French Doors - Double Glazed Doors- Patio Doors

French doors or sliding patio doors are a great double glazing idea to bring in more light .

They will also give the room more dimension and the sense of space as the light floods through.They are great idea for a room with minimal light which also can allow access to the patio or garden


Transforming and converting a window into a set of double glazed French doors is quite easy and you will see the benefits straight away. This can be a bit more costly as the removal of the window and brickwork below needs to done. Along with any making good the plaster work, skirting and tread board internally.

Although it seems like it could be a potential huge messy job, the truth is that it can be done sometimes within a day in good weather.

A Converted Window To French Doors

The same can be done for the sliding patio doors, but usually smaller openings will be installed with French doors. 

The double glazed sliding patio doors can span larger areas as French doors have a smaller overall threshold in width. This is due to too much weight in the doors causes them to drop, so the openers can only go to a certain size.

The overall security has never been better as the hooks, roller cams and deadbolts give peace of mind that they can't be prised open . There is also the added option of upgrading the key cylinder to an anti -snap lock to prevent any break ins from technical minded thieves.

More interesting links:

Composite doors | PVC Windows Advice | Double Glazing General | Glazing Questions


For more advice read the archived blogs.

Double Glazing - Cold Weather Should Be A Wake Up Call For The Future

Blizzard conditions are an extreme example to suggest why people need to upgrade their double glazing to A rated, but the build up to these conditions are a wake up call as to how cold winters are going to get from now on.

Global cycles suggest that it will be more consistent than ever before that when winter comes the short extreme amounts of cold and icy weather will be colder than previously experienced.

The preparation for these winters are in the way of insulating, through cavity insulation, loft insulation and insulating double glazing.

Although lots of people opt for cheaper heat generating multi fuel and wood burners, the heat needs to be retained otherwise the whole process is pointless.

And with energy bills strangely always being put up at the colder times of the year, the long term money saving option is a viable one. Investment in the correct products is the only way that the family can be assured lower bills and a more comfortable warmer home environment in extreme weather conditions year in year out.

Upgrading the front door of your home to the newer composite doors which carry far better U values will prevent a large cold area in the hall way, as the front door which sometimes consists of side frames and fanlights cover a large area.
Any heat generated in the hall way will be pointless and lost, so the cold air will flow through the house eliminating any other warmer areas.


More interesting links:

Composite doors | PVC Windows Advice | Double Glazing General | Glazing Questions


For more advice read the archived blogs.

Double Glazing Southport - Are Guarantees Too Long And Are Customers Getting A Really Good Deal Compared To Other Industries?

When considering buying a product, in general the guarantees you acquire in the process are not that long when compared to the ones given out by double glazing firms. In fact these double glazing ones are some of the longest around and some seem to want to take it further.

There are some manufacturers who give out already 20 -25 years on their roofing systems, but what installation guarantee will they be getting to back up the overall fit?

In comparison to the double glazing industry which states 10 years,  sometimes with certain parts of the windows and doors having less depending on the part -  who comes near to match that type of warranty without an added bought extension to it.

Some of the various products and industries we most commonly use are ....

Combi Boiler - 12 months

TVs / DVD Players/ Home electrical goods -12 months

New car - 3 years

Car / Van parts - 12 months

New carpets - 5 years

Vinyl flooring - 2 years

Clothing - 14 days return only faulty goods

Mobile phone handset - 12 months

Phone battery - 6 months

New sofa or furniture - 12 months

Kitchen appliances - 5 years

Child's bike - 12 months

Block Paving - 2 years only if maintained as advised

So looking at it from a consumers point of view they are getting a great guarantee and backup service for their outlay.

Some of the above products have complex moving parts and we can accept that they will go wrong from time to time but to not get more than 12 months on the majority has to work in the favour of the double glazing industry as it gets further and further away from its old dodgy reputation.

Some could argue the point that windows don't move and just sit there year on year, but would need to realise that they are taking all the weather and elements that protect the family's warm quite environment. 

The fact is that all upvc doors and composite doors also get a 10 years guarantee and are a huge system of working parts in their own right.

So why does certain parts of the industry seem to want to take it further to the point that it may have a guarantee that is almost unbelievable and not seem so genuine any more?

It's a bit desperate to offer something that you cant back up just because you are incapable of competing on a standard level.

With probably most double glazing bosses and managers from time to time thinking why do we have such long warranties and installation back ups? why do we keep going back to over used and mistreated window mechanisms and replacement handles / DG units ?

Why doesn't anyone start to withdraw the the length and start to come down to a reasonable length of time which is more believable and can be guaranteed without the fear of some unsuspecting consumer wondering when that particular company will fold and wipe out all of their guarantees and start afresh under a slightly different name?

Companies will go out of business in all industries for illegitimate reasons its a way of life, but if everyone in the glazing industry thought 5 years was more acceptable-  then the disgruntled customer of 9 and a bit years ago wouldn't go to the back of the que for a month and would almost always return for any further work in the future GUARANTEED.

More interesting links:

Composite doors | PVC Windows Advice | Double Glazing General | Glazing Questions


For more advice read the archived blogs.

Time Off At Christmas Will Be An Eye Opener For Double Glazing Home Improvents

With an average of 2 weeks off at Christmas most people will start to get itchy feet around the home by the start of week 2. 

Pondering around the home will be an eye opener as to what most full time employed people miss concerning home improvements and double glazing issues.

Simple things around the home start to stand out more than  ever as time is usually short during normal work time and any time off is used as wisely as possible with relaxing or entertaining the kids.


Just hanging the window lights up around the inside reveals of the windows can be an eye opener as to how bad the condensation problem is and what damage its is doing to the wallpaper and the plaster work underneath.



It is also a chance to be around the house during the day in the coldest part of the year relaxing and realising how much energy is needed to be generated just to keep a room at comfortable temperature. 
Then the realisation that the bill for this is higher than ever and is on the constant increase. Promises of heating bills increasing next year by at least 5 % is already on the cards.

There is also the chance to realise that all the energy that is being generated could very easily be contained in each room simply by installing the newer A rated PVC windows and doors.

Not only will the aesthetics improve the appearance of the home but also give the new year 2013 an energy efficient start.

Lowering your carbon footprint, being greener and being energy efficient has been long associated with flower power green peace obsessive recycling tree huggers.
But slowly society is starting to realise that this saves lots of money and enables the family to live a better lifestyle and allows them to benefit more from life in general through less money being outlaid.

New effective double glazing Incorporated with other insulating techniques such as cavity wall insulation and loft insulation will give a much better home environment for the family to live in.

More interesting links:

Composite doors | PVC Windows Advice | Double Glazing General | Glazing Questions


For more advice read the archived blogs.

Are PVC Doors As Secure As You Think? Is It Time To Upgrade ?

It is inevitable that burglars will always find a way or technique to break and enter a property.
If a locksmith can get in one way or another that technique will eventually filter down  to the scum who want to take away your prized possessions.





Timber Doors

Although timber doors were substantial in the way of being a solid core slab, they lacked a lot in actual security due to the poor locking options. A Yale snip and mortice lock were usually the only main options with the odd door having a night time shoot bolt. 

The problem is that even if you add shoot bolts all the way up the door frame they are only attached or chiselled in to the actual frame.
This makes the outer frame weak and very easy to force open. In fact the more locks on a door can make it even easier to force open. 

Most timber doors can be kicked through with no tools required as long as it is directly on the lock itself.
The actual  locks can also be picked, drilled and bumped if needed.

PVC Doors

The revolutionary PVC door provided the home owner with peace of mind that it never need painting treating and not sticking in wet weather like a timber door. 
It also gave a much cleaner image for the door entrance and offered endless new designs and options in glass not seen before in residential homes.



They also provided a draft proof environment with the added comfort of being more insulating than the old timber doors. They have held this advantage for around 20 years until the house breakers dropped on to the fact that there were possibilities of manipulating certain aspects of the doors depending on age and specification.


Some older PVC doors which may still be in working condition may look OK but are too tempting to a burglar. They can often be easily kicked in as the welds and profiles on 1st generation PVC was quite week. 2nd generation PVC windows and doors addressed many of the flaws created years ago.

Doors with some of the first panels to be introduced to residential installations were not up to good security standards either and could be kicked through as they had no reinforcing whatsoever.Where as newer ones have a core material of either steel or hardboard.

Locks on PVC Doors

Taking into account that the PVC door that you have installed is still within its 10 year guarantee and its a more modern specification then you still need to address what cylinder ( locking barrel) is in the door. 

The fact that the locking strip on the side of the door has  probably between 4 and 9 locking points on activation doesn't make it any more safe as the key cylinder can be eliminated and deactivate the whole locking system.




On destroying the cylinder using various techniques anyone can enter a property and in some cases not even leave a trace of breaking and entering which is a difficult scenario when claiming on the insurance.

Bumping

A burglar uses a self made key from a blank and uses it in certain way to bump the cylinder and access the door in the same way you would use your own. This is the most difficult technique but leaves no evidence of a break in. Video description here

Snapping & extraction

You tube is full of people showing the craze of snapping locks. It is a problem in northern regions and is easily copied. It is the quickest technique and can be as quick as 10 seconds and pretty quiet. Removing the outer part of the cylinder with hardly any tools and operating the lock from outside to gain entry.

Drilling

This is the noisiest technique and only used by people who are allowed access and don't want to damage the door but just remove the lock maybe because they have lost the key. The cylinder is drilled down the sheer line and each pin gives way. The lock is then extracted.

It is much easier to destroy a lock quickly rather than trying to force a PVC door open there fore  the more secure locks are needed to keep homes safe. The days of breaking glass has gone as DNA is left behind and it is far too noisy.

It is important to realise that it will normally be the rear door of the property that will be attacked for entry as it will be darker and more secluded around the back and the burglar will have more time to work.

Anti snap, bump and drill locks.

These locks are far more distinctive and have a side on key entrance and also use a dimple key as opposed to a traditional looking 5 pin key .These locks will act as a deterrent  even once a potential burglar sees them.



The overall security and strength of PVC doors has improved a lot over the years and there will always be a need for PVC as it is good value and does a job,  but the optimum  residential door security lies elsewhere with the new composite doors and Rock doors.

Composite and Rock Doors

These doors are the most secure doors that you are going to get and have the upgrading options of ultra secure locks and reinforced features.

Imitating a traditional timber door they Carry all the beneficial features that the PVC doors have but without the warping and swelling in the summer months. They also allow a choice of  aesthetically pleasing colours and designs not previously available with PVC doors.
They are a solid draft proof slab situated inside a PVC frame and come highly recommended by the police.

                composite doors description here                 Rockdoor description here



Company information

More technical information on varying types of doors, windows and conservatories can be found here as we have been collecting knowledge and giving the professional finish for 23 years. Contact us or browse our website @    Southport Doors & Double Glazing

More advice posts on :

What is PVC ? and what does it stand for ?

combating condensation

Tips on how to re seal your own windows and get a professional guide

The professional view on how to sell your house and what areas to address

What benefits are there with PVC windows

Are the locks secure in your doors? check this post to see what we mean 









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5 Ways To Get The Best Out Of Your Installation team.

Although customer service and quality of finish is king when having new double glazing fitted, have you ever thought about how it is the other way round.

Fitting teams are used to being in other peoples houses and highly trained in installing but an unwelcoming and nervous customer who has no trust in theses individuals can spell problems.

A customer on edge or who thinks that they know better is always a major put off and will start to cause relation issues throughout the fit.

It doesn't mean doing stand up comedy sketches or inviting them to the pub for a pint and a game of pool. 
Simple tactics will soften up any pressurised fitting team, as they will be under pressure already from the window company they are representing.

Its always difficult having any trade come into your prised possession and take over,  as the windows are all in different rooms around the house. Having bathrooms and kitchens installed are different as they are confined to their individual rooms and is a bit easier.

Taking into account that your team are friendly seem professional and have protected your home from dust and debris how do you get the best out of them... and maybe a few free extras?

Because most people want their showers or baths re sealing or a few free tips on how to do something else the professional way.

1) Easy one but ignored a lot | keep on the tea and coffee. Its no wonder fitters take the knock straight away regardless of their trade when they have to wait until 11 am to be offered their first cuppa. 
With most trades being out from 7am onwards and having to load up and get rid of the previous days waste they will be dying for a cuppa as soon as they are welcomed in. You may set to strict times of the day for drinks yourself, but get straight onside on asking as soon as you can.

2) Trust | The windows will need to be installed throughout the house and you may feel your privacy is being invaded. Be smart not to leave anything of any value lying around. Although it would be stupid to steal anything,  from a fitters point of view they are the only ones that have been in there other than yourself and couldn't really deny anything. So why would they take things? Have a little trust,  companies don't employ thieves.

3) Don't stand over the workmen | Its one of the most annoying habits any customer can have . No matter how enthusiastic you are don't stand over the fitters when they are doing the job they are highly trained to do.
It will cause the fitter to be on edge and be put off or miss calculate a measurement. It will be detrimental to the job. Enquiring from time to time is fine, just don't put them under unnecessary pressure.

4) Don't insist on the team eating lunch in the house | A lot of customers think they are being helpful by insisting that the fitters can eat their dinners in the house rather than sit in the van. Insisting this will only make the lads feel as if they are obliged to do so, and to refuse would cause customer offence. They can't relax in some else's house or speak their minds through the worry that the customer may over hear them and their conversations. It wont be the break that they are entitled to.

5) Don't judge the job until it is finished | The biggest mistake a customer can make is to start looking over a double glazing installation part way through when things aren't finished and start to fret. The worst thing to do is worry over night,  and on the fitters arrival ambush them with questions and insinuations. 
With new windows and doors there is a lot of unsightly marks to cover over and making good to do before the product is completely finished. 
It can seem as if the house is being taken apart sometimes,  but as mentioned above trust is the key. If the job isn't up to the standard you expected once finished then feel free to pick up on a few things and the team will be glad to put them right before leaving.


If you appreciate the work,  and it is up to a good standard - and the lads have worked hard and everywhere is clean......

Don't be mean and tip the lads. 



Company information

More technical information on varying types of doors, windows and conservatories can be found here as we have been collecting knowledge and giving the professional finish for 23 years. Contact us or browse our website @    Southport Doors & Double Glazing

More advice posts on :

What is PVC ? and what does it stand for ?

combating condensation

Tips on how to re seal your own windows and get a professional guide

The professional view on how to sell your house and what areas to address

What benefits are there with PVC windows

Are the locks secure in your doors? check this post to see what we mean