Why does this happen?

In a nutshell; the higher insulating properties of the improved glazing units reduce the amount of heat escaping from the property and the external face of glass may not be warmed to a temperature above the “dew-point” of the outside air and thus condensation occurs.

Predicting when windows will be susceptible to external condensation is difficult, and if it does occur, it typically will not occur on all windows in a property. The cause seems to be related to meeting a combination of three conditions; high humidity, no wind and a low overnight temperature.

Until recently, most double and triple glazing used Aluminium spacer bars.  Heat conducted through the spacer bar would warm the edges of the glass and reduce external condensation. Where the thermal properties of the glazing units are enhanced with the use of a “warm-edge” spacer bar, this effect is reduced and condensation becomes more common.

Why not reduce the glass U-values to prevent this?

The changes to the Building Regulations that have increased the requirements for the thermal performance of doors and windows came into effect in 2010. Replacement windows now have to meet a U-value of 1.6 W/m²K, and replacement door-sets to have to reach 1.8 W/m²K in England and Wales, and 1.6 W/m²K in Scotland.

In order for a timber window to meet these standards, glazing typically has to be 1.2W/m²K or lower.

In Summary

If you experience condensation on the external face of your glass, then don’t be alarmed, it is a sign of the high energy efficiency of the glass and the condensation will disappear quickly as the conditions change during the day. However, if you are getting condensation on an internal face of your double or triple glazing (inside the unit and between the panes of glass), then the unit may have broken down and you should contact your manufacturer/installer for replacement.

In 2007, David was sitting quietly in the Gowercroft offices when the phone rang. On the other end of the phone was a vision and a dilemma. The caller had a dream of building an energy efficient home in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the London borough of Chelsea.

The project involved the manufacture and installation of tilt-and-turn and tilt-and-slide windows and doors. These would complement both the Mediterranean-feel of the property, through the maximisation of natural light, and the desired ‘Green’ credentials of the property, through our high specification, low-emissivity glazing and draught-proof frames.

Gowercroft’s element of the project was completed on time and to budget in the Autumn of 2007, and both parties went away highly satisfied. This was the last we heard until…

Feature in House and Garden Magazine

The house was described as a feature article in the November 2011 edition of Conde Nast’s House and Garden magazine. They have kindly allowed us to reproduce the story in it’s original format for your viewing pleasure.

Text from the Article

Not many people would make an immediate connection between 007 and the current concern for saving the planet. If you stop to think about it, however, that supercool secret agent always managed to combine the latest technology with the ultimate in urban sophistication. When it comes to this house, its owner is no different. “I see it as a sort of Bond-like lair,” he says.

Read the full article by clicking here.

Our Quarter Page Mention

The ‘Tilt and Turn’ and ‘Tilt and Slide’ laminated oak windows in Tim’s house were designed, made and installed by Gowercroft Joinery (01773-300510; www.gowercroft.com). Beyond their good looks, they combine energy-efficient glass, which maximises light penetration and minimises heat loss, with draughtproof frames. A small ‘Tilt and Turn’ window costs around £700.

Read the full article by clicking here.

The renovation of listed buildings comes under the direction of the local planning authority. Their decisions regarding updating original features centre on the need to maintain the original character and appearance of these historic buildings. This often leads to a requirement for like-for-like replacement of the windows and doors. While this does maintain the look of the building, it also constrains the manufacturer to bygone products which offer low levels of energy efficiency.

For example; our standard 24mm double glazed unit featuring soft-coat technology, a 16mm Argon-filled cavity, and a low “E” coating, will offer a centre-pane U-value of 1.1wm²k. A 4mm piece of single glazing will offer a centre-pane U-value of 4.5wm²k. In short, based on centre pane U-values, the double glazing is over 4 times more efficient than the single glazing.

If you do not understand the relevance of U-values, then try our blog posting, “The Mystery of U-Values”. This will open a new window or tab and not close the current page.

Why Can’t I Use Standard Double Glazing?

Standard double glazing is made up of two sheets of glass, separated by a cavity of between 12mm and 18mm. When this unit is viewed in application it will give two reflections; one from the outside pane and a second from the inside pane. This is deemed to be unacceptable, as it changes the appearance and character of the building. Also, the extra thickness of the double glazed unit, can require changes to the sections of the window and prevent the manufacturer from reaching the like-for-like appearance.

The Solution: Ultra-thin Double Glazed Units

Ultra-thin double glazed units are constructed using narrower cavities between the panes of glass than standard double glazing units, and replicate the appearance and features of single glazing on original timber windows.

These units provide U-values in a range from 1.9wm²k to 1.2wm²k, dependent on the thickness of the cavity and the gas used to fill the cavity; this offers a level of thermal and sound insulation close to that of double glazing, without compromising the character, charm or value of their property. The reduced cavity means that the double reflection effect is reduced to the point of being almost unnoticeable and that the section changes are lessened or unnecessary.

As such, we have now had our windows featuring these units approved in a variety of local planning authorities across Derbyshire and we have carried out many successful installations. Below are a few photos from these jobs, as well as a photo of a slim unit against a standard double glazed unit.

       
If you would like to talk to somebody about planning regulations and how ultra-thin double glazed units may be able to help you meet a compromise of appearance and efficiency, then call us today.

Verandas are ideally suited to the U.K. We live in a country which is equally famous for two things:

1. our finely kept and tended gardens, and…
2. our unyielding drizzle.

Traditional Character

Why Use Gowercroft Joinery

Gowercroft Joinery has been constructing and installing verandas for a number of years. Our customers appreciate that we begin by listening to what they really want, rather than making a 4-hour sales presentation to push a standard product. Over 90% of our business comes from referrals or repeat business and this demonstrates the value and service that we provide to our customers. Our quotations are always free and no-obligation, so give us a call today.

Sliding, folding doors (otherwise known as bi-fold doors) open up entire walls, seamlessly bringing the outside in, creating vistas and allowing light and fresh air inside. Bi-fold doors stack to the side/s, and have no posts or fixed door panels to block views or breezes. The door operates in two ways;

1. One single panel can be opened independently of the remainder of the panel to operate like a single door.
2. Once this door has been opened, the bolts on the other doors can be released and all of the panels will concertina either all to one side, or split to both sides of the unit.

The video below shows a simple, 3-panel sliding, folding door in action. This is the door that we have had in our showroom for over a year.

Growing Popularity

Every now and again, a product comes along that makes such perfect sense and adds so much value that it redefines the standards of an industry. In the last decade, the construction industry has led a steady move towards open-plan building and renovation. Open space and minimalism have dominated the thoughts of domestic customers and architects alike. In such an environment, sliding, folding doors have become the must-have item on any project.

Gowercroft have been manufacturing and installing sliding, folding doors from high quality hardwood for over a year and were one of the first joinery manufacturers to adopt the technology in the UK market place. We now manufacture about 25-30 of these units per year and the growth looks set to continue.

Moved By Centor

To deliver these sliding, folding doors to customers across the UK, we work closely with Centor, an Australian company founded in 1951, which specialise in architectural ironmongery. Like us, their goal is superior product quality and Centor systems are reliable, secure and weatherproof. They offer fingertip operation and complete design freedom. Below are three projects completed in Australia using Centor systems:

Whilst the majority of sliding, folding doors that we sell are regular sizes and shapes, the options provided by Centor’s innovative ironmongery are almost endless. It is possible to produce units 17.5 metres long and 4 metres high, with up to 16 panels sliding and folding in a variety of patterns. Whatever your project or designs, these units can be made to fit.

For more information on Centor and the solutions they provide, please follow this link: http://www.centor.com.au/

Fitting a Sliding, Folding Door in Your Home

Every property and every person’s needs and desires are different – that’s why we are and will always remain a bespoke and flexible joinery. Call one of our team today to discuss how one of our units might be incorporated into your home or place of business.

I had to deliver a quotation and some colour samples on a Saturday to a customer’s home as she had been having some trouble with her email service. I was greeted with;

“Oh great – you know all about windows don’t you?”

When I said I did, I was escorted to her computer and shown a screen with everything sideways on. Microsoft Windows was playing up. Having tried a few keys without success, I was able to call our resident expert at home and he talked us through the solution. Needless to say I’ll be more cautious with what I say in future.

If you ever have the same problem, here’s the fix:

• Right click on the desktop
• go to “Properties”
• click on “Settings”
• click on “Advanced”
• go to “Graphics driver”
• click on “Graphics properties”
• click on “Rotation”

Riber Castle is a 19th century Grade II listed country house overlooking Matlock, Derbyshire. It was built by local mill-owner John Smedley in 1862 as his private home. After the death of Smedley’s wife, the castle became a boys’ school until the 1930s. With the coming of WWII the Ministry of Defence used the site for storage. The MoD left following the war and the castle remained unused until the 1960s.

From the 1960s to September 2000 it was home to a wildlife park, until “Riber Zoo”, as it was known, was sold by the owner. The park was criticised for the treatment of the animals, and the closure was not without controversy. Activists even released several Lynxes which escaped into the wild, with regular sightings occurring in Matlock and Carsington to this day.

The site is reputed to offer some of the finest views in the Peak District, and holds a prestigious position on the hill above Derbyshire’s administrative capital, Matlock.

A Return To Splendour

In 2008, Gowercroft Ltd. were contacted by Ivan White, from Cross Tower Ventures. His company had purchased the castle and grounds, and were planning a major redevelopment into luxury apartments. The castle had no roof or floors, so Ivan’s strong vision was critical to success.

The location and the type of building presented other major challenges:

1. The wind loading at the top of the hill would generate pressures of up to 500 pounds.
2. The large windows, when fully glazed, weighed over 400kg or almost 1/2 a metric ton!
3. The accessibility for external glazing is very difficult. Internal glazing with a full drained and vented system was required.
4. Strict planning permission on the site expressed that windows should match the original 19th Century style. This included bespoke, slender mouldings and no mastic shown externally on the building.

David Brown, Technical Director at Gowercroft Joinery, worked closely with Ivan to design a new interlocking beading system with an ingenious tapered tongue. This locks the beading into the sash, and can withstand the extreme wind loading. In the photo above, you can see five Gowercroft employees testing the strength of a trial unit – where the glass was secured only with our double-sided glazing tape; this is 700 pounds of sheer pressure. When backed up with our glazing bead system, these units will perform well for many years to come.

The challenge didn’t stop there. We also needed to get special gaskets and keeps to ensure that the windows were draught proof under the extreme conditions. Extra strength hinges were needed to carry the weight of the exceptional window size and the whole window had to be made to fit behind stone reveals inside the 4-foot thick castle walls.

Work is progressing well and over 75% of the windows are now installed. Below are two images of the Cross Tower team, with Gowercroft assistance, installing an arched window at the top of a corner tower.

Please keep checking back, or sign up for our newsletter, to make sure you don’t miss Phase II of this historic project. Our craftsmen love a challenge. We pride ourselves on providing excellent solutions to difficult questions and to delivering results to deadline. By avoiding potential pitfalls, we help keep your costs down and your timeline secure. For a no-obligation quote or just a discussion with a experienced joiner, call us today 01773 300510.

In April of 2011, administrators KPMG were called to the world’s oldest conservatory manufacturer, Amdega. There were no buyers and the company is expected to be liquidated with a reported 300 orders on its books, worth over £3 million. As already reported online:

-  Current customers who recently paid deposits have lost up to £10,000 each.

-  Past customers would no longer have access to servicing and support, presumably promised in product guarantees.

-  197 employees have been made redundant.

-  The town of Darlington has lost a major employer during a sustained period of low national economic growth.

Search on Google and you will see that a significant number of Amdega customers had registered service and quality issues but, despite this, the loss of a conservatory company established in 1874 was still a surprise.

The Latest Twist

It now appears that the Amdega brand is rising from the ashes, registered at Companies House as Amdega2011! The Amdega name has been purchased by Everest, a company that made its name selling PVCu windows. You will still see advertising proudly labelling Amdega as “the world’s oldest conservatory manufacturer” and “established in 1874”, but the factory is closed, the employees are unemployed, and the customers have been left in the cold; so are these claims legitimate?

What’s in a name?

We come back to our original question, “what’s in a name?” What is it that defines a company; is it the products and service, the customers and employees, the building and the accounts, or is it simply the brand name? In an industry with such a chequered history, surely we should be looking to build trust with the public by being totally transparent. We’d love to hear your opinions; whether you are an Amdega customer, an Amdega competitor or just an interested member of the public. What do you think?

Traditionally, all sliding sash windows were operated by cast iron weights. A box is built into each side of the window, which houses the weights. This is then attached to a piece of sash cord, which travels over a pulley in the top corner of the window and attaches to the sash that will be moving. The weight is chosen to closely match the weight of the sash, so that a perfect counterbalance is achieved and movement of the otherwise heavy window is effortless.

Spiral Balances

The use of weights and pulleys in newer sliding sash windows has reduced, and has largely been replaced by spiral balanced systems. These function using similar principles of counterbalancing, but achieve it through the use of two springs. Spiral balances are visible on the inside of the window, but can be coloured to match the finish to prevent them standing out.

Which is right for me?

Each system has advantages and disadvantages, and the right system for you will depend on your location, the reveals in the window opening and the desired impact you are hoping for. Weight and pulley systems have an unmistakeable historic feel, they fit neatly behind traditional reveals, the systems last longer (multiple decades) and repair only requires fitting a new sash cord. Spiral balance systems fit neatly into all building/reveal profiles without reducing light, they are typically a few hundred pounds cheaper and the systems are very durable (life-spans of 65 years have been simulated in the labs, but are not typical).

If you want to talk to an experienced joiner about the benefits of either system, or how they might work in your home, then please do give us a call.