With winter just around the corner, many of us are starting to think less about our air conditioning units, and more about our heating systems. However, when taken together, heating and cooling homes makes up roughly 45% of a homeowner’s annual energy bills. This is why one of the most important things to find out and consider when choosing windows, doors, or skylights, is how energy efficient they are. No matter the season, you need windows which are efficient and perform well. But, how do we know which factors make energy efficient windows? Who decides? And, most importantly, does energy efficiency necessarily correlate with maximum comfort? Thankfully, there is a straightforward framework for architects and homeowners who wish to make informed decisions about windows and doors. The National Fenestration Rating Council provides four key metrics, known as the NFRC rating, which provides context for prospective buyers. What makes the NFRC…

No matter where you are in the world, there are few things more impressive than a view which looks out over the water. Whether it’s a new, multi-story development presiding over the New York Bay, or a Hamptons Summer House which faces out on the Atlantic Ocean, there is something undeniably appealing about being close to the water. In order to make the most of the coastal views, good windows and doors are a must.  However, when choosing windows, there are certain additional environmental factors one needs to take into consideration. And because no two regions are alike, it’s important to fully consider what you will need your windows  to do. These factors include everything from choosing the right materials, to more environment-specific questions such as whether or not you might need impact-resistant glass. We’re going to look at some of the most common concerns architects and homeowners have when…

Whether it’s the family home, or your small business, it is very important that you make sure your premises are adequately secure. In addition to being distressing, burglaries on your home or business can be incalculably expensive.  Thankfully, advances in fenestration technology have made windows and doors safer and more secure than ever. Having the best possible anti-burglary windows and doors can drastically reduce your exposure to burglaries. Good security is an investment you do not want to cut corners on. All of these features have been rigorously tested to ensure they uphold the highest US and European safety standards.  In this article, we take a look at some of the most popular and effective safety and security features. What Are Anti-Burglary Windows and Doors? Anti-burglary windows are windows which have been designed in accordance with the German industry-standard DIN EN 1627 scale. The scale is a six-point rating system…

For as long as we have been living with roofs over our heads, we have been finding ingenious ways to improve our living spaces. One of the most important and innovative building technologies was the invention of the window. Created in ancient times, the first windows were crude and inefficient. However, they were incredibly helpful in that, for the first time, people could allow light into their homes.  They are no longer crude holes in the wall or ceiling, simply allowing the wind and the rain in. They are incredibly innovative technologies which allow us to keep wind and rain out, allow light and fresh air in, and help retain heat and make our homes comfortable. Windows are how we look out at the world, and how the world sees us. However, as technology progresses and both manufacturers and homeowners become more conscious of efficiency, sustainability, and energy conservation, it…

From the slimline smartphone you carry in your pocket, to almost any recently made item you have in your home, the minimalist aesthetic has become so ingrained in what we expect of the products we buy and the spaces we interact with, that you may not have even noticed it. No other aesthetic has done more to make people conscious of how they choose to furnish, decorate, and live in their homes. And nowhere is the minimalist aesthetic more prominent now than in modern windows and doors which emphasize slim profiles and narrow sight lines. Regardless of whatever style of home you live in, windows and doors do a lot to complement or enhance the aesthetic. As more and more homeowners opt for modern-style homes, window and door manufacturers are moving away from windows and doors with thicker profiles. The move away from this towards clean, straight lines, reflects a…