Australian Climate Zones

Tuesday, July 13, 2021

Climate Zones Australia is a large and diverse country with huge differences in the climate from one end to the other. To maximise the energy efficiency of a building the right window choice is crucial. Passive House has divided Australia into 5 climate zones which may be an oversimplification. Parts of Tasmania, Ballarat, Hotham and the Blue Mountains are seen as similar to Sydney and Brisbane. Whereas the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) divides Australia into 8 Climate Zones which is more complex but also more accurate. In Europe for example Rome, Vienna and London are also not in the

Clerestory – highlight – tilt windows

Monday, June 07, 2021

Clerestory windows are usually narrow windows placed at the top of a wall, close to the ceiling or roof. Placed above eye level, these windows let in light but avoid overlooking neighbours. These types of windows have been around since Egyptian times and were later often used in churches, but clerestory windows also provide advantages for modern home designs. Depending on design, a glazed area under the roofline can give the impression of a floating roof. In winter when the sun sits low in the sky, light and sunshine flood into the room through high glazing making it warm and welcoming, while

Benefits of triple glazed windows

Monday, May 10, 2021

While double glazing is a step in the right direction if you are looking for energy efficiency, comfort and security, triple glazing is even better. Especially in a Passive House project where triple glazing with soft-coat low-E glass is used. Glazing In a double-glazed insulated glass unit (IGU) there are 2 panes of glass, sealed, with a space in between. This space can either contain air or is argon gas filled for higher performance. The most energy efficient distance in between the glass panes is from 12mm to 20mm. This is set with a spacer.In a triple glazed insulated glass unit (IGU)

Safe Access for All

Monday, April 19, 2021

Whether you want to build a new home or retrofit your existing home, Paarhammer external doors with an optional level threshold that stops drafts, noise and water are the ideal solution and provide safe access for all. Now the zero-threshold designed and patented in Germany has received several awards. Awards ALUMAT is the recipient of the German Design Award for the zero threshold, and also recently received Passive House certification. In addition, this magnetic threshold has been recognised by the internet platform ‘bfb – barrier free building’. bfb determines annually the best barrier-free building products and solutions that enable comfortable

Windows and Sustainability

Sunday, March 14, 2021

A sustainable approach to building your dream home or renovating your existing home is entirely possible and will result in lower energy costs for heating and cooling, and increased comfort. Windows are a vital part of any home – they allow natural light into the home and provide views and fresh air, but what do you need to consider when choosing windows? Size and placement are crucially important, as are security, energy efficiency, materials and aesthetics, sustainability, and more. Timber and the Environment Timber is an ideal material when considering sustainable aspects as it is strong, natural and renewable, and

Energy Efficient Bay Windows for Modern Homes

Monday, February 08, 2021

Bay windows are often associated with more traditional homes, but can you also have modern bay windows suitable for high energy efficient homes? Or corner windows without bulky corner post?  Bay windows are usually made up of three parts of which one is straight and the other two are angled back to create an alcove. They let light in from different directions and therefore add extra daylight to a room. The space within a bay window is very versatile and could be used as a reading corner, a day bed, built-in shelving and more.  A bay window can become the

What to consider when purchasing Windows and Doors

Wednesday, January 27, 2021

Whether it's for a new build or a renovation, windows and doors can be quite an investment and it is important to get it right the first time to enjoy increased comfort and low energy bills for many years to come.A number of things can influence your window and door choice like frame material, glass performance, bushfire compliance, personal preferences like sliding doors or bi-fold doors, and of course where the project is situated.The following is a checklist which can be used as a start for window and door purchasing: Are you: Building a new home Extending and / or

Merry Christmas & Best Wishes for 2021

Monday, December 21, 2020

Tony & Edith Paarhammer and the Paarhammer Team would like to take the opportunity to thank you for your support and wish you a Merry Christmas and a prosperous 2021.Paarhammer will close for Christmas and New Year at 4pm on Tues 22nd Dec, re-opening on Wed 13th Jan 2021 at 8.30am. We look forward to working with you in the new year.

Advantages of Lift-slide Sliding Doors

Monday, December 14, 2020

With the weather warming up in the southern states, we look forward to outdoor entertaining. Alfresco dining is especially popular in the summer months and to delineate the space between indoors and outdoors, wide opening doors are on the wish-list for many homeowners. Great outdoor spaces that are visible through glass give the feeling of increased living space. Sophisticated lift-slide sliding doors are the perfect fit. How Lift-slide sliding doors work Lift-slide sliding doors lift up first – as the name implies - before you slide them wide open. This feature allows the doors to seal perfectly when closed, providing

MultiFunction wins National Award

Wednesday, November 18, 2020

This project by Insite Design has just received the 2020 Design Matters National Building Design Awards - Winner – Commercial – under $2M. The building includes a new double height timber framed glazed facade overlooking a garden setting with mature Melia (white cedar) tree. In order to keep the double height glazed façade as expansive & simple as possible, laminated Victorian Ash timber was used to provide structural strength to act as both glazing & structural frame, resulting in no visible structure - just a timber framed façade. The Paarhammer ECO-façade also offers the highest level of thermal efficiency for

Claiming energy stars

Monday, November 09, 2020

In a recent article in ‘The Conversation’ some builders are said to use the star rating system in a way that could mislead customers. The same can be said of the window industry. If you are looking for highly energy efficient windows, do not believe claims like ‘best energy efficient windows in Australia’ if this claim cannot be independently proven.WERS – Window Energy Rating Scheme – is the Australian rating system that gives windows stars for cooling and for heating. It also rates windows for their U-value and air-infiltration. The lower the U-value, the higher the energy efficiency of the

Pivot Entrance Doors - or not?

Monday, October 26, 2020

Wide entrance doors seem to become all the rage. Why? They look impressive and are also practical as you can move large things in and out of the home. Are they working well? Often you may have a wide entrance door but a pivot hinge is used, hence the actual walk through space is not wider than a standard hinged door. Also traditional door jambs and butt hinges struggle with larger – especially wider – doors. Meet the Paarhammer entrance door Featuring hinging which carry up to 200kg easily, you can now have a wide door which opens really wide.