New low-maintenance Entrance Doors

Friday, May 26, 2017

The entrance door reflects the individuality of a home – and its owners - like nothing else. As the actively used interface between public and private spaces, it has a high architectural value but also has to satisfy function. The new doors from Paarhammer combine both and are low maintenance to boot. The new aluminium door range is available in different designs and colours with or without glass inserts. All doors are highly energy efficient with U-value starting from a low 1.4. The Pu-foam filled panels have a thickness of 46mm, and feature double or triple glazing if used. Side

Paarhammer Manufacturer of the Year – Small Business

Wednesday, May 10, 2017

Paarhammer is Victoria’s ‘Manufacturer of the Year – Small Business’ 2017. We are absolutely thrilled and very honoured! A long manufacturing history, staff training and education, innovation and latest technology together with several ‘firsts’ and sustainable features of the factory, as well as community involvement, were mentioned by the Victoria State Government in regard to our award. The Manufacturing Hall of Fame Awards, established in 2001, recognise individuals and companies who embrace new technologies and manufacturing techniques, are export (or import replacement) focused and excel in business innovation. Established by Tony and Edith Paarhammer in 1990, a family owned and

Tony Paarhammer voted onto AWA Board

Thursday, March 30, 2017

Tony Paarhammer, Managing Director of Paarhammer Windows & Doors, has recently been voted onto the Board of the Australian Windows Association (AWA). With his vast experience in the industry, Tony is looking forward to representing window makers on the AWA board in times of big changes and great challenges. Now comprising of more than 600 window manufacturers and industry suppliers throughout Australia, the AWA continues to drive product conformity and compliance, and advocate to both governments and regulators. The AWA keeps members up-to-date with the latest news in the industry, and provides advice and support. Further training in the industry

Stop the noise!

Sunday, March 19, 2017

With all the hustle and bustle in our daily life we crave peace and quiet in our homes. But noise from roads, planes or neighbours disturb our well-earned relaxation time. Stop the noise and create a quiet oasis with Paarhammer windows and doors! Noise is accepted to be the fastest growing type of pollution in modern cities, and its effect on our mental and emotional health has a direct influence on our physical well-being, everything from lack of sleep to increased stress, heart attacks and strokes. Our health suffers if there is a constant noise level and our bodies and

Visit the Paarhammer Showroom

Thursday, February 23, 2017

Choosing windows is a major investment. While a number of products can be featured at shows etc. it may be worthwhile to see where the windows are being made. Paarhammer have a large showroom with varied products in the different ranges available, and in addition are happy to walk prospective clients through their manufacturing facility. Opening times are 8am to 4pm Monday to Thursday, 8am to 1pm on Friday, and Saturday mornings are by appointment only. Please call 03 5368 1999 in advance to ensure that the right people are available to discuss your window and door needs. We look

History of Windows

Wednesday, February 01, 2017

"The history of architecture is also the history of windows" said Le Corbusier, the Swiss-French pioneer of modern architecture. The modern window does not only consist of glass and frame, it is a complex structure which provides more than only views. Modern architecture is influenced by technological possibilities of window production, meaning that innovations in the window and façade technology open up opportunities for architects in the design of buildings. While ancient China, Korea and Japan widely used paper windows, the Romans were the first known to use glass for windows around 100 AD. In England animal horn was used

Do your Windows comply? - Update

Tuesday, January 17, 2017

'Safety is not a matter of good luck'    The Building Ministers' Forum (BMF) recognises that the issue of non-conforming / non-compliant building products (NCBP), whether domestically manufactured or imported, is important and complex. It can have economic, health, legal, safety, and social consequences, not to mention, life and death consequences. A non-complying product can pose serious risks to the building itself, people on the construction site and ultimately those who live in it. Non-conforming building products are 'products and materials that claim to be something they are not; do not meet required standards for their intended use; or are marketed

Residential Scorecard for Victoria

Monday, November 28, 2016

The Victorian Government has been moving ahead with the development of a Residential Efficiency Scorecard (the Scorecard). While the Scorecard is targeted at existing homes, it can also be used to assess new homes. The Scorecard is a web based tool that will enable a trained assessor to identify and record information about the fabric of a home (including fixed appliances) where it affects the energy or hot weather performance. The Scorecard tool will then produce a rating for the home, a hot weather rating, rate individual home features and provide recommendations on upgrade options. The Scorecard is currently being

Low VOC finished Windows for Health

Sunday, November 13, 2016

Volatile Organic Compounds, or VOCs, contribute negatively to air pollution (e.g. smog), and forms ground level ozone which can irritate the eyes and lungs, and can result in breathing problems. Ozone can also harm vegetation, crops and trees. VOCs contribute negatively to indoor air quality through emissions, during and after curing, and as a result impacts on individual health and wellbeing. Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) looks at reducing the amount of volatile organic compounds released into the internal atmosphere by building materials, typically through solvents, paints and adhesives. VOCs include a variety of chemicals, some of which may have short

Wood: Australia's most loved material

Sunday, October 23, 2016

Wood continues to grow as the most loved material among Australians. In a recent survey WoodSolutions found that most Australians are likely to choose wood over other materials for various uses. Wood remains the most loved material and is unmatched on attributes relating to aesthetics and sustainability. Wood is seen as far more natural, warm, timeless, uplifting and versatile than other materials.    Almost half of consumers love wood (47%), compared to 25% for the closest competitor (modified wood), 9% love steel, 7% aluminium and only 2% plastic. Advantages of using timber Wood has unique characteristics and offers several environmental advantages:

Paarhammer joins Passive House Association

Thursday, September 22, 2016

With excellent energy efficiency ratings, Paarhammer products are a perfect fit for passive houses. We have now joined the Australian Passive House Association. On their website: ‘The Australian Passive House Association is an independent, not-for-profit organization which aims to promote Passive House principles as a way of providing superior indoor comfort and air quality while reducing energy use and carbon emissions from Australia’s buildings. Passive House (or PassivHaus) was originally developed in Germany and has since spread throughout Europe (and the rest of the world – authors note). The standard continues to evolve and is now finding popularity in diverse

U-values, European versus Australian

Monday, September 12, 2016

U-value calculations are not the same the world over. Australia has decided to follow the American NFRC (National Fenestration Rating Council) system when making calculations for the Window Energy Rating System – WERS. U-value measures how well a product allows heat to pass through. It is a measure of the rate of non-solar heat loss or gain through a material or assembly. The lower the U-value, the greater a window's resistance to heat flow and the better its insulating value. The whole window assembly is tested which includes the effect of the frame, glass, seals and any spacers. What does