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Window Trend for 2024

Window Trend for 2024

Tuesday, January 16, 2024

Large expanses of glass are definitely the trend for 2024. To achieve this modern look and the connection to nature while still creating a comfortable indoor environment, the thermal performance is important with double or triple glazing and high-performance frames. Expanse of glazing Views, space, light, glass, natural, sun etc. are words that show people’s aspirations when building or renovating, and real estate sites mention the same. Large, glazed areas ensure an indoor-outdoor feel of openness and connection to the environment which boost our mood, health and wellbeing. It also let’s natural daylight in to make a room appear larger and enables
Timber - Classic Window Frame Material

Timber - Classic Window Frame Material

Thursday, August 24, 2023

Window frames made from timber have a long history, they are sustainable as timber re-grows, and offer a beautiful, natural indoor environment that is good for human health. Timber is also a good insulator, making it ideal for energy efficiency when combined with double or triple glazing. Thermal insulation Every individual wooden cell acts as a natural air storage. If a timber grows faster, the cell structure is larger and can store more air, achieving a higher insulating effect. In general, softwoods grow faster than hardwoods which gives it better insulation properties. It is durable when treated or finished correctly. The structure
End of Vic Ash timber

End of Vic Ash timber

Thursday, July 27, 2023

The Victorian Government announced an end to native timber harvesting on 1 January 2024 which is 6 years earlier than the 2030 deadline as was originally announced. Where does this leave manufacturers like Paarhammer who use Victorian Ash timber for window frames?With only a few months transition time, Paarhammer has started to test different hardwoods including imported timbers. We are proud to manufacture in Australia and always prefer to use local supplies to be as sustainable as possible, but for timber this may no longer be feasible. In Australia there are three timber certifications recognised: FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council), Australian
BAU Expo Munich

BAU Expo Munich

Thursday, June 22, 2023

Tony Paarhammer and Andrew Ferguson were part of the 190,000 visitors at the BAU Expo in Munich end of April, gaining insights into all the newest products on show. The 2260 exhibitors from 49 countries included the following topics which might also become significant for the Australian building industry: Façade insulation and secondary façade insulation, Prefabrication and materials to streamline the building processes, Lifting equipment like small tower cranes to make work easier on the building site, Solutions to reduce or eliminate thermal bridging in building envelopes, Low and zero level thresholds with drainage and thermal breaks, Screws, bolts, connectors for the timber construction industry, Low VOC
Invest in climate action

Invest in climate action

Tuesday, October 25, 2022

Australians produce around 499 million tons of CO2 per year *. More and more people are asking themselves how they can reduce their carbon footprint. Heating and cooling consume the most energy in a house and cause the most CO2. Since older windows are a real energy waster, there is a huge savings potential there.Energy LossThe greatest weakness in old windows are poor glazing with insufficient insulation (especially single glazing) and leaky window joints as well poor installation. This is where most of the energy is lost.High-techWindows have developed rapidly in recent years and are now real high-tech components of
Longevity is the real Sustainability

Longevity is the real Sustainability

Tuesday, August 16, 2022

With the move towards a more sustainable lifestyle, architects and designers are also looking at more sustainable building materials. Considerations are given to the whole lifecycle of different material used in a building - including windows and doors – and the following issues are taken into account: from the responsible sourcing of raw material to the way the products are manufactured, the shipping distance, expected lifespan and if they can be re-used or recycled at the end of their life.The longer a product has a useful life, the longer it will take for the need to replace it which means
External Timber Finishes

External Timber Finishes

Tuesday, July 12, 2022

Colourless coatings on external timber elements, whilst very fashionable, only provide limited and short-lived protection from UV radiation in the Australian sun. As human skin must be protected from UV radiation with sunscreen, timber too must be protected from UV attack by pigments in the protective coatings used.The basics of how UV degradation occursUV radiation permanently destroys all organic substances. This includes wood even it has been varnished with a colourless coating that has no UV protection. UV radiation destroys the lignin within the wood structure. Lignin constitutes about one third of the timber structure but also accounts for 80-95%
Powering the Window Factory – and some

Powering the Window Factory – and some

Thursday, May 12, 2022

Paarhammer’s solar panels saved 173,860kg of CO2 the last 12 months which is equivalent to planting 3,400 trees, and could power around 30 homes.The focus at Paarhammer is to manufacture sustainably. On sunny days the almost 100 kW photo-voltaic solar system provides enough electricity used to manufacture windows and doors, and more to feed into the grid.As a leading manufacturer of energy efficient windows and doors, environmental responsibility and sustainability are taken seriously. The inputs as well as the production process are believed to be just as important as the products produced. Therefore, timbers used in the manufacture of our
Energy Efficient Bay Windows for Modern Homes

Energy Efficient Bay Windows for Modern Homes

Monday, February 08, 2021

Bay windows are often associated with more traditional homes, but can you also have modern bay windows suitable for high energy efficient homes? Or corner windows without bulky corner post?  Bay windows are usually made up of three parts of which one is straight and the other two are angled back to create an alcove. They let light in from different directions and therefore add extra daylight to a room. The space within a bay window is very versatile and could be used as a reading corner, a day bed, built-in shelving and more.  A bay window can become the
Multi-general Living on the Rise

Multi-general Living on the Rise

Thursday, June 11, 2020

Common some time ago, multi-generational living has come back into fashion again. Some families live together for financial reasons, others for companionship, but whatever the motivation, households where more than one generation of adults are living under the same roof are on the rise. As per 2016 documentation by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, multigenerational living (such as elderly parents living with their adult child’s family or adult siblings living together) reached almost 600,000 (or 2.4% of the population) with projections that this number is rising. Households with two or three generations living under one roof need to consider a
Kevin McCloud on Sustainability

Kevin McCloud on Sustainability

Wednesday, February 19, 2020

At a recent talk in Melbourne Kevin McCloud spoke of his background,influences, and how his intrigue with the built world began evolving from the age of 6. Eloquent and personable he joked with the audience with ease providing a multitude of anecdotes, speaking of the passage of architecture, and of course referencing his Grand Design experiences. However the lightness of tone gave way to the more serious topic of sustainability. The importance of leaving the world in a greater position than how we have found it. The worth and the value in making meaningful purchases where the supply chain is
Powered by the Sun

Powered by the Sun

Thursday, January 30, 2020

In addition to the many sustainable features of the Paarhammer window and door manufacturing plant, it is now powered by the sun. The Paarhammer factory roof recently received the addition of an almost 100 kW photo-voltaic solar system to provide electricity which is used to manufacture windows and doors. While a high level of self-consumption is aimed for, there are also backup batteries and a gateway. The available energy from the sun is 3000 times higher than the worldwide energy need. Solar panels for hot water, or to create energy through photo-voltaic panels, are a truly sustainable resource which reduces carbon footprint