Category: Blog

Spring is here — daffodils and tulips are poking their heads through the soil promising a burst of color to chase away the last thoughts of winter. The warmer weather has us thinking of renewal, rejuvenation, and yes, renovation!

Deciding on a home renovation is a huge undertaking, especially if you are also thinking of replacing your existing windows and doors. This important step should be done with serious consideration. To help with that, we have compiled a list of 6 essential points to explore when you are ready to plan your window replacement.

1. Do Your Windows and Doors Need Replacing?

There are many reasons to consider replacing your old windows and doors — it will be a significant portion of your budget — so this question is important to think about. One key reason for replacement is to increase the energy efficiency of your home. Windows and doors can be a major source of heat loss, so replacing them with modern, high performing products can significantly lower your energy costs. When choosing new windows and doors, look for those that are ENERGY STAR^® rated for your climate zone. Window/door frames are made from a variety of materials including: metal, wood, fiberglass, vinyl, composites or a combination thereof. Depending on the materials used, the profile may have a low thermal expansion rate, have more than one chamber — multiple chambers increase insulation value and structural strength — and may be fusion welded to provide a permanent, leak-free connection. Other features that increase energy efficiency is the glazing (double or triple pane), gas fills used between the panes, the use of insulating spacers, (metal or foam), the kind of glass coatings, if any. The overall energy efficiency of windows and doors can be increased by combining a thermal resistant frame with high performance glazing. Ask your sales consultant to explain how their windows are designed to be energy efficient.

2. Where are the windows and doors manufactured?

Choosing windows that are made locally is a sound decision. — buying locally manufactured products supports your local economy, and you can be sure that your windows and doors comply to government regulations and standards and are designed specifically for your climate.

3. What type of windows/doors should you choose?

There are several different types of windows and doors that you can opt for, depending on the purpose desired. Some features to keep in mind are: security, ventilation, ease of operation, and maintenance. Ask your sales consultant to fully explain and demonstrate the window and door operation to ensure that you understand the working parts of the various products. Ask about the locking mechanism, basement/bedroom egress requirements, glass options, finishing choices, and accessories. Inquire about the lead time. The more information you have about your choices, the better equipped you will be to make the best decision for your needs.

4. What is the cost of the products?

Your replacement windows and doors are a big investment. Discuss the pricing structure with your sales consultant. Inquire if there are any government rebates or grants available that your purchase would qualify for.

5. What does the warranty include?

Ask about the warranty – most window warranties are similar in what is warranted and for how long. Some are transferable to new owners. Make sure you understand the warranty before you buy your windows, to prevent any surprises down the road.

6. Who will install your new windows and doors?

Does the company have their own installation team? The advantage of using in-house installers is that they will be trained in the best method of installing their own products.

It is extremely important that your windows and doors be installed properly for optimum performance. Ask for references from previous customers. Even the best windows and doors will not perform as expected and will result in loss of energy savings, if improperly installed. You may risk voiding your warranty if you decide to install the windows yourself.

When making a major purchase such as new windows and doors, it is worthwhile to be as informed as possible. Asking questions will help ensure that you will be satisfied and happy with your decision for many years to come.

 

Additional Resources:
Energy Efficient Windows, Doors and Skylights – National Resources Canada

Climate Zones — Windows, Doors and Skylights – National Resources Canada website

Maintenance Matters – Home Owners’ Protection Office, Branch of BC Housing

Improving Window Energy Efficiency – Natural Resources Canada

Windows, Doors and Skylights Climate Zone Finder – USA

Buying and Installing the Right Product – Energy Star (USA) website

Until recently, the term “Passive House” was relatively unheard in North America, unlike in Europe, where the Passiv Haus standards are well known and used extensively in residential and commercial projects. According to Wikipedia: “As of August 2010, there were approximately 25,000 Passiv Haus certified buildings of all types in Europe, while in the United States there were only 13, with a few dozen more under construction.”*

Now it seems as if everyone in the Lower Mainland is talking about Passive House.

Awareness of and demand for sustainable and efficient building practices, such as Passive House, is growing due to many factors including: new political initiatives, like the City of Vancouver’s Greenest City 2020 — which adopts updated Bylaws mandating new buildings to meet increased energy efficiency requirements — and the efforts of passionate people who believe whole-heartedly that these stringent standards will benefit our families, our communities, and, our world.

Rob and Mark, of Bernhardt Contracting, are two such people. They believe in Passive House construction so much so, that they built and live in their own passive home which was officially certified by the Passive House Institut in Darmstadt, Germany. Currently, they are building a six-unit passive house structure in Victoria — North Park Passive House — which will be the first passive house multi-family strata building in Canada.

On March 7th and 8th, Bernhardt Contracting welcomed over 500 people for four days of tours and open houses at the North Park Passive House site. These events gave attendees a chance to learn more about passive house standards, high performance buildings and the mechanics of building them.

Along with members of the community, the event was attended by dignitaries, including the Mayor of Victoria, Lisa Helps, the BC Minister of Energy and Mines, Bill Bennett, and, the President of the Canadian Passive House Institute West, Rob Bernhardt. EuroLine was there as well, represented by our President & CEO, Isbrand Funk and, our Victoria Residential Sales Consultant, Gordon Kyle, to talk about our ThermoPlus system — how and why our system is an excellent choice for passive house projects.

The Honourable Bill Bennett announced, at the event, that the Province will be providing funding to CanPHI West’s education program. Exciting news for the Passive House movement and energy efficient building stakeholders.

We extend our congratulations to Bernhardt Contracting for their groundbreaking project. We, also, are committed to the Passive House movement and we are proud to be supplying the windows and doors for the North Park Passive House.

For more information on the North Park project, Passive House standards, and ThermoPlus windows, check out the links below.

North Park Passive House
Bernhardt Contracting
CanPHI West

EuroLine’s ThermoPlus Windows

Watch this video to see hear why ThermoPlus is ideal for Passive House construction. (Video courtesy of Bernhardt Contracting)

*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passive_house (Zeller, Jr., Tom. Beyond Fossil Fuels: Can We Build in a Brighter Shade of Green?, New York Times, September 26, 2010, p.BU1.)

Times are challenging and our communities need support now, more than ever. In an effort to lend a helping hand, EuroLine Windows donated over 40 new windows and doors to the Habitat for Humanity Greater Vancouver ReStore.

ReStores sell new and gently used items for homes and gardens to the public, and there are several locations throughout the Lower Mainland. All merchandise comes from corporate and individual donors and all proceeds from the sales go back to Habitat for Humanity Greater Vancouver.

One dreary February day, the windows and doors were loaded into a EuroLine truck and transported to the newest ReStore in Burnaby, which will be opening later this month. There, we met Daryl and his team of volunteers who were ready and waiting to unload our donation.

With the help of Denis, one of our drivers, and Isbrand, our CEO, the Habitat crew soon had the truck emptied and the windows and doors stacked up along one wall of their huge warehouse. Denis made unloading huge, heavy windows look easy (just check out our Facebook photos!).

At the end of the day, the ReStore had some beautiful new windows and doors for their outlet, and the volunteers got a real workout from moving all those heavy items!

It was a pleasure to meet Daryl and his crew! We are happy to have had the opportunity to contribute to a great cause and we wish the Habitat for Humanity Greater Vancouver ReStore continued success, helping those in need to obtain affordable housing!

On Tuesday, February 3rd, EuroLine Windows was honoured with the Homestars award, Best of 2014 — Vancouver,  for our work in windows and doors. Michael Tostowaryk, the new sales manager and Catherine Johnston, marketing coordinator were at the Delta Inn – Burnaby, to represent EuroLine and accept the recognition . The 2014 award recipients and their guests were treated to drinks, appetizers and accolades. After the ceremony, everyone had a chance to mingle,  network , exchange success stories and applaud each other for a job well done.

EuroLine is proud to receive this distinction and congratulates all the Best of 2014 winners! Thank you, Homestars, for a wonderful evening!

It seems like the entire country is steeped in polar temperatures. Even here, in Greater Vancouver, we were hit with an icy blast of frigid air that lasted for days. Brrr!!

Now that winter has set in, and everyone has turned up the heat in their homes, more people are noticing condensation build up on their windows. Condensation seems to strike a chord of fear in people and we get a lot of calls from homeowners worried that this means that the glass in their windows has failed.

Condensation on glass is a common occurrence and can appear on either the interior or exterior window panes. This moisture formation, while annoying, does not usually mean that there is something wrong with your windows.

Modern energy efficient building designs, techniques and products mean that our homes are better sealed against air leakage. High performance windows and doors are doing their job: preventing the cold outside air from coming into your house, and stopping the heated indoor air from escaping outside, keeping you toasty warm and lowering your energy costs. But this reduction in natural air exchange, along with the water vapour from activities such as breathing, cooking, and showering, means that your home will have a high relative indoor humidity level which can result in condensation on the inside of your windows.

The easiest way to control indoor condensation is to lower the relative humidity inside your house. There are several things that you can do to accomplish this, including running your kitchen fan while cooking, and bathroom fans when bathing or showering. Also, opening a window to air out the house on a daily basis and keeping your blinds and drapes open as much as possible will help to lower the indoor humidity.

The same principles that produce indoor condensation also cause outdoor condensation. Certain climactic conditions — a clear night sky with no wind and a high relative humidity — cause the surface temperature of the exterior glass to fall below the dew point of the ambient air. When this happens, moisture from the air condenses on the outside of the window. This is not an indication that your windows are faulty; on the contrary, it is sign that your windows are performing well. The insulated inside pane is preventing the warm air from inside your home from reaching the exterior pane and warming up the glass.

Differences in window orientation and/or objects outside the window (e.g. shrubs, shutters, etc.) can affect the surface temperature of the glass, contributing to exterior condensation.

Exterior condensation is a natural and common occurrence and there is not much that you can do to control this phenomenon. Opening window coverings at night to warm up exterior glass or removing/trimming shrubbery near windows to promote air circulation may help in reducing exterior condensation. However, exterior condensation is not a cause for concern as usually this moisture evaporates quickly after the sun comes up and the temperature of the glass rises.

For more tips on dealing with condensation, please check out our Condensation FAQ on our Resources page.

Check out these links for additional information on condensation.

Moisture Problems – Natural Resources Canada
Exterior and Interior Condensation on Windows – Fenestration Association of BC
Avoiding Condensation Problems – Homeowners Protection Office – Branch of BC Housing
Questions About Windows & Condensation? – National Fenestration Rating Council

PLEASE NOTE:
If you have excess water on or around your window sills or notice ice forming on the inside, please call your installer, builder or dealer as this may indicate that your windows or doors have been installed incorrectly.

If you find condensation between the panes in an insulated glass unit, the airtight seal may have failed and require replacement.

EuroLine Windows 2014 Technology Forum — October 2nd

Have you ever wondered about the implications and economics of building a passive house? Or the regulatory standards required for windows and doors in Canada? What about energy performance and durability of windows? These questions and more were explored in our full-day technology forum held on October 2 at the Delta Town & Country Inn.

This year, we hosted six leading experts in the fenestration and construction industry, who shared their knowledge with an audience of architects, builders and developers. The speakers were engaging and interesting and their presentations offered insights and information that was relevant and timely. The sessions were:

1. Energy Performance and Durability of Windows — Al Jaugelis, RDH
2. Windows & Doors — Regulatory Compliance in Canada — Adam Mantei, Intertek
3. Passive House: Economics and Project Delivery — Rob Bernhardt, Bernhardt Contracting
4. Performance Through Envelope — Paul Warwick, Performance Construction; Troy Glasner, E3 Eco Group
5. Fenestration With Combustible Components in Buildings of Noncombustible Construction — Peter Senez, Sereca Fire Consulting

After the two morning sessions, we made our way to EuroLine’s showroom and manufacturing facility for a tour. At the showroom, our sales team was on hand to answer questions about our products. The group wandered from room to room, checking out all the displays — from casement and tilt & turn windows to tilt & glide and folding doors, and getting a taste for the many options we have available — styles, colours, glass types… The plant tour was a crowd-pleaser, giving the attendees a glimpse into our production team’s process of assembling windows and doors, making screens and cutting grids. The group saw the foiling machine; the CNC door machine; and our new state of the art cutting and processing centre, in action. They also were able to see a glazing and water test performed at our in-house testing station.

Back at the hotel, we had lunch before settling in for the last three presentations of the day. After the applause and a little networking —  Isbrand Funk, President and CEO of EuroLine Windows Inc., drew the name for the door prize which was generously donated by PFG. Sameh Guidni, from Ionic Architecture Inc., was the lucky winner of the iPad Air. Congratulations, Sameh!

A big thank you to all the presenters for taking the time out of their busy schedules to bring their presentations to us. We also extend our gratitude to our co-sponsors whose support and generosity helped make this seminar so successful — thank you: PFG Glass, Rehau, and Roto!  Last, but not least, we say thank you to everyone who attended the forum — we hope that you found it instructive and worthwhile. It was a pleasure to have had the opportunity to meet you all. Your presence helped to make this event a hit!

We will be back in 2016 with another technology forum specifically tailored to architects, builders and developers. In the meantime, check out all the photos from this year’s event on our Facebook page.  Oh, and while you’re there, please take a moment to “like” our page!

EuroLine Windows is bustling with activity! While our manufacturing team is hard at work making windows and doors, our office team is busy taking care of last minute details in preparation for our 2014 Technology Forum on October 2nd.

We’re getting ready — we’ve spruced up our plant floor and our showroom is sparkling — we’ll be set to welcome you to our Delta facility for the grand tour.

Our guest speakers are leading experts in the fenestration and construction industries and they are eager to share their knowledge and expertise throughout the day. Specifically geared to architects; builders; contractors; and developers, this event will cover a range of timely topics from Performance Energy Walls to Passive House Technology.  And, I hear that the lunch will be delicious!

If you haven’t registered yet, you still have time! Tickets will be on sale until midnight Friday, September 26th. But hurry, seating is limited.

For all the details of the event, click here.
To register for the event: click here.

See you there, on October 2nd!

With today’s increasing cost of energy, homeowners and building professionals alike are interested in quality products that provide superior thermal performance and lower energy costs without sacrificing elegance or design. EuroLine’s 4700 Series ThermoPlus™ window and door system offers the answer to this demand and is becoming a popular choice, especially with the advance of Passive House construction in North America.

ThermoPlus uses Passive House certified GENEO^® window and door profiles — manufactured with high-tech RAU-FIPRO^®, a hybrid of fiberglass and vinyl — making it the strongest, most energy-efficient window and door system in its class. The hybrid core provides high stability, torsion stiffness and static properties of fiberglass allowing for greater design flexibility, and larger window areas. ThermoPlus window and door system with its sophisticated six-chamber, hybrid profile combined with robust hardware and high-performance glazing, provides unsurpassed thermal comfort; significant energy savings and is used in Passive House projects across Canada and the US.

The 4700 Series windows feature German-engineered tilt & turn operation with durable, easy-to-operate ROTO^® multi-point locking hardware that seals out harsh weather and makes it virtually impossible for intruders to break into your home through the frame. As with all EuroLine high-performance products, ThermoPlus is custom-built, comes standard with two panes of insulated glass (optional three panes); LoE coating; Health Smart^® all-foam warm edge Super Spacer^® insulation system for superior thermal performance and is ENERGY STAR^® qualified.

The ENERGY STAR program in Canada identifies the best energy performers on the market. Products that display the ENERGY STAR symbol must meet strict technical specifications for energy efficiency levels and are tested and certified for their energy performance. The ENERGY STAR Most Efficient designation is awarded annually to the most efficient products, identifying the products that rank at the top of all ENERGY STAR qualifed models. This year, as in previous years, many of EuroLine windows were awarded the ENERGY STAR Most Efficient designation, including models in the 4700 Series ThermoPlus, 4600 Series Goldenline and 1400 Series. Click here  to search for all of our products with the ENERGY STAR Most Efficient designation.

Earlier this year, EuroLine improved and redesigned the 4700 Series window and door system specifically for the North American market. The new ThermoPlus system features an enhanced frame with a co-extruded nailing flange and with accessory grooves that greatly improves its flexibility and versatility, while maintaining its outstanding thermal performance and strength.

The demand for vinyl windows and doors will continue to grow as people look for more durable, easy to maintain and environmentally friendly choices when building new or renovating their existing homes. uPVC windows and doors are in demand as they are strong, low-maintenance and 100% recyclable. This trend is likely to continue for the foreseeable future.

EuroLine Windows, with its modern, innovative manufacturing plant, is well-equipped to help meet this demand. All EuroLine products are custom-made in its Delta, BC facility using advanced European technology and modern machinery and tested on site for quality control. EuroLine Windows manufactures leading-edge products that deliver superior thermal performance, increased energy savings and contemporary style for single-family residences, commercial buildings and industrial developments.

Want more information about the 4700 Series ThermoPlus windows? Click here.

Please Note: This article has been amended from the original to include the design and consulting firm, Marken Design + Consulting, involved in the Casa Pasiva project.

ThermoPlus™ Ideal For Passive House Construction

Passive House refers to a highly energy-efficient building standard that has been developed in Germany and used in Europe since the 1990s. Passive buildings, in short, are designed to be heated primarily by solar and internal gains, using only a small heating source with the aim of reducing energy consumption by up to 90%. Passive House standards are gaining popularity in North America as energy costs increase and interest in building sustainability grows.

One such project is currently under construction in East Vancouver. Designed by Marken Projects Design + Consulting and built by Econ Group Construction and Development, Casa Pasiva, an infill laneway house, will be an additional space to an existing property and specifically planned using Passive House standards.

Marken Design + Consulting, one of North America’s leading Passive House building design and project consulting firms, is committed to environmentally responsible design and building practices including Passive House, Net Zero, and LEED Platinum.

Econ Group Construction and Development Ltd. is a Vancouver-based, design-build firm focused on modern architecture and environmental responsibility. CanPHI certified and trained, Econ Group is at the forefront of passive house building in Canada.

Casa Pasiva, engineered to be a super-insulated, virtually air-tight, compact dwelling, features EuroLine Windows’ 4700 series ThermoPlus window and door system.  The home is being constructed using Passive House standards and implementing the new Canadian fenestration regulations, and, according to Dalit Holzman, Econ Group’s Manager of Development and Communications, ThermoPlus high performance windows and doors were the obvious choice for this project.

(Click on a photo for larger view)

Photos courtesy of Econ Group Construction and Development Ltd.

Read the Casa Pasiva blog here.
Click the links for photos and information about our 4700 Series ThermoPlus windows and doors.