Sixfoundations

Picking the right window size impacts everything from how much daylight fills your rooms to your home’s energy efficiency and curb appeal. In this guide, we’ll walk through common residential window dimensions, share practical selection tips, offer a comparison table of key parameters, and answer frequently asked questions. We’ve linked to trusted sources so you can explore building codes, energy standards, and best practices in greater detail. read more

When you’re remodeling your home, swapping in new windows is one of the smartest moves you can make. Not only do fresh windows boost curb appeal and comfort, but they also help your energy bills stay in check. That said, installing windows during a remodel isn’t as simple as pulling out the old and popping in the new. Below, we’ll walk through everything you need to know—how to choose between insert versus full-frame replacements, pick the right materials, and get the best energy performance. We’ve even included a comparison table, handy checklists, and a thorough FAQ to answer your most pressing questions. Wherever you see a link, you can click through for more detail. read more

When it comes to choosing new windows, plastic (usually PVC or uPVC) is a popular choice because it’s affordable, energy-efficient, and practically maintenance-free. In this guide, we’ll break down the differences between plastic window frames, inserts, and full plastic window units. We’ll cover the pros and cons of each, highlight key performance metrics, and answer the most common questions so you can pick the right solution for your home and budget. read more

The wide range of windows that the market offers today makes it somewhat difficult to choose. It may be challenging for an uninformed person to choose, for example, between aluminum and vinyl or wood and fiberglass. Each material has its own advantages and disadvantages that you should know of so that you can choose the best option. In this article, we will discuss the materials, their pros and cons.

What is used in the production of windows today?

Customers often wonder whether they need a window of classical wood or reliable vinyl, durable aluminum, or super-strong fiberglass, or maybe take the profile of a combined material. Such questions arise all the time. Among the basic materials used today to produce windows are:

•   Wood.
•  Aluminum.
•  Fiberglass.
•  Vinyl.

Let’s look at the pros and cons of each.

Wooden windows

Today’s wooden windows are somewhat different from those used in the second half of the last century: they look different and are produced under different technologies. These days, they use glued laminated beams made of different types of wood. 

To prolong the life of wooden windows and preserve their appearance, specialists treat them with special solutions. Such constructions become less prone to rot when exposed to moisture and are more fire-resistant.

Wooden windows are nice to look at, they are solid and eco-friendly. The only downside of a truly high-quality wood profile is the high price.

Aluminum windows

Aluminum profiles have been used primarily in administrative and industrial buildings. However, the reduction in production costs due to technology development has made it possible to use windows made of this material in private buildings.

Key advantages of aluminum profiles are:

•   Resistance to mechanical loads.
•   Durability.
•   High strength.
•   Corrosion resistance.

Besides, you can make windows of the most bizarre forms and colors from aluminum, which broadens the design possibilities.

Its main disadvantage is poor thermal and sound insulation, which sometimes overshadows all the advantages.

Fiberglass

It is a rather new material in window profile production. Sure, it was invented long ago and has been used in other industries, but it required certain technologies to produce the windows, which have only recently emerged.

Advantages of fiberglass:

•   It is not reinforced with metal, which simplifies the production technology, making the material resistant to temperature fluctuations and deformations.
•   It is distinguished by high fire resistance, meaning it does not burn out when exposed to sunlight.
•    It does not rust in high humidity.

But it also has a few disadvantages. The chambers of such finished structures are smaller, which requires using additional insulation inside the profile, such as foam polystyrene, to improve the thermal insulation characteristics. Besides, fiberglass is more expensive than base plastic and has limitations for the production of the roll-formed sections. Moreover, the fasteners used tend to loosen over time if the window elements are connected.

Let us dwell on vinyl windows, probably the most popular material used today for window production.

Advantages and differences of vinyl windows

In the manufacture of vinyl structures, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is used, which refers to a group of synthetic plastic polymers produced chemically. PVC profiles prove to be very popular due to their many advantages:

•   Unchanged appearance. Vinyl windows have not lost their popularity over the years; their color has not changed, they do not crack when exposed to frost, in contrast to, for example, wooden structures, the design of which changes in 2-3 years after installation, and not for the better.
•   The possibility of achieving different textures. Advanced technology in the production of vinyl windows helps create a surface that closely resembles the texture of wood.
•   Affordable price. Using PVC when making window structures can significantly reduce the product price when compared with aluminum, wood, and fiberglass counterparts.
•   No need for care. For the entire time of service, the only care that vinyl products need is cleaning, unlike the same wooden structures, which need to be varnished once every 3-5 years.
•   Great thermal insulation. PVC windows are made multi-chambered, which increases their thermal insulation and makes wooden, aluminum, and fiberglass windows no competitors in this regard. Vinyl profiles also use two-leaf draught strips that improve air-tightness.

They are easy-to-use and available in a variety of colors. Among the disadvantages, we can mention greater weight compared to aluminum and wood structures and low modulus of elasticity.

As you can see, the manufacture of windows involves the use of different types of materials, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, you should carefully study the information on each one and choose the best possible solution for your needs before buying.

When choosing a plastic window almost everyone is only interested in the profile, its brand, basic characteristics, and price. Meanwhile, a few people ask about glass, fittings, and whether there is reinforcement inside. Taking into account that you are purchasing for many years, there is no need to rush here. Take your time to consider all the important factors when replacing old windows with new ones.

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Main Characteristics to Check

1. Glazing

This is one of the main elements of a modern plastic window. Many window characteristics, for example, noise level or light transmission, depend precisely on the glass unit installed in the profile. The most popular are considered single-chamber and two-chamber units. The more air chambers there are, the higher the soundproofing and thermal insulation properties.

2. Profiles for windows

Profiles are made of PVC materials, which contain salt and petroleum products. Polyvinyl chloride is a unique plastic material that is resistant to corrosion and changes in atmospheric pressure.

3. Fittings

The functionality of the installed window during the entire period of operation depends on its quality. The sturdier the fittings are, the fewer problems await you in the future.

4. Price

The cost of plastic windows is an important factor that you should pay attention to when choosing. With all the savings, it must be remembered that quality is determined by the price of the product. If the price of a window is significantly lower than at competitors, then the quality will be appropriate.

5. Sound insulation

One of the cheapest and most common ways to improve sound insulation is the installation of multi-chamber double-glazed windows. The distance between the glasses inside will differ. You can also install thickened glass, while their thickness should be also different. A difficult but effective way is to fill the interglass space with a special gas.

6. Design

The variety of coatings makes it possible to create designs of various colors and shades — from classic white to imitation of valuable wood species.

After purchasing the windows, you will definitely be offered an installation service. Do not try to install them yourself. The future of new windows depends on the correct installation. If the window structure is installed in the wrong way, then the glass will start to “sweat”, or water from the street will leak. Even delivery must be performed on a specialized machine, as the windows must be transported vertically.

 

In Conclusion

When choosing a window, it is better to purchase a triple energy-saving unit, covered with a special membrane. The quality of the fittings is also important: the sashes should not allow air to pass through, and the seams and joints should be tightly sealed. The installation of the window carried out following all the rules, is a guarantee of the long service life of both the frame and the glass unit.

Windows replacement is always a challenging time for every Ottawa homeowner. Not only are there a lot of alternatives when it comes to picking the style and material of your new windows, but there are additional factors to consider in order to avoid the most common pitfalls. Want to get the best deal for your money? Read this step-by-step guide and learn everything you need to know about your next window replacement project in Ottawa for example Ecoline Windows Ottawa.

Properly Investigate the Market to Find the Best Window Company

First things first. Before you decide on your future windows’ materials, sizes, and styles, you are to find the best local window company that will help you out with window installation. That is because even the top-rated and best quality windows won’t bring you any benefits if they’re poorly installed. No Canadian homeowner wants to waste tons of money by hiring unreliable or dishonest window installers. Before hiring someone, make sure to thoroughly research the market and evaluate the company you like by checking their website, real customer reviews, certifications, awards and any other information you can find.

For example, Ecoline Windows Ottawa is a reliable window manufacturer that takes care of your installation and guarantees top quality at the best rates. All the products are Canadian-made and are Energy Star rated and NAFS-11 tested. Moreover, the company has a top-notch in the industry educational blog with hundreds of videos and articles to help you choose a trustworthy company, elaborate on how to select and install windows that fit you the most and many other useful things to consider.

 

Select the Type of Windows for Your Home

Windows are the essential part of your home since they can be seen from both the inside and outside. That is why they should properly complement both the exterior design of your home and your interior décor. Some of the most popular types of windows include casement, picture, double-hung, sliding and bay&bow. Working with a professional window company in Ottawa, you can also get custom window options of any size and design you like. Going with window replacement that fits your home style is an excellent way to improve your house’s overall look and possibly add value to it.

Think about Frame Materials

Many different materials are used to build the frame and sash of a replacement window. You have many options to choose from, starting with traditional wood, aluminum, fiberglass, composite mixtures or modern vinyl. However, it is worth mentioning that even despite that many choices, when you begin to compare looks, durability, performance and cost, the clear winner would be vinyl windows. The material is strong, long-lasting, and easy to maintain. Besides, vinyl offers excellent thermal performance at a cost that can be significantly less than other materials.

Choose the Glazing Which Fits Your Needs and Budget

When it comes to glazing, making a choice is used to be simple – one pane, tempered glass, the decision is made. However, nowadays, you can go far and beyond and create a custom glass “package” that might include two or even three panes of glazing sandwiched round sealed gas chambers that make a stop to energy transfer. You are then welcome to add a Low-E coating to reflect UV rays from the sun and keep heat inside. The great advice here is to pick the most suitable glass package considering your budget. Since the glass surface area is the most significant single component of your window, proper investing in high-performance glass grants you the best opportunity to reduce energy loss and lower energy bills.

Decide on Windows Color

When buyers aim to install wood windows, they are welcome to select their unique colour as long as they are ready to cover the expenses of scraping and painting the frames every several years. But you do not need to paint high-tech vinyl replacement windows. However, there is still a possibility to enjoy a great range of colour options to complement your exterior or interior décor. The good news is that the colour on a vinyl frame won’t fade, chip or flake.

Opt for Convenience Features

New windows are more comfortable to maintain and use. That is why you have plenty of choices when it comes to modern windows features. The most popular add-on options are tilt-in sashes, which allow you to clean the exterior of your brand-new windows from the inside of your house, extra secure locks, handle, and even micro-screens that do an excellent job of keeping out insects but are practically see-through.

Check the Vital Local Sources to Get More Information Before Replacement

It is not a secret that a proper windows replacement and installation requires following local government guidelines and building codes. The window company you deal with should be aware of those and strictly follow all the essentials to properly install your new windows. However, it is always good to know information yourself so you can ask the right questions to your installers and get proper answers. Before replacing your windows in Ottawa, check out the next government sources:

• Ottawa local building code. This is a governmental site in Ottawa, where you can check everything related to building codes, sizes and permissions you need to replacement windows. Moreover, here you can find the most recent updates on governmental rebates and other local changes to building and renovating purposes.
• Canadian Standards Association. Top quality windows require professional installation. Your installers should be experienced and ensure they follow CSA window installation standards approved by the Government of Canada.
  Energy Star. Up to 70% of energy is lost because windows or doors, and even more, 90%, of that heat goes away through glass. If you consider your monthly utility bills to be too high, it’s time for replacement windows. You should be sure your new windows are Energy Star-rated and meet all the standards set by this organization.

As in any business, there are many peculiarities in installing plastic windows. It is impossible to consider all of them in one article. However, for more than half a century of the existence of the plastic window, extensive statistics have been collected on installation errors. In this article, we will tell you about the most common mistakes, and explain what to do if a window has not passed the quality test.

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The Most Common Mistakes

Unfortunately, mistakes most often occur due to the rush. Installers may skip important steps just to get the job done quickly. After all, they receive payment only for the fact of installing the window, while problems appear in the more or less distant future. Therefore, no one is more interested in the correct installation of windows than the owner of the house or apartment.

The installation of a plastic window takes place in three stages:

1. Preparing the aperture for installation;
2. Installation of the window frame;
3. Sealing of seams and joints.

Then the installation of window sills, finishing the slopes and other tasks are performed. These works can be postponed and completed along with the rest of the decoration of the room.

So, major mistakes can be done at all stages. On the uneven and dirty surface, the sealing materials simply will not stick: polyurethane foam will not fill in too large holes, and will not stick to dusty surfaces. If everything is more or less obvious with the preparation of the aperture, then it will be more difficult for a non-professional to identify a properly installed window from hackwork. The poor tightness of the profile can allow the rainwater to leak there, causing corrosion and destruction of the metal profile.

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What to Do If a Window Has not Passed the Quality Test?

1) First of all, try to find those who performed the installation and try to explain to them the possible reasons for the defect and your suspicions.

2) If all the attempts to establish communication failed, proceed to writing a claim. Make a plan of requirements, and clearly formulate them. Find the main flaw in the work or the service and focus on it.

3) The most important point is compensation for damage. After all, poor-quality installation of plastic windows often leads to expensive repairs and replacement of damaged parts.

4) The claim must be accompanied by documents proving the company’s involvement in the sale and installation of windows (receipts, contract, etc.).

5) If the company does not respond to your claim, you can add one more column to the list of requirements — the costs of litigation and go to the court.

This quick guide is for those who have poorly installed windows: now you know what to do and how to behave in an unpleasant situation. Here is the last advice: never contact the one-day companies, choose only trusted and reliable contractors. Good luck!

A front door is the first thing that guests see and your main protection from robbers. Therefore, the choice of the front door should be approached with attention, taking into account all the recommendations of specialists, as well as quality standards. If you are looking for a good option for your house, you should primarily study the assortment of goods available in the market.

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The Variety of Front Doors

It is necessary to consider the main types of entrance doors, as well as to learn their characteristics. In particular, they can be classified by such parameters:

1. Materials (metal, wood, plastic, metal-plastic, glass, etc.);
2. The opening mechanism (swing and sliding);
3. The protection level (armored and bulletproof);
4. Functionality (burglary protection, thermal and sound insulation, fire safety), etc.

Armored entrance doors are a special type, which has the main function of protecting the premises from burglary. This type is widespread in apartments and offices, as well as in mansions. The structure of the armored door is made of steel sheets, the thickness is from 2 mm, it is distinguished by the presence of reliable locking mechanisms.

Heat-insulated entrance doors are widely used in private houses when the security function is not a top priority, but a minimum possibility of heat loss is required. A door of this type is energy saving. Although the security level of heat-insulating doors is not at a high level, even in this case, burglary protection is sufficiently ensured.

Technical entrance doors have a very special fire resistance property, which is ensured by high requirements. Such doors do not have a unique and special design. However, you often can find models that you can cover with the membrane or paint in a certain color. Technical doors are a popular choice for offices, industrial facilities, hotels, etc.

 

Dimensions and Structures

In most cases, the front door is wider than all other doors in the house. As for the design, it can be very diverse, and in this case, the only limitation is the manufacturer’s imagination. The most popular materials for the production of entrance doors are steel, wood, and MDF.

There is no difference between the material of the door and its size, so you can apply the same requirements when choosing. The easiest way is to divide the doors into groups depending on what design they have:

1. Single-leaf doors are familiar to everyone. Usually, the width of such a door does not exceed 100-110 cm;
2. Double-leaf doors are usually used in private houses since with a standard opening height, the door width increases by about 1.5-2 times.
3. Doors with a transom. For such a solution, you will need to increase the height of the doorway.

If the desired option cannot be installed, you need to think about the alternatives. Good luck!

When you visit a friend and come to a new apartment for the first time, the first thing that catches your eye is the design of the entrance door. This interior element makes the first impression of the house. Since it is chosen for a long time, you should be very careful when choosing a design. This is how you can decide whether the first impression of your apartment will be positive or unremarkable.

To begin with, you should consider if you want your door to attract a lot of attention, whether it will be a part of the overall picture, whether additional light is needed because this directly affects the design of the entrance doors.

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How To Combine Business With Pleasure?

If the most important criterion for you is the safety of the house, but you cannot find an option that meets all the necessary parameters, there is still a solution: you can install two doors. They will be independent of each other: the outer one will protect the room from burglary, and the inner one will be an excellent addition to the overall picture of the room. Nowadays, this solution is increasingly being used. Here are some other design tips to implement:

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Commonly, the hallway in the house has a very boring design. In this case, a door window would be an excellent solution, but only if the door leads directly into the yard. For those who have a door inside the building, the ideal solution would be a built-in large mirror on it or several pieces of small mirrors that form an interesting composition. By applying this advice, you will provide additional lighting without the use of auxiliary devices and the design of the doors in the apartment will significantly improve.

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The lack of space brings significant discomfort to people. It also happens that there is no way to expand the room, then only the correct approach to the design will solve the problem. A door with a glare glossy surface will visually expand the living space.

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You can use a unique approach by matching the same pattern to the walls and door. Thus, the overall picture will look like a solid canvas. To apply this technique, you can use the services of special firms, or do it yourself.

You can even involve children in the door change process. In this way, you will ensure that it is truly unique. If you like a rich design, then the main thing is not to overdo with colors or patterns and let everything look more natural.

 

In Conclusion

There are many options for door design. Your choice will determine not only the first impression of the house but also ensure home comfort. Do not forget that the overall picture must please everyone who lives in the house. Good luck!

 

In recent years, more things have become “elite”. Along with elite housing, vehicles, smartphones, laptops, and clothes, doors hold their own place. By elite doors is usually meant a reliable and distinctive in design construction, installed into a doorway. According to the minimum consumer standards, doors must be very reliable, easy to open, and durable. In this article, we will introduce you to the main criteria that should be followed.

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Elite Doors from A to Z

Almost all large stores offer elite doors of domestic and foreign production. Among the foreign models, the best is considered Italian, English, Israeli, and German. Besides, you can always order a door of the required type and configuration.

The modern concept of “steel entrance doors from the manufacturer” includes:

• a door with a profile;
• porch and jamb;
• accessories and fittings.

The main purpose of the installation is to protect the home from intruders and thieves, noise, and cold. Strength and reliability are provided by:

• a steel frame and stiffeners;
• strong steel sheets with a thickness of 2.5 millimeters.

The main safety factors are the thickness of the structure, which should be more than 45 millimeters, and have reliable locks.

Finally, when buying a door, you must get a certificate. As a rule, it specifies 1 of 4 possible levels of protection, which coincide with the security requirements. Opening such a door will be a very difficult task, even for professionals. The door of any model must have a certificate detailing compliance with the specified standards. Experts do not recommend paying attention to the universal certificate, which sellers are trying to issue as a “quality guarantor.”

 

What Makes the Door Elite?

An elite door cannot be hollow — it must have insulation (polypropylene, mineral wool, and other heat and sound insulating materials). There is no consensus on whether a door should be heavy or light. Some think that elite doors are reliable due to thick steel sheets. However, most of the imported products are made of light alloy steel — and it is very difficult to crack it.

An elite door is necessarily decorated with rich finishing materials. Artificial leather or powder coating is used as inexpensive and simple options. However, a really solid look is made by decorative panels of various materials — from veneer to solid walnut, beech, mahogany. Sometimes MDF board is used, which is an environmentally friendly material. Finishing panels can have different textures: the natural veneer of valuable wood species, granite, or bronze.

If the front door is chosen to enter directly from the street, then the coating is selected considering weather conditions. In this case, the preference is given to solid oak or various polymer coverings.

 

Conclusion

Remember that the first impression of the owner comes from the door — the hallmark of the house. It is only important to be fully aware of what exactly you want to get in the end.