Gas strut windows

The benefits of aluminium windows

Aluminium window frames are commonly chosen over vinyl, wood or other materials. Their benefits include:

* Better noise control — they’re the top choice for hospitals and schools.)

* Moisture resistant — great for rainy or damp areas

* Economy — they’re cheaper to make, so they’re cheaper to buy

* Low maintenance

* Durable and strong but lightweight

Things to bear in mind with aluminium window frames:

* They’re great when you need a lot of light — because they’re strong, they can support a large area of glass

* They usually need a sealant or some other kind of thermal break to lower heat conduction.

The advantages of louvre windows

Louvre windows are made up of horizontal blades, which can be made from aluminium, glass, wood or other materials. The blades are angled to let in air and light, but not to much of it (and no rain).

Why would I choose louvre windows?

Louvre windows have some advantages over other types of window, including:

* A wider opening capacity for maximum airflow. (They open twice as wide as standard windows.)

* Adjustable blades. (Control the amount of breeze and point the louvres up to the ceiling for maximum cooling.)

* Easy maintenance. (You can clean both sides from inside, so they’re great for upper floors in particular.)

Clerestory or highlight louvre windows

Short, wide louvre windows above head height or close to the ceiling are called clerestory or highlight windows.

* They let the warmer air in a room escape

* They give a diffused light and privacy (you don’t need curtains or blinds)

* You can open and close them manually or with a remote control

Things to consider

1. Aluminium blades can be powder coated in a wide range of colours. (They can also have a wood grain finish, so you get the look of wood without the maintenance headache.)
2. You can leave your windows open during a gentle rain
3. Louvre windows aren’t recommended for colder places
4. If you want to use a remote control with your louvres, that must be planned from the outset
5. If you’re going to use a screen over the opening, make sure you mention that upfront. (Otherwise you might lose some of the opening capacity of the louvres as they hit the screen.)

Choosing a sliding door

There are a number of things you should consider when choosing a sliding door.

Aluminium vs wooden frame

Wooden sliding doors are less secure than sliding doors with aluminium frames. Wood is easier to break whereas aluminium frames bend under stresses like attempted forced entry.

Wooden frames are susceptible to rot, mould and mildew.

Wood also shrinks and expands with the weather. In the cold, the door will shrink and the seals will be less effective at keeping the cold out and the head in. In hot weather, the wooden doors will expand in their mounts, causing them to bind. This can create a hazard for those inside who might need to exit quickly through the door in an emergency.

Aluminium vs vinyl clad

Vinyl doors usually have a wood substructure and eventually moisture will make its way to the interior.  Once inside, there is little chance of the frame drying out properly. This trapped moisture often causes more damage than you would see in a wooden frame that wasn’t clad with vinyl.

The trapped moisture will freeze if the weather gets cold enough. This will cause the wood to expand and separate from the vinyl, which will allow in even more moisture. In the hot months of summer, trapped moisture will wick up the wood inside. Mould and wood-rot will then take hold inside the vinyl clad frame. This rotting will cause the doors to become unstable over time.

Aluminium frames

Perhaps we shouldn’t be biased in favour of aluminium frames. After all, there’s more work for us in doors that need frequent maintenance and replacing. However, aluminium frames are our recommendation for you. They’re more secure and they’ll last longer.