craig

Any aluminium supplier, your best fitting the windows then taken the flashing measurements (just for safety/costs). You’ll get them in any ral, let them know whether gloss or matt finish.

It isn’t always necessary to come and measure and can delay build progress, that’s just wrong advice to give and probably based on your experiences for which I’m sorry you have endured.

Ignore the fact that the drawing shows a supplied corner post, the priciple is the same. I’ve assumed Auraplus? It doesn’t have grooves on the cladding and this detail shows a return on the cladding creating a shadow gap. The principle would be the same for using your own post. If your not comfortable with the depth, rather than returning back onto the post and fixing, you could return it behind the cladding of the fixed jamb. You could also have it sit slightly prouder and then fix it ontop of the fixed frame cladding.

Does the aluminium cladding on the windows have a groove running vertically for a 2mm thick aluminium flashing to fit? If not, not a biggy you can detail the flashing in, whats the dimension of the timber post? Where at the windows sitting within the opening and can you insulate behind the flashing? Do you have a detail in PDF/DWG? Would be happy to draw up a detail for you. What window system are you using? More importantly, are they fixed/T&T/casement/sliding etc?

Generally speaking a site measure is not needed as the sizes are confirmed with client/architect/timber kit supplier. All detailing should be done this way as well. If angled windows or wrap around window/rooflight etc. are required then we suggest a site measure. The issue with a site measure is that it adds time onto a build and delays the build getting water tight.

It depends, I lost a job recently because of this reason. We have a degree of flexibility but only a little. The job was £32K, rationel came in at £29k. Bit of value engineering and negotiating we came in at £29k Rationel dropped price for supply only from £25k to £18k at the drop of a hat. Sometimes you just have to walk away and question how much they are marking up in the first place.

Nothing ventured nothing gained, go for it. You’ll have a blast. If it doesn’t work, all it has cost you is time and maybe some pride. A little bit of unused ply/osb to step on, unused carpet and you’ll have the making of a permanent staircase ? If it works (I’m sure it will), then you have gained a staircase and others have gained easy access to the second floor. Good luck, look forward to seeing them.

Sorry just seen this and may have already been dealt with, we use two companies for aluminium paint repairs / recovering. Spray Clad & Magicman, both give 10 year gaurantees on the finish and will colour match.

CT1

A recent survey we did External measurements Width: 2550mm Height: 2110mm Internal measurements Width: 2520mm Height: 2065mm Order Size: Width: 2530mm Height: 2100mm This was achieved by measuring external size in 3 places and using the smallest, repeated inside and then deducting 10mm from the external measurements. Always measure from underneath the external sill.

http://www.securedbydesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/SBD_THSG_1627_March_2013-2.pdf Page 65 of 72

Have you tried Grauthoff? I know the Grauthoff doors, something we looked into a few years back. google grauthoff doors uk?

The biggest issue isn’t the standards as every EU country including the UK, follows the EU norms, it’s pairing them. We recently had an issue that took sometime to resolve because of this reason, misunderstandings etc. Not all certificates from EU suppliers are in English either. The standards for example BS:6375-1, 2, 3 (PAS:24) are variations of the EU Norm 14351-1.

As a retailer I assure you, things that should be picked up in quality control are not. Things that shouldn’t happen such as glass designs on entrance doors, shouldn’t happen but they do and have. Installers with “experience” can also let you down badly or new teams brought in and are not what you think they are. Issues with installation will also occur and retailers are not exempt from making mistakes. You can plan everything in and have everything organised (you think) but one oversight can cause untold heartache for the retailer/supplier but more so the client. We (retailers) are not perfect and whether you rely on sub contract teams or in house teams, you can still be let down badly. The biggest issue is the timescales and when the factory do get things wrong, it’s generally put through the system again and standard timescales. They don’t tend to work with “high priority” because of errors. Generally speaking, trims are usually supplied from the manufacturer and should be in the order. Internorms ordering/quotation system “used to” require a hell of a lot of manual input for every aspect resulting in human error. Some things can be left out or behind in the quotation/order process/packaging. Window cills are usually ordered from one company in the UK when dealing with Internorm. They also supply trims/flashings and custom flashings to wrap corner posts etc. Other suppliers will order these from Germany/Austria or both. 1st window partner basically means approved by Internorm and have gone through the 1st window partner customer care program. All Internorm retailers are approved or they wouldn’t be able to retail the product. Bottom line, the manufacturers are not saints and it’s not always the retailer. I’ve had many a heated discussion with the factory. I’ve also had many an earful from clients (and rightly so) because we have been at fault. It’s how the retailers deal with things, we might not be fast and outwith our control but standing firm and taken ownership is what it’s about and not walking away (whether you still retail for them of not) speaks volumes in my view.

Definitely a quality bifold door, one of the best if not thee best on the market and engineered to passivhaus standards.

I wouldn't be concerned about using Timber Aluminium windows. The timber has the moisture levels reduced at factory in drying chambers etc. before being treated and so forth. Then the window is lacquer protected also. I would not be concerned at using timber aluminium windows - if you are concerned, then I would ask the relevant suppliers for any documentation to eleviate any of your concerns.

Does this help?

Have you considered a daytime latch? Then you won’t need a keycode entry system. You just need to remember to disable it at night and when going out.

Sliders need a solid base to sit on, have you considered Purenit over Ply?

Just the same, as long as it has a hi res finish and tricoat finish to the hardware. The sea salt air can cause a mess, how close to the sea? We have beach getaways, all fine - apart from the previous UK supplier didn’t protect the hardware and has been replaced 5 years ago and no issues since.

You’ll be fine. What your looking for is a hi res finish on the aluminium and a tricoat finish to the hardware.

Your right, with long pull handles, you dont have a lever style handle externally. So the hooks top and bottom do not engage unless you have electric gearing. You need to lock from the inside by using key and or pulling lever handle up and using thumb turn/key. It is common in Europe to also use a daytime latch, that is a liitle switch on the latch that allows the door to be pushed open from the outside without using a key.

Big blok cavity closer by cavalok, can’t link to it (i think) but we have recommended to a few builders in the past.

All I will say is ask for referrals and visit existing clients if possible. We try our best to have site visits to customers, not all of our installations have went perfect and we will have clients attend those customers. Things go wrong when you try new teams/suppliers for example. It’s not always about how good the supplier or installer is, sometimes it’s about how good they are when things do go wrong. We are not all perfect and mistakes do happen. Expect to pay a deposit but not 100% at point of order and another before delivery - always have a retention.

I would be very surprised if it was not enamelled, the enamelling hides the spacers and step in the glass unit. It’s not the frame that’s for sure. If you look at the very first picture you can actually see what is a rugged edge to the enamelling/glue as actually a straight edge is visible at the enamelled area.