Brian Hodge often writes articles for various magazines on the topic of straw bale building. This is a an article from The Owner Builder Magazine. Enjoy... Purchase of Recycled Windows and Doors: What to Look Out ForIf you are purchasing second hand windows avoid windows with broken glass. To replace a single pain of glass can cost almost as much as the window you are purchasing. Also check that any weights for the window are supplied with it and that winders and catches are included in the price. Some double hung windows are fitted with a spring-loaded system to support open windows. These mechanisms are known as spirals and are now available in good building supply stores.
The primary position for degradation of windows and doors is where two pieces of timber join. It is at these joints that the water is most likely to penetrate the timber and cause it to rot. It is not always possible to see if the timber is rotten in these areas, as the paint may well disguise the problem. If you push a key or small screwdriver against the timber in the vicinity of the joints you will quickly discover if any rot exists. Be sure to check the timber up to 50mm around the junction as some windows have been repaired with fibreglass or builder’s bogg, which would cover the problem at the theoretical joint position.
When considering the purchase of second hand doors and windows you should be aware of the immense amount of time that it takes to get them back to a good condition. Timber stripped with caustic must first of all be washed down with vinegar to neutralise the caustic. Then they must be sanded and have any filler that the caustic doesn’t remove scrapped from them. Our doors had to be patched, undercoated, patched again, undercoated again and then have two coats of enamel paint. We had originally thought that we might stain the doors, however it is impossible to see the timber below the paint so it is potluck as to what you get. Our doors had very light and very dark timber, which was not conducive to stain.
You need to keep in mind that the building code specifies the glass that is to be in windows and doors, and this must be adhered to. You are now required to have safety glass in all bathroom windows. The chances of purchasing second hand bathroom windows with safety glass would probably be somewhat similar to winning tatslotto. So unless you are planning on re-glazing the windows for the bathroom, don’t bother buying second hand windows for that area. Full height windows previously had 3mm glass in all areas, whereas now you are required to have 5mm glass in the bottom pains. In the fifties there were no requirements for safety glass in doors. In the seventies you were only required to have safety glass in full height, single light doors. You are now required to have safety glass in all doors. Probably a good idea.
I remember as a child that we had sand blasted glass doors in our house in Numurkah. I recollect that the door at the end of the hallway had a koala sitting in a tree. This was in about 1960 so ensuites were not yet in vogue. One of the members of our family, who shall remain unknown to all but the immediate family, had a significant call of nature in the middle of the night. There was evidently a high level of motivation to make it to the toilet at the other end of the house as quickly as possible. Unbeknown to this person, someone had shut the glass door on the end of the hallway that led to the toilet. This particular night it was as black as the inside of a black cow on a stormy night. The person in question knew the path well and in the rush of the moment chose not to turn on any lights as this might wake others in the middle of the night. The concern regarding others was somewhat overridden as the whole family was woken to the crashing sound of breaking glass. A team of rescuers soon arrived at the scene only to find that the koala and his habitat had been annihilated, but there was no sign of the culprit. I am sure that it was luck, but the culprit would claim good form, for the foot was lifted just at the right moment to clear the bottom rail of the door. One can only assume that great speed and commitment to continue to the end cause was that which saved the person from serious harm. For the penetration and destruction of the koala and his habitat brought nary a scratch from the falling glass.
Brian Hodge has over thirty years experience in the building industry. Brian’s book “Building Your Straw Bale Home” (published by CSIRO publishing) and 12 DVD home-study workshop “You Can Build a Straw Bale House” have received rave-reviews both in Australia and abroad. For more information call 0428 246 868 (In Australia) or click here to contact us. |