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Fairco Windows Prevent Day Time Burglary

 

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Fairco Windows are known to stand the test of time, but earlier this week our windows were put through their toughest test of all, an attempted burglary.

We recently received a phonecall of thanks from some Fairco customers, an elderly couple from Dublin, who were recent victims to a daytime intrusion in their home.

On Saturday, November 10th, at around 2pm, the burglar attempted to enter the property while the woman of the house was still at home going about her afternoon business.

Clearly experienced, the thief tried a number of schemes to enter through the windows, including forcing a screwdriver between the opening sash and the window frame. He was able to get purchase and tried to lever the window open.

However, due to the unique locking system which is exclusive to Fairco Windows, the burglar could not generate enough force to pry the window open. It takes approximately 6kN of force to pry a Fairco window open. A human being cannot generate 6kN of force therefore the window wouldn’t open.

The burglar fled the property empty-handed and no damage was done to the house. The couple included in their phonecall  words of thanks and relief at the strength and durability of their Fairco windows.

Here at Fairco, we use a combination of locks including a unique bear-grip locking system coupled with hinge-claws, which allows no weak point on the opening sash.

To find out more about what Fairco can do for your home safety, visit one of our permanent display showrooms at Santry, Terenure or Howth Junction. You can also call us on 01 816 5080, and get your free, no-obligation quote. We do not believe in a “one-size fits all” solution, that’s why we give each enquiry a personal assessment free of charge.

 

House warming – the clever way to better window glazing

When it comes to making your home warmer this winter, if double glazed windows are good, then triple glazed ones must be better?

The surprising opinion from the experts at Fairco Windows and Doors is no, not necessarily.

In fact, according to Fairco’s Jim Toal who has over 30 years experience in the trade, it takes a thoughtful mix of both double and triple glazing to get the best heat value from your windows.

“The trick is to maximise the amount of solar gain – that is the free heat from sunshine on the window which modern glazing technology will release into your home,” said Jim.

“People may not be aware but if you put triple-glazing in south or west-facing windows, you will lose solar gain and the extra money you spend won’t gain you any extra heat.”

Now for the science bit. The international standard that measures the insulation performance of windows is called the U-value.

The lower the number the better their U-value, and traditional one-pane windows have a U-value in excess of five.

Thanks to improvements in windows technology, any double-glaze windows you install today will have a U-value of no worse than 1.6 and at Fairco they work to a U-value standard of 1.2.

“Double-glazing has made amazing progress in the past five years and double-glazed windows are now capable of being net heat contributors to your home,” said Jim.

“Replacing single-glazing or old double glazing, with new, is simply a no-brainer.

Triple-glazed windows, on the other hand, may not always be worth the investment.

“They are ideal for north-facing windows which get almost no direct winter sun and are usually net losers of energy.

“On the other hand, triple-glazed windows in sunlit south or west-facing rooms will reduce heat absorption and by adding extra weight, increase the strain on hinges.”

The Scandinavians with their very cold winters have led the way in improved window technology and triple-glazing is their ideal choice.

However what works for them doesn’t necessarily work for us.

“In Scandinavia the winter air is cold and dry, while Ireland has a damp, wet and windy climate with a high level of humidity.

“With the wind lashing the windows, an Irish home at six Celsius outside can feel colder than a Scandinavian home where the outside temperature is minus 10,” said Jim.

While that sounds rather chilly the good news is that by combining good insulation with Fairco’s clever use of glazing you can now get a warm and comfortable home with A-rated energy efficiency.

Traditional sash windows are a beautiful addition to any building but, unfortunately, age and lack of proper maintenance can see them lose their charm.

Unloved they may have been, but no matter what the problems are – you don’t need to give up on your sash windows just yet.

Even if they are draughty, rattling or showing signs of rot, traditional sash windows can now be returned to all their former glory and improved upon.

With over 30 years experience, Jim Toal of Sash Windows and Restoration by Fairco has discovered all there is to know about sash window restoration.

“They may look awful and have been terribly neglected over the years but sash windows were built to last,” said Jim.

“It just takes a little care and attention from skilled crafts people to bring them back to life.”

According to Jim there are several common but very solvable problems that people experience with old or poorly maintained sashes.

“Firstly, the windows may be jammed shut. It could be that the sash cords are frayed and no longer work or the opening may have been painted over to keep them shut.

“Another issue is draughts – and no-one wants draughty windows. Draughts are mainly caused by badly aligned sashes and a lack of compression between the sashes.

“Woodwork will rot over time mainly at the sills and the rails particularly at the bottom of the window.

“Also, the window hardware, such as the original brass fittings, could have become worn, broken and pitted over time.

“The putty could have fallen away over the years and there might be small cracks in the glass, this is particularly common in Edwardian sash windows.”

While new A-rated energy saving sash windows are now available, these cannot be used to replace original sashes in listed buildings.

But no matter how bad their appearance may be, window expert Jim believes there is no need to give up on your original sash windows.

He says the first thing on the restoration agenda is to get the sashes sliding smoothly again.

This may require stripping the window of years of built up paint to see what condition the timber is in.

Once that is established restoration can begin. The rotten timber is removed and replaced with long lasting Accoya timber in profiles that are the exact replica of the original.

Frayed cords are also replaced so the sashes can operate smoothly.

Draughts can also become a thing of the past thanks to the refurbishment process.

“If the timbers are sound and still in good condition we can retro fit draught excluders to sliding sashes and rebates, which will add to the compression and reduces draughts considerably,” Jim explained.

The window restorers also source like-for-like brass fittings, hooks and pulleys which are easily replaced by retro-fitting.

Their attention to detail even includes providing the same sheet glass and the type of putty that would have been used one hundred years ago.

And opening restrictors, which restrict the ability of children to open windows, can also be fitted to comply with new legislation.

“Historically, sash windows were made to last for generations. With a little effort and expertise even those that look beyond repair can be returned to their former glory,” said Jim.

Depending on specification of timber and fittings, draught-proofing starts from €500 per window, a cill can be replaced from €110, outer casings from €60, all-new brass hardware from €90, and to retro-fit restrictors to the bottom sash costs from €60.