One of the eternal problems within modern architecture has been the quest for slimmer and slimmer sight lines. For a variety of reasons, ultra slim profiles are not always possible to achieve, particularly in sliding door systems. One of the main reasons is that the slimmer the frame, the less overall structural integrity the door will have. This issue becomes even more important when you take operable parts into consideration.
So, after much researching, testing, and modeling, Open Architectural Windows and Doors is very excited to announce the launch of our latest range of state-of-the-art sliding door systems. We will be offering two ultra-slim wood-aluminum and aluminum sliding doors, the OPEN m40 and the OPEN s26a. All of our windows and doors are sourced from first-rate European manufacturers.
Both systems have been designed with some of the slimmest profiles possible to achieve with sliding door systems—1” aluminum, and 1¾” for wood-aluminum. As a result of this, your sliding door will be completely flush with the wall. No lip, no threshold, just slim, elegant sight lines.
Both systems have been tested in Europe and testing is currently underway in the US.
Our new and elegant sliding door system, the OPEN m40, is comprised of cladded wood-aluminum. Its beautiful 1¾” wooden frame contains a robust, supporting internal aluminum frame. The wooden exterior provides all of the natural beauty of wood while aluminum offers additional strength and durability. As a result of this, the aluminum cladding will ensure that the door needs little or no maintenance and will be watertight and perfect for all seasons.
Our other new aluminum sliding door system, Open S-26a, has an exceptionally slim visible section of just 25mm. This minimalist system is particularly well suited to oversized panels (up to 12ft x 10ft). The Open S-26a also has exceptional thermal and acoustic performance ratings. The reinforced, stainless steel rolling area allows for a smoother and easier sliding movement.
Our advanced new systems have eradicated the need for thresholds, ensuring elegant sight lines all round. This means that your home can blend seamlessly into your patio.
Our concealed locking system means that there will be no bulky and unnecessary fittings visible on your sliding door. The locking systems have a corrosion resistant coating.
With our new innovative system, our OPEN-m40 model boasts an exposed sash section of only 40mm. This ultra slim profile ensures that it can remain completely flush with the wall.
A slimmer profile means more glass on display. More glass means more light and a brighter home. Furthermore, we are also offering oversize sliding doors with glass panels up to 12ft x 10ft. With our new models we can achieve up to 94% glass surface level.
Our new systems boast a U-value of 0.16 up to 0.23 BTU/h∙ft²∙°F.
The systems have an impressive Sound Transmission Class (STC) rating of 43. This means that the windows will be exceptionally resistant to external sounds, minimizing sound pollution.
The OPEN-m40 will be available in a variety of different woods. The OPEN-s26a is available in all standard RAL varieties of custom colors.
Open AWD can fit your new sliding doors with the most thermally efficient double or triple glazing available. So, not only will you cut down on energy bills, you will also ensures an optimal level of comfort inside your home.
If you would like to find out more about our new sliding doors, contact us today. Someone from our team would be happy to discuss your options further with you.
Choosing high quality windows and doors for your home can be a time-consuming business. Ideally, it will be something you only do once every few decades. This is why it’s important to do it right. With so many factors such as glazing, frame materials, soundproofing, and security to take into consideration, it can be difficult to know that you are choosing windows and doors which not only look good, but perform well.
As window and door technology continues to become more innovative and efficient, more choices means more opportunities to get windows and doors which look and perform exactly as you want them to. Here at Open Architectural Windows and Doors, we don’t believe you should have to sacrifice aesthetics in favour of functionality and performance, or vice versa. So, we’ve put together a list of the top aspects you should consider when investing in high-quality windows and doors.
Every time we look out through a window, we’re also looking at the window itself. It is also worth noting out that not only are windows the way we look out at the world, they’re also how the world looks in and sees us. Modern or Traditional, your windows and doors should be made to complement your idea of a perfect home.
Furthermore, an under-appreciated fact of high quality windows and doors is the beauty they add to your home. If you’ve gone to all the trouble of creating your ideal home, why not choose windows and doors which add to the beauty of your home? Standard, run-of-the-mill windows often look out of place on elegantly designed and decorated homes. We believe that windows and doors should be one of the most important parts of your interior and exterior design plans.
One of the primary benefits of having well-constructed, airtight windows is that they retain more heat and keep the temperature in your home more evenly regulated. This is very important in the colder months of the year. Thermally efficient, airtight windows will prevent heat loss, meaning you can consistently save money on your energy bills. On the other hand, efficient windows also ensure that your air-conditioning unit can operate effectively and efficiently.
1. Glazing bead.
2. Structural thermal break.
3. Fitting groove.
4. Internal and external rebate.
5. Internal rebate seal.
Well-made, thermally broken windows should have a minimum of double-glazing, although triple-glazed windows will be even more efficient. Consider windows which have been filled with argon gas. Argon gas is denser than air which means that it can significantly reduce heat loss. Similarly, consider windows with Low-E (Low-Emissivity) coatings. This extra layer will increase the thermal efficiency of your windows.
On average, 40% of homeowners’ energy bills are spent heating and cooling their homes. As you already know, thermally-broken windows dramatically reduce heat loss. By reducing unnecessary heat loss and cutting down on your energy bills, you can in turn significantly decrease carbon dioxide emissions. If cutting down on your home energy bills and being more environmentally-friendly is a concern for you, consider investing in passive house certified windows. For more on passive house windows, see our article on them.
Furthermore, with well-constructed, high quality windows and doors, you can also expect less problems and maintenance issues over time. This can cut down the use of any extra materials you might have to invest in to help fix your windows or doors.
Having the safest and most secure windows can drastically reduce your exposure to burglaries. In addition to being distressing, burglaries can result in financial and irreplaceable losses. Good security is an investment you do not want to cut corners on. Thanks to advances in technology, windows and doors are becoming more and more safe and secure.
Components such as multi-locking points, anti-burglary fittings, and anti-breakthrough glass have become more popular choices amongst homeowners seeking to protect their homes and families. Unfortunately, many older windows lack many of these features and, as a result, most burglaries are opportunistic.
Burglars know they only have to be lucky once. Don’t give them an opportunity. Consider investing in up-to date, high quality windows and doors. By reducing the possibility, you are greatly reducing the probability.
An often overlooked quality of good windows is the comfort and control they offer. Badly designed, or even slightly defective windows, can create annoying, and, oftentimes, immutable problems for your home. Areas which are particularly cold in a room, near windows or doors, are known as ‘cold spots’. These are caused by low-quality windows and poor workmanship. The installation process is a crucial part of ensuring that your windows or doors are completely airtight. It should only be undertaken by professionals.
Not only is it important that windows offer airtightness, but also operable sections that allow for you to control the degree of airflow into your home. As discussed, temperature fluctuations can be unpleasant and uncomfortable. It is important that you invest in windows which help you achieve the maximum level of comfort in your home.
Sound Transmission Class (STC) ratings are the measure by which we determine how something—in this case a window or a door—stops the flow of sound. When choosing windows or doors for your home, it is important to do so with an understanding of what STC rating you will need. To do this, you will need to take several things into consideration.
For people whose homes are within earshot of traffic, car horns, low-flying airplanes, sirens, construction noise, or even loud neighbors, your home will be subject to much low-frequency (i.e. loud noises from a distance). Many windows are unable to withstand such low-frequency noise. If that’s the case, then your window might only let it unwanted noise, but could also cause vibrations, too. In this instance, you would need a lower STC rating.
For some people, proper soundproofing can mean the difference in being able to sleep comfortably, even live properly, in their own home. When choosing windows, it is important to discuss your needs with whomever is designing and installing your windows. Moreover, you should consider windows which have additional coatings and layers. This will ensure optimum sound-proofing.
Finally, it is worth pointing out that, in addition to saving you money by cutting down on your energy bills, high quality windows are also an investment in your future. Beautiful windows create a strong first impression and can make your property more attractive. There is much to consider when choosing windows and doors for your home. With some careful consideration, you can find the right windows and doors for your home.
Contact us today and someone from our team would be happy to discuss your options with you.
Although much has changed in the world of windows over the past century, quite a lot has remained the same. While homeowners can now choose from a variety of different window materials. These include but are not limited to: vinyl, fiberglass, aluminum. wood, and wood-clad, classic metals such as Stainless and Powder Coated Steel, as well as Bronze and Brass. These continue to be the most popular choices for homeowners who want beautifully slim windows. One of the most popular and enduring choices are slimline steel windows.
Although steel windows are not new, they are enjoying a resurgence as more and more want slimline steel windows for their modern homes.
Favored by designers for their strength, and sought after by homeowners for their beauty, metal windows have always been the windows of choice for those wishing to make a statement. Iron, which had been the metal of choice for centuries, was replaced by steel during the Industrial Revolution of the nineteenth century. Blacksmiths soon realized how much more beautiful and durable steel windows could be. With increased strength and workability, steel offered window-makers the opportunity to do more with less, to design windows with slimmer profiles, narrower sight-lines, and with more glass on display, paving the way for the window styles we all have in our homes today.
Furthermore, because of its timeless appeal, steel has never gone out of fashion. Slimline Steel Windows, alongside Bronze windows, remain the most visually appealing windows. Unlike with some of the other materials, time is much kinder to steel and bronze. As these metals age gracefully over time, your home does, too. This is particularly true of bronze, whose much-admired bluish-green patina develops over time in response to the elements. As a result, this makes bronze an ideal choice for those with coastal or seafront properties.
Similarly, advances in technology have meant that it is now possible to have ultra-slim metal windows without sacrificing any of the thermal efficiency and customizability of more modern materials. In addition to this, metal windows are safer, more secure, more fire resistant, and will last significantly longer than other window types. Here at Open AWD, we are happy to provide you with Galvanized Steel, Stainless Steel, Corten Steel, Bronze, Brass, and Copper-Clad windows.
Beloved for its versatility and strength, steel is one of the of the most sustainable, widely recycled and reused material available. Its strength is one of its most appealing characteristics for a number of reasons. Because of its strength, steel windows can have incredibly thin sight-lines. This in turn creates slimmer profiles that would not be possible with other materials. These slimmer, less clunky joints can easily be concealed within existing structures.
Furthermore, slimline steel windows provide a degree of flexibility that other window types simply do not offer. For example, steel can be used in renovation projects where it is important to match or recreate the historic look of a building, but also to ensure that the windows are as efficient as possible. With steel, you also have a significantly higher degree of customizability. You can choose from different frame thicknesses, new muntin designs, high-performance glass, improved weather-stripping, as well as a range of factory-applied finishes.
Interior Steel Doors from a recent OPEN AWD project in Tribeca.
An increasingly popular choice, steel is the perfect choice for homeowners for whom thermal efficiency is as important as durability, security, and aesthetics. Our steel and bronze windows are every bit as thermally efficient as other contemporary window types. Thermally broken steel windows retain heat excellently.
Because of their strength, steel windows can be made with much thinner frames. Slimmer profiles mean more glass surface area. Today’s high-performance, thermally optimized glass means that there can now be increased amounts of glass on display within a frame, which can help heat your home.
Steel, like most other metals, has a very high thermal transmittance rate. In order to achieve great thermal insulation results in windows, thermally broken profiles are used. This creates a thermal break between the outer and inner part of the windows. This, combined with double or triple-glazed glass, energy efficient coatings, and gas-filled spaces results in a window unit with an optimal U-Value and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient. This will help cut down on heating and cooling costs and also maintain a more comfort and consistent temperature in your home.
When it comes to safety and security, metal windows simply cannot be beaten. Other materials do not come close to providing similar levels. To get a sense of what this means, steel windows are three-times stronger than aluminum windows. Steel can bear a load capacity of up to 330lb. Steel’s natural strength means that it is an ideal choice for a homeowner where security is a concern. Our robust frames will help protect you and your home from unwanted intruders.
The Resistance Class (RC) rating is the ranking system for measuring a window’s security. Even with the most secure wooden windows you could possibly find, the RC rating will not go beyond 4. However, with steel, you can it is possible to achieve an RC rating of up to 5 or 6. Likewise, we can very easily fit steel windows with anti-burglary fittings and highly breakthrough resistant glass.
Now, thanks to advances in technology, steel can be finished with a variety of treatments and paints. These will ensure that it your windows are both long-lasting and incredibly easy to maintain. These include corrosion inhibiting finishes such as galvanizing, electro-coat (e-coat) primer, powder coatings, urethane enamels and more. All of these will ensure that your windows will not need to re-painted or treated annually. A simple wipe is enough to ensure that your windows look clean and polished.
Finally, we can finish powder-coated steel in any color. This means that we can create these windows to suit any style of home. Moreover, we can even finish our steel windows to give off the appearance of wooden windows.
Lastly, fire safety is another area in which steel windows, unsurprisingly, come out on top. Of the different materials used in standard home windows, steel is more fire resistant that wood, vinyl, or even aluminum. As a result of this, steel windows can be designed to be fire resistant for up to 2 hours, ensuring that your home and family are as safe as possible.
We are also happy to provide any sort of operable steel windows or doors depending your needs.
To discuss your options with one of our project managers, give us a call or drop us an email. Whatever your needs, OPEN AWD has the right windows and doors for you.
Here at OPEN AWD, we are increasingly aware of the fact that global warming is quickly becoming everyone’s problem. As sellers of windows and doors, we realize the difference we can make is limited. However, we are constantly trying to find new ways to help you make your home more energy efficient and sustainable. This is why we are excited to introduce you to our new range of Passive House windows and doors. For a limited time only, we are offering a 50% discount on certain windows from our Passive House-certified range. If you don’t already know about what the Passive House concept could mean for your home and the environment, we have put together some useful information on it below.
Passive House is a building standard that promotes thermally and energy efficient homes. Created in Germany at the end of the twentieth century, the Passive House concept has since become the global standard in sustainable design and energy efficiency. Through a combination of extensive insulation, thermally broken, airtight windows and doors, and an energy recovery ventilation (ERV) system, your home’s heating and cooling needs can be reduced by up to 90%. The result produces a home which is extremely cost effective and whose temperature is highly regulated.
The idea behind Passive Homes is simple: achieve the maximum amount energy for the least amount effort or cost. Then, energy within the home is maintained through insulation and an ERV system. Installing passive house-certified windows is a great starting point to cut down on your energy bills.
Most homes are fitted with heating, ventilation, and air condition units (HVAC) which are used to heat and cool their home. As your home’s internal temperature fluctuates, your ventilation and cooling systems kick in, overcompensating for the temperature change by stabilizing it. Constant heating or cooling can result in significant energy expenses.
Some of the primary reasons for high energy costs are:
This means that the average home uses uses most of the energy spent heating or cooling it very inefficiently. These HVAC systems are costly and represent an average of 40% of most people’s home energy bills.
Passive Houses, on the other hand, retain all of this energy for three reasons:
Of these three, the single most important factor is airtight windows and doors. While ERV systems and proper insulation are important, airtight, thermally broken, triple-glazed, argon-filled windows and doors are the single most important step towards making your home Passive House-certified.
Frankly, windows will represent the biggest part of your investment in making your home Passive House-certified, but no other investment in your home will result in a greater return.
Firstly, passive houses have a significantly smaller carbon footprint than standard homes. Accordingly, passive houses, on average, use 1.5l of oil (1.5m3) per square meter of space over the course of an entire year. This equates to spending 90% less than the average homeowner spends to heat and cool their home.
Lastly, it is also worth pointing out that energy efficient windows can save you money. In addition to making your home more energy efficient, Passive House-certified windows increase property value. As homeowners become more conscious of the environment, the desire for sustainable homes grow. This trend is already evident in New York City. More and more developers and homeowners here are seeking to future-proof their homes.
At OPEN AWD, we have been providing the most energy efficient and innovative windows the industry has to offer for over a decade. This is why we would like to help you on your journey toward making your own home more efficient and sustainable.
We are offering thermally broken, triple-glazed, argon-filled windows at a 50% discount for a limited time only. This applies to 3” x 5” ($550 Fixed; $900 Operable) and 3’6” x 6” ($650 Fixed; $990 Operable). This does not include tax or shipping costs.
The offer is available until December 1 and applies to all of our customers. If you are interested, please contact us at info@openawd.com today. Someone from our team would be happy to discuss your options with you.
For more information on Passive House, please refer to the New York Passive House society, or this recent article about a recent Passive House remodel in Brooklyn.
Now in its 18th year, the Architectural Digest Design Show drew approximately 40,000 design aficionados to interact with incredible design displays from more than 400 brands.
OpenAWD was at the event showcasing a few samples of new trendy, minimalism-inspired Window and Door Series in Wood, Wood/Aluminum clad and Steel, as well as Frameless Railings and the latest in Tilt and Turn windows and doors.
This event provided us successful and exciting experience. We can only wait for next year’s.
OpenAWD Team is proud to present a new line of our products – RAILINGS SYSTEMS.
Sophisticated design, unbeatable quality, rapid assembly and excellent safety – that is what OpenAWD Railing stands for. So, take the time to discover our wide range of certified glass balustrades, baluster railings, handrails, glass adapters and glass clamps, as well as our many other innovative solutions for top-quality balustrades.
OpenAWD Railing’s system is suitable to all your needs thanks to its flexibility and a wide variety of combinations. Thanks to their modular design, you can mix and match components in any way you wish, creating truly unique balustrades. That is how, together, we bring your vision to life.
Our new, premium slimline window system is a beautiful addition to any home, both inside and out. The Integral system has an ultra-slim structure which allows for more demanding and innovative window designs. This new system should be a welcome addition for any homeowner seeking to add high-quality, slimline windows to their home.
The wood-aluminum system has a narrow frame with fully covered sashes and noise-insulating glass windowpane. Thanks to greater surface areas, these windows will allow in a greater amount of natural light. Elegant and timeless, the new system’s sophisticated design is exceptionally durable.
Some of the features of wood aluminum integral system are:
As a result of all of this, the wood aluminum integral system provides superior quality and comfort. Modern trends in the design of window favor slim rectangular forms as well as aluminum profiles connected to the frame. The wood aluminum integral system provides the best features of both wood and aluminum.
Also, there are a wide range of powder coated finishes available for the aluminum frames. These finishes mean that your windows will require little maintenance. Further, wood offers good thermal features and natural beauty. Finally, The covering of aluminum protects the natural wood and ensures that this will be an an exceptional window system.
To know more about our other slimline window systems, please visit our website or check our social media pages.
