New Staff joining the Companies

Monday, November 08, 2021

Paarhammer is delighted to welcome new staff to the company in various positions. Our affiliated wholesale company Siegware (Architectural Hardware and Construction Products) has also been growing and employing new staff members and we share marketing and certain office staff. For a manufacturer it is important to have some control over supply lines, especially in times like these where logistics has many issues and unprecedented delays. Paarhammer has the advantage of also operating a hardware company which makes it easier to guarantee timelines, to learn more about the hardware company please visit https://siegware.com.au/ With the increase in workforce we can

Avoiding Renovation Regrets

Wednesday, November 03, 2021

Australia's love affair with renovating is expected to continue not only because Australians love to renovate, but also as households increasingly prefer to direct excessive property transaction costs towards improving their existing homes, rather than trading up. Top 5 regrets But renovations can be fraught with issues: according to research by the Victorian Government, the top five renovation regrets are insufficient insulation, air leakage, poor lighting, not selecting double glazing, and poor design. Energy efficiency Windows and doors play a very important role in buildings. They let in light but at the same time protect the home from wind, rain

Difference in U-value Calculations

Wednesday, October 06, 2021

Windows around the world get tested and certified using different criteria: Australia uses the North American NFRC (National Fenestration Rating Council) system, Europe uses ISO 10077-2 and ISO 15099, then there is the Passive House Criteria and ift Rosenheim Directive WA15/2. How do you know you get the best window for your build? One thing is clear: the lower the U-value, the better your window. But if the outcomes of the different methods are not the same, can you compare apples with apples? Is an Australian U-value of 1.1 worse than a European U-value of 0.8? Or is it better or

Large Windows

Wednesday, September 22, 2021

Creating a sense of space and openness while at the same time achieving a sanctuary can be done by careful placement and sizing of windows and doors. Advantages A large expanse of glazing can ensure a lightness of a building and an indoor-outdoor feel of openness and connection to the environment. Large windows let indoor spaces bask in natural daylight and offer views to the surrounding areas. Views to nature boost our mood and have a positive effect on our health and wellbeing. Large, glazed areas also make a room appear bigger and can add value to your home. Placement

Choose your Door Style

Wednesday, August 18, 2021

Enjoy your outdoor areas all year-round, whether you’re dining alfresco on balmy nights or rugging up and toasting marshmallows in the heart of winter. The doors you choose to connect these outdoor spaces with the interior of your home largely depends on the building design and your requirements.Paarhammer presents its most popular door designs so you can choose to go inside or out in style:Sliding DoorsInterior/exterior flow comes easy with this crowd-favourite option. Think outside the box with custom-made giant sliding doors, sliding stackers and corner sliders. This space-saving door can slide over a fixed glazed area with no protruding

Challenges, Choices, Decisions

Monday, August 02, 2021

We all live in challenging times but thanks to our Australia-wide clientele we have not had to stop production and have sent windows and doors to QLD, WA, TAS, ACT, NSW and of course worked in our home state of Victoria this last financial year.Crisisderives from the Greek krísis and means choice, decision, so Paarhammer, thanks to many years of experience, has decided to face the COVID challenge in the best possible way by choosing not to weigh on the finances of the Australian Government and therefore not to make use of financial incentives like job keeper while still keeping

Reveals and architraves or square set plaster?

Tuesday, July 27, 2021

Traditionally, most windows and doors needed reveals and architraves, but now this is not always the case. Square set plaster provides the much-coveted clean-line look and eliminates reveals and architraves. What is a reveal? A reveal is the timber surround on all four sides of a window or 3 sides of a door (excluding the bottom of the door which usually has a threshold). The reveal forms a sort of a box, framing the window or door and covers the stud or wall cavity. The depth of the reveal depends on the thickness of the wall and the wall type.

Australian Climate Zones

Tuesday, July 13, 2021

Climate Zones Australia is a large and diverse country with huge differences in the climate from one end to the other. To maximise the energy efficiency of a building the right window choice is crucial. Passive House has divided Australia into 5 climate zones which may be an oversimplification. Parts of Tasmania, Ballarat, Hotham and the Blue Mountains are seen as similar to Sydney and Brisbane. Whereas the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) divides Australia into 8 Climate Zones which is more complex but also more accurate. In Europe for example Rome, Vienna and London are also not in the

Clerestory – highlight – tilt windows

Monday, June 07, 2021

Clerestory windows are usually narrow windows placed at the top of a wall, close to the ceiling or roof. Placed above eye level, these windows let in light but avoid overlooking neighbours. These types of windows have been around since Egyptian times and were later often used in churches, but clerestory windows also provide advantages for modern home designs. Depending on design, a glazed area under the roofline can give the impression of a floating roof. In winter when the sun sits low in the sky, light and sunshine flood into the room through high glazing making it warm and welcoming, while

Benefits of triple glazed windows

Monday, May 10, 2021

While double glazing is a step in the right direction if you are looking for energy efficiency, comfort and security, triple glazing is even better. Especially in a Passive House project where triple glazing with soft-coat low-E glass is used. Glazing In a double-glazed insulated glass unit (IGU) there are 2 panes of glass, sealed, with a space in between. This space can either contain air or is argon gas filled for higher performance. The most energy efficient distance in between the glass panes is from 12mm to 20mm. This is set with a spacer.In a triple glazed insulated glass unit (IGU)

Safe Access for All

Monday, April 19, 2021

Whether you want to build a new home or retrofit your existing home, Paarhammer external doors with an optional level threshold that stops drafts, noise and water are the ideal solution and provide safe access for all. Now the zero-threshold designed and patented in Germany has received several awards. Awards ALUMAT is the recipient of the German Design Award for the zero threshold, and also recently received Passive House certification. In addition, this magnetic threshold has been recognised by the internet platform ‘bfb – barrier free building’. bfb determines annually the best barrier-free building products and solutions that enable comfortable

Windows and Sustainability

Sunday, March 14, 2021

A sustainable approach to building your dream home or renovating your existing home is entirely possible and will result in lower energy costs for heating and cooling, and increased comfort. Windows are a vital part of any home – they allow natural light into the home and provide views and fresh air, but what do you need to consider when choosing windows? Size and placement are crucially important, as are security, energy efficiency, materials and aesthetics, sustainability, and more. Timber and the Environment Timber is an ideal material when considering sustainable aspects as it is strong, natural and renewable, and