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General: Windows windows windows

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  1.  
    • CommentAuthorjwd
    • CommentTimeFeb 16th 2010
     
    Hi all

    Im still working on my project to extend and renovate an old stone and brick building. We will insulate as best we can in the old part and the new part (about the same size) will be very heavily insulated.

    My current head scratching is due to windows .

    Most windows are DG sash n case but the there are some larger casement windows on the south side and a large three section patio door. My architect has advised me that from a draught proofing point of view it is best have one panel fixed and only open two (like a double door) and to avoid sliding doors. Is there any validity in this? I quite like the idea of a sliding door but I am in a windy wet part of Scotland and longevity and weathertightness are paramount.

    If I take his advice and avoid sliders should the doors open in or out? If they open out wards I would be concerned that the wind catches them and flaps them about breaking glass and damaging frames and hinges. The same question is in my mind for the casement windows that open.

    Finally, I am waitng for quotes from builders and worrying that my budget wont go far enough. If thats the case I might have to compromise somewhere and give up on my dream of vrogum windows(1.0 u value) and settle for the more economic locally produced 1.4 u val ones. Should I look elsewhere for my savings or will I not really notice and be able to bask on the pride of supporting local business and reduced transport carbon?

    All the best

    Jw
    •  
      CommentAuthorfostertom
    • CommentTimeFeb 16th 2010
     
    Russell Timbertech, Glasgow - Scandinavian 3G @ £250/m2, at last quote-time - beat that, 'economic local UK'!
    • CommentAuthorjwd
    • CommentTimeFeb 16th 2010
     
    Tom

    Ahh . the old Russel Timbertech -not far up the road as it goes. Very good idea for the non sash and case stuff - ill ask them for a quote - but I dont think they do a sash and case window but I will check again.

    What are your thoughts on the slidey vs swinging patio door question. And the inward vs outward opening ?

    Jw
    •  
      CommentAuthorfostertom
    • CommentTimeFeb 16th 2010
     
    No, you're right, I didn't read properly - for sash it's Vrogum or UK local - but no reason why that can't be 3G (which Vrogum isn't), except the fact that UK glass costs over twice what it does in Europe. Sorry, not much to add about draughts/sliders/hinged, in extreme exposure.
    • CommentAuthorRobinB
    • CommentTimeFeb 16th 2010
     
    Russell have made my doors, I haven't seen them yet though!
    •  
      CommentAuthorJustin
    • CommentTimeFeb 18th 2010
     
    Hi RobinB

    Any news of those doors? - comments on the Russell quality?

    I have been trying to order from Russell, waving my £ about, for the last week, they seem pretty busy in the office, and have yet to give me a final quote. It seems to be pricing the glazing which slows them down. I have selection of 2g and 3g (only 4-12-4-12-4) windows and a couple of doorsets, in 3g also.

    I have also been looking at Adpol, who were very much more responsive when it came to providing me with quotes and data. They were slightly more expensive than Russell, but with a better 3g spec, and were amazingly good value for fixed 3g panels. - Perhaps I should have gone Adpol.
    • CommentAuthorarthur
    • CommentTimeFeb 21st 2010
     
    What's people's opinion on the green building store ecoplus windows? Good but not cheap??
    • CommentAuthortony
    • CommentTimeFeb 21st 2010
     
    sadly I would not even say that they were good
  9.  
    Inward vs outward
    Inward - easier to put up fly screens (or cat or midge screens depending on your problem) and still have a functioning window but intrude into the room when open
    Outward - easier to storm proof.
    The standard here (Hungary) is inward opening without stays, they dont catch the wind, unless you forget and open a door that creates a through gale.
    Having lived with both types I would go for inward opening with tilt and swing opening facilities, fly screens as local conditions demand
    • CommentAuthorTuna
    • CommentTimeFeb 21st 2010
     
    Inward also makes cleaning the outside of the windows very easy.
  11.  
    Posted By: tonysadly I would not even say that they were good


    May we hear why you think this Tony?

    Peter
    • CommentAuthortony
    • CommentTimeFeb 22nd 2010
     
    When compared to European windows they seem like my Morris 1000 traveller compared to a Rolls Royce.

    In the UK we are used to looking at, installing and living with such poor quality windows that anything new seems OK when it isn't.

    Hence people widely accept double glazing in plastic frames without realising that there is a better way to go.

    European windows generally have adjustable hinges and seals, are better produced and protected for a harsher environment.

    Theirs are triple glazed have stronger handles, are made from wood nicer with no knots or finger joints, no trickle vents! dont get me started on that, more secure, the list goes on....
  13.  
    Any idea when UK mass joinery will catch up with the rest of northern Europe ?
  14.  
    Posted By: arthurgreen building store ecoplus windows?




    Posted By: tonyTheirs are triple glazed


    Hi Tony,

    These particular windows are very expensive, and are available triple glazed, are you talking about this particular range of wiindows, or just British generally?

    Peter
    • CommentAuthortony
    • CommentTimeFeb 22nd 2010
     
    British generally (except Biff's ones of course)
    • CommentAuthortony
    • CommentTimeFeb 22nd 2010
     
    They are not so expensive if you only have to them once --- the Brits love replacing windows ever few years -- this is not the case in Europe.
    • CommentAuthoraa44
    • CommentTimeFeb 22nd 2010
     
    Up here in Shetland the architects push you towards outward opening windows as they keep the weather out better. This doesn't mean that the windows can't be reversible for cleaning, though. Our site is pretty exposed but we are going to have a big sliding window on the most exposed side of the house. Neither the local window manufacturers nor the architect have said "Don't do it!". Sliding doors seem fine, folding doors do not.
    • CommentAuthorarthur
    • CommentTimeFeb 22nd 2010
     
    Tony - are you basing your comments on any experience with the said Ecoplus windows?
    As Peter has suggested,some of your reasons don't seem to apply - they are triple glazed and need not have trickle vents.
    Perhaps you could explain rhe relevance of the other points - like finger jointing and adjustable hinges. I was just looking at some vrogrum windows which are finger jointed as well. What's the alternative?
    • CommentAuthorarthur
    • CommentTimeFeb 22nd 2010
     
    Is there a reason why most of the top european passiv windows use internal opening. Looking at Nordan for example they do their 0.7 range only inward opening but their 1.2 range as either?
    I would have thought inward opening would be harder to achieve a good seal?
  20.  
    I think with Nordan, they owing to the lower demand for the 0.7 compared with the 1.2, they chose to limit the range and had to pick inward or outward. They chose inward...

    Thats what I'm guessing anyway...

    J
  21.  
    Nice link from another thread of what available in Europe
    http://www.fensterversand.com/fensterkonfigurator.php
    http://www.ege.de/en/index.php
    • CommentAuthorwookey
    • CommentTimeFeb 23rd 2010
     
    GBS's ecoplus and ecocontract windows _are_ european - they are made in Latvia, or somewhere round there, from slow-growing redwood. Engineered timber so they don't distort. 2G and 3G and ali-clad and natural paint options available. I've been very impressed with their speccing service which allowed me to go into proper detail about the various bits (I was buying a door - there's thread on here somewhere). So far as I can see most of Tony's criticisms don't apply in this case and are in fact most unfair, as these are one of the good guys, trying to get decent euro-windows into people's houses. And their ecocontract range isn't outrageously expensive either.

    That said we did have an issue with paint cracking due to differential expansion of two bits of wood in the lock rail (middle horizontal bit), but this has been dealt with in exemplary fashion, so we remain happy customers.
  23.  
    Posted By: wookeyGBS's ecoplus and ecocontract windows _are_ european - they are made in Latvia, or somewhere round there,.


    I was recently told the ecoplus are made in Yorkshire, or perhaps I read that on their website?

    Peter
    • CommentAuthorjamesingram
    • CommentTimeFeb 23rd 2010 edited
     
    Yorkshire - Eastern europe . Very easy to muddle up i'd say :tongue:
  25.  
    Eco+ = Yorkshire
    Eco-controact = E Europe

    J
  26.  
    Justin wrote: "I have also been looking at Adpol, who were very much more responsive when it came to providing me with quotes and data."

    We also found Adpol was very responsive with providing quotes, and we put our money down (in June 2012) for Adpol. It wasn't the cheapest quote but neither was it the most expensive.

    It's October now. I'd like to tell you how the windows are, but we still haven't received them yet. ;-)

    I've written about our experiences with Adpol here:


    http://my-experiences-with-adpol-windows.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/why-i-am-creating-this-blog.html

    in case it's helpful to others.
  27.  
    Michael - welcome to the forum, but please check out:

    http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=2630&page=1#Item_19

    Spamming the same message into three old threads isn't going to endear you to many people here.

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