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Fairco Windows Prevent Day Time Burglary

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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

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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.

Ireland's first frameless windows bring a wall of light to homes

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Ireland’s first frameless windows bring a wall of light to homes

 

Ireland’s first frameless windows and doors look set to bring a wall of light to Irish homes and revolutionise the residential market.

Lumi by Fairco is a complete range of customisable, matching frameless windows and bi–folding, patio and residential doors which were voted the industry’s new product of the year.

With their completely flat, uninterrupted profile, these radically-styled windows increase the amount of light flooding into homes.

With their completely flat, uninterrupted profile, Lumi windows increase light in your home.
With their completely flat, uninterrupted profile, Lumi windows increase light in your home.

Hidden under the ceramic colour lies the secret to Lumi’s strength – energy efficient triple glazing that has been structurally bonded to an internal core of high strength, glass-fibre reinforced profiles.

This intelligent piece of engineering is the first of its kind on the market, bringing all the design benefits of frameless glazing with all the strength, security and internal styling of more traditional windows and doors.

“The Lumi system is a radical new approach for residential windows and doors, which the judges at the G Awards in the UK recently described as a product that truly reinvents the window,” said Fairco Windows and Doors Managing Director Jim Toal.

“The product has already received widespread acclaim from homeowners and architects through several outings at events such as Grand Designs.

“The complete Lumi system means that anyone can have a combination of windows, doors and bifolds that are an exact match, not just a close approximation as in many other cases.

“Lumi has been specially developed for our weather conditions. Available in six different finishes, all colours are protected from the elements reducing the possibility of fading over time.

“Plus, having no external frames means that maintenance and cleaning are every bit as minimal as the styling.”

Lumi by Fairco has been designed to conserve energy and withstand even the most extremes of weather.

With a state of the art 50mm insulated triple glazed unit, an 80mm draught free double rebate system with a double gasket seal as standard, Lumi by Fairco windows are among the most energy efficient on the market.

The Lumi window brake lock system from Winkhaus allows the window to be locked into any opening position simply by using the window’s handle – adding an extra dimension to Fairco’s already high-end security fittings as standard.