Browse Forums Windows & Doors 1 Aug 22, 2014 3:07 pm Is there any difference between stacker doors and lift & slide doors? If so, which would be best for acoustic and thermal insulation in a double glazed unit? Also, how much difference is there between stacker doors and bifolds for acoustic and thermal insulation? And has anyone used Easy Windows in Sydney? I like the look of their windows but on their website they say "The glass [low-E] is typically used on North facing walls in Australia and helps a home retain warmth by allowing long energy waves (heat) to enter the house through the windows and doors and prevent these waves leaving. Good for warming cold houses." This doesn't seem right?? I was thinking we would use low E in double glazing for west facing windows that got direct afternoon sun in summer, to prevent, not allow, the heat coming in. Re: difference between stacker doors and lift & slide doors? 2Aug 25, 2014 5:30 pm lenarufus Is there any difference between stacker doors and lift & slide doors? If so, which would be best for acoustic and thermal insulation in a double glazed unit? Also, how much difference is there between stacker doors and bifolds for acoustic and thermal insulation? And has anyone used Easy Windows in Sydney? I like the look of their windows but on their website they say "The glass [low-E] is typically used on North facing walls in Australia and helps a home retain warmth by allowing long energy waves (heat) to enter the house through the windows and doors and prevent these waves leaving. Good for warming cold houses." This doesn't seem right?? I was thinking we would use low E in double glazing for west facing windows that got direct afternoon sun in summer, to prevent, not allow, the heat coming in. Stacker doors operate like the old showerscreens doors where there are at least 2 moving panels, moving in one direction which overlap a fixed panel. Lift & slide is used mainly for heavy doors, by virtue of width and height. They have a large lever handle which allows the whole door to be lifted onto wheels and slid along a track, then the handle is turned to reseat the door off the wheels. I would say that the lift & slide door will be best in both acoustic attenuation and energy conservation, as it seals better and there is one moving panel. Low-E works exactly as they say, but you are right, it's best value is at stopping radiant heat from entering, heat is mostly lost through conduction. Ed "ECOECO" At 'EcoEco', we design windows, we design the best windows, we do it for you, so that when you’re happy we are happy. Tel. 1800 326 326 Re: difference between stacker doors and lift & slide doors? 3Aug 25, 2014 6:26 pm Thanks. But I still don't understand low-e, I've read that it reflects heat back to its source. I can see that that means in summer it stops radiant heat from entering but how does it affect the warmth of the house in winter if you have a cold house? Re: difference between stacker doors and lift & slide doors? 4Aug 26, 2014 10:57 am lenarufus Thanks. But I still don't understand low-e, I've read that it reflects heat back to its source. I can see that that means in summer it stops radiant heat from entering but how does it affect the warmth of the house in winter if you have a cold house? Not sure what you mean, how does it affect warmth if you have a cold house. Insulation reduces conduction of heat (radiation with low-E), if there is no heat, then insulation doesn't work. Low-E resists heat transfer by radiation, solar heat gain can be a huge problem as sunlight entering through glass can be equivalent to a 2kW heater for every square metre. Low-E reduces this effect by around 80%. Heat inside the home is mostly lost through conduction, double glazing reduces that by having a pocket of still air slowing down heat movement. Low-E will slow any radiant heat, to compare the two, double glazing and low-E, it is the difference between a doona or woolen blanket and a reflective rescue blanket... the doona or wool contains air pocket that slow heat transmission, the reflective blanket reduces radiant heat transmission. Which would you have on your bed? So in short, yes, low-E will work on radiant heat loss from inside a home, but you will lose 90% of the heat through conduction. Double glazing and low-E works on both. If you heat a house, and set your thermostat to say 24 deg, and your heating system doesn't reach 24 deg, then your leakage rate exceeds the output of your heat source. Double glazing will make the biggest difference in a home. By adding double glazing you should be able to reach your set temperature and save money. If you don't heat your home, then double glazing will make no difference. Ed "ECOECO" At 'EcoEco', we design windows, we design the best windows, we do it for you, so that when you’re happy we are happy. Tel. 1800 326 326 What do you need them to withstand? If it's normal wear and tear, then either will do, if you want resistance to ingress then laminated would be the favourite, but only… 1 12390 Sure looks like the type of track that I fitted to my house. My supplier said that the underside has a tray which drains to the front. They cut vertical slots in it. So as… 6 7904 The engineering is the engineering. It's irrelevant how much material you have. Unless it fits the requirements of your design the engineer can't "make"it work. You might… 7 9692 |