Types of doors

Bi-folding and French Doors

Exterior doors – they come in a wide variety of styles and designs, each having their own niche. None however, hold as many benefits as French doors and bi-folding doors. Let’s take a look at some of these advantages.

French doors

Elegant design – maybe it’s due to the size, maybe the designs or the frame, whatever it is, French doors have a definite elegance to them. Easy on the eyes and hugely useful, French doors allow you to get creative or keep it simple, whichever works for your home.

Energy efficient – similar to windows, French Doors can be double glazed and draught proofed, resulting in less heat escape, resulting in lower energy bills and more overall comfort in the home.

Added value – when it comes to time to sell, the design and functionality of French doors gives added value to homes.

Bi-folding doors

Boundary removal – ever wanted to bring the beauty of the outside into your home, but only on that perfect day? How about while entertaining, you wished you had that little bit of extra space? Bi-folding doors give you that option. Turn that living room wall into a bi-folding door and your garden automatically becomes a part of your home. Weather turned on you? No worries, close them – problem solved.

Larger perspective – just as mirrors give the appearance of added space, the glass panels on bi-folding doors give the same effect. With the clear advantage being that you have the option to actually open the doors and use that space!

Energy efficiency – just as with French doors and Sash windows, double glazing and draught proofing allow for more energy efficient home, resulting in lower bills.

So if you’re in Surrey, South London, South West London, Berkshire, Hampshire or West Sussex and want to seek the benefits of French doors or Bi-folding doors for your home, visit www.sashwindowspecialist.co.uk and enquire today!

 

 

 

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Sash Window Restoration and Replacement

Sash windows are a timeless classic in architectural design. Whether fitted on a classic 17th century home or a modern masterpiece, one cannot deny their elegance to the eye. A brilliantly planned design or just a lucky coincidence, the efficiency of the sash window is one of its major advantages – especially in warm weather where the design allows for warm air to leave the room through the top and cool air to draw in through the bottom.

 

If you’re in an older home however, you can improve on the efficiency of these windows further. Here are a few reasons to replace sash windows:

ñ  Save money – as many older windows are single glazed, a large amount of heat is lost through gaps and the glass itself. A modern double glazed window allows for heat to reflect back into the room and slows any heat transfer. Another plus of double glazed windows is increased sound-proofing.

ñ  Prolong life – you may notice constant paint chipping and general wear to existing windows, if you replace sash windows with treated ‘A’ grade timber and micro porous paint, the overall quality of the window will improve, leading to increased lifespan.

ñ  Stop draughts and rattling – to all sash window restorations a brush pile draught excluding system is fitted, ensuring that draughts causing rattling are eliminated.

ñ  Improve security – aside from a refurbished system, key operated sash tops can be installed to allow for a maximum of 100mm of ventilation (eliminating the ability to open windows further from the outside).

 

If you’re looking to replace sash windows or are looking for sash window restoration  in South London, South West London,  Surrey, Berkshire, Hampshire or West Sussex please visit, visit www.sashwindowspecialist.co.uk and improve your existing sash windows today.

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The Different Types of Windows

So you may be thinking, “a window is a window, does it even matter what type I get?!”, yes, it certainly does! Let’s look at 3 of the main types of windows and the characteristics of each.

Sash window

The traditional window – recognisable on houses around the world, from various different historical eras. Sash windows – common in South London, South West London,  Surrey, Berkshire, Hampshire and West Sussex – are best described as a box frame with 2 sliding panels allowing for airflow on the top or the bottom of the frame. Although a relatively old system, sash windows involve a weight and pulley system to balance the panels. Their major advantage comes in the form of energy efficiency in both hot and cold weather – double glazing allowing for warm air to stay inside and, due to the top and bottom openings, in warm weather hot air is able to flow out the top and cool air to flow in through the bottom.

Casement window

This type of window can best be described as functioning like a door. Hinges on the side allow for the window to be levered and opened inwards or outwards to allow a good breeze inside the house – especially if both sides are opened. Another advantage of casement windows is that due to the ease of opening they are extremely easy to clean.

Sliding window

This is a more modern type of window, with extremely cheap manufacture and installation costs. This type of window slides open horizontally on a track. Their main advantage is the cost but the downside is they must be regularly cleaned to ensure a continued smooth movement.

If you’re after sash windows in South London or Surrey or Casement windows in South London or Surrey, visit www.sashwindowspecialist.co.uk or call us to arrange a visit our showroom today.

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3 Benefits of Installing Bi-Folding Doors

There are thousands of ways to improve the comfort and efficiency of your home. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a current homeowner planning home improvements or you’re a buyer designing your first home, there’s one clear winner in useful improvements – bi-folding doors. So what exactly can bi-folding doors do for your home?

 

  1. Indoor and outdoor integration – the flexibility of bi-folding doors allows for an easy integration of the environment. Hosting a party? Open the doors and you can effectively extend your entertaining space.
  2. Improve energy efficiency – being able to entirely open or close a wall not only allows you to integrate the indoor and outdoor environments but allows you to become more energy efficient. If the weather is blazing hot outside with a bit of a breeze, rather than turn on the air-conditioner, open the bi-fold doors and let the cool air flow right through.
  3. Improve look and feel of your home – whether you’re thinking of selling up or just looking to show off your latest renovation, bi-folding doors are a great addition.

If you’re thinking of improving the space in your home, wanting a bit of change in general or looking to restore sash windows or bi-folding doors in South London, South West London,  Surrey, Berkshire, Hampshire or West Sussex please visit, visit www.sashwindowspecialist.co.uk.

 

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Benefits of Double Glazing and Draught Proofing

If you’re building a new home or looking at replacing windows, two terms you may have come across are double glazing and draught proofing. This article will quickly look into what these terms mean as well as the major benefits they hold.

So what is double glazing and draught proofing? Simply, double glazing is when 2 (or 3 in the case of triple glazing) glass window panes are separated by air or other gas. The result? Reduced heat transfer between the inside and the outside. Draught proofing refers to the sealing of gaps in windows, doors or any other area where exterior air can enter and interior air can escape. By double glazing and draught proofing sash windows, regular air temperature is achieved, meaning less work for air conditioners and heaters as well as reduced chill from constant airflow throughout the home.

Despite being such simple improvements, the real life benefits of draught proofing sash windows and double glazing all translate into enormous savings on energy bills – some researchers stating as much as a 25% decrease, just by draught proofing alone. And with a sash window being a relatively small expense to replace, the ongoing savings are reached sooner.

If you’re in interested in draught proofing sash windows or looking for sash windows prices, visit www.sashwindowspecialist.co.uk and enquire today.

 

 

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A Short History of Sash Windows

The Georgian era is widely known for the architecture of the time. Simple one or two story box homes, arranged strictly symmetrical and of course with sash windows – never paired and always arranged horizontally and vertically symmetrical.

The design of the sash window is largely attributed to scientist Robert Hooke and is thought to have been developed in Yorkshire. Despite various modern options having been developed more recently, during the Georgian and Victorian eras the sash window was the most common window type, and continues to be very popular today.

The purpose of the sash window was to allow for sufficient ventilation while still blocking out rain. One of the advantages of sash windows at the time was the ability to have windows partially open without falling back into place or being hooked fully open.

Sash windows, although not directly influencing, can be associated with an important aspect of history – the window tax. With major opposition to an income tax, a window tax was enforced – the reasoning? The higher the income, the larger the house and the larger the house, the more windows it will have. This lead to window removal and bricked window openings, still able to be seen in some residences today.

If you would like more information on restoring, refurbishing or replacing sash windows in South London, South West London,  Surrey, Berkshire, Hampshire or West Sussex please visit www.sashwindowspecialist.co.uk and arrange an appointment to review the options for  your sash windows today.

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Types Of Windows And Doors For Your House or Office

Everyone wants their house to look appealing, not only on the outside, but on the inside as well. There are many things that can enhance the look of your house or office, and one important factor is its windows. Windows can greatly improve the look of a building and can make the most of the natural light. The Specialist in Traditional Sash Windows in Surrey offers several types of windows and doors such as box sash windows, casement windows, French doors and bi-folding doors. But which of these is right for you?

Sash windows most commonly consist of glazed panels that slide vertically or in some cases horizontally with an internal pulley system. They are often found in Georgian and Victorian houses and so can provide a traditional appearance for houses and offices of any age. The Specialist in Traditional Sash Windows’ new sash windows are made from Grade A Redwood timber and are fitted with double glazing.

Another type of wooden window is the casement window. These are windows which are attached to their frame by one or more hinges, commonly either at the top (awning windows) or at the side. They are an effective way of increasing the amount of sunlight entering a room and also the amount of ventilation, as they are very easily opened and closed. The Specialist in Traditional Sash Windows’ double glazed casement windows are also made of Grade A Redwood timber and are fitted with a full draught exclusion system.

With regard to glazed doors, bespoke single front doors, French doors and bi-folding doors are options that could greatly enhance the look of your home or office. Bi-folding doors can be used both internally and externally and are becoming an increasingly popular choice. This is due to the flexibility they can provide through it being possible to use them as a single door or open them up fully.

For all you window needs, whether it’s for your home or office, visit The Specialist in Traditional Sash Windows in Surrey and you will be able to make your choice from a wide selection of the highest quality wooden windows and doors.


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