Document Q is the latest addition to Building Regulations.  It means that there are now recognized security standards for doors and windows in all new homes.  The new standards require all doors and windows to be made to a design that has been shown, by test, to meet the security requirements of PAS24:2012.

The first thing to make clear is Document Q mainly applies to new dwellings, so replacement doors and those being Installed into a domestic extension are not required to have the upgraded security standards.

There is a good argument to say that all BiFolds should include the upgrades to ensure they meet Document Q. But until there is a level playing field where all BiFolds are required to meet the standard then it is important that when requesting quotes for BiFolds that you clarify if Document Q is required.

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No matter what type of building task, having the correct tools makes the job easier.

Whether Installing Aluminium Bi-Folds or Windows there are a handful of tools that although relatively cheap you just cannot do without.

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There are frequently situations where silicone alone just won’t  fill the gaps around the outer frame

Sometimes you’ll need to cover an old silicone line or perhaps the opening is out of square meaning there are varying width gaps around the perimeter of the outer frame where it meets the brick or block.

If the same situation arose when fitting a PVCu door or window the Installer would simply reach for the D section or 2 inch trim and the customer would rarely even know there had been a gap!

But there seems to be a definite lack of availability for aluminium trims around aluminium frames to finish off in the same manner.

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Persuading customers to choose your quote from the competitions is hard enough at the best of times.

But in a crowded market to have any chance of winning jobs, small to medium glaziers and builders must show some credibility and competence in relation to the products and services they offer.

Customers are looking for signs that you and your business are serious in what you are doing. Undoubtedly they will want to see information about the products you may sell to them.

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Bifold doors are designed to operate optimally within a very tight tolerance, making it vital that they are installed perfectly level, plumb, and square.

However, the reality is that in the world of construction, perfection is rarely achievable.

So when things are slightly out of level or alignment, what adjustments can be made to ensure that the Bifolds work as they are supposed to?

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Most Bifolds sold today seem to end up in new ground floor home extensions, usually Installed before any internal plastering has been started.

When internal reveals aren’t plastered Installers have a choice to use a traditional through-fix method or the strap-fix method for securing the outer frame.

Regardless of which method you employ, it’s essential that you have a solid, well packed outer frame to securely hold the weight of multiple glazed panels. Read more

It might sound like a quick and easy task but, in reality, correctly measuring for Bifold doors can be a challenge.

And getting it wrong can be heart-breaking and costly!  In fact there’s probably not an Installer or Surveyor around that hasn’t mismeasured a window or Bifold at some point.

In the history of thresholds, it’s fair to say that no product has come under more scrutiny than the Bifold door threshold.

Perhaps it’s the fault of the industry for promoting all those sexy images of the seamless step from inside to outside that has lead customers to become fixated on this hitherto unnoticed detail! (Just think back to the old PVCu entrance doors where you almost had to take a run up to get over the threshold!)

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