What Does “Tolerance” Actually Mean in Glazing? In architectural glazing, tolerance describes the dimensional variation that needs to be anticipated when different parts of a building come together. A drawing may show an opening with precise dimensions and perfectly straight lines, but the physical building is assembled from structural steel, masonry, concrete, timber, finishes and […]
Tag Archives: Self Build
17
Aug
Aug
Why Would Glass Need to Be Craned in the First Place? Large-format glazing does not automatically require a crane. Many substantial glass units can be installed using other professionally determined handling methods, depending on their dimensions, weight and the conditions of the site. Specialist lifting becomes relevant when the combination of the glass itself and […]
17
Aug
Aug
Large Glass Is Not Delivered Like an Ordinary Window Oversized architectural glazing may look remarkably simple once installed, but getting it into position can be a significant construction exercise. As panels become larger, they generally become heavier and more demanding to handle, changing the way they need to be transported, unloaded and moved around the […]
17
Aug
Aug
What Does Deflection Actually Mean? Deflection is the term used to describe the movement or bending of a structural element when it is subjected to load. A steel beam spanning above a large sliding-door opening may appear completely rigid, but in structural terms it is not necessarily motionless. As loads are applied, a degree of […]
14
Aug
Aug
A Structural Opening Is Not Just a Hole for the Glass One of the most common misconceptions with large-format glazing is that the structure can be designed first and the glass simply made to fit the opening afterwards. At a basic level, that sounds reasonable: the engineer establishes a structurally suitable opening, the steelwork is […]
14
Aug
Aug
A Corner Is Not Just Something That Gets in the Way of the View When designing a highly glazed extension or contemporary home, it is easy to see the corner as an obstruction. Two large areas of glass might offer an uninterrupted view of the garden or landscape, only for a vertical post at their […]
14
Aug
Aug
A Corner Is Not Just Something That Gets in the Way of the View When designing a highly glazed extension or contemporary home, it is easy to see the corner as an obstruction. Two large areas of glass might offer an uninterrupted view of the garden or landscape, only for a vertical post at their […]
14
Aug
Aug
What Does “Corner Glazing Without a Post” Actually Mean? One of the most common misconceptions around postless corner glazing is that the corner is somehow constructed without a frame or supporting structure. In reality, “postless” usually describes what we see rather than everything that is happening within the construction. A conventional glazed corner typically uses […]
14
Jul
Jul
Why Windows Often Receive Too Much—and Too Little—Attention Few elements of a home renovation attract as much attention as new windows. They are among the most visible investments homeowners make, they can transform the appearance of a property and they are frequently promoted as a solution to rising energy costs. At the same time, their […]
14
Jul
Jul
Passivhaus Is About Comfort, Not Just Energy Bills Mention Passivhaus and many people immediately think of exceptionally low energy bills, thick insulation and triple glazed windows. While these characteristics are often associated with Passivhaus buildings, they are not what defines the standard. At its heart, Passivhaus is a design philosophy centred on creating homes that […]
14
Jul
Jul
Why Overheating Has Become a Modern Design Challenge For many years, conversations about windows centred on one question: how can we keep more heat inside the home during winter? That remains an important consideration, particularly as homeowners continue to look for ways to improve comfort and reduce energy consumption. Yet as building design has evolved […]
14
Jul
Jul
Triple Glazing Isn’t Automatically the Right Answer One of the most common misconceptions surrounding modern glazing is that triple glazing is always the superior choice. It is an understandable assumption. Three panes of glass sound inherently better than two, and as energy efficiency has become a greater priority for homeowners, triple glazing has increasingly been […]
10
Jul
Jul
What Is FENSA? If you are planning to replace your windows, there is a good chance you will come across the term FENSA. It often appears in quotations, installation paperwork and conversations with window companies, yet many homeowners are unsure what it actually means. Some assume it is a product certification, while others believe it […]
10
Jul
Jul
Why Building Regulations Exist For many homeowners, the phrase Building Regulations immediately brings to mind paperwork, inspections and complicated technical requirements. It can feel like an obstacle that stands between an idea and the finished project. In reality, the purpose of Building Regulations is much simpler. They exist to help ensure that homes are safe, […]
10
Jul
Jul
Why Every Home Saves a Different Amount One of the most common questions homeowners ask is, “How much will new windows save me on my energy bills?” It is an understandable question, but it does not have a single answer. Unlike replacing an old appliance with one that has a published energy rating, the impact […]
10
Jul
Jul
What a U-Value Actually Measures U-values are often presented as one of the most important numbers when comparing windows and doors, yet they are rarely explained in a way that makes sense to homeowners. The term itself sounds highly technical, leading many people to assume it requires specialist knowledge to understand. In reality, the concept […]
09
Jul
Jul
What “Energy-Efficient Glazing” Actually Means The term energy-efficient glazing appears everywhere—from manufacturer websites and product brochures to renovation programmes and property listings. Yet despite its widespread use, it is often misunderstood. Many homeowners assume it simply means thicker glass or additional panes, while others believe any new window will automatically deliver exceptional energy savings. In […]
09
Jul
Jul
What an EPC Actually Measures Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) have become an increasingly familiar part of buying, selling and renting property in the UK. As conversations around energy efficiency continue to grow, many homeowners understandably wonder whether their existing windows could negatively affect their EPC rating. To answer that question, it is important to understand […]
09
Jul
Jul
Bigger Doesn’t Always Mean Better Oversized entrance doors have become one of the defining features of contemporary residential architecture. Their scale creates an immediate sense of arrival, giving homes a confident and distinctive presence from the street. It is easy to understand their appeal. A larger entrance can make a building feel more welcoming, reinforce […]
09
Jul
Jul
Understanding What Each Door Is Designed to Do Comparing sliding, bifold and French doors often begins with a simple question: Which one is best? Architects tend to ask a different question altogether: What is the door trying to achieve? This shift in perspective is important because each system has been developed to solve a different […]
07
Jul
Jul
Every Arrival Begins With the Handle Long before someone notices the engineering of an entrance door or appreciates the quality of its construction, they interact with one simple component: the handle. It is the first part of the home that is physically touched, making it one of the most important yet frequently overlooked elements of […]
07
Jul
Jul
More Than Somewhere to Step When homeowners think about an entrance door, their attention is usually drawn to the visible elements—the frame, the handle, the colour or the glazing. The threshold, by comparison, is often overlooked. Yet this seemingly modest detail performs some of the most important functions in the entire entrance system. Architects understand […]
07
Jul
Jul
Why the Lock Is Only Part of the Story When homeowners compare entrance doors, security discussions often revolve around the lock. Multi-point locking systems, anti-snap cylinders and high-security hardware are frequently promoted as the defining features of a secure door. While these components are undoubtedly important, they represent only one part of a much larger […]
07
Jul
Jul
Start With the Architecture, Not the Door One of the most common mistakes homeowners make when choosing a new entrance door is treating it as a standalone purchase. They compare colours, materials, glazing options and hardware before asking a much more important question: What does this house actually need? Architects take the opposite approach. Rather […]