News & Insights

Few window configurations have as much architectural impact as a bay or bow. They change the shape of a room, increase natural light from multiple angles, and add a sense of depth and character to the exterior of a property that flat windows simply cannot achieve. Whether you are restoring a Victorian or Edwardian home where bays are a defining feature, or introducing one into a new build or extension for the first time, understanding the difference between the two styles and what goes into specifying them well is worth the time.

Bay vs bow: what is the difference?

The terms are often used interchangeably, but they describe two distinct configurations. A bay window projects outward from the face of the building at defined angles, typically forming three flat sides. The most common arrangement is a wide front panel flanked by two narrower side panels set at 30, 45, or 90 degrees. The angles are sharp and the lines are straight, giving the window a structured, geometric appearance. Bay windows are a hallmark of Victorian and Edwardian architecture and remain one of the most recognisable features of period homes across Dublin and Ireland.

A bow window also projects from the wall, but it uses a series of panels set at gentle, incremental angles to create a curved profile. The curve is typically formed from four or five individual units joined together, and the effect is softer and more fluid than a bay. Bow windows suit Georgian townhouses, where the proportions tend to be more restrained, and they also work well in contemporary designs where a subtle curve adds visual interest without the angular drama of a traditional bay.

What they do for a room

The practical benefit of a bay or bow window is that it captures light from three or more directions rather than just one. In a north-facing room or a narrow terrace where light is limited, this makes a noticeable difference to how bright and open the space feels. The projection also creates additional floor area inside, which is often used as a reading nook, a window seat, or simply extra room that would not otherwise exist.

From the outside, a bay or bow window breaks up a flat facade and gives the property a sense of depth and proportion. On a terraced street, a well-detailed bay window can be the single feature that distinguishes one home from its neighbours. On a detached property, it adds scale and visual weight to the front or side elevation.

Materials and detailing

Bay and bow windows can be built in any of Fairco’s frame materials. For period properties, sash windows configured as a bay are the most architecturally faithful option. A Heritage Sash bay with run-through horns, slim meeting rails, and a traditional colour finish brings the window back to its original character while delivering fully modern thermal and security performance.

Performance uPVC and OMNIA Flush suit more contemporary bay configurations, where the clean lines of a flush profile and a modern colour palette complement the geometry of the projection. For larger bays where maximum glass area and minimal frame are the priority, aluminium offers the slimmest sightlines and the structural strength to span wider panels without heavy framing.

The joining detail between panels is important in any bay or bow. The mullion profiles, the corner posts, and the way the units are coupled together all affect both the appearance and the weather performance of the assembly. Because Fairco manufactures in-house, these junctions can be engineered precisely to suit the angles and dimensions of each project.

Practical considerations

Bay and bow windows are heavier than flat window configurations and place additional load on the structure below. In new builds, the supporting structure is designed around the window from the start. In renovations or replacements, it is important to assess the condition of the existing bay structure, including the lintel, the bay cheeks, and the base or corbel supporting the projection. If you are replacing the windows in an existing bay, the new units may differ in weight from the originals, particularly if upgrading from single or early double glazing to triple glazing, so the supporting structure should be reviewed as part of the survey.

In some cases, planning permission may be required, particularly if the bay involves a change to the external profile of the building or if the property is in a conservation area. Like-for-like replacement of existing bay windows is typically exempt, but it is always worth confirming before work begins.

A window worth getting right

Bay and bow windows are among the most visible and character-defining features on any home. Getting the proportions, the detailing, and the material choice right makes the difference between a window that looks like it belongs and one that feels like an afterthought. Because every bay and bow is a bespoke configuration, early consultation with your supplier ensures the design, structural requirements, and installation approach are all aligned before manufacturing begins.

Book a free consultation with the Fairco team to discuss your bay or bow window project, or visit our showrooms to see the range of materials and finishes available.

When you choose new windows and doors, you are trusting that they will perform as promised for decades. They need to keep heat in, keep weather out, resist forced entry, and operate smoothly year after year. But how do manufacturers prove that a product can actually do all of these things? The answer lies in a series of rigorous, independently verified tests that every product must pass before it can be installed in your home. Understanding what these tests involve gives you a clearer picture of what you are actually paying for when you invest in quality.

Weather performance testing

Weather performance is assessed under EN 14351-1, the European product standard for windows and doors. Three properties are measured, each on a classified scale.

Air permeability measures how much air leaks through the window or door when it is closed. The product is mounted in a test rig and subjected to increasing air pressure. The amount of air that passes through the frame, seals, and junctions is recorded at each stage. A higher classification means less air leakage, which translates directly to fewer draughts and lower heating costs in your home.

Water tightness measures how well the product resists water penetration under pressure. Water is sprayed against the external face of the window while air pressure is applied to simulate wind-driven rain. The test increases in intensity until water penetrates the assembly. For coastal and exposed properties, a higher water tightness classification is essential.

Wind resistance tests the structural integrity of the window under sustained wind loading. Positive and negative pressure cycles are applied to simulate the forces a window experiences during high winds. The product must maintain its structural integrity, and the deflection of the frame must remain within defined limits. This matters in Ireland’s climate, where winter storms regularly produce wind gusts that place significant pressure on the building envelope.

Security testing

PAS 24:2022 is the current enhanced security standard for windows and doors. It is a pass-or-fail test designed to replicate the methods an opportunist burglar would use to break into a home.

The testing sequence includes mechanical loading, where significant force is applied to the frame and hardware to test whether the window can be prised open. It includes hard and soft body impact, simulating blunt force strikes against the glass and frame. And it includes manual attack, where a tester uses a prescribed set of tools to attempt to manipulate hardware, cut through materials, and remove glazing. For doors, additional tests cover cylinder vulnerability and letterplate security.

Every Fairco window and door is independently certified to PAS 24:2022, which means every product in the range has been subjected to and passed this full testing regime.

Thermal performance testing

The thermal performance of a window is expressed as a U-value, measured in W/m²K. A lower number means less heat passes through the assembly. U-values are determined through a combination of laboratory testing and calculation, taking into account the glass, the gas fill, the spacer bar, the frame material, and the way these components interact at junctions.

Whole-window U-values are important because they reflect the performance of the complete assembly, not just the centre of the glass. The frame, the edge of glass, and the spacer bar all influence the final number. This is why products with warm-edge spacer bars, multi-chambered profiles, and triple glazing consistently outperform products that may have the same centre-pane glass but weaker detailing at the edges and frame.

Cycle testing

Windows and doors are opened and closed thousands of times over their lifetime. Cycle testing simulates this by operating the hardware repeatedly under controlled conditions, checking that handles, locking mechanisms, hinges, and friction stays continue to function correctly after extended use. This is particularly important for tilt-and-turn windows and multi-point locking systems, where the mechanism is more complex, and the long-term reliability of the hardware directly affects both security and ease of use.

From the laboratory to your home

Testing proves what a product can do under controlled conditions. But the results only hold true if the product that arrives at your home is built to the same specification as the one that was tested. This is where manufacturing quality and consistency become critical.

Because Fairco controls design, manufacture, and installation from our Antrim facility, the product installed in your home is built to the same tolerances, with the same components, and to the same specification as the product that passed every test. That chain of accountability is what separates a test certificate from real-world performance.

If you would like to understand more about how Fairco products are tested and certified, book a free consultation or visit our showrooms to see the quality of construction firsthand.

French doors have been a feature of residential architecture for centuries. Their appeal is enduring because the idea behind them is simple and effective: two full-height glazed doors that open together to create a wide, unobstructed connection between inside and outside. In a market where sliding doors and bi-fold doors often dominate the conversation, French doors continue to hold their own, and for good reason. They suit situations that other door types do not, and they bring a sense of proportion and character that is difficult to replicate with a different format.

When French doors are the right choice

French doors work best in openings where the width is moderate rather than expansive. Where a sliding or bi-fold door needs a wider span to justify its design, French doors are naturally suited to openings of around 1.2 to 1.8 metres. This makes them ideal for connecting a living room or kitchen to a patio, a bedroom to a balcony, or an internal room to a conservatory or extension.

Because both doors swing open fully, the entire width of the opening is clear when the doors are in use. There is no track to step over, no panel stacking to one side, and no mechanism to operate beyond a simple handle turn. This simplicity is part of their appeal. They are intuitive, reliable, and easy to maintain over a long service life.

French doors are also one of the few door types that can be configured to open either inward or outward, depending on the space available and the homeowner’s preference. Outward opening keeps the interior floor area clear, while inward opening can be preferable where external space is limited or where a flush threshold is required for accessibility.

Design versatility

One of the strengths of French doors is how comfortably they sit within different architectural styles. On a period property, a pair of French doors with astragal glazing bars and a heritage colour finish feels entirely at home. On a contemporary facade, a flush profile in anthracite grey or matt black delivers clean, modern lines. This adaptability is why French doors remain one of the most frequently specified door types for both renovations and new builds.

Pairing French doors with fixed sidelights or fanlights is a practical way to increase the overall glazed area without widening the opening itself. Sidelights add width and light while the door panels remain a manageable size and weight, keeping the hardware and hinges under less stress and ensuring smooth operation for years to come.

Fairco’s French doors are available in Performance uPVC, OMNIA Flush, and aluminium, meaning you can match them precisely to the windows elsewhere in the house. For homeowners specifying OMNIA Flush throughout, the French door shares the same flush profile and shadow line as the window range, maintaining complete design consistency across every opening.

Security and weather performance

A common concern with double-door configurations is security. Fairco French doors address this with a double rebated design, where the two doors interlock when closed, eliminating the gap between the panels that can be a weakness in lesser products. Multi-point locking systems, reinforced frames, and PAS 24:2022 certification ensure the doors meet the same security standard as every other product in the Fairco range.

Weather performance is equally important. French doors are exposed to the same wind-driven rain and pressure that affects any part of the building envelope. Fairco’s doors are tested for air permeability, water tightness, and wind resistance, with weather-tight seals and drainage routes designed to handle Ireland’s climate, including coastal and exposed locations.

Thermal performance

French doors are available with double or triple glazing and thermally efficient frames, delivering strong insulation without compromising the generous glazed area. Low-emissivity coatings, argon gas filling, and warm-edge spacer bars all contribute to a low U-value, reducing heat loss and supporting energy performance goals. Fairco French doors are rated A++ for energy efficiency as standard.

A door that fits your home

Every Fairco French door is made to order and tailored to your exact dimensions, finish, and glazing specification. Whether you are replacing an existing pair, adding a new opening in a renovation, or specifying for a new build, French doors offer a combination of elegance, practicality, and performance that few other door types can match.

Book a free consultation to discuss your project, or visit our showrooms to see Fairco French doors alongside the full window and door range.

Your front door is the first thing people see when they approach your home and the last thing they notice when they leave. It sets the tone for the entire property. A tired, faded, or poorly fitting entrance door suggests a home that has been neglected. A well-chosen one does the opposite, signalling care, quality, and attention to detail before anyone steps inside. Of all the upgrades you can make to the exterior of your home, a new entrance door delivers the most immediate and visible impact.

Choosing the right material

The material you choose determines how the door looks, how it performs, and how much maintenance it requires over its lifetime. Fairco offers several options, each suited to different priorities and property styles.

Composite doors combine a solid, insulating core with a reinforced aluminium subframe and a durable outer skin. They are resistant to warping, swelling, and fading, and deliver excellent thermal and acoustic performance. For homeowners who want a robust, low-maintenance door with a wide choice of panel designs and colours, composite is the most versatile option.

Accoya timber doors are for those who want the warmth and character of natural wood with exceptional durability. Accoya is treated using a non-toxic acetylation process that makes it dimensionally stable, rot-resistant, and far more durable than traditional hardwoods like oak. It holds paint finishes for longer, resists moisture uptake, and performs consistently in Ireland’s damp climate.

Aluminium entrance doors offer a sleek, contemporary aesthetic with slim profiles and clean lines. Their strength allows for larger glazed panels and more ambitious design configurations, making them well suited to modern homes and new builds.

For homeowners who want their entrance door to match their windows throughout the house, the OMNIA Flush entrance door is the only option in the Irish market that offers a true flush profile in the same design language as the window range. This creates seamless design continuity across every opening, which no combination of separate products can replicate.

Security that works invisibly

The front door is the primary point of entry to your home, and its security performance matters as much as its appearance. Every Fairco entrance door is fitted with multi-point locking systems and reinforced frames as standard. Composite doors incorporate a rigid core and aluminium subframe specifically engineered to resist forced entry. All Fairco entrance doors are independently certified to PAS 24:2022, which tests for mechanical loading, impact, and manual attack using tools an opportunist burglar might carry.

Good security should be invisible. The locking hardware, the frame reinforcement, and the construction that makes the door resistant to attack should all work quietly behind a design that looks welcoming rather than defensive.

Thermal performance and draught elimination

An old or poorly fitted front door is one of the most common sources of draughts and heat loss in any home. Modern entrance doors with insulating cores, airtight seals, and thermally efficient frames eliminate this problem entirely. Fairco entrance doors are rated A++ for energy performance as standard, reducing heat loss and contributing to a more comfortable, consistent indoor temperature. For homeowners pursuing a better BER rating or applying for the SEAI windows and doors grant, the entrance door is a key part of the overall building envelope.

Design and personalisation

Every Fairco entrance door is custom made to your preferred dimensions, style, and finish. The range of options covers panel designs from traditional to contemporary, decorative and clear glazing, a full spectrum of colours, and a choice of handles, letterplates, and knockers. Whether you are looking for a bold statement piece on a modern facade or a sympathetic complement to a period property, the door can be specified to suit.

Fairco’s online door builder lets you experiment with combinations of model, colour, glass, and hardware before you commit, giving you a clear picture of how the finished door will look on your home.

See the range in person

An entrance door is one of those products best experienced in person. The weight of the door, the feel of the handle, the quality of the finish, and the sound it makes when it closes all contribute to the sense of quality that a brochure or screen cannot fully convey. The full Fairco entrance door range is on display at our Santry and Deansgrange showrooms.

Book a free consultation to discuss which entrance door suits your home, or visit a showroom to see and feel the difference for yourself.

uPVC has been the dominant window material in Ireland for decades, and that position shows no sign of changing. Across Europe, it remains the most widely specified material for residential windows and doors, driven by a combination of practical performance, longevity, and low maintenance that no other material matches at the same level. Yet the uPVC of today bears little resemblance to the products that first appeared on Irish homes in the 1980s and 1990s. For homeowners who still associate uPVC with basic white plastic frames, modern systems offer a very different experience.

Durability that suits the Irish climate

Ireland’s weather is demanding. Wind-driven rain, salt air on the coast, constant moisture, and temperature cycling between seasons all place sustained stress on building materials. uPVC handles these conditions exceptionally well. It does not rot, rust, corrode, flake, or warp. It is unaffected by salt air, which makes it particularly suited to coastal properties where timber and unprotected metals can deteriorate within years. It does not require repainting, revarnishing, or any protective treatment. A wipe with soapy water is all the maintenance a uPVC frame needs, year after year.

This durability is not just about appearance. The structural integrity of the frame directly affects how well the window performs thermally and how securely the hardware operates. A frame that maintains its shape and rigidity over decades ensures that seals stay compressed, locking mechanisms engage properly, and the window continues to perform as it did on the day it was installed.

Thermal performance

uPVC is an inherently poor conductor of heat, which is exactly what you want in a window frame. Multi-chambered profiles trap pockets of still air within the frame, creating a natural insulation barrier that reduces heat transfer. Combined with double or triple glazing, low-emissivity coatings, and warm-edge spacer bars, modern uPVC windows achieve U-values that would have been unthinkable a generation ago. Fairco’s OMNIA Flush system achieves U-values as low as 0.75 W/m²K with triple glazing, performance that sits comfortably within passive house territory.

This level of thermal performance contributes directly to lower heating costs, a better BER rating, and improved eligibility for the SEAI windows and doors grant.

Design has moved on

The biggest shift in recent years is in how uPVC looks and feels. The material is no longer limited to white, chamfered profiles with visible gaskets. Modern systems offer flush sightlines, natural shadow lines, and over 20 colour and finish options, from warm woodgrain effects to contemporary greys, greens, and matt blacks.

Fairco’s OMNIA Flush range delivers a clean, flush profile that sits level with the outer frame, eliminating the stepped appearance of traditional uPVC. The Spectral finish, available across the Performance uPVC range, takes this further with an ultra-matt, velvety surface that looks and feels closer to powder-coated aluminium than conventional uPVC. For homeowners who have historically avoided uPVC on aesthetic grounds, these developments change the equation entirely.

Security

Modern uPVC windows and doors are engineered for security from the ground up. Reinforced profiles, multi-point locking systems, and internally beaded glazing are standard features, not optional extras. Fairco’s full uPVC range is independently certified to PAS 24:2022, the current enhanced security standard, which involves rigorous testing for mechanical loading, impact resistance, and resistance to manual attack.

Sustainability

uPVC is fully recyclable. At the end of its service life, which typically exceeds 25 years, the material can be reclaimed, reprocessed, and used to manufacture new profiles. Unlike timber, it requires no chemical treatments during its lifespan, and unlike aluminium, its production does not involve the same energy-intensive smelting process. For homeowners considering the environmental footprint of their window choice, uPVC offers a strong lifecycle case.

The right material, specified well

uPVC’s popularity is not a legacy of habit. It endures because no other material delivers the same combination of thermal performance, durability, design flexibility, security, and low maintenance. What has changed is the quality of the best uPVC systems available. The gap between a budget uPVC window and a well-specified one is significant, and the specification, the manufacturing quality, and the installation all determine the result you live with for decades.

Fairco manufactures all uPVC windows and doors in-house at our Antrim facility, using the highest grade of uPVC available for domestic applications. Book a free consultation or visit our showrooms to see how modern uPVC compares to what you might expect.

It is one of the most common questions we hear: should I go for double or triple glazing? The honest answer is that both perform well, and modern double glazing is a significant step up from the units that were standard even 15 years ago. But they are not interchangeable. Each suits different situations, and understanding the practical differences helps you make a decision based on your home, your priorities, and the results you want to achieve.

The basics

Double glazing uses two panes of glass separated by a single sealed cavity, typically filled with argon gas. Triple glazing adds a third pane and a second gas-filled cavity. Both use low-emissivity (Low-E) coatings to reflect heat back into the room and warm-edge spacer bars to reduce heat loss at the glass perimeter.

The key difference is thermal performance. A high-performance double-glazed unit with Low-E coatings typically achieves a U-value of around 1.0 to 1.2 W/m²K. Triple glazing pushes that significantly lower, with Fairco’s OMNIA Flush achieving U-values as low as 0.75 W/m²K in a triple-glazed configuration. A lower U-value means less heat passes through the glass, which translates directly into a warmer home and lower energy consumption.

When double glazing is the right choice

Modern double glazing with Low-E coatings and argon fill is a high-performing product. For many Irish homes, particularly those in sheltered locations, with south-facing elevations, or with modest window area relative to overall wall area, it delivers strong thermal performance and excellent value. It is also lighter than triple glazing, which can be relevant in renovation projects where existing openings, lintels, or frame depths may not accommodate the additional weight and thickness of a triple-glazed unit.

If you are replacing old single glazing or early double glazing that lacks Low-E coatings, the step up to modern double glazing is substantial. The improvement in comfort, draught reduction, and energy efficiency will be immediately noticeable.

When triple glazing makes more sense

Triple glazing comes into its own in situations where thermal performance needs to be maximised. North-facing rooms that receive little direct solar gain, exposed or coastal locations where wind-driven cold is more persistent, and properties aiming for a high BER rating or passive house certification all benefit from the lower U-values that triple glazing delivers.

There is also a significant condensation benefit. Because the inner pane of a triple-glazed unit stays closer to room temperature, moisture is far less likely to form on the glass surface. For rooms where humidity is high, such as kitchens and bathrooms, this can make a meaningful difference to daily comfort and long-term maintenance.

New builds offer the best opportunity for triple glazing because the openings, lintels, and wall build-ups can all be designed to accommodate the heavier, deeper units from the outset. For homeowners building to NZEB or passive house standards, triple glazing is effectively essential to meet the required U-value targets.

What about noise?

The acoustic difference between standard double and standard triple glazing is modest. In fact, triple glazing with uniform pane thicknesses can sometimes perform no better acoustically than a well-specified double-glazed unit. However, the overall acoustic performance of any glazing unit depends more on glass thickness, walls, frame, asymmetric pane configurations, and whether laminated glass is used than on the number of panes alone. If noise reduction is a primary concern, the glazing specification matters more than simply choosing double or triple.

It is not always one or the other

One approach that is often overlooked is specifying a mix of both within the same property. Triple glazing on north-facing and exposed elevations, where heat loss is greatest, and double glazing on sheltered or south-facing sides, where solar gain is an asset and the thermal demand is lower. This allows you to optimise performance where it matters most without over-specifying where it does not.

Fairco offers both double and triple glazing across the full product range, including Performance uPVC, OMNIA Flush, and aluminium systems. Our team can advise on the right glazing configuration for each elevation of your home based on orientation, exposure, and the overall energy performance you want to achieve.

Book a free consultation to discuss which option suits your home, or visit our showrooms to see and compare double and triple glazed units side by side.