Sourcing tall windows.... 5m x 1.0m without splitting into two?

[fatgus]

We're looking for a supplier that can do tall windows (roughly 5m tall x 1.0m wide) as single units. The companies we've approached to date would need to split into two units. The best solution so far, which is pretty good to be fair, would give us a 90mm-ish horizontal join.

If we can find a supplier that could do them as single units, we'd consider sourcing them separately to the rest of the windows.

 

Any suggestions gratefully received!

 

 

Edited November 18, 2024 by fatgus

[Oz07]

Does glass even come in 5m lengths?

[Redbeard]

I feel there must be too much risk of distortion with 5m 'unrestrained' (except by the glass, and that does not really want to be a stressed member, I feel). I wondered about making it as 2 units, one with a 'transom' at 2.5m and the side members sailing past that transom by say 300mm. The 2nd section has only bottom member and the 2 side members. Cut stopped pegged scarf joints on each (very easy to say...). With very accurate joinery it would look lovely, and the transom can be a 'spindly' as you like, as long as it can accommodate 2 rebates, so perhaps 60 as against the 90 mentioned by @fatgus

[fatgus]

  On 18/11/2024 at 09:27, Oz07 said:

Does glass even come in 5m lengths?

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I believe it can, but of course it could be cost prohibitive... 😬

 

  On 18/11/2024 at 09:42, Redbeard said:

I feel there must be too much risk of distortion with 5m 'unrestrained' (except by the glass, and that does not really want to be a stressed member, I feel).

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That's a good point. I think with the companies I've approached, the frame seems to be the limiting factor. Most don't seem to go over 3.5m.

 

I don't really want to push any supplier to their limits as that seems to be when problems arise, but if there's any way to achieve the unbroken 5m, we'd like to look into it... 

 

 

 

[Gone West]

  On 18/11/2024 at 09:05, fatgus said:

Any suggestions gratefully received!

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We used Rehau Geneo profiles and had all the windows made using the same profile with triple glazed units. We had a three quarter glazed gable where the tallest pane was just over 4m.

 

[Tetrarch]

I recall watching a TV programme in the last couple of years where a couple wanted a two-storey window by a stairwell, rather like the one you describe. My memory is leading me towards "Your Home Made Perfect" and I think it was the beardy slightly weird guy that had the plan. I have tried looking for it but it must have been series 1 or 2 and they are no longer on iPlayer.

 

My recollection is that Building Control kiboshed the plan and they ended up having to split the window in two.

 

I apologise that I can't be more definitive, but maybe it might jog someone else's memory

 

Regards

 

Tet

[JohnMo]

We are at about 5m split into 2x2.5m tall.  Even then there was special lifting gear involved. Couple issues with the design 

 

Bigger means thicker, which in turn means heavy. Our triple glazed 2.5m tall are already 3 x 5.8mm thick panes and at design wind loads have a nearly 16mm deflection.

 

Once over 2m tall you really don't notice the join as its above your eye line.  Doing it again I would just stop the glazing at the 2.5m level and have well insulated above that.

 

 

[fatgus]

  On 18/11/2024 at 14:28, Tetrarch said:

I recall watching a TV programme in the last couple of years where a couple wanted a two-storey window by a stairwell, rather like the one you describe. My memory is leading me towards "Your Home Made Perfect" and I think it was the beardy slightly weird guy that had the plan. I have tried looking for it but it must have been series 1 or 2 and they are no longer on iPlayer.

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Thanks... might see if I can find the episode on youtube.

 

  On 18/11/2024 at 14:28, Tetrarch said:

My recollection is that Building Control kiboshed the plan and they ended up having to split the window in two.

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That's interesting... would love to know why 🤷‍♂️

 

  On 18/11/2024 at 14:28, Tetrarch said:

 

I apologise that I can't be more definitive, but maybe it might jog someone else's memory

 

Regards

 

Tet

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No need! Grateful for any thoughts or pointers

 

  On 18/11/2024 at 14:58, JohnMo said:

We are at about 5m split into 2x2.5m tall.  Even then there was special lifting gear involved. Couple issues with the design 

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That's kind of what we're leaning towards. When we designed it we were resigned to the fact it would be split, but while looking for interior design inspiration we've seen a few houses with similar windows in single units so we figured we'd investigate!

 

  On 18/11/2024 at 14:58, JohnMo said:

Bigger means thicker, which in turn means heavy. Our triple glazed 2.5m tall are already 3 x 5.8mm thick panes and at design wind loads have a nearly 16mm deflection.

 

Once over 2m tall you really don't notice the join as its above your eye line.  Doing it again I would just stop the glazing at the 2.5m level and have well insulated above that.

 

 

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We definitely want the full height so we'll just have to live with the join... as you say, it's probably barely noticeable.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[SBMS]

  On 18/11/2024 at 16:40, fatgus said:

 

Thanks... might see if I can find the episode on youtube.

 

 

That's interesting... would love to know why 🤷‍♂️

 

 

No need! Grateful for any thoughts or pointers

 

 

That's kind of what we're leaning towards. When we designed it we were resigned to the fact it would be split, but while looking for interior design inspiration we've seen a few houses with similar windows in single units so we figured we'd investigate!

 

 

We definitely want the full height so we'll just have to live with the join... as you say, it's probably barely noticeable.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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There’s a few suppliers that do oversized glazing:

 

https://www.iqglassuk.com/news/how-to-incorporate-oversized-glass-in-your-design/bp170/

 

https://www.precisionglassltd.co.uk/oversize-glass/

 

not sure if this includes framing 

[fatgus]

  On 18/11/2024 at 18:34, SBMS said:

There’s a few suppliers that do oversized glazing:

 

https://www.iqglassuk.com/news/how-to-incorporate-oversized-glass-in-your-design/bp170/

 

https://www.precisionglassltd.co.uk/oversize-glass/

 

not sure if this includes framing 

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Superb! Thanks @SBMS 👍👍

[craig]

Truth be told, you'll struggle to get someone to do this for you, most will stop at 1m width, 3.5m height or 3.5m width and 1m height others can achieve slightly more and some will achieve a little more. In diagram below, this is max height/width triple glazed as standard 3.92m. You also have to take into account the maximum weight that the system can take, timber frames might only be able to take 400Kg

 

[fatgus]

  On 19/11/2024 at 16:37, craig said:

Truth be told, you'll struggle to get someone to do this for you, most will stop at 1m width, 3.5m height or 3.5m width and 1m height others can achieve slightly more and some will achieve a little more. In diagram below, this is max height/width triple glazed as standard 3.92m. You also have to take into account the maximum weight that the system can take, timber frames might only be able to take 400Kg

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Thanks @craig. That’s pretty much what we’ve found from the suppliers we’ve contacted…. Thought it worth investigating, but we’re happy to split into two units. I’m going to speak to a couple of the oversize glazing suppliers but not hopeful that it won’t be unnecessarily expensive. Next deliberation will be where to split…

[craig]

No problem, I can most likely do this in an aluminum only system but it would be very expensive.

 

The risks involved in logistics, lifting,  transportation, installation are astronomical.

Edited November 19, 2024 by craig

[saveasteading]

Another possibility is to fit a beam at mid height, a hollow section probably,  inside the building. The window sections fix to that and so the sections are spanning half the distance and can very much smaller.

From outside the glazing is more elegant. Inside you have a steel, which can look great or not, acc to context.

[fatgus]

Thanks @craig and @saveasteading

 

I've just spoken with IQ Glass... will get a quote from them and go from there.