The true door connoisseur knows that few things speak more to taste and class in home building than French doors. French doors add a touch of elegance to almost any home design. In fact, they can be works of art in and of themselves. Even modest and moderately priced homes can see a significant increase in value simply by being outfitted with artfully crafted French doors.

French doors are characterized by the incorporation of glass panels in a frame. Typical French door frames are made of some type of wood, though other materials can also be used. This is particularly true for commercial French doors, which may be made of aluminum or steel. For residential use though, the frames are most often made of wood.

French doors may be made with a single solid panel of glass, or they may be constructed with multiple glass panels which are incorporated into the frame. In the case of exterior doors, the glass is usually double-paned for keeping weather out and heat and air conditioning inside. Sometimes a decorative grille is embedded between the two panes of glass, creating an extra layer of security. Interior French doors are usually single-paned. French doors are often confused with double doors. While they are often installed as double doors, they can be a single door as well. Frequently single French doors are used for interior doors and double doors are used for exterior doors.

The glass in French doors can be as transparent or as opaque as desired (though no glass is truly 100% opaque.) They are sometimes rated for transparency from a one to a five (five being the most opaque and one being the most transparent.) Exterior doors are typically crafted with more opaque glass (level three to level five) for reasons of security and privacy. Sometimes a combination of transparent and opaque glass is used, especially for interior doors where privacy isn’t an issue. The glass in French doors may incorporate one of a number of design elements. Glass may be beveled, etched or textured in some manner, or simply left smooth.

Homeowners tend choose French doors mainly for their aesthetic quality. They add sophisticated beauty to large and smaller homes alike. Naturally, the prolific use of glass allows more light to penetrate, particularly when it comes to exterior doors. Allowing more natural light to enter the home sometimes means a reduction in the use of electricity, plus, natural light brightens a home in a way that no light bulb can compare to.

While they are chosen largely for the beauty that they add, French doors are also functional. Homeowners can have customized security features built in. Doors can also be accessorized with hardware (i.e. door hands, etc.) that matches both interior and exterior décor and style. Once installed, they will last for years and add unbeatable curb appeal to any home.

1. 1. An opening constructed in a wall or roof that functions to admit light or air to an enclosure and is often framed and spanned with glass mounted to permit opening and closing.
   2. A framework enclosing a pane of glass for such an opening; a sash.
   3. A pane of glass or similar material enclosed in such a framework.
2. 1. An opening that resembles a window in function or appearance.
   2. The transparent panel on a window envelope.
3. The area or space immediately behind a window, especially at the front of a shop.
4. A means of access or observation: St. Petersburg was Peter the Great’s window onto the Baltic.
5. An interval of time during which an activity can or must take place: a brief window of opportunity for a space mission; a window of vulnerability during which the air force was subject to attack.
6. Strips of foil dropped from an aircraft to confuse enemy radar; chaff.
7. A range of electromagnetic frequencies that pass unobstructed through a planetary atmosphere.
8. Computer Science. A rectangular area on the screen that displays its own file or message independently of the other areas of the screen.
9. Aerospace.
   1. A launch window.
   2. An area at the outer limits of the earth’s atmosphere through which a spacecraft must pass in order to return safely.

[Middle English, from Old Norse vindauga : vindr, air, wind + auga, eye.]

WORD HISTORY   The source of our word window is a vivid metaphor. Window comes to us from the Scandinavian invaders and settlers of England in the early Middle Ages. Although we have no record of the exact word they gave us, it was related to Old Norse vindauga, “window,” a compound made up of vindr, “wind,” and auga, “eye,” reflecting the fact that at one time windows contained no glass. The metaphor “wind eye” is of a type beloved by Norse and Old English poets and is called a kenning; other examples include oar-steed for “ship” and whale-road for “sea.” Recently we have restored to the 800-year-old word window a touch of its poetic heritage, using it figuratively in such phrases as launch window, weather window, and window of opportunity or vulnerability.

Check out this segment local news channel KGW did at yesterdays jobfair with a couple different spots with our very own oregon city sales manager, John Dehen!  Great way to represent the company John! 

http://www.kgw.com/video/business-index.html?nvid=297709

Remember, if you have sales experience look at the previous blog for way to contact us and turn in your resume.  In an industry that usually slows during the winter, we have plenty of business and we are still needing more reps!

If you are in the Portland, OR area, come see our booth at the employment guide jobfair!!!! it’s from 11am to 3pm at the downtown Portland Hilton.  We are hiring for all types of positions with our main focus being on canvassers and sales people. Come see us!

There is no such thing as winterproof, but a little added attention to the doors and windows in you house can save you big bucks in heating costs (and in cooling next year). And don’t assume that since you just bought your house, the last owners were conscious of saving on their heating bill.

I bought a house that had recently been rehabed or so I thought. We made through last winter. This spring I thought I would check my windows just in case. Every one of the 13 windows in the house had not been caulked in on the outside. I did this after I ran the sprinkler too close to the house and found a puddle under one of the windows from the water running down the window and into the wall.

So take a look around the outside of your house for gaps between your windows and doors and the permanent structure. These should all be sealed with caulk.

Now take a look from the inside. Your door’s weather-stripping should be intact. If not, check one of our sites and we may have weather stripping available. While you are looking at the doors, check your the bottom of your door or sweep . These need to be check periodically. They constantly brush against the threshold of the door and eventually the rubber begins to tear.

If there is a gap between the bottom of your door and the threshold, you can adjust this gap out with the threshold. If the top of your threshold has two big screw head either visible or underneath a cap of some kind, it is adjustable. Adjust the threshold slowly, one turn at a time until you have a proper fit.

Also check your storm doors to be sure that they are closing properly. A storm door swinging in the wind defeats the whole purpose of having the thing in the first place.

Check your windows also. Their weatherstripping should be intact also. Contact a local window dealer or one of our websites to find the correct weatherstripping for your windows.

The whole point is to keep the cold air out and the warm air in. Anything that helps you accomplish this goal will save you money on your heating bills this winter.

Replacement Windows Energy Savings

Replacing old windows is one of the easiest and most apparent forms of energy savings. Old drafty single pane windows are very common in older homes. Having a single pane window is like having a leaky faucet. Air is constantly escaping your house. Replacing ineffective windows can give your house a refreshing new look while also saving energy and money in the future.

The name of the game is double pane. Double pane windows will save you money on your heating and cooling bills. They significantly reduce heat loss in the winter and can very easily reduce heat gain during the summer. It is suggested that a double pane window be covered with a special low-e coating (low emissivity). Where to apply this coating depends on your geographic location. A professional window contractor in your area can assist you in performing such a task.

Glaze For Replacement Windows

Let us not forget about how important it is glazing your windows. Multiple layers of glaze on your windows can insulate your house and keep heat inside. However, new technologies have developed and people are now focusing not only on the glaze, but on the thickness of airspace in between the windows. Thicker space creates better insulation. However, too much space is a waste as well. Anything beyond 1” will have no effect on your energy saving performance.

Multiple paned windows can be filled with argon or krypton gas to reduce heat loses and increases R-values. The higher the R-value (resistance to heat loss) the better insulation you have. The U-Value is another important thing to consider when replacing old windows. The U-Value is a measurement of heat transfer. The lower the U-Value, the less heat transfers. With low U-value window replacements, managing your homes heat loss and gain will become very easy. Make sure when comparing new windows that you are checking U and R values calculated for the entire window.