Doors, Windows & Fittings
Glass Box concept on the
rise
The trend for extension dayrooms
is still on the rise and the push for
more glass is very apparent. With new
technology, the possibility of the “glass
box” concept is now possible and is also
becoming a key sector alongside the
“extension dayroom” with part glass
roofs.
There is however, still a huge
misconception that all glass rooms may
be a risk due to winter and summer
comfort. This stems from the generic
“90`s conservatory boom” which
invariably gave the icebox syndrome in
winter and a good sauna in summer.
The advent of new innovative glass
technology can quickly dispel these
myths and properly specified glazing,
preferably triple, will ensure high winter
and summer comfort. The benefit
of triple is apparent when you must
eliminate air movement. With double
glazing, even the best underfloor heat
sources have a tendency to sit near the
glass and will often create a situation
of air movement with the heat reaching
the colder double glazing resulting in a
constant virtual draught.
From a building regulations perspective,
correct specifications can ensure that
even all glass structure with triple
glazing can deliver the relevant SAP
calculations to be compliant. UK
architects have been slow on the uptake
here and many do their calculations on
the basis of a UK window U Value of as
high as 1.6Wmk2 . In reality the latest
triple glazed systems with sub0.7Wmk2
can make an amazing difference to
what can be permitted. The comfort
and shear wow factor from these is
unbelievable.
35
There seem to be more full-
width dormers with sliding
or bifold doors, rather than
just your standard couple of
Velux windows. How much
extra effort is this - and
why is it worth doing?
I would say yes it is worth doing. Day
light is therapeutic hence the draw of
using glazing to create lighter rooms
throughout in the house. The switch
to roof lights has taken the market
by storm as the comfort factor is high
and easier to acquire with a solid
insulated roof and some controlled light
via trendy flat lantern or Velux style
windows. This has led to the demise of
the full glass roofed conservatory and
extensions.
www.weru.uk