The importance of fenestration on commercial buildings
Importance of fenestration on commercial buildings cannot be underestimated.
It can ultimately play a vital role in the overall design and look of commercial businesses. Helping to provide you with a great focal point for the exterior of your building.
Building fenestration into building design helps you to look beyond the arrangement of windows and other glazed elements and look at performance, energy efficiencies, cost savings, and more.
Fenestration on commercial buildings helps businesses to create that great first, as well as everlasting impression.
It becomes a visual representation of your business and can include windows, glazed doors, glass curtain walls, and more.
In this post, we look at fenestration on buildings and their importance on commercial shop fronts.
The importance of fenestration cannot be underestimated.
It can ultimately play a vital role in the overall design and look of commercial businesses. Helping to provide you with a great focal point for the exterior of your building.
Building fenestration into building design helps you to look beyond the arrangement of windows and other glazed elements and look at performance, energy efficiencies, cost savings, and more.
Fenestration on commercial buildings helps businesses to create that great first, as well as everlasting impression.
It becomes a visual representation of your business and can include windows, glazed doors, glass curtain walls, and more.
In this post, we look at fenestration on buildings and their importance on commercial shop fronts.
Fenestration Products
Fenestration products vary considerably, and this is great because it allows businesses to design commercial shop fronts or buildings that are unique to them.
These products also come in three energy-efficient designs, with areas covering:
The U-Value of the glazing (the lower the u-value, the better the glass will protect the building from heat transfer)
The Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (can help to boost the energy performance of your building, allowing you to save money and stay comfortable); and
The Visible Light Transmission (how much natural light can get into the building).
It is these three factors that we would heavily advise be taken into consideration when you start the design stage, as once work gets started, often, there’s no going back.
Note: Climate can also influence your choice of fenestration products, and it’s important to work with professionals in this area to support your decision making.
First Impressions Count
Businesses and retail units need their shop fronts and the front of buildings to look good and presentable to customers.
After all, it is one of the most significant marketing tools you have.
Fenestration plays a big part in creating this perfect appearance as it covers all glazed areas, doors, windows, wall panels, curtain walling systems, skylights, vents, louvres.
The good news is, you have options.
For example, fenestration products can and do include:
- Curved or frameless shop fronts
- Double or single glazed windows
- Automatic doors
- Low energy-rated glass systems
- Curtain walling
- Self-cleaning
- And more!
Security should also feature within this, as this can also be a major influencing factor.
Fenestration Performance
Incorporating windows and fenestration into building design has become a big feature when we look at the beautiful aesthetics and energy efficiencies they can bring.
However, it’s not just the thermal performance of the fenestration products that need to be considered; for us, it’s the entire installation of window and door frames, as well as their material i.e., aluminium, curtain walling, etc.
If we take a look at aluminium fenestration and its benefits, for example…
Aluminium windows provide you with a lightweight material that offers superior strength. It can be turned into a variety of complex sections and provide great protection against all-weather elements.
Cut and fabricated to specific shapes and sizes, aluminium windows are not only strong, but they’re also aesthetically pleasing.
Offering a low maintenance solution, aluminium has a lot of benefits to offer.
Then, there are curtain walling systems.
Curtain walling can be used to help create a sense of space, linking businesses seamlessly with the outside world, and maintain security and safety.
Using glazing to allow natural light into buildings and to save money on energy. They’re also great if you’re looking for complete façade systems that are non-structural, lightweight, and weather tight.
Curtain walling systems are installed to the external structural system of a building. (At Crucial Engineering, we can also offer sunshades as part of our curtain walling systems, helping to enhance daylight approaches.)
Fenestration supports it all.
Helping to provide structural strength, value for money, life longevity, flexibility in design, a low maintenance option, as well as excellent thermal performance!
Fenestration Impact
Fenestration impacts the functionality of a building, providing you with what you need, as well as what you want.
You need to opt for the best and most appropriate solution for you.
At Crucial Engineering, we can work with you and your architects to design, manufacture, and install a wide range of solutions suitable for all aluminium shopfronts in Leeds. Offering you the perfect design, all matched with long term sustainability.
Crucial Engineering can help to advise on the best-glazed shop front designs and fenestration solutions for you and your business, call 03451 930 420
Reference video: AAMAVideoChannel
Aluminium doors – The new norm for commercial buildings
A metal that has seen a surge in popularity over recent years is that of aluminium. Not only does it provide a whole host of benefits, but it has also become much more competitively priced in the marketplace too.
For many commercial properties now, aluminium is the first choice when it comes to the installation of windows and doors.
Aluminium entrance doors especially are vastly becoming the most popular choice for businesses across the UK. In this post, we explore the reasons why this shift in popularity has occurred as well as why you should make aluminium the material for your commercial installation projects.
Benefits of Commercial Aluminium Doors
Durable
Aluminium is renowned for being sustainable and extremely durable. It is free from rust and also corrosion resistant due to its protective oxide coating. Making it perfect for entrance doors and windows, providing excellent water resistance, and maintaining its quality even in the harshest of weather conditions, aluminium can be the ideal choice for the best finish to the exterior of your building.
You also have the option to protect aluminium windows and doors further with a range of coatings. These can be anodised, powder painted, or lacquered. And can be made available in a variety of colours and with the option of a metallic finish (if you’re looking for the ultimate customisation).
Versatile
Aluminium can be fabricated very easily (trust us, at Crucial Engineering; we’re the aluminium fabrication experts!). Melted down and moulded into various shapes and sizes, numerous times, aluminium will never lose its quality.
Through aluminium fabrication, the material can be moulded and shaped into any specific requirements, allowing you to create some of the most visually impressive building facades out there.
This level of versatility means aluminium can ultimately be used to create windows, doors, and curtain walling (check out our article on “What is Curtain Walling”). Due to its incredible strength to support large panes of glass, you also have the option of choosing single, double, or even triple glazing.
Recyclable
Aluminium is also much more environmentally friendly compared to its metal counterparts, as the material itself is 100% recyclable.
During the fabrication process, when it is re-melted, it only uses 5% of the energy used in the initial production process.
Quality is never affected during the re-melting and recycling process, and it can be remoulded several times.
Reduce your carbon footprint by choosing aluminium frames for your commercial glass doors.
Energy Efficient
Aluminium can significantly reduce heat transmission, helping you to lower energy bills throughout the building, making it much more cost-effective to run, manage, and maintain.
Aluminium windows and doors are primarily designed with high levels of insulation, helping to keep warm air in and cold air out.
For large corporate commercial buildings with glass fronts, aluminium is an excellent choice to help improve overall energy efficiency levels.
Secure
When aluminium windows and doors are installed by professionals (like the professional installation team at Crucial Engineering), you can have complete peace of mind that they will provide high levels of security.
If your chosen windows and especially glass entrance ways are combined with reinforced glass as well as high tech locking systems, you can achieve much higher levels of security, meeting all security standards and credentials with ease.
Most commercial properties will be home to secure, valuable equipment and data; with this in mind, you must take all of the appropriate security measures available to help reduce the chance of break-ins.
Aluminium windows and doors can provide that level of protection and so much more.
Known as the go-to material of the future, it comes as no surprise that Aluminium is now the first choice for commercial properties and high-rise buildings throughout the UK.
As one of the leading aluminium door suppliers, let Crucial Engineering bring your building into the 21st Century.
For your FREE, no-obligation quote and to chat through your requirements further, call us on 03451 930 420 we’d be happy to help.
All about Aluminium shop front systems
Shop fronts come in many different shapes and sizes. From single storey commercial units to large scale commercial buildings such as car showrooms and shopping centres etc.
Therefore, when it comes to shop front systems, they must be strong as well as versatile in their design, fabrication, and installation.
At Crucial Engineering, we design, manufacture, and install a wide range of shop front systems all tailored to you, your specifications, vision, and requirements.
Benefits of aluminium for your shop front
Aluminium is naturally strong. A durable material that can be moulded and shaped into any style and to any specification you require.
Due to its strength, aluminium frames can support a range of glazing options, such as single, double, and even triple and reinforced glazing. A benefit of this is that as a business, you can opt for large glazed areas, curtain walling, solar systems, and large signage placement.
All of this does not mean, however, that aluminium is heavy — quite the contrary. Aluminium is lightweight, making it easy to transport and much simpler to install. It is also due to the lightweight feature that it has grown in popularity in modern-day construction.
Aluminium shop front systems can also be designed to work alongside a wide range of automatic doors too. From high traffic swing doors to custom-designed sliding entrance doors, as well as standard push doors. At Crucial Engineering, we can help provide a solution to suit all.
Aluminium windows and doors can come in a variety of different shades and colours too, so can match with your corporate branding perfectly, if needed. Powder coating allows you to customise your aluminium shop front to any colour you desire. Helping you to create visually appealing entrance ways that are weather-resistant, durable, and ultimately require very little maintenance.
As well as a variety of colours and working alongside a range of automatic doors, shop fronts also utilise curtain walling systems providing an additional level of protection for the outside of a building.
Curtain walling allows light to flow into internal spaces while maintaining the perfect balance of form and functionality (check out our article on `What is Curtain Walling` to find out more).
High security, excellent energy efficiency
Aluminium shop fronts are renowned, and also growing in popularity, due to the high levels of security they can offer, as well as the excellent energy efficiencies they can provide, hence also cost savings.
Most businesses will store valuable tools, equipment, merchandise, and even petty cash within their business premises, so keeping your commercial property as secure is vital.
Combined with advanced glazing as well as high tech security systems, keep your commercial property safe with aluminium windows and doors from the experts at Crucial Engineering.
When it comes to energy efficiency, let us explain further.
Aluminium windows and doors are designed to retain heat due to their polyoxide thermal breaks. They also boast low U values, which help to boost your building’s overall thermal efficiency levels.
Reduce your carbon footprint by opting for aluminium shop front system!
Aluminium is 100% recyclable making it very environmentally friendly.
A sustainably sourced material, aluminium can be re-melted and reshaped numerous times without losing any of its quality or features.
Features such as integral anti-trap bulb stile finger guards, or low ramp thresholds for an easy wheelchair, pushchair/pram access.
The lifespan of aluminium also far exceeds that of UPVC, again helping to save you money in the long term.
High performance as standard
All shop front doors and windows, if manufactured and installed by professionals (like the team at Crucial Engineering), will be tested to the highest security and industry standards.
You can be sure of the highest quality matched with the best possible prices with Crucial Engineering.
Aluminium shopfronts are an excellent choice for business.
Create an exciting display area that you can be proud of with an aluminium shop front. Designed, manufactured, and installed by a team you can trust.
Our team works closely with you to ensure all specifications are met, and efficient service is provided.
Helping to create a modern and environmentally friendly facade, let Crucial Engineering transform the front of your business today.
Call 03451 930 420
Read the next blog: The importance of fenestration on commercial buildings
Buyers Detailed Guide to Internal Doors
Choosing the right internal doors for you and your home is a big decision.
They are pieces of furniture that you have to live with, look at, and use, day in and day out — making the right choice vital.
Internal doors should complement your home, fitting perfectly with your style and home design.
In this post, we provide a guide to internal doors, helping you to make the most informed decision.
The right door style for you
When it comes to choosing the style and type of internal door for you, you need to consider several factors.
Factors such as:
- How will the door work/operate?
- What is your current interior design (is this staying or likely to change?)
- Your current furniture, including flooring, mouldings, and even your staircase!
However, these are just considerations. Your doors don’t have to match your interior settings perfectly. In fact, many homeowners are now making their internal doors feature doors by choosing very different timber colours or grain patterns.
Styling Tips
If your interior has a more contemporary feel, we would recommend opting for a flat (flush) door. This type of door helps to complement a sleek and minimalistic look.
Matching with both contemporary and traditional interiors are panelled doors. Offering more detail and depth, panelled doors are the most common type of doors found within the home.
For an older home with a more Victorian style, a classic panelled door can work wonders.
Types of internal doors
There are a variety of interior doors to choose from:
Wood – including hollow (generally cheaper, however less robust) and solid (heavier, more expensive, yet, provides superior sound and thermal insulation). Wood doors are very strong, easy to install, and easy to keep clean. Wood doors can also be painted and polished to suit your style.
Aluminium doors – offer slimline frames, are sleek in their look and contemporary in their design. Aluminium doors are also easy to install, they’re lightweight, and they’re now available in a variety of colours. They’re also long-lasting, and they don’t suffer from corrosion or rust.
PVC – secure, budget-friendly, and fire-resistant. PVC doors are strong, easy to maintain, and again like aluminium don’t suffer from rust.
The Look
When thinking about the look of your internal doors, you need to decide whether you prefer wood or a painted finish.
Wood – offers warmth, can be enduring, and depending on the type of wood chosen can be rich in colour.
Painted – mainly found in white, painted doors provide a clean appearance and fresh feel, they can also be painted in a range of different colours. Painted doors can also be repainted over time to different colours to suit your changing interior. (Note: Opt for gloss paint to provide you with a high sheen, or satin for a more subtle sheen).
Types of wood
With hardwood doors, it’s essential to check the pattern of the grain as well as the colour.
If Oak is your wood of choice, bear in mind Oak does vary considerably; for example, English and European Oak are very different from American White Oak.
If you’re buying a second-hand door or a reclaimed internal door, you need to make sure that the door is not cracked or warped, as well as being aware of those that have been stripped to remove paint.
Glass or solid?
If you’re looking to keep rooms light and open, then an internal glazed door can be a great option.
Internal doors can be fully glazed or feature glazed sections.
You also have the choice of clear glass or obscure, allowing light in, while also keeping an element of privacy.
Glazed doors are mainly found in communal living spaces within the home rather than bedrooms…for obvious reasons.
Best doors to divide rooms
If you’re looking to divide rooms or create an open plan, feel with the option of closing rooms off, you can now find a range of stylish internal doors to help.
These doors include:
Glazed doors – creating a strong link between rooms, you can still see one room from another with an internal glazing option. Glazed doors can also make rooms brighter while also making them feel bigger.
Solid doors – great if you’re looking to completely close off spaces, creating a more cosy and intimate feeling without any distraction.
Door Designs
Bi-Folding – easy to open; these doors are great space savers as well as being stylish and contemporary.
Double doors – if you have space for the doors to open, double doors are great at making a room look bigger, as well as helping to connect two rooms with ease.
Sliding doors – great for connecting rooms; however, it’s important to remember sliding doors will not open fully.
Metal framed doors – unusual for internal doors, however, growing in popularity, adding a distinct look and feel to your home.
Check your measurements
If possible, we would always advise avoiding stripping and cutting doors down to make them fit. This weakens the door as well as spoiling the proportions and overall aesthetics of the door. Also, once cut, there’s no going back.
Checklist when buying your internal doors
Find out exactly what the price includes!
It’s essential to check when buying internal doors, precisely what the price includes. For example, does the price include just the door? Or is the door frame, handles, hinges, etc?
These additional features, of course, are needed to finish the door; however, they can also affect the price, hence influencing your final decision.
When looking for the perfect internal door, it’s essential to buy a door that matches your unique preferences and likes.
Internal doors offer style; they help to keep your family safe, they can help to add value to your property, and if doors are appropriately maintained, they can last a lifetime (if you want them to!)
At Crucial Engineering, we can supply your doors finished, pre-finished, or completely unfinished, depending on your chosen style.
We also specialise in aluminium doors and windows, providing a range of styles and designs to suit your requirements.
Call our team today on 03451 930 420 to discuss your options further.
Read the next article: Aluminium doors – The new norm for commercial buildings
Different Types of Aluminium Doors
When looking at new doors and windows for your home, different types of aluminium doors might never have been considered. Not because aluminium isn’t as good compared to wood or UPVC (quite the contrary in fact) but because customers often feel limited when it comes to styles and types of aluminium doors available.
The good news is, things have changed. Today, you will find a much wider selection and choice of aluminium doors and windows, including a range of colours.
Trust us – there is a window and door style and design suited to everyone, and in this post, we take you through some of the most popular styles and trends in aluminium doors right now.
Aluminium door types trending now!
Slide and Fold
These are great doors for home renovations, providing you with the feeling of being outside without actually stepping out.
Available in a range of configurations, this style of door offers a great deal of flexibility, allowing you to be creative with where they are placed.
Providing a feeling of open space, these doors can also let in an abundance of natural light.
Slide and fold doors are stackable folding doors with multiple panels. Folding doors work by opening the doors and folding them back by their sections/panels. (This is similar to stack away doors, which are ideal for large openings, letting you open up the space to let the great outdoors in. The doors operate by using an overhead sliding track, where the partial opening or closing of the doors can be easily achieved).
This type of door can help to reinvent your interior living space, as they don’t take up too much room, they open up the space available, and can be head-turning in their design.
Aluminium Sliding Doors
Mainly found leading out onto a patio or decked area, where doors can be left open, providing an unobstructed view of the outside, aluminium sliding doors can be incredibly modern. The doors are easily opened by sliding the door to the desired side and can offer ease, convenience, and act as a great space-saving option.
They also offer a degree of flexibility when it comes to being able to fix blinds and curtains.
Sliding doors are seamless, yet fully controlled when it comes to the opening and closing functionality. They consist of one fixed panel and a sliding panel, which, when moved back and forth on the rollers on the track, the door can be opened and closed.
This style of door can also be automated for workplaces and manual for the home, again providing you with choice and flexibility in design.
Some sliding doors can also offer a tilting window where you can let the fresh air in without sliding the door fully open.
Casement Doors
A stunning feature to entrance doors, casement doors generally comes with large glass panels that are attached to the mainframe. Grand in their appearance, they offer the perfect view to the outside world.
Trending currently is a modern style casement door with a traditional twist.
Note: Top hung casement designs allow for windows/doors to be open, even when it’s raining outside.
Tilt and Slide
These doors are ideal when space is limited. Typically found in many modern style homes, these doors come with a high-quality mechanism that makes the door extremely easy to operate.
There are no hinged or folding mechanisms to these doors; however, they do offer a high level of security for homeowners.
Benefits of Aluminium Doors
- Can come with advanced hardware and mechanisms for easy handling
- Easy to operate doors once they are installed
- Offer high levels of security
- Durable and robust against the elements
- Aluminium doors offer strength, maximising your safety and security
- Resistant to corrosion
- Environmentally friendly as they’re also recyclable.
If you’re thinking about renovating or upgrading your homes windows and doors and you think aluminium could be for you, contact the team at Crucial Engineering, we’re on hand to help you with your window and door investment.
Our range of windows and doors are crafted to the highest quality, using only the best on the market. We also measure, order, supply, and install all aluminium windows and doors.
One design does not fit, nor suit all, and that’s why you’ll now find a wide range of window and door choices.
Aluminium Door Maintenance Tips
Aluminium doors offer homeowners durability, reliability, and robustness that can’t be found in wooden counterparts. However, for these types of doors to stay in good shapes, like anything, they must be maintained with some care and attention needed to ensure their long and healthy lifespan.
Aluminium door maintenance will vary depending on location, elements the door will face, type of aluminium door you have opted for, and much more.
In this post, we provide some of our top tips on how to maintain your doors and ensure you keep them in perfect working order.
Cleaning
Keeping aluminium doors, including their frames, clean, is vital in helping them to continue functioning correctly.
There’s no specialist cleaning products or solutions required, just water, a mild detergent, and a clean cloth or rag will work wonders.
However, it’s important to note that some aluminium doors and frames will come with manufacturing guidelines. In these instances, these guidelines, including care and maintenance instructions, must be followed for warranties and guarantees to remain intact.
Scratches
Sometimes (and very rarely might we add) aluminium can get scuffed and scratched.
For scuffs and small marks, non-abrasive liquid cream or paraffin cleaner should be used and will remove such marks effectively.
For deeper scratches found on the surface of the aluminium frame, oxidation can occur, which will then act as a seal on the exposed aluminium, preventing further corrosion from happening. Re-touching the paintwork in these cases can be carried out; however, we’d always recommend speaking and working with a professional first.
In each situation, these scuffs and scratches won’t affect the lifespan of the aluminium.
For those aluminium frames that have an anodised finish rather than painted, any marks that do make an appearance on this type of door or frame can be removed relatively easily using an ink rubber or eraser.
Bi-Fold and aluminium sliding doors
Due to their sleek design and sophisticated style, sliding and bi-fold aluminium doors have grown in popularity.
However, these doors do require a little extra maintenance because they use tracks, runners, or rollers, in order for them to open and close.
The tracks of these types of doors need to be kept clean and free from debris and dirt to ensure their functionality at all times.
To help:
- Remove all debris and large items from the tracks i.e., pebbles, rubble, etc
- Hoover the track regularly (we’d recommend once per month)
- Lubricate the track now and then using a silicone spray.
Note: If your door is suffering a little wear and tear and not operating properly, and the above cleaning tips don’t make a difference, then you need a specialist team to help.
Locking Systems
The locking mechanisms on aluminium doors are designed to last and therefore require very little attention. However, lubricants can be used to help keep locks fresh and moving.
To keep the inside of the lock clean and lubricated, you can apply a little bit of oil to the key before use (we’d recommend this cleaning procedure every three months, helping to keep the locking cylinders clean and healthy).
In extreme external environments and weather conditions, extra care and attention may be required.
Cleaning substances to avoid
There are some solutions out in the market that doesn’t react well to aluminium and should be avoided at all costs.
These are mainly strong solvents containing:
- Chlorine
- Esters
- Hydrocarbons
- Ketones
(Ultimately, any product that is found to be particularly abrasive!)
Timescales
Cleaning timescales can be very subjective and dependent on several factors. In highly polluted areas we’d recommend a cleaning regime of every three months, for example. However, in rural areas and quiet residential areas, once per year can often be enough.
For things such as hinges, handles, friction stays restrictors, cylinders built-in hinges, etc. periodic maintenance should be carried out, again depending on how often the door is being used, the style of door, and where it is located.
Industrial cleans
Aluminium doors can have specialist cleaning and maintenance carried out if required, and these methods can be ideal for:
- Face fixed closes
- Tilt and turn windows or patio doors
- Panic bars and exit devices
- Gears on sliding doors
- Magnetic locks
- Top arms and bottom pivots
- And more
Professional door suppliers and maintenance should be sought if you have:
- Automatic doors (sliding or swing)
- Floor swings
- Window winding gear
- Remote control systems
- Glass doors with patch fittings
As the aluminium door and window specialists, Crucial Engineering is here to help. Available to answer your questions, as well as supply and install the perfect aluminium doors for you, we also carry out aluminium door repairs and regular maintenance checks too! Call 03451 930 420 for more information.
The process of aluminium fabrication and finishing
The process of aluminium fabrication and finishing is an intricate one to observe.
Taking the raw material, aluminium, and making it into something useful, such as windows and door frames, is incredible.
The aluminium structures and frames, provide durability, they’re robust, and they have a long life span, making aluminium fabrication very popular.
Of course, working with aluminium is only the start of the fabrication process. Before it reaches the end customer and is ready for use, several finishes can, and will, be applied to the end product.
Crucial Engineering are aluminium fabrication specialists, based in Leeds, providing aluminium windows and doors, gates and entranceways and more!
In this post, we want to take you through the aluminium fabrication process as well as the finishing process that the metal goes through before being presented to you like the finished product.
Aluminium Fabrication – The Process
Aluminium fabrication can often be referred to as precision engineering at its best. Requiring skill and expertise as well as a range of specialist tools, equipment, and technology, aluminium fabrication is about joining all of the parts of the process together.
For example, in the extrusion stage (design stage), optimised extrusions help to minimise further fabrication, which provides results that at the end of the process relate to more efficient fitting and assembly.
Even if the properties and functions of the extrusion have been optimised, there will still be a level of fabrication required.
Benefits of using aluminium for fabrication
- Durable and robust
- Lightweight, making it easy to install and carry
- Corrosion–resistant and resistant to any other form of abrasion
- It is unaffected by magnetism
- Great conductor of electricity and heat
- Flexible and versatile to be manufactured into any shape and size
Finishing – The Process
The finishing process is all about treating the surface of the aluminium ready for the final product to be dispatched. Depending on how and what it is treated with will depend on the different qualities the metal can provide you.
It’s at this stage where you can also achieve different finishes to change the overall look and appeal of your final product.
The most common aluminium finishing processes include:
- Anodising – an electrochemical process which is primarily used in military machinery and equipment, to protect the aluminium parts. This process involves artificially increasing the thickness of the naturally occurring oxide layer on the aluminium’s surface.
- Powder Coating – is the most popular choice, as it provides a protective layer which protects against corrosion as well as increases the level of insulation on offer. Very durable and comes in a variety of different colours. Powder coating is also more resistant to chipping, fading, scratching, and wear and tear.
- Wet Coating – the most cost-effective of all finishes and a method that involves coating the material while in coil form. This process is used for decorative as well as corrosion-resistant surface finishes and has a life expectancy exceeding 20 years.
Where can you find aluminium fabrication?
Due to the benefits that aluminium can offer, you will now find aluminium fabrication and finishes across a range of sectors and applications.
For example, aluminium windows and doors are now increasing in popularity throughout the UK. Appliances, and furniture within your home, such as computer hardware, for example, is made from aluminium fabrication. Retailers use aluminium fabrication for their exhibition displays and stands. The food and drinks industry use the processes for their food preparation equipment. It can also be used to manufacture parts for cars and aircraft, industrial piping, roofing, sporting goods, and much much more.
However, for all of these things and final products to be good and to a high standard, you need a professional aluminium fabrication company.
A team who know what they’re doing and has many years’ experience in handling all specifications and types.
Working to an exceptionally high standard and taking on the precision engineering technology that’s involved in the process to produce excellent results time and time again.
You need the team at Crucial Engineering, Leeds.
Aluminium fabrication specialists, if you need help with your fabrication project, make sure to call us today on 03451 930 420.
We’re always happy to help.
Why you should replace windows and doors with aluminium
Most homeowners will consider, ‘why you should replace windows and doors with aluminium,’ at some point in their lifetime. Whether you want to upgrade your home, make it more energy-efficient, change the look and style of your windows and doors, or replace a broken window, replacing doors and windows with new can offer it all.
With aluminium window replacements and aluminium door replacements growing in popularity, this is fast becoming the most favourable option for many new styles and frames.
Providing homeowners with an array of choice, aluminium is also strong and durable, and because of its long life span, replacing windows and doors does only have to happen once.
Cost of Aluminium window replacement
The cost of aluminium windows and doors does vary. However, over recent years the price of this metal has decreased. This makes it much more affordable and on par with its UPVC counterpart, hence also the spiked increase in popularity.
Usually, included in the price of aluminium door and window installation will be the product itself, i.e., the glass, the frame, all flashings, and trims, etc.as well as the labour charges to install the window/door.
However, what won’t be included in the price, is the cost to create the opening itself (if there isn’t already a window or door there), any interior moulding required after installation, or any curtains or blinds, etc.
Due to the wide selection of different types of aluminium doors and windows available, this means, for homeowners’ prices will vary depending on choice and situation. It’s worth speaking with a professional supplier and installer for exact prices and costs before you begin.
Choices
We’ve mentioned throughout this post that opting for aluminium window replacements or indeed an aluminium door replacement can provide you with a wide range of benefits and indeed choices.
These can include things such as:
- Aluminium clad windows. These specific windows are made from wood, with the frames then covered in a thin aluminium sheet. This type of window frame is extremely popular, as homeowners can create a beautiful wood finish on the inside, with a weather-resistant, and more durable finish on the outside.
- Opening style. You can also choose different ways you would like your window to open i.e., single hung, aluminium casement, sliding, double-hung, fixed, and much more.
- Customised windows to suit. Aluminium can be bent and moulded by aluminium fabrication Leeds specialists, to create a truly customisable window, suitable for any space.
- Available in any colour and finish, such as tough anodized or baked–on, for example.
- Aluminium windows and doors also provide exceptional thermal efficiency.
Replacing older style windows
Replacing older looking and style windows with more modern and fresh aluminium windows and doors can instantly transform the look of your property.
For example, if your home has original steel windows, but they aren’t energy efficient, they left draughts in, and if you’re honest they aren’t entirely secure…
Fear not…
Aluminium doors and windows can be the perfect replacement.
Available in innovative steel replacement designs, you can now choose aluminium frames that are much slimmer to help reflect the thin lines of the original windows better.
They also offer increased security and better overall energy efficiency for your home.
An excellent solution for older properties and even properties with planning restraints against them. Where aluminium can be seen as in keeping with the look and style of the original building.
Ultimately providing, traditional-looking windows with all the benefits of modern aluminium double glazing!
Advantages and Disadvantages of replacement aluminium windows and doors
Advantages
- Maintenance–free
- Can withstand harsh external elements
- Lightweight
- Clean and modern in look and style
- Restrict noise
- Slimline frames compared to UPVC
- Can be recycled
- Energy efficient
Disadvantages
- Paint can chip
- Can pit, fade or create condensation over time
- Must be lubricated regularly
Ultimately, if you’re looking to replace your aluminium windows and doors and upgrade to a higher quality, make sure to call the team at Crucial Engineering and see how we can help you today.
As specialist aluminium fabricators in Leeds, we have many years’ experience working with and installing aluminium windows and doors. We’re also extremely confident that we can provide you with the best and most cost-effective solutions for your home, always.
Call 03451 930 420 to find out how we can help improve your home today.
How to install aluminium doors and windows
Fitting windows and doors is no easy task. Unless, of course, you’re a trained professional and in which case you’ll probably feel like you can install them in your sleep!
Aluminium windows and doors are growing in popularity throughout homes in the UK. This is due to the benefits they can provide as well as aluminium seeing a reduction in price, making them much more cost-effective.
Now available in a range of different styles, shapes, and colours, aluminium windows and doors are also extremely durable, providing you with a longer shelf-life before a replacement is necessary.
With aluminium fabrication you can also opt for smaller frames too, maximising the amount of light coming into your home. Plus, aluminium windows are known to provide high thermal insulation, making it a win-win all around.
In this post, we look at a few of the basic steps needed when it comes to how to install aluminium doors and windows
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Aluminium window and door installation
Whether you fit aluminium doors or windows to commercial or domestic properties, the installation process is primarily the same.
Preparation
Check your measurements – making sure you have your framing measurements exact is vital for the dimensions of the aluminium window/door to be fitted securely.
To make sure that everything is going to fit, you need to check your measurements precisely and then check them again! Checking the height and length of the window, as well as the height and width of the actual opening.
You also need to ensure that the opening is clear and all debris etc is cleared away ready for the new frame to be installed.
Installation
For aluminium window installations, lift the frame into place, making sure not to let it fall through onto the other side (ideally fitting windows and doors should always be a two-person job), and always make sure you have the right tools to hand.
Probably the most important of which will be a spirit level as you need to make sure that everything aligns correctly.
To do this, you will need to raise or lower the aluminium frame until it is perfectly level, screwing it securely in place through the guide holes provided.
You can also use packers to help level up a window, rather than keep removing and reinserting the entire frame.
Both sides of the frame will also need to be levelled out to, and again once in place, tightly secured by screwing in the guide holes.
Note: Make sure to cut off any of the shims extending at the ends, ensuring that they don’t go past the aluminium frame.
The window should also be flush with the internal wall and to help achieve this, you can use a set square, placing this against the wall and then manoeuvring the window to where it needs to be.
Screw the frame in place, usually at the top, middle, and bottom.
With the frame securely in position, you can now insert the glass. Securing in place with a bead of caulking around the entire perimeter.
Once everything is in place and secured correctly, if you notice any openings or cracks around the frame you can pack these with insulation, stopping hot air escaping and cold air getting in.
You can also use packers with the insulation, which also makes sure that the reveal won’t bow.
Just make sure to remember to snap/cut the packers when done so these aren’t on full show and they shouldn’t be seen.
Everything can then be cleaned off using commercial cleaning agents, and any exterior work can be carried out to make sure everything looks in tip-top condition.
Tools for the job
Having everything to hand is vital when fitting aluminium doors and windows.
Tools you should include:
- Drills
- Hammer
- Set square
- Spirit level
- Packers
- Tape measure
- Safety glasses
- Ear defenders, etc.
Aluminium is extremely lightweight, making it a great metal to work with when installing new windows and doors. However, it’s recommended that if you are looking to replace your homes windows and doors, that you use a professional supplier and installer to help you get the job done.
Like the professionals at Crucial Engineering.
Fabrication Leeds
At Crucial Engineering, we can provide you with a complete service. From measuring up, supplying, and installing aluminium windows and doors – our team can offer it all.
Call us today on 03451 930 420 for a quote and further information about what’s on offer.
Difference between Curtain Walls and Storefronts
As a business, you will undoubtedly face the dilemma of what façade you would like to place on the front of your commercial property. With choices including traditional storefronts, and now becoming increasingly popular, aluminium curtain walling, there is a lot to consider.
Both are ultimately designed to provide adequate natural light into your premises, provide you with a great outlook to the outside world, and protect you and your products from the external elements.
As mentioned above, both aluminium storefronts and aluminium curtain wall systems do perform similar functions; however, they both have some unique qualities making them different and flexible in a wide range of circumstances.
Differences to consider
The main difference between the two is where they are primarily used.
For example, curtain wall systems are perfect for much larger buildings, such as multi-stories and high rise offices; whereas you will mainly find storefront systems on buildings that are only one or two stories high.
It’s important to know some of the main differences between the two, so you can make the most informed decision about what is right for your commercial property.
Due to where these facades are placed means that there is also a difference in their general structure.
Storefronts, for example, are generally known to be the façade of a retail store positioned on the ground floor of a commercial property. Usually, boasting a large display window to showcase its products and services, the window frames themselves will usually be made from aluminium, steel or wood (this is because a smaller frame may be used, maximising the amount of window space a retail unit has), and will typically include glass to provide ultimate visibility.
Curtain walls, however, are much thinner in their design with aluminium frames primarily being the material of choice. The in-fill is typically made up of metal panels, glass or light stone, depending on the commercial building and its overall look and design structure.
This type of construction will not carry the buildings floor or roof loads as they are attached to the building structure, not a prominent part of it.
Due to this fact, curtain walls can be much larger than storefronts. For example, a curtain wall frame can reach at least 13-feet high, while a storefront frame will be restricted to no more than 10 feet in height.
Thickness is also a difference between the two, with curtain walls having a depth of anywhere between 2.5 inches and 8 inches, compared to a storefront which can’t exceed 2 inches (due to the weight load a storefront has to carry).
Water infiltration is another vital difference to note between the two, and how both systems handle rain, etc. will help with your decision making.
For storefronts, water will be directed to the sill flashing, usually through the vertical mullion, which is then discharged slowly out of the building. However, when extreme weather hits, problems such as overloading of the water flow systems can be common; hence the reason why storefronts are kept to ground level as well as have roof overhangs to protect them further from external elements.
For curtain walls, every glass lite is wept away individually. Causing minimum disruption and no additional systems need to be put in place to protect the building.
Taking everything into account cost is still one of the most significant factors in the decision-making process. It can’t be denied that storefronts are the cheaper option and are the perfect solution for elevations and entrances on commercial properties situated on the ground floor.
However, aluminium curtain walls, for all pricier for both materials and production, are the superior product in terms of their functionality and design.
Which one is best for you?
This is entirely up to you and the position of your retail property.
However, at Crucial Engineering, our team of aluminium fabrication experts will be able to answer your questions as well as provide you with ideal solutions to suit your requirements.
Make sure to call us today on 03451 930 420 to find out more and see how we can help you.