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Can you please tell me some of the advantages of purchasing Western Red Cedar windows and doors for my new home?
Click here to see attachment on "Why Cedar"
How do I make a choice for windows and doors when choosing between aluminium and timber?
The most difficult part of any construction decisions for owners is the selection of windows & doors. In particular the base material to be used, aluminium or timber.
We have tried in the following paragraphs to help you with that decision.
All projects will incur personal choices, difficult for others to recommend product.
- The initial choices are: Style of the house, aspect, & do you want slim line section profiles maximum glass area look to aluminium, or heavy section profiles lean more to timber. Wanting slim line sections with the appearance of timber, why not select a wood grain finish in aluminium. Nothing though can match the warmth of a traditional timber look.
- Do the windows need to complement the wall colour both internal & external!
Timber windows can have both internal & external faces painted in different light reflective colours. Aluminium windows come only one colour, meaning a possible compromise on final colour.
- If I select timber, how long will the paint finish last, paint companies state that paint or stain finishes should last minimum seven years before any re-painting required, dependant on the initial preparation being done in accordance with their recommendations. Aluminium windows come powder coated & will last many more years with only minimal colour fade.
Note: Both product types however need to be cleaned periodically to remove contaminants from the atmosphere.
- You are concerned about the added maintenance with timber. Apart from the re-finishing cost, hardware maintenance is similar to that of aluminium, both are tested for suitability & carry the same warranty. All products have a need for periodic maintenance to ensure long life wear.
- Energy considerations, timber has a better initial thermal quality, although both aluminium & timber products can be improved using a wide range of Trend Thermashield glass options.
- Pricing is comparative, the most critical decision to make is what suits the surrounding area & your project design, Cost is a short term consideration, you have to live with the final choice for years to come.
My double hung windows do not slide up and down anymore but fall when I try to open them?
This means that the window spirals/balances need to be changed. When you replace them it is advisable that you open the window (top and bottom sashes) on a regular basis (eg fortnightly) to help them last longer.
My sliding doors and windows are 5 years old and do not slide properly. Why is this so and what do I need to do to prevent this happening?
It sounds like your sliding windows and doors rollers need to be changed due to wear and tear. Some tips on preventing the rollers from dragging is by vacuuming the sill of the windows and doors regularly getting rid of any dust, dirt and dead insects which cause a build up of grit in the rollers causing the rollers not to work properly. On an annual basis clean tracks by wiping track with light machine oil (eg sewing machine oil) to assist with smoother operatin.
What is NFRC and what has it got to do with WERS?
NFRC stands for the National Fenestration Rating Council which is an international rating organisation. NFRC ratings are internationally recognised and the Australian Building Code of Australia (BCA) has moved to utilising the NFRC ratings in the WERS program through the Australian Fenestration Rating Council (AFRC)
NFRC ratings are simulated through a computer program using advanced thermal simulation programs. WERS ratings utilises the NFRC ratings giving a full rating for the whole window system (includes frame, glass type, sealing system etc). The window/door products are certified by taking the u-value, SHGC and air infiltration to generate a star rating and percentage rating.
Window/Door manufacturers who have their products audited and are compliant will display the WERS logo or carry a WERS compliant label on their window/door products.
22/1/08
What is WERS?
WERS stands for Window Energy Rating Scheme and is managed by the Australian Window Association (AWA).
WERS was introduced in conjunction with the Australian Federal Government's Australian Greenhouse Office and industry incentive as part of their commitment to improve Australia's energy efficiency by reducing greenhouse gas emission into the environment.
WERS is aimed at helping you, the consumer, to save money on your energy bills and contribute to a better environment.
WERS forms part of the Building Code of Australia where a whole house is assessed and energy rated.
Depending on which state in Australia, determines which computer software program is used, eg Basix, First Rate, BERs to generate the energy ratings for the types of products you require in the home. All of these software programs achieve the same outcome, they energy rate the whole house giving it energy ratings.
For a window manufacturer to obtain window star ratings they have to have their products tested and assessed by an recognised rating organisation that has been accredited by the AFRC (Australian Fenestration Rating Council)
The window energy ratings for heating and cooling rank the window against alternatives, using a five-star scale based on 27 'generic' window types. The generic windows range from very low performance to very high performance in heating or cooling. The ratings apply to the effect of the whole window including the relative contributions of glass and frame.
The energy ratings are based on a window or door's U-value and solar heat gain co-efficient (SHGC) figure. The lower the U value the better the insulating performance for a home and the lower the SHGC measures how well the glass product blocks out heat caused by sunlight.
When shopping for windows and doors you will start to see the following label:
WERS energy ratings are based on a basic five star rating from 0 to 5 stars. No stars indicate that the window is a very poor performer in relation to energy efficiency, whereas higher ratings, such as a five stars rating indicates excellent performance in relation to energy efficiency and comfort. Depending on the climate conditions you live in determines the types of system you require for your home, eg in a cold climate area you need a heating system, in a hot climate area a cooling system and in a mixed climate a mixture of both.
Window companies whose products comply with WERS are also labelled with a compliance sticker, which specifies that the product is compliant to Australian Standards, example below:
Custom ratings are where window manufacturer products are individually tested and assigned star ratings. Custom rated products frequently exceeds that of the nearest equivalent generic product.
When purchasing windows and doors you should be aware that the products you are buying comply and are energy rated. So look for a window manufacturer's whose products have been tested and rated. Trend Windows & Doors products are one of these manufacturers who have had their products energy rated. All Trend products are listed on WERS' website www.wers.net
Can you please supply me with some information why Trend's Xtreme Bushfire Windows & Doors products can be used in bushfire zones?
"There are now five construction sections in the proposed new Standard instead of three in the current 1999 edition of AS 3959. Section 3 covers general issues such as attached buildings and clarifies that there are no special construction requirements for buildings assessed in the Low category of bushfire attack. Section 4 addresses the Medium category of bushfire attack, which equates to ember protection and a radiant heat range of up to 12.5 kW/m2. Sections 5, 6 and 7 cover the High, Very High and Extreme categories of bushfire attack with radiant heat levels ranging from 12.5 kW/m2 to 40 kW/m2. Section 8 covers Flame Zone based on radiant heat levels in excess of 40 kW/m2 together with flame contact to the building. The construction requirements include the application of fire resistant construction in order to maximise protection against buildings assessed in the Flame Zone category of bushfire attack." (New Guidelines for bushfire-prone areas, David Michel - Australian Standards - http://www.standards.org.au/cat.asp?catid=66&contentid=87&News=1)
Trend Windows & Doors is the first window and door manufacturer in Australia to have their Xtreme range of products tested for bushfire zones.
Xtreme windows & doors is the first window and door system in Australia designed to withstand temperatures up to 40kW/m2 without failure from either the glazing or from the window system itself to help prevent internal ignition of houses and loss of precious possessions.
Extensive testing was carried out at CSIRO laboratories, and has shown that Trend’s Xtreme product range of windows and doors withstands the extreme heat generated by extreme range 40kW/m2 and passes the relevant testing regime.
Building in bushfire prone areas is being upgraded and increasingly enforced in areas where the risk is evident. Under the new AS3959 - Building in Bushfire Prone Areas which is being released later this year the bushfire zones will be rated by kilowatts (kW).
What is Thermashield ?
Thermashield is the Trend's registered brand name for a collection product ranges utilisiing various materials and glazing options to help achieve the required window energy ratings for your home under the new government regulations.
Under the new Building Code of Australia, when building or carrying out renovations to your home energy savings have become a mandatory depending on your state and locale, but eventually will cover all of Australia.
Windows and doors which utilise the technologically advanced properties of Trend Thermashield energy efficiency systems, to offer a much more precise way to shield yourself and others from weather extremes. Trend® also makes it easy for you to evaluate the level of protection you require for each specific window and door, and to choose accordingly. In turn, this translates into cost savings by reducing heating and cooling bills.
Trend Thermashield means greater control, bigger savings and, most importantly, one less thing to worry about.
I have dry cement on my window frames and glass and would like to get it off without damage to aluminium powdercoating or glass. Can you please help?
Use plenty of water and let it soak onto the cement. Gradually lift off the cement from the frame or glass using a sponge or rag. Keep reapplying water until it dissolve the cement particles and wiping it clean with a sponge or rag.. Do not use any abrasive objects.
Click here to the view a pdf on "On site care & maintenance" instructions