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Housing - Renovation: Magnet Windows

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  1.  
    • CommentAuthorevan
    • CommentTimeSep 7th 2010
     
    Anyone used these? Opinions?

    http://www.magnettrade.co.uk/trade/joinery/subcategory/windows/window_specifications
  2.  
    Well, let's start with the first two paragraphs of that website:
    "Timber:
    Magnet Trade windows are produced from FSC certified premium kiln dried Scandinavian redwood complying with BS EN 942:2007. Windows are available in Hardwood and European Oak.

    Preservative:
    All Magnet Trade softwood windows are factory treated by double vacuum impregnation using a preservative that guards against fungal decay and rot. This conforms to BS 8417, and allows us to guarantee all our softwood timber windows and door frames against attack by fungal decay or rot for 30 years."

    Kiln dried and then hang it up in the rain. Doh!

    "FSC certified...Scandinavian redwood" Good. And from the next page: " It is also long-lasting, resilient, recyclable and non-toxic; arguably the world’s only fully sustainable building material. " Excellent. So why poison it?

    " available in Hardwood". Oh dear, they don't admit it but I bet that's a euphemism for let's destroy the tropical rain forests.

    And what's in a name? Victorian? No way!!! http://www.magnettrade.co.uk/trade/joinery/product/windows/victorian
    •  
      CommentAuthorfostertom
    • CommentTimeSep 7th 2010
     
    The tragedy is, that 95% of everyone thinks that really is 'Victorian', on a Disneyworld level which is all that they require while shopping. In that case, who are we, the other 5%, to scorn it?
  4.  
    I've used them in the past , I'd say there OK ish , a budget option.
    How do they compare to a local joiners windows ? depends on the joiner
    •  
      CommentAuthorfostertom
    • CommentTimeSep 7th 2010
     
    AFAIK, the list price of these and other builders merchant rock-bottom windows well exceeds the price of a typical Scandinavian-style window, by the time the add-on packs are added on to make them superficially comparable. However builders with accounts can get massive discounts. like 60% off list price, which makes these cheapo windows as cheap as they should be. Seems to me, they only make any sense at all, as in nasty but cheap, if you are one of those builders with a big-discount account at the builders merchant.
  6.  
    magnet offer good % off list to smaller guys like myself ,
    but I've also brought high spec german oak for similar price to magnet/jenweld, just requires a lot more organising and sorting out to get hold of the product , so average builders with little interest wont bother
    They'll just take the path of least resistance.
    For Selfbuild people its defently worth the effort to go for the high spec end and do the leg work.
  7.  
    I was obliged to use them in a job a couple of years back and they were absolutely dreadful. Very poor quality, fast-grown timber, and poorly-designed too; they're real rot traps.
    • CommentAuthorevan
    • CommentTimeSep 9th 2010 edited
     
    Posted By: jamesingrammagnet offer good % off list to smaller guys like myself ,
    but I've also brought high spec german oak for similar price to magnet/jenweld, just requires a lot more organising and sorting out to get hold of the product , so average builders with little interest wont bother
    They'll just take the path of least resistance.


    They do make it very easy - I'm clearly just an amateur/DIY person but they were happy to give me a credit account and the windows are there in the store, they will make custom sizes, one off even, and the price is pretty cheap.


    For Selfbuild people its defently worth the effort to go for the high spec end and do the leg work.


    I suspected as much, just wanted to check. Will heed Gervase's warning too.
    • CommentAuthorCWatters
    • CommentTimeSep 9th 2010 edited
     
    Posted By: biffvernon Kiln dried and then hang it up in the rain. Doh!


    Perhaps not so daft. Kiln dried wood absorbs the preservative better during the pressure treatment process. It's hard to force the preservative into the wood if it's already full of water.
  10.  
    Ha, another reason for not using kiln dried - it makes it harder to use poisons.
    •  
      CommentAuthorrichy
    • CommentTimeSep 10th 2010
     
    Educate me. I make windows. A window consisting of say 5 pieces of timber for the outer frame, plus another 4 for the sash and 8 glazing beads; so a total of 17 lengths of timber. Suppose each member comes from a different tree, or part of a single tree. How can I rely on each individual component remaining tightly jointed and flush fitting unleess the moisture content in every piece is the same at the time of making? For this reason I use kiln dried timber. I wouldn't feel confident putting green timber windows in anything other than a medieval house or a treehouse because most customers expect stability.

    I just don't get it.
    • CommentAuthorbiffvernon
    • CommentTimeSep 11th 2010 edited
     
    >A window consisting of say 5 pieces of timber for the outer frame
    That's where you are going wrong, or is there a niche market for the pentangle sisterhood?

    Who said anything about green timber? That would not work. I use oak that has been air-dried for three or four years. The moisture content will be where it needs to be for maximum stability in its final location. The same moisture content as your (more expensive) kiln dried timber will very soon revert to (if it hasn't already).

    Of course if you want everything to remain tightly jointed and flushly fitting for ever use use PVC (and replace it after 20 years when it has broken). The behaviour of natural materials has to be taken into account when designing. That's the joy of green building.
    • CommentAuthorevan
    • CommentTimeSep 13th 2010 edited
     
    All "factory made" windows would use kiln dried timber, surely? For speed, consistency, accuracy of fit and ability of low-skilled workers to take the profiles out of the machines and just plug them together.

    This = wooden windows that I stand a chance of affording.

    Regarding the "poisons" and "rot trap" comment - their brochure does say "This ... allows us to guarantee all our softwood timber windows and door frames against attack by fungal decay or rot for 30 years."!

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