Why Should I choose French Doors?

Why Choose French Doors?

Has the time come to allow some more light into the rear of your home? Not entirely sure what step to take to make this happen? Maybe it's time to consider French doors with a possible window combination. With our high security locking system and toughened a rated glass units, there is no need to compromise style and brightness for security. This blog is here to tell you all about the French doors. Pros, cons, benefits and where best to install them.

What are French Doors?

French doors, also called French windows, are doors of a custom size that are comprised of door profile and a larger glass panel each size. French doors can be selected to open in or open out and the possibilities of hinges, handles, glass designs and door colour is as limitless as they sound. French doors are commonly used to link the outer part of the home to the internal area of the home or even to bring two internal rooms together.

Benefits of French doors.

In addition to adding more brightness and style to your home, French doors have a range of advantages they can add to your home:

External Rear French Doors

• Creating a visual connection between adjoining rooms and the exterior and interior. 
• Expansion of your home when the warm weather arrives by allowing a flow from inside to outside without any boundary. 
• Allowing generous amounts of natural light into the room without letting heat escape.
• By adding brightness, the size of the room begins to feel larger and is utilized much better as there are no dead parts of the room. 

Where to install French Doors?

Exterior: French Doors are commonly used at the rear of the home to allow easy access to and from the back garden and hosting area. More recently, now that glass has become much more energy efficient and secure, it's also common to have French doors at the front of your home. French doors are being used more and more as an additional option to have in front of original single doors.

Interior: French doors can not only be used as a connector of two rooms but also as a divider of rooms. more uncommon areas but not totally off the wall ideas of where we have seen French doors installed is bathrooms and walk-in wardrobes. 

Tips to think through before buying French Doors.

• Decide if you want your french doors to open in or open out, the common preference is to open out to utilize valuable space. 
• Think about your glass design, when doors are closed will you want privacy? Ask about glass design options and if you're looking heat retention, choose Low E glass with argon gas filled units for ultimate energy efficiency. 
• Don't choose your French doors on the look only. Make sure you inspect the security locking system, insulation benefits of the doors, durability and maintenance of doors also if you're looking at getting external french doors. 

Pros vs Cons of French Doors
Pros

• Allows natural light into the home
• Provides a feeling of increased space and also helps utilize spaces that weren't as well lit initially. 
• Creates a visible and easy connection between rooms. 
• Less expensive than Sliding doors and Bi-Fold doors.
• Huge variety in profile colour, hinges, handles and glass design.
• Our uPVC French doors are virtually maintenance free and have a guarantee of 10 years on the profile. 

Cons

• If you decide to open doors in, there is a large requirement of floor space to allow for this.
• If a clear glass option is chosen to maximize natural light entering the home, there is not much security.
• More windows to clean.

If you would like to see how our glass units are manufactured, click here

If you would like to see a range of French doors we have supplied and fit accompanied by testimonials, click here

if you'd like a free quotation or consultation you can contact us at info@harvestenergy.ie or (01) 8021800

French Doors Extend Living Space

French Doors can Extend Living Space

A smart and efficient way of expanding your living space into the outdoor areas of your garden is to install French Doors. French doors not only protect your home from the weather elements, they also look very stylish and are a fantastic way of connecting you home with your garden. 

The Perfect Room Connector

French Doors can be selected to open in or open out (usually chosen to open out from the home to not only save valuable space but to also create a more natural passage into the outdoor areas). French doors are very similar to Bi-Fold doors in a way that they give the feeling of being more spacious than your traditional sliding door. French doors are also a less expensive option than Bi-Fold doors. 

Design and Security

As we manufacture all of our uPVC products, our French doors are custom made to fit perfectly into the area you wish to have them installed. As with all of our uPVC products, there is a fantastic range of profile colours available so you can be sure to choose the colour you love. (Colours range from White, Cream, Rosewood, Light Oak, Black, Green, Anthracite Grey and many more.) 
Glass designs are a great option to choose if you want your French doors to make a sleek statement. (All of our Glass units are A-Rated, Argon Filled and use toughened glass to ensure the highest quality of energy efficiency). 
Regarding our security, the locking system we use is a highly secure German engineered multiple claw and shoot-bolt locking system. 
If you are looking for your French doors to be suitable for elderly people and disabled people, we recommend choosing the low aluminium threshold option instead of the standard 57mm PVC threshold. 
Hinges and Handles designs and colours are also left to your choosing. 

The Social Aspect.

As we have mentioned above, French doors are a fantastic way of combining two areas. This is why you really feel the benefits come summer time. By having so much natural light passing through your doors, you'll see the full benefits of your investment when the sunshine adds a fresh and vibrant feel to the room, instantly making the room feel bigger. Then when you decide to have the doors open, you can enjoy the effortless moving from room to room to mix and mingle with friends and family. 

With this minor home adjustment, you have extended the feel of your home without any major changes happening to the structure of your home. 

If you would like a quotation or a free consultation with one of our surveyors, call us on (01) 8021800 or email us at info@harvestenergy.ie

If you would like more information on how we manufacture our A-Rated Glass Units, click here

If you wish to see a gallery of testimonials and French doors we have supplied and fit, 
click here

Internal Vs External Insulation

Internal Insulation vs External Insulation

If you live in a home where damp spots are a issue and constant heating is required to make the living conditions habitable, it might be time to consider making a couple of home improvements. A cold home is not only uncomfortable to live in but it can also lead to health issues and structural damages to the home if the problem becomes persistent throughout the year. 

Options to help improve your homes levels of heat retention range from installing new double glazed units to converting attic space. While cavity wall insulation may be a  viable option for some homeowners, there are plenty of homes across the country where it isn't practical to install. This is why this blog is solely directed at the benefits of internal and external insulation and which advantages out weigh the advantages of the other for you. 

Internal Insulation

Why Choose Internal?
Insulating your solid and cavity walls can cut your heating bills considerably, because you are losing a substantial amount of heat through your walls. The good news is that they can be insulated from the inside of your home. Correctly installed insulation can reduce heat loss through the fabric of the building, increasing the level of comfort for the homeowner. Internal wall insulation involves fixing a layer of rigid insulation to the inside of external walls, usually with a plasterboard finish. This is also referred to as dry-lining. An ideal opportunity to install internal insulation is when other work is already require. Some electrical/plumbing fittings may need to be removed temporarily for the walls to be insulated but they are re-fitted instantaneously when the insulation works are completed by the Harvest Energy Crew.

Advantages of Internal Insulation

• Dry Lining is quick and easy to install.
• Dry lining is a more cost efficient alternative to external insulation. 
• Internally dry lining walls will save you money in the long term due to up to 30% increase in home heating efficiency. 
• The carbon footprint of your home will be reduced due to the decrease of Co2 emissions being released from the house.
• Eliminates draughts. 
• Prevents frozen pipes.
• Improved B.E.R Rating.
• Reduces noise levels
• Increase in the value of the property. 

Disadvantages of Dry Lining

• Disruption to living arrangements for customers
• Room size reduction

Click here to read about the Dry Lining Process.

External Wall Insulation

Why Choose External?

External wall insulation provides exterior walls with insulation, finished surface and waterproofing in an integrated composite system. Because walls are areas where the house heat loss is one of the greatest reaching up to 35% of the overall, if they are not properly insulated, this is one of the most effective measures getting your home warmer and greener. External Wall Insulation (EWI) is a composite cladding system comprised of suitable insulation and waterproof coating which is applied to all the external walls of a building. The External Insulation uses the building like a reflector. Due to the heat no longer being able to escape through the outer layer of insulation, it is reflected back into the living areas, creating a constant warm home.

Click here to read about the External Insulation  Process

Advantages of External 

• No additional internal space taken up by insulation.
• Inside of the home not disturbed.
• The carbon footprint of your home will be reduced due to the decrease of Co2 emissions being released from the house.
• Eliminates draughts. 
• Prevents frozen pipes.
• Improved B.E.R Rating.
• Increase in the value of the property. 

Disadvantages of External:

• More Expensive than Internal dry lining.
• Generally takes longer to complete than the dry lining process. 

To see how else to make energy saving changes to your home, click this link!

Or if you're looking a surveyor to call out to you, contact us on info@harvestenergy.ie or (01) 8021800 

Extending Your Home

Extending your Home

When you make the decision to extend your home, it's not always easy to cover all your bases. We're here to help you get an idea of what you want before you bring your plan to the building contractor/ architect.

The first thing you'll need to cover before deciding whether or not you want to extend your home is, do you need planning permission? If you click the link here you'll be re-directed to the Citizens Information page that tells you everything you need to know

Why are you Extending

Consider firstly the purpose you want your extension to be built for. Of course, it sounds like an obvious question to be asking but there is a genuine reason behind it. You will need to take into consideration the effect the extension will have on the existing property.

 

What type of Extension?

If you decide to extend onto the side of your home or even convert the garage into part of the home, there won't be any real difficulties in allowing natural light to flow through the rooms. However, if you make the decision to extend onto the back of the house you will need to be careful of creating dark spaces between where the old room ends and the extension begins. To counteract this issue, we recommend inserting a velux window nearby or even turning your extension into a sunroom. With these two options there will be no limit on the light that can enter your home and certainly no dead spaces. Along with the help of your architect or building surveyor, you can design and create openings specifically for your home. If you decide to discuss the sunroom idea with your surveyor, choose a combination of windows and doors that you feel will be practical but also fit into the feel of your home.

Trends:

In the current market, open plan living is very popular. Requests to knock down internal walls and open up two rooms into one are a standard renovation when it comes to home remodelling and if you take a look at the picture to the right, you can see why! However, if you don't like the idea of spaciousness and would prefer each room to do its own thing, there is an option of introducing internal french doors or a sliding door to keep the divide. By introducing this concept to your home, you have the option of open plan for entertaining guests but also you can close the doors over and close a room off from the whole house when you're in search of a little "me" time.

Before asking for a consultation with your surveyor or architect, ensure you have a solid idea of what you're looking for. The meeting with the surveyor can be used to enhance ideas and provide a wider range of possibilities for you. A well constructed and engineered extension will add value to your property and will provide for all your needs that you were in the beginning of the process.

If you're thinking about extending or renovating your home, why not contact us on (01) 8021800 or email us as info@harvestenergy.ie to arrange a meeting

Energy Saving Tips for Homeowners

ENERGY SAVING TIPS

If you've read some of our past blogs, you'll know just how important energy saving and saving on bills are to us. If you have the necessary products installed in your home and are looking for a few quick tips to help you further reduce bills, continue reading this insightful blog. We cover everything from the little tips that show results over time to the tips that show instantaneous results. 

It's the little things that count:

• Turn the thermostat down by a couple °C, it's unlikely that you or family members will notice the difference, but your heating bills sure will.
• Turn the lights off when nobody's using a room.
• Recycle and Re-use. If you love how your home is "Green" and energy efficient, why not continue your green lifestyle by recycling plastics and other unwanted materials?
• Unplug appliances that aren't being used. If the appliance isn't in use there is no need for it to be adding onto your electric bill. If you want to really reduce the amount of unnecessary energy used, try switch plugs that are on "standby" off completely.
• Keep your curtains closed at night and over the radiator. Curtains are more than just another fabric to help accessorize your home. Curtains are highly effective at keeping the cold draughts out and the heat in! Don't smother the heat the radiator works so hard to provide, allow the heat to push itself away from the radiator and rise to fill the room.
• Turn off the heating overnight and when out and about during the day.

These things take time:

• Clean your windows. dirt can reduce your glass performance by 5-10%. The performance can be even further reduced if the dirt is on a roof light. 

• Don't obstruct the light. Furniture, curtains or any other object should not be obstructing daylight penetration. It will reduce the amount of natural light that can penetrate the room.

• Look for an energy saving logo when shopping for a new product. e.g. dishwasher, washing machine, windows.

• Choose a thermostat with a timer and controls. This means you don't have to simply decide between on and off but you can decide on the temperature and how long the heating will remain on.  

• When painting a room consider what the room will be used for. Lighter colours like white and cream are good reflectors of light and can help maximize the daylight that enters a room. Darker colours like navy and red are poor reflectors of light.

It'll be worth it in the long run:

• If you don't already have one, it's recommended that every home owner should have a lagging jacket placed around their hot water tank.

• Use a timer on immersion heaters, by using a timer you will be supplied with an adequate amount of hot water without using any additional utilities to heat an excess amount of water. 

• Energy saving light bulbs are now very popular and can be found in almost all hardware stores. You won't be able to tell difference in lighting but you'll be sure to see the difference in your bills.

Invest now and see instant changes:

• One of the most effective ways to keep the heat in your home and the cold out is by having energy efficient double glazed windows. Don't choose your supplier based on price but by the quality. Argon filled glass units combined with Low Emissivity glass create the perfect combination to combat those outside elements.

• Attic Insulation can save you up to 20% on your home heating bill. There are a variety of options to use when it comes to insulating your attic, e.g. rock-wool, rigid thermal insulation boards, polystyrene etc. 

• Boiler servicing. Don't neglect the opportunity to maximize efficiency on your heating products. The less work your boiler has to do to keep your home warm and cozy, the less the heating bill will be. depending on the condition your boiler is in, you can improve the overall efficiency of the boiler by 10%, that 10% can equate to up to €150.

• Internal/External Insulation. There are a variety of ways to insulate, make sure to do your research before committing to this method of energy saving. Take into account the price, the time it will take to see the return on your investment and also how much will the type of insulation disrupt your living arrangement?

If you would like a free consultation with one of our surveyors, you can call us on (01) 8021800 or email us at info@harvestenergy.ie to arrange a date to suit you.

Also make sure to check out our other blogs to see what information is relevant to you! 

Double Glazing Repairs

Double Glazing Repairs

A couple years may have passed since your windows have been fitted, and now you're starting to notice that although your window frames are looking as well as the day they were fitted, the double glazed units and hinges aren't looking quite the same. Faults and problems do occur, and unfortunately these issues not only effect the look of your home but also there is a reduction in the effectiveness of your windows. Often, there is not much that can be done to prevent this unwelcome fault from occurring, however, if you do wish to maintain all the benefits of your A-Rated windows, you should repair any faults that occur as soon as possible.

Most suppliers provide a guarantee after the fitting for these sort of faults and will repair the fault free of charge. Harvest Energy's policy is a minimum of 1 Year on any product we supply and fit for our customers. Check out our website for all the details: www.harvestenergy.ie 

Common Faults In Double Glazed Units

Condensation
One of the most common faults that occurs with double glazed units is misting/condensation. This is when water breaks the air tight seal between the two panes of glass and as a result of moisture that gets inside the glass unit reacts to the heat of the home and the temperature on the outside pane of glass.
As you may have seen in our video- How to make an A-Rated Glass Unit, you will have seen that all of our glass units are filled with Argon Gas and sealed air-tight before being inserted into the window frame. However, over time the rubber seal that's purpose is to keep water entering into the frame breaks down and the water finds its way into the glass unit.

Packing

A Broken Packer

Condensation can also occur when the framework of your window moves or when a special packing (packers) that holds the glass unit in place becomes worn down. As the seals age they become more open to deterioration. Similarly, over time the special packer that cushions the glass and stops it from moving becomes compacted. This allows one or both of the panes to move slightly, when one pane drops lower than the other the unit becomes "stepped" and when this occurs, moisture finds it much easier to get into the unit.  

Frame Drops
Another fault that occurs in double glazed windows is "the drop". when this occurs, it will become difficult to open and close the window until the fault is repaired. This problem can be repaired by changing the hinges. However, in some instances it occurs when the frame warps due to the fluctuation in weather (e.g change of season that shows major temperature changes). Warping or swelling is an unusual issue with windows and is more of a problem for homeowners with Timber/ PVC doors.

Rusty Hinge

Other Faults that may occur:

• Hinges begin to rust
• Handles break 

Double glazing repairs

Almost all problems that are associated with windows can be repaired, condensation is a problem that every home owner will have to deal with eventually and you'll be glad to know that even if you aren't a past customer of Harvest Energy, you can still get a quote for the repairs Absolutely Free.  Repairs and replacements are done very efficiently and generally don't take any longer than a couple hours to complete the job. 

Can you Repair It Yourself?
If you have a person in the house that likes to dabble in D.I.Y, of course it's possible to get all the supplies necessary and have a crack at it yourself but 9 times out of 10 it is often less stressful and less time consuming to hire a professional to complete the job for you. Following the repair by the professional, you should be handed a guarantee to ease any worry of this being a problem again anytime soon.

How Costly Are The Repairs?

The disadvantage of being part of a market where all of our products are made to custom fit is that there is no set price list to provide customers with. When seeking a repair, one of our repair men will have to come visit to take an exact measurement of the glass replacement/ see how many hinges need to be replaced. As we have mentioned above, our consultations and call outs are free of charge so feel free to call anytime, our repair men and reps are very flexible and are happy to work around your schedule.

For more info, contact us at info@harvestenergy.ie or (01) 8021800

Check out our website at www.harvestenergy.ie

How does Double Glazing Block out Noise

Blocking Out Noise

People regularly use double/triple glazing as a way to block out noise from their homes as well as increasing the energy efficiency at the same time. However, before we get into the more technical aspects of this blog, there are a couple things you must keep in mind if you want your double/triple glazing to be an effective sound barrier. Firstly, using the wrong material or having windows that don't fit the space correctly will provide a lesser chance of acquiring your desired effect on the noise reduction of your home. Make sure to find a company that create windows custom to your home. As we manufacture all of our Windows, Doors and Glass Units we can ensure that the fitting will be snug and air passages that may be one of your main concerns is a non-issue.

Before any efforts are made to reduce noise pollution from the outside, we must understand how noise travels. With a greater understanding, you can create a more effective barrier.
Sound and Light both travel in waves. However, Light travels at over 650 million miles an hour, whereas Sound travels at 750 miles per hour (speed depends on air pressure and composition). It is easier to block out the faster waves of light than the slower sound waves.

The noise you hear is created by sound waves due to the vibrations in the air and other materials sound travels true. Eventually, sound reaches our ear drums and from there the sound travels to our brains. As i'm sure you have noticed by now, the efforts made to stop the sound waves reaching our brains is more difficult that first thought. Waves of light can be stopped by most solid materials, whereas sound actually travels better through some materials (e.g steel) than through air. Long sound waves can flex and wean their way through tiny gaps and corners.

Sound travels through solid objects by making them vibrate and in turn making the air on the other side of them vibrate, passing the sound on. Sound waves pass through a pane of glass quite easily, but with a double glazed unit they also have to also navigate through a pocket of gas (Argon) which slows down the sound waves meaning that less get to the second pane of glass, creating fewer vibrations and less noise. Triple Glazed Glass Units create a larger area for the noise waves to travel through and will have a greater noise reducing effect.

Double/ Triple glazing can be a really effective way to reduce the outside noise getting into your home, but it is important to remember, noise will find the path of least resistance. So follow these steps to ensure maximum efficiency. 

• Noise will find the path of least resistance.
• Make sure the windows fit so no air gap is there for noise to pass through.
• Channels for wiring/cabling to get into the house which tend to be cut through window frames need to be properly sealed.
• The seals where the windows fit into their frames need to be as airtight as possible.
• Even ventilators need to be tightly shut for the best results.

Basically if air can get in, sound can too so as we are unlikely to live in a completely air tight house there is little chance every bit of outside noise can be filtered out, but a well fitted double glazing unit can make a big difference to adding a bit peace and quiet at home.

Online Quotes

Get Your Quote Online Today!

Gone is the selling technique trend of the pushy sales rep and the hard sell tactics, many companies tried and tested these tactics only to figure the eventual conclusion - the customer needs time to reflect on a final decision. It's common in our industry that people from the domestic market and commercial market respectively may well just be looking a price for a future plan of buying. However, the unfortunate reality with this was that after getting the quote, you would have to repeatedly hear the words "sign up today to get.......". 

Companies have came to realize, people like to shop around! That's where our new software comes into play. No sales reps, no hard sells and no visitors overstaying their welcome. The only thing that's standing in the way of you and your quote is 7 Simple Steps.

**Please remember colour and designs are for pricing purposes only, there is a larger quantity of colours and designs in our brochures.**

Step 1

• Click onto our webpage www.harvestenergy.ie and click into the tab "online quotes". 
• After clicking the tab, you will get redirected to a page that looks exactly like this screenshot image below. 
• Feel free to watch the video tutorial for motioned step by step guide on how to get a quote online.

Step 2

• As you can see below, there are a variety of frame styles to choose from here.
• Select a frame you wish to get a quote for, then select the colour you wish your frame to be. As we have mentioned above, the colour and design range is larger in our brochure and this software is for pricing purposes only. 
• The door slab design will be chosen in the next step.

Step 3

• Select a Door Slab Design you would like to get a quotation for.
• Select your desired door slab colour.
• If you would like your door slab to be bi-coloured, (by this we mean one colour on the outside and one colour on the inside), see to the range of colours listed rosewood/white,oak/white, black/white.
• The bi-colour slab design will be slightly more expensive than a full colour door design due to higher production costs.

Step 4 

• Here you will chose your glass design. 
• Your glass design you choose for the door does not have to be the same in the sidelight if you do not wish for this. You can mention this in the comments section at the end. 

Step 5

• Incorporate the accessories you wish to have included in your door.
• Choose the colour of the handle, letterbox and knocker you would like.
• Depending on slab design, some accessories may not be possible e.g spyhole on a slab design similar to the slab image below.

Step 6

• Enter Height and Width, (measurement options are cm,mm and inch.)
• Select the door material you wish for, (Composite or uPVC Panel)
• If you would like the door to be supply only or supply and fit
• If you would like the door to open in or open outward (open out will mean that your door will open out from your home towards the drive way/ porch.)
• Enter any comments you would like to add
• Click the finalize button

Step 7

• This is a screenshot of the page you will be directed to after clicking the finalize button.
• Enter your details so as we can contact you with your quotation.
• Click the submit button.
• You should receive the quotation within 2 working days.

If you wish for to get your free quotations with absolutly no service fee or sign up requests, click the link provided

online quote