News & Insights

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.

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.

Natural light changes how a room feels. It makes spaces appear larger, reduces dependence on artificial lighting during the day, and has a measurable effect on mood, energy, and wellbeing. Yet how much daylight actually reaches the interior of your home depends on more than just the size of the opening. The frame profile, the glazing specification, the window placement, and the type of door you choose all influence how much usable light enters a room and how deep into the space it travels.

Frame profile and glass area

Every window frame takes up a portion of the opening. The wider the frame, the less glass you have and the less light comes through. This is why frame profile matters, particularly in rooms where light is at a premium or where the opening itself is modest in size.

Slimmer frame profiles maximise the glass-to-frame ratio, letting more light in through the same opening. Aluminium systems achieve some of the slimmest sightlines available because the material’s strength allows for narrower profiles without compromising structural integrity. For homeowners who prefer uPVC, OMNIA Flush offers a notably slim profile with invisible mullions that preserve a clean, uninterrupted glass area. In both cases, the difference in visible glass compared to a standard uPVC casement is immediately apparent.

Glazing and light transmission

Not all glass lets the same amount of light through. Low-emissivity coatings, which are essential for thermal performance, can reduce visible light transmission slightly depending on the type and number of coatings applied. Modern low-E glass is engineered to strike a balance, reflecting heat while allowing the vast majority of visible light to pass through. When specifying double or triple glazing, it is worth discussing light transmission values with your supplier, particularly for north-facing rooms or spaces that rely on a single window for all their daylight.

Clear glass obviously transmits more light than obscured or tinted options. In rooms where privacy is not a concern, keeping the glass clear and pairing it with a slim frame profile delivers the maximum possible daylight for the opening size.

Doors as light sources

In open-plan living areas and rear extensions, the back door is often the single largest glazed element in the room. Choosing the right door type has a major impact on how light enters the space. Sliding doors with large fixed panels and slim aluminium frames can turn an entire rear wall into a light source. Bi-fold doors achieve a similar effect when open, and still deliver generous glazed area when closed. Even a well-proportioned French door with sidelights brings significantly more light into a room than a solid or half-glazed alternative.

For rooms that feel dark or enclosed, replacing a small rear door with a wider glazed opening is often the most transformative single change a homeowner can make.

Window placement and room depth

Where the window sits in the wall affects how far light penetrates into the room. Windows placed higher on the wall allow light to reach deeper into the space, which is why fanlights, high-level windows, and clerestory glazing are so effective in single-storey extensions and open-plan layouts. Corner windows, where two glazed walls meet, eliminate the shadow that a solid corner creates and dramatically change the quality of light in a room.

Even in an existing home where the openings are fixed, upgrading to a slimmer frame profile increases the glass area within the same structural opening, bringing a noticeable improvement in daylight without any building work beyond the window replacement itself.

Brighter rooms start with the right specification

If your home feels darker than it should, or if you are planning a renovation or extension where natural light is a priority, the window and door specification is the place to start. Frame profile, glazing type, door style, and opening configuration all contribute, and the right combination can transform how a room looks and feels throughout the day.

Book a free consultation with the Fairco team, or visit our showrooms to see how different frame profiles and door types compare in person.

When upgrading windows and doors, most homeowners focus on individual openings. The front door, the kitchen windows, the French doors at the back. Each gets chosen separately, sometimes from different ranges or even different manufacturers. The result can be a home where the windows and doors look close enough to matching, but never quite the same. Profile depths differ. Shadow lines vary. Finishes are slightly off. It is a subtle inconsistency, but once you notice it, you cannot unsee it.

OMNIA Flush solves this by offering something no other system on the Irish market currently does: a complete suite of matching flush windows and doors, all from the same profile family, in the same finishes, with the same design language throughout.

What flush means and why it matters

In a flush window, the sash sits level with the outer frame rather than projecting forward from it. This creates a clean, flat surface on the exterior with no stepped profile. The result is a more refined, contemporary appearance with slimmer sightlines and a subtle shadow line where the sash meets the frame. There is no visible black rubber gasket on the face of the window, which is a common visual weakness in standard uPVC systems.

This flush aesthetic has traditionally been associated with timber and aluminium. OMNIA Flush brings the same design quality to uPVC, offering the look and feel of more expensive materials with the durability and low maintenance that uPVC provides.

One system across every opening

The real strength of OMNIA Flush is its range. The system covers casement windows, tilt-and-turn windows, entrance doors, and French doors, all sharing the same profile geometry, the same finishes, and the same hardware styling. When your front door, your kitchen windows, and your rear French doors are all specified from the same system, the visual continuity across the home is immediate and complete.

This matters more than most people expect. Architectural consistency is one of the things that separates a home that looks thoughtfully designed from one that looks like a collection of individual upgrades done over time. With OMNIA Flush, every opening in the house speaks the same design language, inside and out.

Colour and finish options

OMNIA Flush is available in over 20 colours and finishes, including classic whites and creams, contemporary greys such as agate and anthracite, warm woodgrain effects like Irish Oak, and modern tones like sage green and ulti-matt black. The range also includes Fine Texture Foil finishes, which add a finely textured, premium surface quality that brings depth and tactile appeal to the profile.

Because every product in the OMNIA Flush suite draws from the same colour palette, you can confidently specify different product types in the same finish across the house, knowing they will match precisely.

Performance behind the design

OMNIA Flush is not just a design story. The system achieves U-values as low as 0.75 W/m²K with triple glazing, placing it comfortably within passive house territory. Multi-chambered profiles provide structural strength and thermal insulation. Every unit is certified to PAS 24:2022 for enhanced security, and the system is rigorously tested for air permeability, water tightness, and wind resistance.

The innovative construction of OMNIA Flush also allows for faster fabrication and installation times compared to traditional flush systems. This means less disruption during the installation process and shorter lead times from order to completion, without any compromise on quality.

A timber and aluminium alternative

For homeowners who love the aesthetic of timber joinery or the clean lines of aluminium but want the practical benefits of uPVC, OMNIA Flush offers a compelling middle ground. The flush profile, the natural shadow line, and the range of matte and textured finishes deliver a visual result that stands alongside timber and aluminium, with none of the ongoing maintenance that timber demands and at a more accessible specification than full aluminium systems.

See OMNIA Flush in person

OMNIA Flush is one of those products that makes its strongest impression in person. The flush profile, the shadow line, and the quality of the finishes are best appreciated by seeing and touching the product rather than reading about it. Full OMNIA Flush displays are available in Fairco’s Santry and Deansgrange showrooms, where you can compare finishes, operate the hardware, and see how the system looks across windows and doors together.

Book a free consultation to discuss how OMNIA Flush can work for your home.

Tilt-and-turn windows are one of the most practical window types available, yet many homeowners in Ireland are still more familiar with the traditional side-hung casement. If you have not used a tilt-and-turn window before, the concept is simple: a single handle controls two completely different opening positions, giving you more control over ventilation, easier cleaning, and a secure way to let fresh air in without fully opening the window.

Two positions, one handle

The mechanism works through a multi-point locking system connected to a single handle. When the handle is in the closed position, the window is fully locked and sealed. Turning the handle 90 degrees to a horizontal position activates the tilt function: the top of the sash tilts inward, creating a controlled opening at the top of the window while the bottom edge remains securely fixed to the frame. This allows air to flow in and out at ceiling level without creating a draught at floor level.

Turning the handle a further 90 degrees to the fully upright position releases the side hinges, allowing the entire sash to swing inward like a door. This gives full access to the opening for cleaning or maximum ventilation. A simple return of the handle to the closed position locks the window securely at multiple points around the frame.

Why the tilt position matters

The tilt position is what sets this window type apart from a standard casement. Because the opening is at the top of the sash, warm moist air rises and exits naturally while cooler fresh air enters below. This makes it highly effective for rooms where moisture builds up quickly, such as kitchens and bathrooms, where removing steam and humidity without a full draught is exactly what is needed.

It also addresses a common concern for families. In the tilt position, the opening is too narrow for a child or pet to climb through, and the sash remains held in place by the frame at the bottom edge. This provides peace of mind for parents with young children, particularly in upper-floor bedrooms, without relying on restrictors that can be overridden.

Rain is less likely to enter in the tilt position because the glass pane tilts inward from the top, creating a natural shield over the opening. In Ireland’s climate, where a passing shower can arrive without warning, this means you can leave windows ventilating without constantly checking the weather.

The turn position and easy cleaning

The full turn position swings the sash inward, giving access to the outside face of the glass from inside the room. For upper-floor windows, this removes the need for ladders, scaffolding, or reaching out of the opening to clean the exterior. It is a simple but significant practical advantage, especially for two-storey homes or windows above kitchen worktops and bathroom fittings where leaning out is difficult or unsafe.

Where tilt-and-turn works best

Tilt-and-turn suits almost any room, but it is particularly well matched to spaces where ventilation, safety, and ease of maintenance are priorities. Bedrooms benefit from secure night-time ventilation in the tilt position. Kitchens and bathrooms benefit from efficient moisture removal. Home offices benefit from controlled airflow without draughts across a desk. Upper-floor rooms benefit from the cleaning access the turn position provides.

Tilt-and-turn is available across Fairco’s Performance uPVC and OMNIA Flush ranges, in a wide selection of sizes, colours, and glazing configurations, including double and triple glazing. Every unit is fitted with multi-point locking and certified to PAS 24:2022 for enhanced security.

If you would like to see how tilt-and-turn works in practice, visit our showrooms where you can operate the mechanism yourself, or book a free consultation to discuss whether tilt-and-turn is the right choice for your home.