y'all'll need to add screening on the within – and if a winder operation, there'll exist a trivial adjustable office of the screen to open (and open the window) and then close the screen support.
I similar awning windows considering they tin can be fairly weather proof when open (when you have light pelting and not much air current) because pushing the window out creates a hood to the window opening.

Casement

These windows are hinged on the side and open outwards. They're brilliant for capturing breezes – every bit you lot tin angle them to literally channel a breeze inside. You can use them as solid or obscured panels also to control views and privacy. Screening needs to go on the inside.

I've always loved this utilize of casement mode openings – this fourth dimension on something solid – a s0lid screen that controls views and breezes on the side of this verandah. From the gorgeous Durham House (where you can now stay), designed by Vokes and Peters [Paradigm Source]

Louvre

As we outset to move into louvred windows, we're moving into more expensive window territory.
Louvred windows, like casements, are fantastic for ventilation. Blades can exist specified in clear, tinted or obscure glass, and you can too use timber or aluminium blades. Because of the angling of the blades, you lot can select an obscure or solid blade material, and manage privacy.
Blades come in two sizes – 152mm and 102mm. The maximum width you lot tin take a louvred window (at 152mm blades) is 900mm, and 750mm in 102mm blades.
Often these windows are chosen because you can create view, ventilation and have them total height – and they'll provide a balustrade of sorts. However, call up there are various codes that apply to balustrades – impact and opening size – that the window will even so demand to satisfy.

A depository financial institution of louvred windows here creates a cute breezy outlook for this space [Image Source]

Bifold

Bifolding windows and doors are doors that concertina dorsum within a top and bottom frame. They're often sought after as the ultimate in opening up to the outside – every bit a wall of glass will literally fold out of the manner.
Homeowners often tell me this is their ultimates, and the option they want particularly for opening living areas to outdoor entertaining areas.
I disagree. Whilst they can be great, they can also be challenging to alive with. The very nature of the way they operate, ways that they need clearance to open and close – so they tin can chew up floor space yous may need for furniture.
They're too great when they're full open up – fantastic actually – but that's it. When they're open, they're OPEN. And when they're closed, they're closed. In that location'due south non a lot of 'in betwixt' when information technology comes to bifolds. Consequently, I recommend you lot specify that ane console opens freely of the remainder of them – so you lot can open and close it independently for easy admission in and out. I'd also recommend putting driblet bolts into the sill on every pair of panels, so you can partially open the door and accept it locked in position like that.

Sashless or frameless

A sashless or frameless window is a double-hung window where at that place's no edge framing on the moving parts of glass. So the window panes or panels slide past each other on a counterbalance (which is houses in the side frame, or window jamb), and there's a small handle on the window itself (which is basically a little bit of glass stuck onto the window pane).
These create the most transparent type of opening window, because views aren't interrupted by any framing members around the opening parts. You lot tin get them in horizontal moving, or vertical moving.
Aye, they're pricey. But they're stunning. And, as with all things, it's a case of weighing up the touch on on your spaces, the feeling yous're chasing, and whether the investment is worth it to you.

Stonehawke past Base Architecture uses sashless windows to create a pool debate to the adjacent swimming pool, and completely open upward the interior of the home to this space [Epitome Source]

Drinking glass blazon

Australian Standards and Edifice Codes specify different requirements for glass type based on where it's beingness used, its summit higher up ground, and whether doing other jobs (such as performing as a balustrade).
These regulations are generally related to its power to withstand bear upon, and what likewise happens when it breaks – for example, in bathrooms, where blank feet and broken glass don't mix.
There are also certain requirements for when you lot need to add together a fiddling characterization or etching to cease people walking into the glass (call up of those markings they put on sliding glass doors).
Check the current codes – this from Trend Windows is a expert commencement.

Tinted or laminated glass

Drinking glass can be tinted either during its industry (where metal oxides are added) or with an adhesive pic applied after installation. Glass can too be laminated (glued) together, and interlayers added between the layers to provide privacy, or sun protection.
I generally recommend you choose the base of operations level of manufacturers' tint for all drinking glass in your windows and doors. It helps improve the solar functioning of the glass, as well as helps with privacy and glare during the solar day.
If you have big areas of west-facing glass, or skylights, you may want to consider a higher performance drinking glass, including laminated "Low East" glass types. You lot can do incredible things with glass these days to assistance it proceed heat in and out of your domicile, withal maintain your views and low-cal. Check out Pilkington'south website for more info on glass tints.

Obscure

Sometimes you need privacy, as well as light. The most basic mode to do this is to specify a type of obscure drinking glass for your windows and doors. This is particularly useful in bathrooms and laundries. My preferred type of obscure glass is known equally "Satinlite". In a laundry, I always prefer to do an aluminium framed glass swing door with Satinlite glass instead of a timber swing door.

Check out some of the different types of obscure glass, including Satinlite, on Viridian's website.

Screening, security, window effects and motorisation

Screening

Of course, every bit soon equally a window opens outside of the frame … such as an awning, casement, louvre of bifold, at that place's an touch on on how it tin be screened.

Louvred windows fabricated with a sufficiently deep frame that yous can set up wing screening, and security screening, to the exterior of the frame, and still open the blades.

Other window types, yous need to incorporate something on the interior that yous can so move to be able to open the window. So, for example, often casement windows are screened with hinged screens that open up inward (whilst the windows open up outwards).

Centor have an incredible flyscreening mechanism for large openings that rolls out from the frame when required. Openings up to seven.6m wide!! The screen is self-tensioning – so each time you roll information technology back into the side frame, it tightens back up. Trust me I know … this image below is from a projection I worked on with a colleague (whose domicile it was) and my son – who was 2 at the fourth dimension – ran full pelt into the screens. Imagine my horror watching the screen get a big 2-year-old sized bulge in it. The homeowner calmly wound it back into the frame, and pulled it back out, just similar new.

Sliding glass doors here tin can exist pushed right off the opening – so they slide over the external facade of the home. This leaves a completely free opening to the exterior – which can then exist screened by the Centor Screens [Image Source]

Security

Thinking about how you'll lock windows – in both an open up and closed position – requires thought earlier you choose them. If you want to keep your windows open up at night, as well as secure (many homeowners due north of the NSW border wish to do this), then this is especially relevant.

Security can occur through keying and/or through applying screens similar to Crimsafe, or with stock-still bars.

When specifying your windows and doors, make sure y'all understand what type of locks they come with as a standard. If you're doing an entire new abode, or renovation, then you tin can specify them to all exist keyed alike – that is be operated with the ane key. Don't assume this will happen … or yous may end up with a massive keyring of keys … or that terrible state of affairs where you're leaving keys in locks anyway, and making it really like shooting fish in a barrel for burglars to go far and out of your home.

I still remember my mum putting timber dowels she cut to length in all of our sliding door and window frames then that they could only be opened a minor amount regardless of what was happening with the lock!

And consider that security tin also keep yous locked in, also as keeping others locked out. This may exist good for the escaping teenager, but think about how this may impact your ability to escape in a burn.

Window furnishings

By and large, if you want privacy at night, and ability to command heat loss, plus a particular style and aesthetic to your interiors, you lot will probably desire to add window effects to your windows. These tin be blinds, internal shutters, defunction or another variation.

Consider how yous will fit these when choosing your window …

If y'all have floor-to-ceiling drinking glass, will you need to put recessed pelmets into your ceiling and then the pinnacle of your bullheaded or mantle doesn't block out the elevation of your glazing?
Will you want your windows open and your blinds/curtains closed? Volition that be possible?
Will you have wall space either side of your glazing to push curtains right back onto, or will they still cover the windows?

Lots of questions – as you lot can see, planning this out when choosing your windows and doors volition brand all the difference to the final outcome!

Motorisation

All window types can be motorised in some style or form – and then you can open and close them electronically. Some motorisation methods are much more than bonny that others. Some are retrofitted to any window, others are office of the window range itself.

If you wish to motorise your windows, plan this early, every bit you'll demand to coordinate electricity supply and where y'all'll operate information technology from.

If you think you'd like to motorise them in the future, simply can't budget for it now – so information technology tin be worthwhile to run the cabling for electrical supply before walls are lined, that you lot can then connect to at a later appointment.

Of form, when using operable windows that y'all don't want to motorise, make sure you can accomplish the window to open, and to close it.

Finally …

Well, that was a bit epic wasn't it? And, as I said earlier, this is by no means exhaustive when it comes to glazing in your dwelling. I haven't gone into double glazed windows, bushfire resistance, wind loads, guillotine doors, sill blueprint, or the various suppliers you can source your windows and doors from. Another time hey?

And for those of you lot saying "Yep, merely how much $$ for these windows?", you're best to check with suppliers in your surface area. Prices range based on your application, your location, and the system you choose. Y'all tin use the order I've listed the operable kinds in though, as a ranking for cost (from least at fixed glass, through to well-nigh at sashless).

Some helpful resources:

Viridian's product selector is useful to run across what glass types accommodate your awarding.
Trend Windows have a good terminology glossary
Centor'southward hardware can be used with diverse types of window and door types – start with their sliding mechanisms, but cheque it all out!
The Australian Window Association has published this guide to help you with window and door selection
Want some inspiration on how glass garage doors can be used in your abode? This is a nifty article.
It can be economical to specify windows and doors from each manufacturer'south standard range – here, as an instance, is the range of resources on GJames window types and standard sizes.

Remember to check out my last blog on the seven questions to answer when designing your windows and doors – and if you take any questions or a-ha moments, pop them in the comments beneath.

Other blogs you may detect useful …

Many homeowners error their builder as their amanuensis on site … this is why you lot shouldn't

Why don't builders like architects? Well, not all builders don't – but these are the reasons I've encountered.

Worried that you'll go it incorrect when designing your home? Here's how you lot avoid bad blueprint.

Source: https://undercoverarchitect.com/helpful-guide-window-door-selection-home/

Posted by: baileyworters.blogspot.com