Doors & Windows

Doors

Doors provide access and security to buildings. They are available in many materials, timber for aesthetics, aluminium, PVCU and fibreglass for low maintenance, steel for security and fire resistance plus many composite varieties. They can be glazed - partially or fully or solid – panelled or flush faced. They can be side hung to swing open. They can be sliding or sliding and folding to completely open a room to the outside. There are not only external doors and interior doors but garage doors, access doors and cupboard doors.

All types of doors are represented at the Building Centre and you can order or download technical brochures from specifinder.com.

You may be interested in purchasing our Essential Guide entitled ‘Sound Insulation: walls doors and windows’, which includes a section on acoustic doors.

Additional information that can also be found on specifinder.com includes information on ancillary products such as Ironmongery, door furniture and fire and weather seals.

Windows

Windows come in all shapes and sizes and are made in variety of materials, from low maintenance options such as aluminium, PVCu and composite to aesthetically pleasing wood, steel and high spec bronze. The glass may be divided into smaller panes or include stained glass or leaded lights.

The choice of opening action is wide, from side-hung, top-hung, bottom-hung casements, horizontal or vertical sliding, horizontal or vertical pivot, tilt and turn, louvre or reversible.

Recent government legislation has put windows under Building Control. All single glazed windows in need of replacement must now be replaced by double glazed windows. There are some exemptions in the case of listed buildings. Window installation companies who are FENSA registered are licensed to grant the relevant planning permission.

There is a variety of double glazing units on offer. Those readily available and giving the best thermal insulation are those which are argon gas-filled and use low – emissivity glass. Argon gas is heavier than air and has a thermal conductivity 67% that of air. Krypton can be used and is a heavier gas which gives a slightly better thermal performance but is more expensive and is not generally used except where there is a requirement for very thin double glazing units or for extremely high performance triple glazed units.

All types of windows are represented at The Building Centre, including roof windows, roof lights for flat roofs, secondary glazing, patent glazing, curtain walling and solar window films. You can order or download technical brochures from our website.

There are sections in the Essential Guide entitled ‘Glass in Buildings’ covering stained glass and structural glazing companies. There is a section in the Essential Guide entitled ‘Sound Insulation: walls, doors and windows’ which gives details on companies specialising in the supply and installation of secondary windows, especially beneficial in combating noise pollution from external sources.