Top quality timber architectural accents, such as beautifully crafted wooden windows and doors, can add an organically attractive and timeless aesthetic to any building they grace. Over and above the beauty of these features, wood is also a wonderfully environmentally friendly choice of building material – it is renewable, an excellent insulator, and, if properly maintained, it is exceptionally durable and long lasting.
Problems of the past
In the past, wooden windows and doors did not receive the necessary care and treatment they require. Installation methods were often not able to guarantee perfect results due to inconsistent levels of workmanship. Also, any raw timber products left outdoors on-site were at the mercy of the elements until they were installed, glazed and sealed. Any exposure to rain or damp conditions could lead to serious long-term damage of the timber. Installation was also a very timeous procedure.
Best practice requires that you paint or seal your doors and windows prior to installation. Very seldom is this done on site. Windows and doors are usually installed, then glazed and lastly the sealant or paint is applied. This means that your timber is exposed where it is built into the wet works, causing it to take up moisture and swell. Another problem is that timber is exposed behind the glass and glazing beads. If glazed using traditional putty, the timber will draw out the oil from the putty, making it brittle. This allows water to seep into the opening. Trapped water causes rot and decay of your timber.
Lastly, to properly maintain timber windows and doors, you needed to sand them down and reseal them regularly, which is an arduous and laborious job.
The solution: Swartland’s Ready-2-Fit range
With Swartland’s Ready-2-Fit range, however, all the aforementioned problems are a thing of the past.
This story is from the Volume 10 / Issue 1 March - June 2020 edition of To Build.
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This story is from the Volume 10 / Issue 1 March - June 2020 edition of To Build.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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