Give Your Home a First Impression With Quality Windows and Doors From London Window and Door
Make sure your home gets a great first impression that lasts with the best quality windows and doors from London windows and doors. Visit our showrooms in Dorchester, Woodstock, Ingersoll and St Marys to find the best solution for your home.
Stile and rail: Horizontal and vertical members which support the glass within the frame of a window or door.
Frames
If you own a period home or a modernist new construction, frames are crucial to the look of your windows. Choosing the right frame material for your home is vital since it has an immediate influence on how your window will perform and lasts for and, ultimately, how much your home is worth.
There are a variety of kinds of frames to pick from: uPVC, aluminium and timber. The most well-known choice is uPVC because of its low maintenance and energy efficiency. It comes in a variety of colours and is finished with a wood-effect coating to give a more traditional look. It is durable and requires no maintenance, other than cleaning. However If you live in an area that is exposed, uPVC may not be the best option since it will degrade over time in the extreme weather.
Aluminium is another good choice for frames since it is sturdy and has an elegant design that is ideal for modern properties. It is also light and can be finished in any RAL colour for the perfect fit to your home. It's not as efficient as uPVC but it is a great alternative if you're looking for an eco-friendly alternative.
Steel is an excellent option for older structures, as it can be powder-coated to match your bricks or stones. The problem with the traditional thin steel frames is that, because they're not thermally insulated, they can not ward off cold. The 21st century has finally caught up and now it's possible to get a simple steel frame that can provide impressive thermal break performance.
Timber is a beautiful choice for any property, however it is the cost of other materials. It does offer one of the best aesthetics and if cared for correctly, it will last for a lifetime. It is recommended to choose a hardwood that is rated appropriately for your frames, since not all woods possess the same characteristics. A poor quality wood will not only degrade rapidly, but also cause rotting and water ingress which can damage the window sashes and cills.
Sashes
Sash windows are a characteristic which can be present in many a period house. They are easily identifiable and effortlessly elegant, with a beautiful, timeless style that has stood the test of time. There are double glazing repair london to choosing windows made of sash for your home, and they've become increasingly popular in recent years due to their aesthetic and practical advantages.
A Sash is a vertically sliding two-paned window. It can be opened for ventilation or viewing out. The opening and closing of sash windows is supported by a system of pulleys, which are hidden in the window frame itself. They aren't likely to break and the fact that they are part of the window makes fixing them is easy and affordable.
During the Georgian era, sash window became more popular as they let in more light to narrow streets and cottages. These windows had their glass panes split evenly to make them more affordable. The technology was not yet sufficiently advanced to allow for larger panes of glass to be made reliably.
Today, there are many different kinds of sash windows but the classic box sash is one of the most popular choices. These windows are ideal for those who want to keep the style and feel of an old-fashioned home, but also want modern conveniences like draught-seals and security locks.
Sash windows can be double-hung or single-hung based on the design and frame. A single hung sash features an opening at the bottom of the panel by sliding upwards, whereas double-hung sash have a top and a bottom panel that open by sliding horizontally across one other.
It is recommended to consult a window expert to determine which kind of sash window is suitable for you. Sash windows, for instance are able to be equipped with a variety of hardware, such as Sash lifts or sash chains that help operate the windows while they are open. Sash windows can be fitted with a bar for staff, that holds the sash place and stops them from being pushed away by winds or draughts.
Cills
Cills can be repaired by carefully removing decayed wood and re-inserting new timber. These should be shaped so that they maximize strength while retaining the historic fabric to the best extent that it is possible. A drip should be added to divert water away from the window's bottom.
Oak was used only in the most prestigious homes or early examples. It is crucial to make new cills from this material, and to thoroughly prime, paint and incorporate drip.
Resin-based fillers mixed with wood dust or timber consolidant may be used to repair small areas of damage and loss. This is a cost-effective approach to maximise the amount of historic fabric that remains in a repair. This method is also efficient in repairing damaged sash frame where the damage was caused due to inadequate maintenance.
Glass
The glass is often the most important part of a window or door. It can be tinted or clear it can enhance the architectural value of the structure and can help to save energy through solar radiation control. Tempered glass is heat treated to withstand greater than normal forces that are applied to its surface. it breaks into smaller pieces instead of splintering and minimizes the risk of flying shards.
Historic glass should be saved in place during repairs, and extreme attention must be taken to safeguard it from accidental damage. The sash windows of the past may have crown (a flat glass with curving ridging and air bubbles), or the cylinder glass that adds dimension and character to the exterior. Original pieces of both kinds are extremely rare and precious. They must be secured whenever feasible. Glass should be protected from the effects of chemical paint removers that could cause it to break and crack. The putty that is used on wooden frames should be repaired and applied again.
The use of resin-based repair products can be used to remove loose paint and rust from surfaces, without causing damage to the surface finish and profile of the wood or its putty. These can also be used to repair many other minor issues like decay and rot, structural movement, distortion, and deformation.
Sash windows are fixed windows in which the sash opens and closes by pivots, either at the top or bottom or at each side. This kind of window is typically more decorative than operable sash windows and often contains transom.
Casement windows are windows that open and close using hinges either on the sides or a mullion in between. This kind of window is commonly seen on older homes and is sometimes combined with a fixed wing or panel to create a bay window.
Simulated divided lites A grille or grid pattern that appears to be distinct glass panes separated by muntins, but actually utilizes larger lites of glass with the muntins placed between them to give the appearance of smaller window units.