When you’re building your dream home, it’s essential to consider every aspect of the structure and every element of its interior design. The type of joinery you choose can affect how your home looks and its durability, safety, and comfort level over time, so it’s an important decision to make carefully. Here are six decisions in choosing the proper joinery for your home design and build in Auckland, New Zealand.
- Silver. White: About 95% of homeowners go for Box™ matt black joinery. And there’s a good reason for that. Not only is black in keeping with the low-key cladding of our homes, but it doesn’t reflect light. It does not detract the eye from any view through the glazing as a recessive colour.
- Standard aluminium frame or insulated (thermally broken) frame: If you live in the centre of the North Island or down South in New Zealand, insulated will make a toasty difference. In Auckland, the value/cost proposition isn’t as great. You will typically pay an extra $10-$15K for a house load of insulated frame windows.
- Standard double-glazing (with air between the panes) or argon gas-filled double glazing.
- Full-length glass or vision rails: Vision rails naturally serve the purpose of safety in that small children are less likely to launch themselves through a window or sliding-door pane. But did you know that it is also less expensive to have vision rails because only the bottom panes need then be made of costlier toughened glass.
- Casement or awning: When side-hung casement windows open, they let the rain in. Awning windows are hinged at the top, so they are showerproof.
- Tinted or not: Tinting protects furniture from harsh UV and heat, particularly in a bach that gets closed up for long periods. It also helps with privacy.
We are very touchy about our modernist appeal, so our strategy for joinery for architect design is:
- Floor-to-ceiling glazing (except where there’s a bench seat). Always take the window up to the ceiling, so there are no bulkheads or lintels on view – in keeping with our streamlined aesthetic.
- There are no transoms (the crossbar on glazing) positioned at eye level when seated or even lazing in bed.
- Louvres in bathrooms and laundries for cross-ventilation (also can be left open while maintaining security.)
- Tall slot windows are a Box™ trademark. We just like them.
