Energy Efficiency Increases Selling Price

Tuesday, July 01, 2025

With energy prices increasing in Australia as well as the general cost of living, it is no wonder that energy-efficient homes in the market are selling at a higher price than houses with no energy-efficient features. These could be roof and ceiling insulation, solar panels, and of course, high-performance windows and doors. According to a recent report by the Domain Group, the demand for energy-efficient houses is increasing across Australia. This demand is adding a premium to energy-efficient homes and increasing the selling price. This includes new builds with features added when built or energy-efficient renovations to existing houses. Energy-efficient

Windows for Heritage Buildings

Tuesday, May 27, 2025

You have just bought a beautiful building, and it has a heritage overlay. How can you renovate such a building and bring it into the 21st century? You would like energy efficiency, thermal comfort, no drafts, sound protection, etc., all of this can easily be achieved also in a house with a heritage overlay. What is Heritage Overlay Heritage overlay is used to protect buildings or even whole precincts that have a heritage value. It is used to retain a consistent look of streetscapes and their overall attractiveness, and to conserve and enhance heritage places. As a rule of thumb,

Condensation and Humidity

Thursday, March 20, 2025

As nights are getting colder again in the southern States of Australia, condensation can form inside the home. Air has moisture in it which is called air humidity. The dew point depends on how much humidity there is in the air and at which temperature condensation happens. If the temperature in your room is 20 degrees, the air finds a surface below 20 degrees, and water vapour in the air will condense to form droplets. This is most easily seen on hard surfaces like glass or aluminium. It is the amount of water vapour in the air that determines the

Choose Windows Wisely

Thursday, October 31, 2024

With windows being a significant cost factor of a new home, it is worthwhile to start your decision-making process early. Already at the design stage, consider how the build will work, how the position of windows and doors will allow for airflow through the space, and how and where doors will provide access. Design for natural light and solar heat gain in winter, and shading requirements in summer, and plan carefully with current and future needs in mind.Building EnvelopePriority must be given to creating a well-insulated building envelope - walls, floor, roof and windows. All these are items that should

Window = Frame+Glass+Hardware

Wednesday, July 31, 2024

Windows are an important part of any building and have to comply with several Australian Standards (AS). This is the reason why windows are made as a whole system where frame, glass, and hardware, are designed as a unit to achieve the required results. If any part of such a system gets changed, it will not comply with the AS’s anymore and become a ‘deemed to satisfy’ or ‘engineered solution’. When hardware details, profile details, or any components are changed, or the overall size is made larger compared to tested sizes, the window system may no longer be compliant and

American Oak Windows

Wednesday, June 19, 2024

Paarhammer is now in full production of American Oak windows and doors. Since Victorian Ash is no longer available due to the Victorian Government ending native timber harvesting, American Oak was chosen as its replacement for high-performing window products due to its colour, grain, strength and sustainability. American Oak – Quercus Rubra – is a blond, medium density hardwood of about 730kg/m3 with a straight open and even grain, and uniform texture. Windows and doors made of hardwood are naturally hard-wearing, strong, energy efficient and visually stunning. American Oak has itself a BAL-rating of 19, but should higher BAL-ratings be

Window Development 1950’s to today

Monday, May 27, 2024

The building industry in Australia represented by HIA and Master Builders are addicted to low cost windows. From the 1950’s onwards, glazing became cheaper and allowed architects to frame views and bring light into the building. Also, builders realised that windows at that time per square meter were only about half the cost of a wall. So with using more glass, one could construct cheaper buildings. As a solution to keeping such glasshouses at a liveable temperature, larger air-conditioning systems were required. Central Europe: Houses and windows in Europe developed quite differently. In the alpine region already a couple of centuries ago they

International Window and Door News from Fensterbau

Friday, April 05, 2024

In March 2024 the Fensterbau Expo in Nuremberg / Germany was held again after a 6-year Covid break. There were more than 600 Exhibitors and 75,000 visitors from around the world, and Paarhammer went there to learn about the latest developments in the window industry to be able to offer these to our clients. Automation – Convenience and ConnectivityThe biggest innovations were made in home automation and many expo stands offered products that could either be integrated into existing home automation or as stand-alone systems. Paarhammer’s German hardware supplier Siegenia had a display under the topic ‘It’s magic’ with wireless technology

Forever Homes

Tuesday, February 06, 2024

What can be called a ‘Forever Home’? For many it is a family home where memories are made, where one stays for a long time, a home where children are brought up, and one later retires into. This home needs to be something that can handle any changes life throws at it. Important considerations are location, flexibility that the home can change with your requirements and lifestyle, that it provides a sense of belonging, and a feeling of being comfortable. Decisions for a Forever Home are made with longevity in mind, and less about potential resale value. Often owners want

Handle Families

Wednesday, October 04, 2023

Handles create a focal point that catches the eye and at the same time have a crucial function to open, tilt or close windows and doors. If a building also features doors or lift-slide doors, often handles come as ‘families’ that match for all applications – tilt & turn windows, entrance doors, hinged doors, lift-slide doors -, allowing for design consistency within a build. Handles have come a long way. While up to about 10 years ago window handles were only available in one style and in the very limited colours of silver or white, modern handles can now make a

End of Vic Ash timber

Thursday, July 27, 2023

The Victorian Government announced an end to native timber harvesting on 1 January 2024 which is 6 years earlier than the 2030 deadline as was originally announced. Where does this leave manufacturers like Paarhammer who use Victorian Ash timber for window frames?With only a few months transition time, Paarhammer has started to test different hardwoods including imported timbers. We are proud to manufacture in Australia and always prefer to use local supplies to be as sustainable as possible, but for timber this may no longer be feasible. In Australia there are three timber certifications recognised: FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council), Australian

NCC - Energy Efficiency & Livability

Thursday, May 18, 2023

The new National Construction Code (NCC) which came into effect on the 1st of May 2023 (start date has to be adopted by each State and Territory) includes higher energy efficiency regulations and provisions for dwellings to better meet community needs including for the elderly or those with mobility limitations. Paarhammer products meet and exceed these new regulations. Today we look at new dwelling access regulations: Clear OpeningAccess to dwellings now require entrance doors (or 1 universal access point/door) with a clear opening of a minimum of 820mm, not including the frame or door leave. Step-free access is also a must