Timber

External doors, windows and screens are manufactured from a range of four hardwoods, all of which are naturally durable and therefore do not require additional preservative treatment.  All timber is obtained from sustainable sources and reputable suppliers.  The European Oak and Red Grandis hardwoods are FSC certified stock.
 
European Oak is a temperate hardwood with a typical “honey” colour and beautiful grain pattern. It is normally supplied with a clear oiled finish.

Iroko is a tropical hardwood that weathers to a dark, chocolate brown colour.  It is supplied with a clear oiled finish or a translucent microporous stain system in various colours.

Sapele is a red “mahogany” coloured tropical hardwood.  It is supplied with a microporous paint or translucent stain system in various colours.

Red Grandis is a tropical hardwood from the Eucalyptus family and is straw/pink in colour.  It is supplied with a microporous paint or translucent stain system in various colours.

Internal doors can be manufactured from the above hardwoods, as well as additional species (please contact our technical services department for details of available timbers).  Recent commissions have included Canadian Rock Maple and Steamed Beech.

Glazing

External windows and doors incorporate 28mm double glazing units.  The standard specification is two layers of 4mm toughened glass with a 20mm air filled cavity.   The inner pane is low “E” glass.  This configuration gives a typical system U value of 1.9 W/m²K.

Enhanced specification units, giving a typical system U value of 1.4 W/m²K, have argon filled cavities, “warm edge” spacers and “soft coat”, high performance low “E” glass to the inner pane.

New building regulations relating to the conservation of fuel and power come into effect as from October 1st ,  2010.  The new regulations (L1B 2010) specify that replacement windows for existing dwellings must achieve a minimum energy rating (WER) of band C or a whole window U-value of 1.6 W/m²K.   For doors, WER values do not apply  but  a U-value of no more than 1.8 W/m²K is required.  Click here for further details (Building Regulations, L1B 2010).

Arbor is able to supply window products which have a Band A  WER rating and windows and door sets with U-values lower than 1.6 W/m²K.  We are also able to provide calculations of both WER and U-values on request.

Additional options are available for our sealed glazing units, including tinted and obscure glass, “Activ Clear” and “Activ Blue” self cleaning glass, laminated glass for enhanced security and acoustic units.

We also offer Pellini venetian blinds, which are contained within the double glazed units.

Internal doors use 4mm toughened single glazing.

Finishes

European Oak and Iroko doors and windows are normally supplied with a clear oil finish.  We apply the oil in the factory prior to glazing and fitting of ironmongery.  Items supplied in this way require a further treatment of oil within three months of supply (inside and outside) and then further external treatments as necessary (normally annually depending upon exposure).

Products that require a paint or stain finish are sprayed in the factory with a three coat microporous water based system, prior to the fitting of ironmongery and glazing.  Solid colour paints can be specified to any colour and stains can be chosen from a range of 24 shades, with special colours available on request (at extra cost).

There may be situations where it is not appropriate or desirable to use the same colour or type of finish to the inside as well as to the outside faces of the doors and windows.  In these situations, we can provide dual finishes.  For example, Oak products may be specified with a clear oil finish internally and a painted or stained finish externally.