http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=527&page=3 - see dec 21st 07

You won't really know if you're using too much or too little until you calculate or model the thermal performance of the house in software - and even then it'll be an approximation. My limited experience with builders and architects in Spain suggests that they far underestimate the amount of insulation needed in a house because they start at assuming that you'll have a heating system to provide all your heating needs... and since you're gonna have underfloor heating anyway, might as well use it every day in winter? The paradigm hasn't quite shifted yet.

I've used the passiv haus planning package software for our new build - it's cheap and easy to use and has been refined through real world builds. Not the most sophisticated, but it's better than a finger in the air

Good to hear - did you order direct from manufacturer or via a middleman? I am building in Northern Ireland and the route I priced was via a middleman in Southern Ireland. This has a slight disadvantage in that the cost is being converted from Krona to Euro to Sterling! We're also truly self building in that we're not hiring a builder. Another disadvantage I'm finding with this route is that non of our subbies are VAT registered and therefore as we've no VAT number, we having to pay the Swedish 25% VAT up-front, to claim back later. Obviously with funds being tight, I would have preferred not to pay this. Having said all of that - I'm certain that 3G swedish windows are the way to go!

Hi,
You can buy triple glazed windows in the UK that can offer excellent 'U' values and give good thermal ratings. The problem with importing is that companies abroad do not measure their 'U' values as we do here, to BS. BS states that you must use a 1400mmx1200mm approx with a side opener to achieve an overall 'U' value. Abroad this can be measured by the centre pane value alone. Not good enough when assessing the window overall. It would be nice to keep it British. Try Whitakers in Denholme, they offer a triple glazed option that should meet most needs (4-16-4-14-4). However, it will still be dearer that standard double glazing.

A top opener will have less wood that the UK side opener 1400x1200 therefore the UK window will always have a higher rating; different testing methods. Triple glazing must be more expensive as you use more material, one extra pane of glass for a start?

Whitakers can offer 1.1 on the window overall which can be lowered using krypton/Diamante glass...how much lower do we need to go?

Try sourcing your windows through Scotland - avoiding the conversion into euro should work out slightly cheaper. Not sure what the building regs are in Northern Ireland but in Scotland they differ from the English regs re windows so buying from an English company worked out more expensive than off-the-shelf Scandinavian ones which complied with Scottish regs. We got ours from Rembrandt timber - the windows come off the boat from Sweden at Dundee. Shouldn't cost too much more to get them to Northern Ireland.

Posted By: cameron5A top opener will have less wood that the UK side opener 1400x1200

Why? a 1-light 1000x1000 has if anything *more* wood pro rata than a 2-light 1200x1400.

Posted By: cameron5more expensive as you use more material, one extra pane of glass

A tiny proportion of the total raw-material -to-site-fixed process. One of the best reasons for buying Europe-made windows, apart from being close to the forests, is the ridiculously cheap price of 2g and 3g glass there.

oh yes. avoid the 'gold' fittings. hideous. go for the chrome / silver appearance!

Posted By: cameron5How can a window 1000x1000 have more wood than one 1200x1400?

Not what I said -

Posted By: fostertoma 1-light 1000x1000 has if anything *more* wood pro rata than a 2-light 1200x1400

My triple-glazed windows are arriving from Lithuania, tomorrow hopefully! One of the suppliers I approached thought that 3G are as cheap as 2G because in much of Northern Europe 3G is the norm, so 2G have to be specially sourced. Regarding the timber used: in theory Scandinavian and Baltic redwood is much slower growing than UK softwood, so finer grain and denser. Northern European makers also seem to have many years head start in the engineered laminated frames.

Hello All. I, like many others am looking to import/buy some 3g wooden-framed doors to install in our self-build garden room/studio/drum room and would appriciate any advice. I have read most of the threads from this very informative site and am ending the day a much wiser person...however, my first phone call (to Sweedish Timber Products in the UK) ended abruptly after being told that they don't import these 3g doors as they are too heavy. Can anyone clarify or point me in the direction of the most reliable way of getting hold of folding/sliding 3g doors? My main reason for going triple is for sound insulation purposes. Thanks. Ged.

The Trary Fonster timber 3G glazed doorsets are off-the-shelf in the UK from Rembrand Timber.

THey have excellent ironmongery that allows you to 'lock' the door open at an infinitely variable angle simply by turning the door handle again when it is open. NO pesky door slamming when it's breezy, but you want the doors open.

Installed mine recently, and am very happy with them

Joe, you're two and a half years out of sync.