Archive for the ‘windows’ tag
Wooden Sash Windows Or Plastic Windows Which Conveys Better Impression In Office
When you are remodeling your office there will come a time when you may need to choose between wooden sash windows or plastic windows. Which option gives a better impression in an office environment?
Like it or not, clients and others will judge you by the way your office looks and feels. Their decision whether or not to work with you will be influenced as least subconsciously by details they notice in your work environment.
In the 1967 film, The Graduate, Benjamin, that character played by Dustin Hoffman was given a bit of career advice by a well meaning neighbor. His one word of advice was “Plastics”. Mr. McGuire’s advice was good. There was great future to be had in plastics.
But anyone who remembers the movie also remembers that Mr. McGuire and his one word of advice represented everything that was ugly about the world. It represented artificiality, superficiality and dishonesty. Today people use plastics almost constantly. Tools, utensils, dishes, toys, computer keyboards, telephones, even furniture and shoes are made from plastic. Many of these products look good and work well. And then they are thrown away.
Plastics even while they are being used and enjoyed can evoke negative feelings in people. Phrases like “cheap plastic” roll easily off the tongue. People who seem to be all appearance and no substance are described as plastic.
When people buy and sell, sign contracts and make plans they want to work with people they can trust. They look for qualities like honesty and integrity. They want to work with someone who is real, not plastic.
Your choice of building materials can hint at what your values are. Choosing wood can suggest that you value tradition and craftsmanship. Your choice suggests that you value enduring quality over superficial appearance.
There was a story on BBC recently about people replacing wooden sash windows in historic buildings with plastic windows. People who are committed to preserving historic architecture are determined to stamp out this “plague”.
If your office is in an older building you definitely don’t want to introduce plastic where once there were wooden sash windows. People will notice. The effect will be disturbing. It will be evident that corners were cut and short cuts were taken.
In a new building wooden sash windows can remind visitors that there is a place for something real and natural even in world ever more dominated by synthetics. Wooden sash windows will convey to your clients that they are doing business with people who are real.
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Wooden Windows Or Plastic Windows, Which Are Better In Terms Of Environment?
Being green is on everyone's mind these days. We all want to do something thats good for our planet, but at the same time resolve our own issues as well. When it comes to renovations and replacing things in our homes, such as Windows, there is often a popular question that arises: which is better for the environment, wooden windows or plastic windows?
While many people will tell you choosing what is always better because it is a natural material, some will argue that. There are many different opinions which will be presented so that you can make your own choice.
Obviously, would comes from trees. Therefore, natural resources will be affected in order to construct these new wooden windows. People will argue that using plastic will not affect the trees. Another thing that can be negative when it comes to using wood, is the fact that it is porous. Thankfully, these issues can be resolved.
These solutions come in the form of chemicals which must be applied on these wood frames every couple of years to maintain them properly. Therefore, perhaps wooden windows are not the best solution.
That means that you will either have to do it yourself or hire someone else to apply these chemical solutions and maintain the integrity of the frame. If you don not follow up with these treatments, your friends will rot because of the moisture and whether elements. Of course, this issue does not exist with plastic.
It simply because no maintenance is required for plastic. Others will argue that petroleum is required in order to develop plastic, thereby harming the environment. But, this is a one-time occurrence. Additionally, they will not require any type of maintenance that requires chemicals. So, it obviously becomes a better product. Plastic products also last a very long time. When considering all the pros and cons, plastic seems to be the better solution. It is also safe to say that they are better insulated. That automatically means that energy costs are reduced, as is energy consumption. This translates into savings on the homeowners behalf, and benefits for the planet.
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Exploring The Origins Of The Sash Window In History
The origins of the sash window are believed to be in England in the 1670’s. This style of window and method of operation has retained its popularity since that era, both in restoration of historic homes and in new construction.
This style, a major innovation that differed greatly from earlier casement windows, is generally credited to a a major scientist and inventor, Robert Hooke. Hooke was an industrious man who coined the term ‘cell’ for the living units of biology he observed with a homemade microscope, discovered many principles of the law of gravity, designed some of London’s most historic buildings, and surveyed much of London after the Great Fire of 1666. He also studied the properties of glass and invented a balance spring which allowed for the watch to be created.
Robert Hooke, a brilliant man born in England in the 1600s, was both a practical man skilled in clock making and surveying, a skilled architect, a biologist, and a physicist. He studied gravity, the properties of glass, and invented a balance spring that led to the development of the watch. It is easy to see how these studies contributed to his window, moving up and down with a weight to offset the pull of gravity, with muntins (strips of wood holding individual panes of glass in a frame) to relieve stress on the amount of glass needed for large panels, and attractive enough to grace a stately home.
Over time, sash windows made of wood will loosen in their frames, as continual opening and shutting wears the jambs and tracks, and the wood itself expands and contracts with the changing seasonal temperatures and shows the effects of weather. Older windows may rattle in the wind and let air leak in or out around the joints. They also may refuse to open as paint builds up in the seams, or refuse to stay pushed up when the sash cords get brittle and break with age.
New houses have this style of window as well, although the materials may be more modern. Either soft or hard wood is still seen in many houses, since it gives a traditional look and is a good insulator. Modern commercial buildings and cement block houses may have more informal vinyl or metal windows, often using aluminum which does not rot or corrode. Another durable material is fiberglass, which has the advantage of expanding and contracting the same as the glass panes. It is stronger than vinyl or aluminum, neither rots or corrodes, may be painted, and has a higher insulation rating than metal or plastic.
The sash window has not been changed much over the years, although single glazing has often given way to double and even triple glazing for energy efficiency. Glazing is a term for a transparent panel in a wall; single means one thickness, while double and triple glazing simply fist more than one panel in a frame, with air spaces in between.
The origins of the sash window are not certain, but its evolution is easily traced by the architecture that has used this style down the centuries.
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