French Doors – Do You Know Where Yours Have Come From
Many of us have French doors in our homes but where did they actually come from. As the name suggests they were first made popular in French architecture during the Renaissance period in the 17th century. However at first they were not doors at all but windows instead. They were window casements that extended to the floor as this allowed more natural light to flood into the room. This was important as it was in the days well before electricity was invented. Apart from natural light, candle light was the only other form of light which only offered minimal light and in those days candles were expensive. Therefore the more natural light which you could get into a room the better. ?
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Traditionally French doors were not used on the ground floor but were actually used on the first floor in buildings and would open up on to small balconies. It was not until the late 17th century that they were introduced into English architecture. As technology moved on doors became bigger and more elaborate.
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Today French doors come in a variety of shapes and sizes and are made out of many different materials. Originally they were constructed out of wood and glass. This is still a popular choice however over recent years we have seen an increase in the popularity of UPVC Doors. UPVC doors have all the benefits of traditional wooden French doors but they are also more durable, have better security features and are lower maintenance.
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French doors are also now used in a variety of different locations. Gone are the days when they were mainly used on the first floor of a building. They are now more commonly used on the ground floor of a building to link the home and the garden. The recent popularity of conservatories and orangeries has fuelled the demand for French doors. Orangeries and conservatories allow you to make the most of your garden throughout the year so adding doors to an orangery was the natural progression allowing you to make the most of both your garden and your orangery or conservatory. ????
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French doors have come a long way since the 17th century. However very often we pay very little attention to them. Next time you are passing though a set of double doors why not take the time out to notice them and consider where they came from. ?
January 15 2011 | Home Improvement | Comments Off
How Patio Doors Are Built
Patio doors were originally created to replace French doors, offering an uninterrupted view of the natural daylight coming into the house, and providing easy access to the outdoors. As a result, patio doors are still hugely popular and due to demand, have become somewhat more elaborate over the years. However, they were not completely able to replace French doors; whereas the style and design of a French door is still seen as a classic and timeless look. However, the two are able co-exist on the market, benefiting the home-owner who has a choice of door options to consider.
At one point, a patio door was not a very secure entryway and easily accessible from the outside. Over time improvements have been made so now this is not as great an issue as it previously had been. There is also another issue of safety because the door, being a solid sheet of glass, is often seen as being open when it is actually not. To help remedy possible injuries, safety glass is now used to prevent people, especially children, from running headlong into the closed doors and getting severe lacerations.
When it comes to being energy efficient, patio doors perform very well. They are made with a series of brushes and seals which adhere to very stringent building code regulations. Producing the vinyl for door and window frames requires three times less energy to produce than manufacturing aluminum, thus making this product not only more cost effective, but also environmentally /energy friendly. To put this in perspective, it saves enough energy to heat almost 20, 000 single swelling family homes a year.
Most patio doors are made from vinyl or metal frames. The vinyl frames are made with up to 80% vinyl resin and then the remaining 20 % can be made up from various additives such as stabilizers to help prevent cracking and peeling. Pigments are also added to add the desired color as well to help create UV protection. Other additives help in preventing damage done during the shipping process.
Once the vinyl compound has been made, the chemical additives are locked in. Then, the resulting material is softened and forced through a die creating the unique shape that will eventually become the frame. These extruded pieces are shipped on pallets to the window / door fabricator where they are cut to the specified lengths and dimensions required to make the patio door.
After machines have cut the components to be assembled, the frames are often fusion welded together to form air tight and water tight seals at the corners. The installation of locks, keepers, balances, weather stripping, and finally the glass, are completed and the process is sent to quality control where the work is checked for air tightness, water tightness, and for any possible damages done to the frame or glass during assembly.
The use of vinyl frames for your patio door and windows helps your glass door maintain an even temperature so that there are limited condensation and humidity differences in the home. The quality of the air in the household is also greatly improved because glass doors mean less electricity is needed to heat and light the house. Lastly, an additional environmental bonus is the elimination of paint, stains, strippers, thinners which are not needed to maintain the patio doors appearance and function; saving the environment from harmful odors, chemical disposal, as well as leaving the home owner with free time to enjoy the view.
Patio doors are a great addition to any home and they can even increase the value of the home.
January 15 2011 | Home Improvement | Comments Off
French Doors UPVC
UPVC french doors are a cost-saving solution to open up a room to the outside. Opening up?a room to the outside can bring in additional light to provide a more airy look and feel to the inside.
Many french doors manufactured from upvc materials feature the same benefits of standard pvcu residential doorsets. They are often fitted with similar high specification/security ironmongery as standard upvc doors for? added piece of mind.
UPVC french doors are manufactured using extruded hollow profiles reinforced with either steel or aluminium sections. Selecting a upvc profile is the first step to creating your customised pvcu french door product. Many profile?manufacturers have a range of profile systems to provide a?wide choice for consumers. Decorative and chamfered profile designs are the most common choice for homeowners.
Most manufacturers?and installers?will allow you to customise your pvcu french doors utilising a range of accessory and profile finishing options.
Most?pvcu french doors can often be finished in foiled textures which can provide a woodgrain effect on the exterior and/or the interior dependant on your requirements. Selecting a woodgrain finish can provide a timber look and feel to a french door.
The security of upvc french doors?can be?tested by UK manufacturers through an independent body and as a result, many french door manufacturers obtain accreditation marks such as “Secured by Design” or “PAS 23/24″. Selecting a pvcu french door product with an industry standard security accreditation mark is a wise choice for added piece of mind regarding the security of your product.
Energy efficiency plays a key role in the selection process of pvcu window, door or conservatory products for homeowners. Selecting an energy efficient french door product could provide a return on your investment through increased energy savings over older products. The correct glazing option should be selected to achieve the best energy saving level for your property. Many manufacturers and suppliers are able to provide advice on this.
Overall, a upvc/pvcu french door product can provide increased cost savings over timber alternatives whilst still providing high specification design options similar to pvc residential doors.
January 15 2011 | Home Improvement | Comments Off
Benefits of French Doors
Wherever you are, you are always eager to get back to your house. This is because your house provides a sense of protection to you more than anything else. Once you are inside you house, you will start to feel that you are given enough comfort and care. Each and every part, however small, has a very special in its own way. The doors have to be designed properly to ensure that there is proper circulation of air throughout the house. Thus doors become one of the most important parts of a house. You also have to make sure that you install a door that increases the aesthetic value of your house. A French door does that.
This door is mainly based on the ideas of the old French casement door. The specialty is that it will have more than one glass panel and can be opened in any direction making entry and exit from a room far more than comfortable. The separation between two glass panels is called mullions. French doors are suited of interiors than exteriors. They come in a variety of textures, shape, size and design. So you have to make sure that the one that you chose will be suitable for your house. For this you have to take into consideration the overall environment of your house.
French doors help in increasing the beauty of your house and also give your house a country look. These doors are inevitable if your are planning to set up a French styled house. When getting a door, try to get one with a classic, traditional look. At the same time it has to be elegant. This will make others feel that they have stepped into a cottage in a rural part of France. This can help you inculcate a French culture into your house without much effort.
January 15 2011 | Home Improvement | Comments Off
Types of Exterior French Doors
French doors are some of the most popular doors to use in a home today mainly because of their exquisite beauty. What sets these doors apart from other door types is the fact that they are constructed out of double-layered doors, which means that one can open inwards and the other outwards.
French doors can be used both inside and outside the home with interior doors being ideal for rooms such as the dining room; while exterior doors can work wonders for your patio. This article will focus on the various types of exterior French doors, to enable you to make the right choice for your home.
Exterior French doors are available in a variety of styles but mainly feature decorative or carved wood edges with stained or glazed glass. These doors are also normally available with double-paned glass which provides for better insulation. Below is a look at the various types of popular choices for exterior French doors you can choose for your home.
Hinged exterior French doors: These are 2 double doors which are hinged, thus enabling them to either open out of or into a room. For instance, if you use hinged French doors for your patio, the out swing doors will open onto your patio. You may opt for hinged French doors made out of decorative metal or ornate wood, along with decorative or clear glass. If you don’t want the hassle of constant maintenance, go for the hinged doors made from vinyl or metal which do not have glass.
Pocket exterior French doors: These are ideal to use in rooms which do not have a lot of space to accommodate the swinging open of the doors. Pocket French doors will slide into the walls on either side of the door. When used for the patio, these doors slide off to the side which enables you to save on space if your patio is small, or in the event that you don’t have adequate space for them to open in to the patio as well.
It is important to allow for enough space for the pockets and special construction that the exterior pocket French doors require on either wall. This will help to ensure that the doors are properly sealed and protected from the elements.
Bi-Fold and Multi-Fold Exterior French doors: These are accordion style doors with door panels which are hinged together and set onto a sliding track, which enables them to fold and slide to the side. Bi-fold and multi-fold exterior French doors are very attractive and stylish to have in any home. Bi-fold doors comprise of two panels which fold twice onto itself, while the multi-fold doors consist of smaller panels which fold three to four times onto themselves.
Both styles of doors are ideal for use in small rooms and spaces as they do not take up too much room. These doors nevertheless require special construction which will ensure that the doors remain sealed and protected from the vagaries of the weather. To find out more about French doors visit the Savoy Doors shop.
January 15 2011 | Home Improvement | Comments Off
Tips in to Get Cheap UPVC French Doors
UPVC French doors offer a new alternative for many homeowners when it comes to door fixtures. The varied styles and colors available in the market make them a popular choice in modern home construction. If you are planning to get one for your next renovation, you need to think of some cost saving measures to help you find the best deal. Here are the things you can do to get the cheapest yet the best fixtures in the market.
Plan Ahead
Whatever item you buy, planning is the best cost saving measure you can do. You have to plan for your budget, the design and the store where you will buy the item. When you do the preparation, it will help you find the best item at the lowest possible price. It will also prevent you from overspending and deciding based on impulse.
Compare Prices
To get the cheapest UPVC doors, you can compare the prices of different manufacturers. List down the price quotation of each and, opposite them, write down their specifications. Do not be enthralled with dealers that offer a low price, because usually, the catch is in the quality of the material. Compare items with the same design and materials in order to make a more objective analysis.
Buy in Bulk
If you want to get cheap UPVC French doors, buy the fixture together with your windows and get them in bulk. If you need two or more doors and several windows, the dealers can offer you a bigger discount as compared to when buying in retail. If you have other friends or family members undergoing house renovation, you can buy the UPVC French doors with them.
UPVC French doors can be an expensive investment. But when you know how to employ the tips, you can save huge amounts, enough to use your savings for your other necessities.
January 15 2011 | Home Improvement | Comments Off
French Doors Are Beautiful Investments You Can Use Today
French doors offer the benefit of being an investment that pays off immediately. If you spend any time at all considering how to invest your money and put it to good use for you, you know that an investment typically takes quite a while before it shows any returns. With a French door this is not the case. French doors are a great investment because they add value to your home and increase the resale value that you can expect should you decide to sell your home. These doors can be used in the interior of your home or on the exterior and either choice will offer you a nice return on the initial investment.
Interior French doors are typically small doors that you would use to replace a section of wall between two adjoining rooms. Normally you would use a set of double doors for this type of installation and it would allow you to open these doors in a way that makes the two rooms seem like one and thereby providing a nice open feeling should you want to host a large gathering or if you simply want to enjoy the spaciousness of a large room.
Exterior French doors are probably the most common installation of these doors. By using these doors you will allow light into your home and provide yourself with a great view of the outdoors. If you like to entertain on your patio or deck a set of uPVC French doors can open up onto the patio and make the transition from outdoors to indoors completely seamless. This will expand the usable area of your patio and make your guests feel like they are in a much more spacious environment. This can often lead to much more socializing and an overall atmosphere of enjoyment.
January 15 2011 | Home Improvement | Comments Off
The Air Conditioner – Central Air Or Window Air Conditioner
Air Conditioning is something that many people look at installing every year. There are many options when it comes time to make that decision. To help make that decision more clear, I will explore some of the positives and negatives of the two major options. Ductless split type units are also becoming more of an option. I will do another article on that option. To include that in this article would just be more confusing. So for now we will just look at window air conditioners and central air conditioning.
Central air conditioning is the best way to go if you already have a central hot air heating system already installed in your house or building. The advantage that you have is that you already have the air handler or blower part already installed. The ductwork for the distribution of the air is also all ready in place. The ductwork may need some modification to make it work well for air conditioning, but the major part of it should be adequate.
To use the existing furnace and ductwork a coil will need to be installed at the furnace. An outdoor condenser unit will be installed outside and copper tubing will be used to connect the coil to the outdoor unit. Some electrical wiring will need to be done to power the outdoor unit. Low voltage wiring will be needed to hook the thermostat, the furnace, and the outdoor unit together so that they can talk to each other. Basically the thermostat will just tell the furnace to run the blower on high speed and the outdoor condenser to start up.
If there is no central hot air heating, then the installation of central air conditioning can be much more difficult. Many homes that do not have hot air heat also do not have the room to install ductwork. This would eliminate this possibility. If you are in this category you should get a professional to look at your situation to see if central air conditioning can be done. If it is the room available is to enough to do a good job and get large enough ductwork installed, then do not force the issue and go another option. Ductless split type air conditioning may be your best option.
A window air conditioner in my opinion is a last resort for air conditioning your house or building. There are many down sides to window air conditioning units. There are two good things that window air conditioners have going for them. They are very inexpensive when it comes to cost per BTU of cooling. They also install very quickly and easily. That is where the good part of them ends. Window air conditioners are security risks. If a thief wants to get into your house, the thin sheet metal box that holds the unit in the window can easily be pulled apart to get in through the window. I have seen many units that are not even screwed fast. If the window air conditioner is just there, balancing in the window frame, it becomes very inviting for a unexpected guest. The window air conditioner is also very inefficient. These units use more power per BTU of cooling than any other type of air conditioner. If you are a light sleeper, than chances are you will not want one of these window shakers. Window air conditioners are one of the loudest forms of air conditioning.
The blower for these units is very loud when running. Then add the noise of the compressor and you have enough decibels to keep many people wide awake all night long. If you choose to use a window air conditioner, than you should also look for a place that it can be secured and placed in a room that you will not be sleeping in.
As you can tell by now, I am not a big fan of window air conditioners. They do have a place for some people. However, you do need to be aware of the problems that you may encounter with them. The low initial cost can be offset by the fact that they typically do not last as long as a central air conditioner.
Central air conditioning will last much longer, be quieter during operation, be more efficient, be more secure, but the initial cost will be higher. How much depends on each situation. When considering your options for air conditioning installation you need to get prices for everything and then decide what type of unit will work the best for you. In another article I will talk about when to consider using a ductless split type air conditioning unit. They are also another possibility to consider.
January 13 2011 | Home Improvement | Comments Off
How To Choose a Good RV Air Conditioner
It can be difficult to choose the right RV air conditioner, but a few simple rules apply to the process that actually make it far easier to narrow down your choices. Smart air conditioner buyers know to look for the points in this guide when scouring the market for options, and are generally able to find exactly what they want in half the time and effort that undirected buyers take. Purchasing the right cooling unit for your motor-home need not be a grueling task at all, as explained here.
The ideal this air conditioner comes with a low profile because RVs are typically limited in space, not to mention often crammed full of other appliances and whatnot. Do not buy an air conditioner that is too large as this shall probably lead you, particularly if you are someone of impressive stature, to give yourself and the unit a few knocks every day. Unless you believe you can live with an air conditioner that requires you to duck every time you pass, do not compromise on this matter, especially as it deals with your comfort in moving about your motor-home.
You should choose an air conditioning unit that has proven durability. Granted, this is difficult to measure until you actually buy a unit and test to see how long it takes before it starts to degrade in both looks and performance, but there are actually easy ways of evaluating this without having to purchase a unit. First, ask the professionals or experts for some models they might suggest for your needs. After getting a short list of the best options, look for shops that sell second-hand or used air conditioners and compare the units you like best. Check for discolorations, stains, dents, and physical deterioration among the units and see which models and brands seem to hold up the best. Then, ask other consumers who have used them for their performance after a few years.
Do not be pigeonholed into buying the standard white color unit, because there are certainly other shades available for many offerings now. Why does the color even matter? Because most white air conditioners often end up taking various discolorations and stains later that take the gloss off their appearances, so an air conditioner that might be relatively new may look relatively old by the time six months or so have passed. Most of the other shades for air conditioners are in neutral tones, anyway, so it should not make decor problems too large.
Match the size of the AC to your camper. Do not be overeager and avoid shelling out money for an air conditioning unit that takes up an inordinate amount of space in the RV, even if you can afford it. There are actually some cooling problems associated with failure to pair sizes, and there is also the question of energy efficiency involved.
January 13 2011 | Home Improvement | Comments Off
Air Conditioning – Cleaning the Condenser Coil
Air Conditioning works by exchanging heat from inside a building to the outside air. To do this some very basic refrigeration principles need to take place. One of the most critical pieces that make this happen is the condenser coil. This is usually the aluminum coil the surrounds the air conditioning compressor.
What happens inside this outdoor unit is a very basic state change of the refrigerant inside the air conditioning unit. The refrigerant that changes from a liquid to a gas inside the indoor coil moves to the outside where the compressor compresses the gas under high pressure. When this happens the gas also becomes very hot. The hot gas then leaves the compressor to start traveling through the many feet of tubing in the condenser coil. As the gas cools it changes back to a liquid form going back indoors to start the cycle all over again.
Big problems start when the condenser coil becomes so blocked up with dirt that the hot gas in the condenser coil does not cool enough to change the hot gas back to a liquid form. If this happens the cooling process does not happen and then air conditioner runs but is not cooling. The compressor starts to get very hot and the ultimate result will be the death of a compressor. For these reasons the condenser coil must be kept clean and free of debris at all times when the air conditioner is running. Cleaning the coil is a fairly simple process, Here are a few guidelines to follow when doing this.
To clean the coil a few simple tools are needed. A garden hose with a nozzle, wrenches to remove the condenser fan, a garden sprayer for applying the cleaning solution. The first thing is to disconnect the power to the outdoor unit. There should be a disconnect switch of some type near the condenser. Then remove the fan from the condenser unit. Usually this will be the top of the unit. The fan can usually be laid aside carefully without disconnecting the wires to the motor. Carefully wet down the coil with the garden hose. If you have very high pressure water where you live be careful that the water pressure does not bend over the fins on the coil. These are very thin and fragile. If they get bent over the air will not be able to freely flow through them. Using the cleaning solution from the garden sprayer, coat he inside and the outside of the coil. Let the solution work on the dirt build up before washing it off. If you use a foaming type coil cleaner then let the foam cook the dirt out of the coil. Then use the garden hose to wash the dirt out of the coil. I often work from the inside spraying out through the coil. This is the reverse of the usual air flow and it washes the dirt out easier. Rinse the coil with water till it is clean with no more dirt or cleaner coming out. Replace the fan and start the unit back up.
The cleaning solution for the condenser coil can be any good household cleaner. Many automotive type radiator cleaners will work well. For very dirty condensers it would be good to buy a foaming coil cleaner made specifically for cleaning condenser coils. A local plumbing and heating supply house should stock coil cleaning solutions. Most of these solutions are very strong chemicals. Be sure to wear gloves and eye protection when working with them.
By keeping your air conditioning condenser coil clean, you will help to have your air conditioner running at the best efficiency possible. A clean condenser coil is one of the easiest ways to save electric while running your central air conditioning system. A clean coil will allow your compressor to run cooler and help it to last longer. Your condenser coil should be thoroughly cleaned at least once a year. If in you live in very dirty areas like along a dirt road you may need to clean the condenser coil more often. Also do not do things that would clog up the coil. Blowing grass clippings into the condenser coil is one common thing that happens. Keep shrubbery from growing into and around the condenser coil. This stops the air flow to the coil. Large flowers planted too close to the coil can do the same thing.
As you can see there are many things that can cause your air conditioner to work harder and cost you more money. By taking a the time to look over things and give it a cleaning you can save a lot of money.
January 13 2011 | Home Improvement | Comments Off