Window info from Trend

windowexpert,

Thanks for the info. I saw Christoffel doors at the home show earlier this year and I didn't like the appearance. Too bulky looking for me. Also, I like the idea of anodised aluminium and Christoffel only do PVC.

However, all that said, I think they're worth a visit and I'll tell them about my requirements and see what they come up with. The worse they can say is "can't do".

Cheers,
Casa

windowexpert,

I'n not after the aluminium look, but rather ultra low maintenance. I'm even going for face bricks rather than render even though it doesn't look as good.

To me, if you use bricks (face bricks), glass and anodized aluminium to build a house then even if you come back 1000 years later it will still be roughly the same. Now that's my idea of ultra low maintenance.

Anyway, with regards to windows, I would like anodized aluminium because it doesn't deteriorate, unless you live near the sea, which is not the case for me.

Can the Rhenocoll spray painting system go onto PVC?

Thanks for your continuing help.

Cheers,
Casa

Window expert

I agree you cannot achieve the same thermal performance as the Christoffel or similar extremely high priced windows. But do we need them?

For most people affordability is a huge issue. In a climate such as Melbourne by purchasing high cost say tilt and turn windows with D/G Low e glass with argon you will save NO MORE THAN $250 per year on your heating bill. That is a fact that cannot be disputed.

By changing from single glazed std aluminium with 4mm glass to std aluminium with double glazing Low e with argon you will save around $160-$180 and you will save a fortune in the purchase of the product.

Aluminium with a thermal break save a few extra bucks but a thicker section.

It is a myth in Melbourne and Sydney of massive savings.

The key to good thermal performance is a combination of factors including
Insulation (wall R 2.0 with reflective foil ceiling 5.0)
Concrete slab - say 100mm
correct orientation of home
good sealing and if possible ability to close off area
Etc - the list goes on and can be found simply on the web.

And of course thermally efficient windows that are affordable.

I agree in some alpine regions and Canberra the saving are likely to be greater

Most of these windows designed in Europe where a smaller window area is used in the whole home and smaller windows.

As well as the cost of the double glazed windows in Australia it will cost more to install them in your home as the weight of the product will result in the Frame being installed followed by the sash. You need minimum of two people sometimes four. You need mechanical lifting devices.

You can achieve great comfort in your home at a reasonable price with aluminium and with the above common sense building rule achieve easily over a 6 star home and on some modeling i am doing 7 star

in relation to the multi locking hardware. I do not wish to be locked in my home in the event of an emergency. If someone want to break in multi locking will not stop them.

I have found a dog one of the best options to protect your home (and he even wags his tail)

Its good to see you back on the forum and please keep posting as we must always challenge the current thinking.

DQQ

DQQ


I agree that the cost difference between high quality windows and "standard' aluminium windows is high in Australia.
In New Zealand the gap is already much closer.
With the introduction of mandatory double glazing in NZ it will be almost equal and on longer term the aluminium windows will be more expansive as they need to upgrade their frames to fit the double glazing and thermal breaks.
I don't agree that Melbourne is not cold enough to justify thermally efficient windows. I was there myself in June and it was freezing cold inside the houses. Also you can't always look from the cost point or do you buy the cheapest and most economic car?
With windows you also need to consider comfort and security.
The beauty about the multipoint locking systems is that it provides security and at the same time you are never "trapped" in case of an emergeny like you would with the push locks and "security" stays that come with the aluminium windows.

Yak-Chat

you wrote
"The lowest temp I measured inside was 7 degrees at 7am and it was often around 11 degrees in the afternoon when I got home in mid winter.

Well if you find such temperatures acceptable at any given time, any discussion about thermal efficiency is waste of time.

The WHO recommends a minimum inside temperature of 18* C in order to maintain a healthy environment in the house.
For myself I find temperatures under 15*C unacceptable at any time day or night summer or winter.
If you wonder why houses in Oz and NZ tend to be colder than in Europe, despite the much warmer climate.
The answer is simple the standard of housing is 30 years behind the rest of the developed world.
In NZ we are in the process of catching up (compulsary double glazing from
next year in all residential buildings in the whole country, better insulation standards and more energy efficient heating is also on the agenda...)

There is hope for warmer and healthier homes

In simplistic terms I found a good way to explain double glazing for myself. I can compare it to a stainless steel coffee mug (the type you take camping).

Fill a stainless steel mug with boiling water, after two minutes or less it will be too hot to hold. Now buy a double wall stainless mug (I think they cost about $70 for the nice ones) and fill that with boiling water, a whole difference - you will most definitely be able to hold it, of course for a drink you'd have to add coffee & milk!

What are opinions on verandas around the house. We're planning on having them all round at least 1.5m wide. I know it's a huge advantage in summer but unsure if it would stop the nice warmth from the sun in the winter?

I think this sounds like a great idea. It would allow us to assess how much sunlight is coming in throughout the year and install the poly sheets accordingly.
I can't wait until we move, it will be much easier to consider everything once I see the block in person!

You can get the solar charts from:

http://solardat.uoregon.edu/SunChartProgram.html

For Sydney:

Lat: -34
Long: 151
Time zone: UTC +10h

Cheers,
Casa