MATERIAL AND CONSTRUCTION OPTIONS OF WINDOWS

Wood

Wood is the standard material for residential windows. It can be painted or stained, and is strong and easy to work with. Ease-of-use makes for easier custom windows, which is why highly detailed designs are typically made from wood. With regard to energy efficiency, few sash and frame materials are better insulators than wood. The only downside to using wood windows is that they require regular maintenance. Peeling paint is more than an eyesore, it's a sign that wood is being exposed to weather, which will ultimately cause it to rot. A small number of high-end producers use rot-resistant species like mahogany, but most domestically manufactured windows are made from less-resistant species such as pine. That said, a properly maintained wood window could last hundreds of years.

Vinyl

Vinyl Windows: Then and NowEarly vinyl windows had problems with thermal expansion. When temperatures changed, the vinyl sash would expand or contract at a very different rate from the glass. As a result, the window fit poorly, leaked, or cracked. Such problems have been on the decline, because modern vinyl is more durable and dimensionally stable than the materials that were used 15 or 20 years ago. Vinyl is also commonly used as cladding on wood or aluminum windows.
Vinyl windows are inexpensive, durable, and relatively energy efficient. They often look chunkier than wood or metal windows because vinyl isn't strong enough to be made into ultra-thin parts. The other problem is that the texture is unmistakably plastic. On the other hand, except for washing the glass, vinyl windows are virtually maintenance free. You can't paint them, but you can get them in a number of different colors. What's more, the color goes all the way through the material, so dings and scratches are nearly impossible to see.

Steel

Steel windows are common in industrial buildings. While they have never been popular for residential use, they do appear in pre-war modernist homes, and basement windows set in wells. The advantage to steel is that it's very strong. As a result, glass area can be maximized since window parts can be made extremely thin. Steel is durable, but not maintenance free; it will rust if you don't keep paint on it. Steel is also a poor thermal insulator, so heat escapes through the sash and frame, while moisture condenses on interior surfaces.

Aluminum

Aluminum windows have many of the qualities associated with steel windows, except you don't have to paint them, and they won't rust. Instead, aluminum windows are available with a number of anodized or baked-on finishes. The problem with aluminum windows, however, is that they aren't very energy-efficient. Aluminum is a good thermal conductor, so in cold weather heat drains out through the sash and frame, as moisture condenses on interior surfaces. Better quality aluminum windows are equipped with thermal breaks that separate the interior and exterior surfaces of the window.

Fiberglass

Fiberglass has been around for a long time, but it's a relatively new material for windows. Long used for items like boat hulls and auto bodies, it has an excellent record for durability. Fiberglass is strong, so hollow parts can be made without the stiffeners required for vinyl. This allows manufacturers to produce higher efficiency windows by filling voids with insulation. In fact, insulated fiberglass windows are even more energy efficient than those made from solid wood. You can paint fiberglass windows, but they won't deteriorate if the finish wears away. The downside to fiberglass windows, however, is their cost compared to similar windows made from other materials.

Composite

The sash and frame of a composite window are made from more than one kind of material. This allows the manufacturer to make the material fit the task. For example, the inside surfaces of the window might be made from wood, so it could be painted or stained. The outside surface, however, could be made from a more weather-resistant material like vinyl or aluminum. The classic example of this is a wood window with vinyl or aluminum cladding. A newer type of composite window has exterior parts that are made from a blend of wood chips and recycled plastic. These wood/plastic blends can be painted, but are impervious to rot if the paint fails.

DOUBLE - HUNG WINDOW CONSTRUCTION

Double-hung window is perhaps the most familiar window type. It consists of an upper and lower sash that slide vertically in separate grooves in the side jambs or in full-width metal weatherstripping (see drawing). This type of window provides a maximum face opening for ventilation of one-half the total window area. Each sash is provided with springs, balances, or compression weatherstripping to hold it in place in any location.

Compression weatherstripping, for example, prevents air infiltration, provides tension, and acts as a counterbalance; several types allow the sash to be removed for easy painting or repair.

The jambs (sides and top of the frames) are made of nominal 1-inch lumber; the width provides for use with drywall or plastered interior finish. Sills are made from nominal 2-inch lumber and sloped at about 3 in 12 for good drainage (figure D). Sash are normally 1 3/8 inches thick and wood combination storm and screen windows are usually 11/8 inches thick.

Sash may be divided into a number of lights by small wood members called muntins. A ranch-type house may provide the best appearance with top and bottom sash divided into two horizontal lights. A colonial or Cape Code house usually has each sash divided into six or eight lights. Some manufacturers provided preassembled dividers which snap in place over a single light, dividing it into six or eight lights. This simplifies painting and other maintenance.

Assembled frames are placed in the rough opening over strips of building paper put around the perimeter to minimize air infiltration. The frame is plumbed and nailed to side studs and header through the casings or the blind stops at the sides. Where nails are exposed, such as on the casing, use the corrosion-resistant type.

Hardware for double-hung windows includes the sash lifts that are fastened to the bottom rail, although they are sometimes eliminated by providing a finger groove in the rail. Other hardware consists of sash locks or fasteners located at the meeting rail. They not only lock the window, but draw the sash together to provide a "wind tight" fit.

Double-hung windows can be arranged in a number of ways -- a single unit, doubled (or mullion) type, or in groups of three or more. One or two double-hung windows on each side of a large stationary insulated window are often used to effect a window wall. Such large openings must be framed with headers large enough to carry roof loads.

STILE AND RAIL DOOR CONSTRUCTION

All of our stile & rail doors are constructed using thick solid hardwood veneers bonded to an engineered core. Within the door industry, this construction is viewed universally as the most stable design since solid wood doors often have a tendency to warp and bow over time. Given their unique design and superior construction.

Our flush doors are constructed with select hardwood veneers adhered to a wood-layered core, and tongue and groove frame construction. The 7-ply construction of the flush doors provides the extra strength needed in demanding applications.
All interior doors are protected with an exceptionally durable, 3-step lacquer finish. Our clear finishing process creates an elegant depth, which showcases the rich color of the wood while providing a maintenance-free surface that resists dents and scratches.

Our exterior doors are constructed using a very stable and warp resistant hardwood frame, reinforced joints, and waterproof glue. All exterior doors come standard with the most durable catalyzed urethane exterior finish available. Many of the inter-panel options available on interior doors can also be used on exterior doors. Add privacy while preserving translucence with a satin etched glass inter-panel. Add natural warmth and beauty with your choice of either a cherry, maple, or walnut hardwood inner panel.

MY BROCHURE

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CURTAIN WALL

CURTAIN WALL

Curtain wall is a term used to describe a building façade which does not carry any dead load from the building other than its own dead load. These loads are transferred to the main building structure through connections at floors or columns of the building. A curtain wall is designed to resist air and water infiltration, wind forces acting on the building, seismic forces, and its own dead load forces.

Curtain walls are typically designed with extruded aluminium members, although the first curtain walls were made of steel. The aluminium frame is typically infilled with glass, which provides an architecturally pleasing building, as well as benefits such as daylighting . However, parameters related to solar gain control, such as thermal comfort and visual comfort are more difficult to control when using highly-glazed curtain walls. Other common infills include: stone veneer, metal panels, louvers, and operable windows or vents.

Curtain walls differ from storefront systems in that they are designed to span multiple floors, and take into consideration design requirements such as: thermal expansion and contraction; building sway and movement; water diversion; and thermal efficiency for cost-effective heating, cooling, and lighting in the building.

PRECAST CONCRETE

Precast concrete is an ancient type of construction material made with concrete cast in a reusable mold or "form" and cured in a controlled environment, then transported to the construction site and lifted into place. In contrast, standard concrete is poured-in-place in large forms and cured on site. Precast "stone" is distinguished from precast concrete by using a fine aggregate in the mixture so the final product approaches the appearance of naturally occurring rock or stone.

Ancient Roman builders made use of concrete and soon poured the material into molds to build their complex network of aqueducts, culverts and tunnels. Modern uses for precast technology include a variety of architectural applications including free-standing walls used for landscaping, soundproofing and security walls. Precast architectural panels are also used to clad all or part of a building facade.

Stormwater drainage, water and sewage pipes and tunnels make use of precast concrete units. The advantages of using precast concrete is the increased quality of the material, when formed in controlled conditions, and the reduced cost of constructing large forms used with poured-in-place concrete.

There are many different types of precast concrete forming systems for architectural applications, differing in size, function and cost.

CONCRETE

Concrete is a construction material that consists of cement (commonly Portland cement) as well as other cementitious materials such as fly ash and slag cement, aggregate (generally a coarse aggregate such as gravel limestone or granite, plus a fine aggregate such as sand and water) and chemical admixtures. Concrete solidifies and hardens after mixing and placement due to a chemical process known as hydration.The water reacts with the cement, which bonds the other components together, eventually creating a stone-like material. It is used to make pavements, architectural structures, foundations, motorways/roads, overpasses, parking structures, brick/block walls and footings for gates, fences and poles. More concrete is used than any other man-made material on the planet.[1] As of 2006 about seven billion cubic meters of concrete are made each year – more than one cubic meter for every person on Earth.[2] Concrete powers a US$35 billion industry which employs more than two million workers in the United States alone. More than 55,000 miles of freeways and highways in America are made of this material. The People's Republic of China currently consumes 40% of the world's cement [concrete] produc

Composition

There are many types of concrete available by varying the proportions of the main ingredients below.

The mix design depends on the type of structure being built, how the concrete will be mixed and delivered, and how it will be placed to form this structure.

Cement

Portland cement is the most common type of cement in general usage. It is a basic ingredient of concrete, mortar and plaster. English engineer Joseph Aspdin patented Portland cement in 1824; it was named because of its similarity in colour to Portland limestone, quarried from the English Isle of Portland and used extensively in London architecture. It consists of a mixture of oxides of calcium, silicon and aluminium. Portland cement and similar materials are made by heating limestone (a source of calcium) with clay, and grinding this product (called clinker) with a source of sulfate (most commonly gypsum).

High temperature applications, such as masonry ovens and the like, generally require the use of a refractory cement; concretes based on Portland cement can be damaged or destroyed by elevated temperatures, but refractory concretes are better able to withstand such conditions.

Water

Combined with a cementitious material, this forms a cement paste. The cement paste glues the aggregate together, fills voids between it, and allows it to flow more easily.

Less water in the cement paste will yield a stronger more durable concrete, more water will give an easier flowing concrete with a higher slump.[4]

Impure water used to make concrete can cause problems, either when setting, or later on.

Aggregates

Fine and coarse aggregates make up the bulk of a concrete mixture. Sand, natural gravel and crushed stone are mainly used for this purpose. Recycled aggregates (from construction, demolition and excavation waste) are increasingly used as partial replacements of natural aggregates, while a number of manufactured aggregates, including air-cooled blast furnace slag and bottom ash are also permitted.

Decorative stones such as quartzite, small river stones or crushed glass are sometimes added to the surface of concrete for a decorative "exposed aggregate" finish, popular among landscape designers.

Reinforcement

Concrete is strong in compression, as the aggregate efficiently carries the compression load. However, it is weak in tension as the cement holding the aggregate in place can snap, allowing the structure to fail. Reinforced concrete solves these problems by adding metal reinforcing bars, glassfiber, or plastic fiber to carry tensile loads.

slump test

CONCRETE SLUMP TEST

Testing the slump of the concrete that arrives on your job site is the only way you can assure that the concrete you ordered is the concrete you received, and that it is ready to place through the pump. Accordingly, we recommend that you slump test every truck that arrives on the job site and notify your supplier that you will be doing so. This practice will go a long way towards ensuring that your project is successful.

Slump Test Procedures

PURPSTOSE OF TEST: To determine the consistency of fresh concrete and to check its uniformity from batch to batch.This test is based on ASTM C 143-74: Standard Test Method for Slump of Portland Cement Concrete. Also refer to ASTM172-71 Standard Method Sampling Fresh Concrete.

Take two or more representative samples—at regularly spaced intervals—from the middle of the mixer discharge; donot take samples from beginning or end of discharge. Obtain samples within 15 minutes or less.

Important: Slump test must be made within 5 minutes after taking samples.

Combine samples in a wheelbarrow or appropriate container and remix before making test.

Dampen slump cone with water and place it on a flat, level, smooth, moist, nonabsorbent, firm surface.

*Pearce can provide concrete in various slump ranges, depending on strength and workability needs. Ideal slump is in the 4-6" range. The slump test must be performed within 2 1/2 minutes after obtaining the composite sample.

Technician begins to fill mold in three equal layers.



Each layer is rodded 25 times to settle the concrete, before the next layer is added.

Full mold is ready to be pulled off to measure slump.



Technician must pull mold off within 3-7 seconds for accurate test, per ASTM standards.

Partial mix being revealed by removal of mold.

Full concrete mix now ready for measurement.




This mix shows an ideal slump of around 4.5" measured to the displaced center of the top surface of concrete.