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Closet Organizing Tips: Systems for Conquering Closet Clutter
Closet organizing indicates that you value the simple home improvement of added closet space. Below you'll find simple ideas to get your closets organized:
A good suggestion for starters is to plan your closet with hanging rods nearest the outside...
Home Improvement Books
Home improvement books are just as common as magazines and
catalogues. They are not full of the same information though,
they tend to stick on true stories or architectural designers
stories! Home improvement books are more than light reading...
How Vinyl Replacement Windows Can Save You Money
Imagine the home of your dreams. Is the old colonial style home that has historical significance but could use some updating? Perhaps it is the 1960s rambling ranch that gives you more single floor living space than you’ve ever dreamed of. If you...
Kitchen Improvements - Plan, Plan, Plan
Planning is the first step to improving your kitchen. Fail to plan and you could face problems with the new look of the kitchen, not to mention your wallet.
Kitchen Planning
We've come a long way from the old days when kitchen planning...
What is Injection Waterproofing? -
Injection waterproofing is often used to fill and seal cracks and crevices. The material is most often made from a polyurethane compound. The compound is lightweight and expands up to twice its original size when applied to a surface. Many...
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Double Glazed Patio Doors
In many modern homes, the largest window in the house isn't a
window. It's the sliding door that affords access to the patio
or deck in the back. Sliding patio doors became
popular in the 1970s, just about the time that double glazing
came into popularity as a means of controlling energy costs and
heat loss. By using double glazed
windows in the door, the use of sliding patio doors became
an energy conscious decision.
Double glazed patio doors sandwich a layer of air or inert gas
between two layers of glass. The layers are separated by a
'spacer' that holds them from 12-26mm apart, and seals the
perimeter between the two to prevent moisture and condensation
from compromising the lowered heat conductivity. The use of
double glazed windows rather than a single pane of glass can
reduce the heat lost through a window by as much as 50%.
The classic double glazed patio door consists of two large
double glazed windows hung from a set of rollers in a channel,
and set into a sliding channel at the bottom. Most of the older
ones are framed in aluminum for strength - the size of the
windows makes frame strength a priority. As it comes time to
replace many of the doors that were first installed in the 1970s
and 1980s, many people are opting to remove the channel and
sliders in favor of more attractive French doors.
Replacing worn patio sliding doors with new double glazed patio
doors offers numerous advantages. First, both the materials and
the manufacturing process for making double glazed windows have
advanced considerably in the intervening 35 or so years. The new
generation of double glazed patio doors is far more
effective at
insulating your home and reducing heat loss through the glass.
The use of PVCu in frames makes for far lighter doors than
either aluminum or wood, and PVCu has better insulating
properties than aluminum. I have rather vivid memories of the
frost forming along the top and sides of the
aluminum window frame of our patio doors when I was a child.
PVUc frames make that a thing of the past.
Besides better framing material, the glass itself has changed
considerably. Today, you can choose low-e glass for your double
glazed patio door. The coating on the inside of the glass
substantially reduces heat transfer between the inside and the
outside. The use of a desiccant in the sealing strip spacer
between the panes in double glazed windows is another innovation
that helps create a more durable window. By completely drying
the air between the two panes, manufacturers reduce the
likelihood of moisture condensing inside the window. Finally, by
choosing double glazed patio doors that are filled with argon or
another inert gas rather than air you lower the heat
conductivity of the windows still further.
If you choose to replace your old sliding patio door with a new
French window, there are some marvelous new innovations. Look
for folding double glazed patio doors that can be used to
replace entire walls, French doors with headers and side rails,
or French doors with fanlights and mullions that add style and
elegance to most any facade.
About the author:
Gary John has contributed to many home improvement sites such as
conservatories
and double
glazing.
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