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What types of glass should I use?

The standard glass that we use at Solace Creations Double Glazing is 4mm/16mm argon gas/4mm.  For the majority of homes, this is enough.  It gives a good air gap and the overall glass unit size is 24mm.

If you want additional security in your home then I highly recommend a laminated glass as part of the unit make up.  6.38 laminate/14mm argon /5mm does amazing things as a glass unit.  6.38 laminate is virtually impossible to break or will take a long time to break.  If you have secure windows and doors then you also know that your glass is secure also. In addition the 6.38 unit will reduce your noise transfer.

If you are after glass that is hard to break then toughened will work and it will not shard if  it is broken.  We always use toughened glass if the window is less than 500 off the group, in a bathroom, next to a doorway or in an entry door.

The popular glass is low e.  The only time that I would recommend low e is if you have a westerly window that doesn't get winter benefits.  The double glazed units are already performing well, I am not convinced that the extra amount that you pay for low e provides sufficient benefit.

 This video shows our team breaking a laminated glass unit and a toughened glass unit. 
Glass Test Solace Creations

Come and see us at 17 Townsville Street Fyshwick to find out more about glass units.

Do I Need to Double Glaze my North Side?

My return answer to that is do you need to insulate your walls on the north side?  The answer would always be yes.... but why is that?  You are already thinking of putting a single piece of glass on that side why do you need your walls insulated?

Many people believe that double glazing stops the heat from entering your home in winter.  This is not true, double glazing is simply two pieces of glass with an air gap.  The air gap is your insulator.  The double glazed unit lets your heat in from the sun and then traps it in your home.  You may feel warm all day with single glazing but as soon as the sun moves away from the window, your house quickly cools down as the windows are uninsulated.

The key to a warm home is to insulate your home's building envelope.  This means the ceiling, walls, floor and windows and doors.  You also need to make sure that there are no possible means for a draught to enter your home.  This could be through your heating vents, down lights, under and around entry doors, garage doors etc etc.

Having an insulated home means a comfortable home for you.  When we replace the windows and doors in our client's homes, the first thing they say to me is how comfortable their home feels.

Another positive from insulating your home is that you will save money on heating and cooling.  Your house acts like an esky.  If it if warm inside, it keeps it warm inside, if it is cool inside, it keeps the cool inside.

There are some glasses that are designed to keep the heat out of your home and one form is low e.  I don't sell a lot of low e by choice as the most important thing to do in Canberra is to keep our homes warm.  Low e will prevent a lot of you winter warmth from entering your home.

What about the summer sun?  The best way to keep the summer sun out is to orient it right for new homes and for existing homes, have some shading that is there for summer but not for winter.  Such as slats that are at 30 degrees - allowing the winter sun to come in and the summer sun to stay out.  A deciduous tree will lose it leaves in winter when you need the warmth.  Pull down shading to keep the sun from hitting your glass will also help.

Solace Creations Double Glazing has been in the market of double glazing since 2006.  We have a lot of experience in improving homes and helping new home owners to design their windows and doors to maximise their effectiveness.  We have a new showroom at 17 Townsville St Fyshwick where you can see our varying levels of double glazing and chat to our experience team.  We can be contacted on 6260 1621 and provide free in home consultations and in-showroom consultations for new homes.

Isn't it time you double glazed your home?

Karen

Is the ACT double glazed yet? Why are we so resistant to warm homes?

All of Canberra Homes should be insulated through double glazing.  It is odd that we are made to insulate the wall space next to a window or door yet we are able to put a single piece of glass into the space next to it.

It should be the choice of everyone that is building a home to have  a properly insulated home and not just because Government Regulations insist on some insulation.  Clients that have double glazing through Solace Creations Double Glazing in Canberra remark how comfortable their home is, how consistent their heat is and how cheap their home is to run.  Wouldn't you make that choice over anything else?  Your home is the place that you relax and seek haven from the world.  Having a comfortable home should be the main priority in building.

Solace Creations Double Glazing offers free home consultations for new and existing homes to provide an assessment on the best way to insulate your windows and doors.   Solace Creations Double Glazing has moved to it's new Super Showroom at 17 Townsville Street Fyshwick - check out our website for more information on our products and services.  www.solacecreations.com.au.

New Solace Creations Double Glazing Showroom opens in Fyshwick

Solace Creations Double Glazing is proud to announce that we have a new joint showroom at 17 Townsville Street Fyshwick with Ultimate Windows.  This provides us with the largest independent showroom in Canberra that specialises in double glazing.

We have on display double glazed aluminium and uPVC with a range of suppliers on display.

For the first time we have lift and slide doors on display along with some entry doors and many other windows.

Solace Creations Double Glazing offers complimentary - obligation free consultations for people that have purchased a block of land and would like to have a comfortable home that is insulated.

Solace Creations Double Glazing is an Award Winning Business that specialises in the field of energy efficient windows and doors.  Call Solace Creations Double Glazing today to book your consultation or to request our free e-book.  6260 1621 17 Townsville Street FYSHWICK or send your plans to quotes@solacecreations.com.au.  www.solacecreations.com.au

Overseas windows and doors

This article outlines the issues of buying building materials from overseas.  Please find time to read it.

I can't stress strongly enough why it is important to buy Australian.  If you can't afford it this year, then save up and buy Australian next year.  You not only support the Australian economy but you know that the products that you buy are compliant and meet the Australian Standard.

Imagine a child going through a glass unit that isn't toughened correctly.  It could be life threatening.

We recently pulled out 3 year old Chinese windows and doors from a new home in Franklin because the client wanted to save money.  It cost him double on what it would have cost during the build.  Please think about where you buy from.

www.solacecreations.com.au
www.awa.org.au

How can we make double glazing compulsory in Canberra?

I have been driving energy efficient windows in Canberra for about 8 years now and I am seeing an increase in home owners who can see the value of their insulation (including windows and doors).  Some thoughts of mine:

1.  Insulated windows and doors have to form part of the building for new homes, it is crazy to do the walls and ceilings and not the windows and doors which can form 30% of the wall space.  I think this will be more of a Building Code issue than a local issue, however, if there is a way where we can make it an essential element of the 6 stars then it may work?  Builders and home owners are focussed on the 6 star compliance requirements but this does not relate necessarily to 6 star comfort.  It is easy to get 6 stars with single glazed aluminium windows and doors with the right orientation and wall and ceiling insulation.

As a Board Director of the Australian Window Association I am across emerging initiatives that hopefully will help our cause. The new rating system will recognise WERS ratings rather than generic ratings.  There is work afoot to recognise energy saving enhancements when homes are being valued and this would include solar panels, double glazing, solar hot water etc.  This would make the 6 star more realistic.

2.  We don't want to drive change that becomes like the insulation and solar panel debacles.  Suddenly everyone will be an expert in double glazing and we will have substandard installations and product happening in homes.  A rebate or some form of RECS similar to solar panels may encourage home owners to upgrade their homes if they get a rebate on their energy bills.

3.  I can show in real terms the savings that new homes can make in their first year with double glazing and do it on a case by case basis.  Over 25 years it can be close to $25,000.

4.  I would like to see all new block owners issued with a "small" guide to energy efficient design and products.  There is not enough information in place to inform new block owners. Perhaps this could be given to new new block owner when settlements take place at the Land Titles Office? 

My vision is for all homes in Canberra to be double glazed - imagine how much energy we would save as a city an how temperate and comfortable our homes would be.  As a minimum I would like to see our young in child care centres warm and our elderly in retirement homes warm with low energy bills.

Come and see us at our super showroom at 17 Townsville Street Fyshwick or call us on 6260 1621 www.solacecreations.com.au.

Karen

Sustainable House Day 2014

Yesterday I had the privilege to be invited to 666 ABC Radio Canberra to talk to Lish about how glazing contributes to a sustainable house.  After 8 years of peddling double glazing to the Canberra market, I now believe that I have traction and more and more people are understanding why energy efficient windows and doors are importation the insulation package of their home.

After I finished at 666, I headed out to Googong as a guest speaker in the Shaw Living "Tinderry" House and gave two half hour talks on energy efficient windows.  We had an audience of people who are looking to build new homes and those that want to improve their existing home.  If I could put on a "light bulb" moment for several families then I did my job well yesterday.

I would like to see the Building Code changed to make insulated windows mandatory - not only for my business but for the future of Canberra.  I can't understand why we are so heavy on the insulation of walls and ceilings but completely forget the wall spaces that contain windows and doors where we put in a single piece of glass.  No Brainer really!

www.solacecreations.com.au


Karen

 

Canberra Business Woman of the Year 2014

Last night we attended the Canberra Women in Business Awards at Hotel Realm.  It was a great night with about 500 people attending to enjoy a three course silver service dinner.

The awards recognised the achievements of Canberra women who are having success in their business.  Several MLAs attended to show their support. 

Karen Porter from Solace Creations Double Glazing was awarded a highly commended award for the Canberra Business Woman of the Year category.  This is recognition of hard work and dedication to bring double glazing into every home in Canberra.

For any other woman in business, it is worth your while to join the Canberra Women in Business and see what support services and networking that you can get.

Tonight I am a guest speaker at the National Women in Construction mentoring dinner at the MBA.

Karen

Solace Creations' journey to winning the ACT Telstra Micro Business Award

On July 4 2014, Solace Creations Double Glazing won the ACT Telstra Micro Business Award for 2014.  

In late 2013, Solace Creations was one of 600 micro businesses (less than 6 staff) in the ACT that was nominated for the Award.  We went through a very stringent process by an external body that involved an 86 page application, scrutiny of three years of our financials, references from staff, a supplier and a client along with our business plan, risk management plan, marketing plan and business continuity plan.  

From the application, we were one of the businesses shortlisted and this then required a 40 minute interview with two judges.  The following day, we were called and told that we were one of the five finalists.  At that point we were winners already.

On 4 July, we attended the gala dinner at QT in the city and found ourselves sitting amongst the top businesses in the ACT.  What an amazing group of dedicated business owners.

When they announced the winner of the Micro Business Award, we were blown away and ecstatic that we were being recognised for our hard work.

I am not sure if you know how hard small to medium business owners work. I heard a funny saying the other day that as a business owner, at least you get to choose which 17 hours you would like to work.

The first five years in a business is the toughest.  It is like having a baby, they are high maintenance and need you 24/7 to look after their every need.  When they are five they start school and suddenly you have some free time again.  This is like a business.  However, there are waves and as you get to a point of growth then the business is higher maintenance again.  You manage the growth and put more staff, better technology or systems in place and then the business becomes less needy.

I would like to recognise small to medium (and micro) business owners.  These people are the key to pulling our country out of financial pain.  These people pay taxes that fund schools, hospitals, roads etc.  These people give up so much so that they can earn their own livelihood and feed their families.  These people employ other people who also have families to feed and taxes to pay.  The flow on effect from one business owner is incredible and is far reaching.

I look forward to sharing the next part of my journey and the effect that the Telstra Award has had on me and my business.

Solace Creations Website 


Karen