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If you have taken the decision
to replace your old windows and
doors or buy a new conservatory,
you will be wondering which style
to go for. What will suit your lifestyle?
What will suit your pocket? What
will turn Mrs Jones next-door green
with envy? This section aims to
try and give you some ideas as to
the difference in products and what
various options and styles are available
to suit your requirements - nothing
ruins the look of a home more than
the insensitive replacement of windows
and doors. Again, nobody should
be able to advise you better than
a Visage retailer but here's a few
thoughts.
Frame colours
Plain white frames are by far the
most popular, generally due to their
clean appearance and this is reflected
in the price. An option is woodgrain
on white where a woodgrain foil
is bonded onto the outside of the
frame. This is excellent if you
want a traditional woodgrain effect
(with knots, grains and all) on
the outside of your home, whilst
the inside is kept bright with the
frame's white. By far the most demanded
woodgrain on white is the rosewood
effect (a good, strong colour but
sometimes a little dark on the inside
and hence the woodgrain on white
feature). The other main alternative
is profile extruded in brown with
the woodgrain foil bonded onto both
the indoor and outdoor sides, providing
a traditional solid wood effect
all-round - this is surprisingly
good even if viewed from a couple
of feet. The most popular colours
are a rosewood effect on brown profile
and golden oak on caramel profile
(a brighter looking, attractive
wood).
Window styles
There are several categories of
windows, with the following styles
being by far the most popular and
covering the vast majority of installations:
- Casement windows
The hinged outward openers are
generally the most versatile and
cost effective of all and, hence,
vastly more popular than all other
styles put together. This window
can be designed to replicate mock
Tudor designs, Georgian to ornate
Edwardian with the use of frame
design and glass options.
- Tilt and turn window
These have hidden hinges that
allow the opener to be vertically
tilted for secure ventilation
and opened as a casement.
The casement style has practically
an infinite range of styles and
looks. Sometimes the best way to
decide is to look around your neighbourhood
to see what you do and don't like
about the windows in similar properties.
Alternatively, ask your dealer if
they have a CAD drawing package
or if they have done similar properties
in the area. We have also included
a gallery section on this site -
you really can't beat a photograph
to see if you like a style. Also
bear in mind the period of your
property. For instance, an equal,
horizontal window split would suit
an older property whilst too much
coloured lead may look too ornate
on a modern home. Other factors
to bear in mind are:
- The number of openers is key
to the cost - how many do you
need versus will it give sufficient
ventilation?
- Will you be able to reach the
handles if the windows are high
top openers?
- Should you have dummy vents
to even up the look of the house?
- Vents can't be too wide or high
for weight restrictions on the
hinges.
- Always keep the house looking
'balanced'. This is a difficult
one to explain in writing but
a home can look cross-eyed, bottom
or top heavy, or lopsided if 'improved'
without due care.
Residential doors
Residential doors can be specified
to match any home and glazing style
to reflect the character of the
property precisely. Some of the
considerations that may help towards
choosing your final design are:
- Whether it is an inward or
outward opening door, and left
or right hung (i.e. position of
hinges).
- Do you want a full panel or
a midrail?
- A lever/lever or lever/pad (with
pad on the outside) and always
match up the rest of the furniture
- don't forget about your knockers
and numbers!
- And have you considered a stable
door option (where the top opens
separate from the bottom section)
or a French door option (with
2 adjacent, opening doors)?
Inline patios
Another option is the sliding patio,
offering a useful alternative to
an opening out door, particularly
where the internal space is restricted.
But, as well as the Inline patio
taking up little room it also lets
in a huge amount of light into your
room. These are often available
in various colours (see frame colour)
and in variations of 2,3 or 4 pane
styles.
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