There are also a lot of other positive aspects of aluminium windows. They have the functionality of managing noise and therefore, it is employed at the areas requiring silence. These are greatest suitable for schools, schools and other areas. They call for minimum routine maintenance and can give ideal longevity. You will not have to be concerned about the functionality problems in situation of dealing with these aluminium home windows.

There are numerous rewards of making use of aluminium metallic for home windows, but there are a number of negatives for them as nicely. These home windows are not advised for security from intense climate problems, like way too sizzling or chilly weather. People do not advocate aluminium home windows for this extremely cause. Nonetheless, owing to numerous benefits, these home windows are chosen more than the windows of other components.

Aluminium doors and home windows are produced by a lot of various companies in South Africa but not all aluminium doorways, home windows and showers verify to the expectations of the Affiliation of Architectural Aluminium Producers of South Africa (AAAMSA). This is specifically troubling as men and women are inclined to go for value rather of creating confident the quality of product they get conform to the standards established by the industry affiliation. The AAAMSA Team is dedicated to top quality, overall performance expectations and solution certification and is an association that was exclusively established to monitor the aluminium industry in South Africa. Sadly there are several tiny companies operating out of their garages supplying inferior items to their customers and after the building inspector comes on the constructing website you have an concern that they may reject the merchandise and call for you to exchange the merchandise with one particular that conforms to the specifications.

Aluminium is a great solution for doors and home windows and arrives in normal dimensions and variations but can also be made in custom patterns and sizes. Products can be powder coated in almost any color of which the natural aluminium color is generally the cheaper option. At the moment bronze is the chosen color for most individuals thanks to the contemporary but earthy seem it produces. Aluminium doors can also be produced in different types for diverse programs this kind of as entrance or hinged doorways, sliding folding stacking doorways, sliding doorways or patio doors with typical purposes or hefty obligation as for store fronts. The aluminium extrusions accommodate wool pile to make sure that the patio or sliding door is draught resistant.

I wanted to share with you this interior, and most importantly my favorite Eames chair.

I really need that chair in my life! And I love the interior in this picture, the steel windows, the pretty round light, the see through table, the wooden floor, the big vases, potted plant, the steel framed lights all of it is gorgeous. So just had to share. Found on Pinterest and it’s from here.

We have Four ranges to choose from:

Struan Range 101 Series: Trellis Type Doors

Clipper Range 201 Series:  Steel Gates

Victoria Peak Range 301 Series:  Front Gates & Outside Gates

Bullion Range 401 Series:  Steel Windows.

Noble HAUS Steel Security Windows

Noble HAUS Trellis Type Door

Noble HAUS Steel Security Gates

Noble HAUS Front Gates & Outside Gates

• Once we have been contacted we will then meet and discuss what is required, measuring up and conceptualizing the installation, discussing what is best for your home’s security.
•  If an order is placed it will be processed once Noble HAUS has received the deposit, production will then begin in earnest.
• Installation time differs from product to product.
• Email to join our bi-monthly news letter or receive our catalog or our portfolio. noblehausoffice@gmail.com

Here we were tasked to removed a steel window, restore it, and completely renovate the surrounding around it, which included the interior and exterior. First, the rusting window was removed and a temporary panel was set in place. Next, the exterior and interior brick was removed and repointed. The lentils were to be replaced with new steel ones. Once the brick was laid, the window was reinstalled, and the trim and a interior storm was put in place to help with energy saving. Lastly, the water damaged interior walls were removed and new dry wall was put up.

The great thing about steel windows and doors is due to the materials strength, they have a very small frame thus allowing for more glass – you know we love glass!!  The clean lines are a welcome addition to any home….traditional or modern.

I love this setting – in the photo above the window wall is closed.  The next shot shows the same wall wide open, perfect to bring the outdoors in!

Remember I commented steel windows and doors are ideal for modern or traditional?  Here is a perfect example:

Ready to let some light into your house?  Give us a call and we can help you bring the sunshine in….

xo Christi

Images from Bliss Nor-Am website.

It doesn’t have to be this way . . . there is a solution . . . finally.

First, it helps to understand that condensation has been a problem for a long time and the window industry has a way of rating it called Condensation Resistance Factor – or CRF. This is a rating number that is tested for in laboratory conditions and/or computer simulations. It provides a comparison rating between different window and door products permitting fair comparisons. Geographical data is also available to show what CRF is recommended, and where, based on how cold it gets in a particular climate.

Window and door frames are tested for condensation resistance with an interior air temperature of 70˚F and an external air temperature of 0˚F, and a number is assigned to the window based on the test results. Some manufacturers include this number on their NFRC labels and some don’t participate in this labeling program.

A CRF rating of 35 is generally considered to be the minimum acceptable rating – the higher the number, the better the rating in terms of condensation resistance.

Traditional hot-rolled steel windows with double pane low-E insulating glass typically test to a CRF only in the 10-11 range – an abysmal figure which means condensation is going to occur regularly unless you take special precautions to introduce air movement at the window openings, heat the frames and/or don’t cover the windows with curtains. Radiant heating in a building with steel windows was also a major problem and always had to be be avoided, until now.

“One thing many customers are quick to point out to us is that our products do not experience the condensation that most other steel windows do,” said Ed Page, President of Windorsky, manufacturers of steel and bronze windows and doors. “That’s because our product if manufactured differently.”

In fact, Windorsky’s Thermal Steel and Thermal Bronze door and window frames have twice the condensation resistance as traditional hot-rolled steel windows, testing in the 20-24 CRF range with double pane low-E insulating glass.

And taking it a step further, Windorsky’s revolutionary Thermal Steel Extreme and Thermal Bronze Extreme door and window frames have a whopping five times the condensation resistance as traditional hot-rolled steel windows, testing in the 50-54 CRF range with double pane low-E insulating glass.

Why? Because Windorsky is the first manufacturer to successfully design and manufacture a thermally broken steel window system that has the same aesthetics and strength of traditional hot-rolled steel windows.

Windorsky’s attention to detail is unmatched in the industry. Using only the best materials, absolutely no compromises have been made in the product design, material selection, or the manufacturing process.

Windorsky steel and bronze windows and doors have been tested well beyond window industry standards for air infiltration, water penetration and structural load performance and have passed with flying colors. The best framing materials, manufacturing methods, finishing technology, weatherstripping, hardware systems and glazing methodology in the industry means that Windorsky windows will last and last and last.

Handcrafted in Texas and Poland under the most strict engineering specifications, Windorsky’s old world craftsmanship has earned it the distinction of being the first steel window company in the world with a prestigious National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) rating

And taking Windorsky’s commitment to thermal performance a step further, Windorsky recently designed a custom thermally broken bronze window system for a penthouse project in New York City, where the CRF value tested at an unheard of 60.

Now that’s impressive.

Windorsky is a single source provider dedicated to supplying and professionally installing the world’s finest hot-rolled steel windows and doors in high end residential and commercial projects throughout the United States. Windorsky is the only steel window manufacturer in the world to earn a prestigious National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) rating. For more information, visit http://www.Windorsky.com, e-mail info@windorsky.com, or call (888) 397-3330.

“We’re excited about Thermal Steel eXtreme, as it provides property owners a reason to be extremely confident about the energy performance of their windows and doors,” said Windorsky President Ed Page. “And we’re proud to introduce I-Core thermal break technology to the steel window marketplace. This innovation is a game changer in the steel window industry.”

Also guaranteed to NEVER rust, Thermal Steel eXtreme windows and doors consist of these standard features:

Solid Steel Sections – Heavy 3/16” thick steel sections are completely solid, not thin rolled or bent metal shapes, for incredible strength and durability.

I-Core Thermal Break – Unique U-Stop thermal break design provides the ultimate in energy performance and condensation resistance.

Fully-welded Construction – All steel frame corners and intersections are fully welded. NO mechanical fasteners, and NO seams.

Stainless Steel Frames – Stainless steel substrate material provides the peace of mind that Thermal Steel eXtreme windows and doors will perform with No Rust Ever.

Powdercoat Paint Finish – Durable and environmentally friendly finish available in any color, with RAL colors standard.

Snap-in Glazing Beads – Interior or exterior glazing beads available in several shapes, for different looks and glass thicknesses.

Stainless Steel Glazing Clips – NO aluminum clips are used to avoid any rust potential, only stainless steel.

Quadruple Weatherstripping – Dual contact points on inner and outer intersections create four layers of protection for air and water tightness.

Thermal Steel eXtreme windows and doors offer enough depth to carry up to 1.5” double or triple pane insulating glass. Combined with slim frames, I-Core thermal break, and state-of-the-art gasket technology, the end result is superior energy performance. Thermal Steel eXtreme windows and doors offer four times the condensation resistance than non-thermal hot-rolled steel products.

Windorsky, which recently became the lone steel window manufacturer in the world to earn a prestigious National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) rating (an energy performance ratings group specifically for windows, doors, skylights and attachment products), are acknowledged worldwide for many reasons, chief among them:

Quality, Superiority, Quality – Windorsky compromises nothing in product design, material selection, or the manufacturing process, and combines this state-of-the-art design and technology with old world craftsmanship.

High Performance – Windorsky products far exceed all industry standards for air infiltration, water penetration and structural load performance.

Custom Built – All Windorsky products are custom built to size, shape and configuration to suit every project’s unique requirements.

Fast, Reliable Delivery – From conception to your destination, Windorsky’s unique MU (Manufacturing Unit) process allows for the fastest, most reliable delivery guaranteed.

One-Of-A-Kind Installation & Glazing – Windorsky is the ONLY steel window manufacturer to offer installation and glazing services.

A Decade Guarantee – Windorsky stands behind its products with a 10 year warranty.

“Very simply, you’re not going to find a superior steel window or door frame anywhere in the world,” added Page. “That’s a guarantee.”

Their new 1920s Tudor needed some work and “…it had some unfortunate updates… the windows were high-tech modern replacements.”

The "Before"

Their real estate agent probably didn’t see them as a drawback. But by reinstalling vintage steel windows, they regained a great deal of their home’s character.

I’m only left wondering how they were able to get permits for a project like this; namely, replacing dual-glazed with single glazed panes.

Also, while I’m not personally familiar with them (working as I do, in Los Angeles), do the homeowners use interior storms with their new vintage windows?

Going Back to Original Windows

A couple decides to ditch their home’s modern-day replacement windows and reinstall vintage steel casements.

By Demetra Aposporos | Photos by Todd Seekircher

A Tudor house in New York makes a dramatic case for the importance of original windows.

Frank Vaccari was raised in a Tudor house and always loved the style. His wife, Donna, thought Tudors were endearing and had longed to live in one. So when the house-hunting couple stumbled upon a 1920s Tudor for sale in Westchester County, New York, about seven years ago, they jumped on it. “It was in a nice Tudor community,” says Frank, “but it had some unfortunate updates. There was a ragged asphalt roof that needed to be torn off, and the windows were high-tech modern replacements.” Several windows also leaked when it rained.

Despite their concerns about these changes to the home’s original appearance, the couple couldn’t pass up the Charles Lewis Bowman-designed house. “We had a vision,” explains Frank. That vision came into clearer focus when, soon after their purchase, they visited a home show on Pier 51 in New York City, where they met John Seekircher of Seekircher Steel Window Repair. Seekircher’s display of vintage Hope’s steel casement windows with leaded-glass inserts made the couple stop and think. “There was another Bowman Tudor with its original windows right next to us,” explains Frank. “We knew that’s what our house should look like, and we wanted to bring back its original appearance.”

They brought Seekircher in to evaluate their windows to see if swapping them out for something more akin to the originals was viable. Seekircher told them that reinstalling vintage steel casements was indeed possible, and would make a huge difference in their home’s appearance—but that it would be a big project that would also involve repairing plaster and stucco, and painting the house inside and out. Because they’d only recently moved in, the Vaccaris decided to wait. They could only handle one big project at a time—and restoring the slate roof had to take precedence. Instead, Frank took some time to study up on his options.

Decisions, Decisions

“I did a lot of research on windows, and even got some quotes from modern manufacturers,” Frank says. “They were all trying to sell me on a replica window, but those didn’t have true divided lights—so they took on a whole different look from the outside.” He looked into modern-day Hope’s steel windows, but thought their double-paned glass wasn’t quite the right fit for his house. Frank even tracked down a Manhattan-based restorer who regularly outfits town houses to Landmarks Preservation Commission standards to seek his advice. “Do the vintage Hope’s; don’t even think about it,” he said. “They’re the real deal—the original stuff that was in the house.” Six years after Frank first contacted Seekircher, he called him back, ready to commit to the vintage Hope’s.

The "After" with steel windows reinstalled

“More and more, people have seen enough of this new stuff that they know it’s not going to last,” says Seekircher. “They’ve seen failures, or they realize they’re aren’t saving as much energy as claimed.”

The Vaccaris had some new decisions to make. While they were already hooked on true divided lights (instead of the plain single-pane glass also possible with vintage Hope’s), they needed to find the right pattern for their leaded-glass inserts. Seekircher explained that either three or four rectangular lights across each casement would be appropriate for their style and size of house. They settled on three lights across, which meant that—depending upon the height of the window—there would be anywhere from six to nine courses on each casement.

Next, Seekircher walked through the house with the Vaccaris, pointing out window openings that had been enlarged when the replacements were installed. “They had a room with a great big replacement window in it that looked out onto the air conditioning units in their backyard,” Seekircher says. “I told them if we went with a smaller window, like what would have been there originally, they would have a better view.” The Vaccaris took his advice and opted to reduce seven windows back to their original sizes.

Customized Fit

Once Seekircher had determined the number and size of windows the Vaccaris needed, he headed back to his shop to find the right ones in his 30-year inventory of vintage windows. Next, his brother Bill—who has his own company, Artistic Glasswork—fabricated all of the leaded-glass inserts by hand using new, clear 1⁄8″ single-pane glass, a process that took about a month. (It’s also possible to use modern restoration glass, but costs rise significantly.) Then Seekircher’s team set the leaded-glass inserts in the window frames, putty-glazed them, and gave them two coats of finish paint. (The vintage frames had previously been stripped and primed.)

Start to finish, the Vaccaris had to wait about two months for the delivery of their customized 90-year-old casements, which were then installed by a contractor. Seekircher compares the vintage steel frames to old-growth sash, saying, “Steel from the early 1900s is phenomenal; it holds up forever.” He also thinks the longevity of vintage windows makes them a perfect fit for today’s eco-conscious homeowners.

Now that the house’s casement windows are back in their proper places, the Vaccaris are thrilled with the results. “Some people thought I was crazy to invest that kind of money in a house at this stage of my life, but my wife and I are very comfortable in our home, and we want to enjoy it,” says Frank. “I’m so happy we did the vintage windows. The house looks fantastic.”

Published in: Old-House Journal August/September 2011

http://www.oldhouseonline.com/going-back-to-original-windows/

Michigan Central Station

It looks like one of Detroit’s better known derelict buildings might be getting some attention soon.

Built in 1913 and unused since 1988, Michigan Central Station has become an icon of Detroit’s decay.

The building’s owner has announced their intention to repair the roof and the hundreds of windows, nearly all of which have been shattered by vandals.

Here’s hoping that the work is successful and a new use is found for this grand old place.

DETROIT – The owner of the Michigan Central Depot plans to replace the roof and windows on the shuttered train station with hopes of attracting a developer for the building that for years has been symbol of Detroit blight.

via Owner of shuttered Detroit train station plans improvements with hope of finding developer :: The Republic.

And also an argument for awesome floors and steel windows.  Loooooove those windows!

Gracias to my neighbor to the south, Joni of Cote de Texas.