Room Dividers, at home and at work

Open plan living provides the feeling of space and light ... but what about noise? The dishwasher gurgling in the kitchen, constantly interrupting after-dinner conversations; the children chattering loudly while you're on the telephone? There are times when you might wish to dull the background noise but not feel claustrophobic - and keep an eye on things in the next room.

How about a glass partition wall that divides the area yet can quickly and easily glide back to a side wall, out of the way? At SunSeeker Doors, we call this system "Glass Curtains" - frameless glass panel doors that enable one end of your open plan living area to be an oasis of calm and the other end to be noisy or cold or hot or different in some other way.

At the office, too.
Open Plan creates a light, bright, busy environment but what if you need an area sectioned off for a meeting or a client lunch? "Glass Curtains" can transform the area in less than a minute, yet with no loss of light on either side of the partition.

The same principal applies to cafeterias, restaurants and hotels. One large area can become two smaller areas. "Glass Curtains" are tried and tested in mainland Europe and are becoming more popular in commercial areas in the UK, bringing their prices down considerably. Contact SunSeeker Doors for a no-obligation quotation and advice regarding which product options are best for you;
telephone 01582 492 730.

Web Site: www.sunseekerdoors.co.uk

Frames vs. Frameless

Where to use metal, plastic, wooden or frameless doors ...

What's most important to you? Looks, longevity, low maintenance, practicality, price, the WOW factor to impress friends and neighbours?

Looks. Individual tastes vary - some people love the natural look and warmth of wood, some the cool unobtrusive white coated aluminium ... others the fresh and daring blues and greens available with powder-coated aluminium frames. Alternatively, frameless clear glass curtains can be loved by many for the absense of frame choice whereas others seem to fear the open-ness.

Longevity. Any of the framed or frameless styles can last a long time if it's a good quality installation of a good quality product and, of course, not abused.

Low maintenance. This is where wooden frames often lose out. The cheaper softwood options that look so appealing in the indoor showroom will need treating at least every 2 years, whether stained and varnished or painted. Even the more expensive hardwood doors will need care to keep looking good. Operating wooden doors can often be a problem as weather can have a significant effect causing swelling and splintering. Wood is beautiful but you have to love it and care for it till death do you part. Any doors, including plastic, metal and frameless, that have been manufactured with inferior parts will require more maintenance than a good quality product.

Practicality. Again, wood can be less than practical in winter if the cold air rushes in between the inevitable gaps that appear with warping and shrinking. Cheaper plastic frames that are not reinforced can be more 'flexible' than you might wish. Metal is undoubtedly the stongest frame. So, if strong frames are important, how can glass curtains work without any frames at all? In fact, there are top and bottom frames and the glass is ultra-strong. The frameless glass curtains that have been available in Europe for the past couple of years are single-glazed thick glass, suitable for enclosing Mediterranean balconies and terraces and excellent as internal room dividers. The manufacturers have been working on a double-glazed version that will meet British Standards.

Price. There are two costs to consider: the initial cost of purchase and installation plus the ongoing cost of maintenance.

The WOW factor! Glass Curtains, obviously, if they meet the practicality challenges: new and clutter-free. Second place, powder-coated aluminium with narrow frames for a good view - double the wow factor with integral blinds! Third place, wood - if you keep it looking good and don't wrestle with it in front of its admirers.

This is our Glass Curtains information blog - if you would like more information on framed bifolding doors and to read about our customers' experiences, please visit our bifolding doors blog.

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Introducing Glass Curtains

SunSeeker Doors and Glass Curtains - together in the UK
News Release: Tuesday 16 December 2008

SunSeeker Doors has been granted exclusive rights to install Glass Curtains throughout the UK. Glass Curtains will feature side-by-side with SunSeeker Doors aluminium bifolding doors, manufactured at their factory in Bedfordshire.

Glass Curtains 2008 are single-glazed room dividers. The 2009 product will offer an alternative virtually frameless option to panoramic folding doors, with uninterrupted views that can easily fit a curve and accommodate arched apertures, suitable as doors and windows.

SunSeeker Doors continues to supply aluminium-framed bifolding doors plus traditional patio doors and windows alongside its new product. Director Robert Hughes says "Glass Curtains is the future for modern contemporary homes but, as history shows, there will be demand for the traditional French, folding and sliding patio doors for years to come. We are happy to provide a service for our clients that encompasses the features they require."

History.

French doors, the original patio doors, have served well for many years. Elegant, romantic, practical, French doors set the standard and remain the most popular garden doors in new-builds as well as traditional French homes from small stone cottages to Versailles. Materials have varied, from soft and hard woods, metal, alloys and PVC but the traditional two-doors meeting in the middle of a three or four ft opening can be seen in a variety of homes and commercial buildings, world-wide.

In the mid-20th Century in Britain, the sliding patio door became popular - allowing lots of natural light into the home and a great view of the garden. There were a couple of downsides: there was always one side that remained in place, restricting access via only half the original aperture; also it wasn't always easy to slide the door - either the frame warped or the sliding channels became dirty or damaged so that the door stuck.

Progress.

Today's sliding doors often use rolling mechanisms to reduce such problems. At the beginning of this century, the bifolding door (or folding-sliding door) became widely available in the UK, made from soft and hard woods, PVC or aluminium. The appeal of having an opening wall of folding doors between house and conservatory (for more natural light in the house and maximum space between two rooms) or between home and garden (for maximising light, panoramic views and combining indoors with outdoor space when all doors are folded open) was enhanced by a number of other bonuses: good thermal qualities, better opening mechanisms, low maintenance (Aluminium/pvc) , optional colour choice (Aluminium/wood) and optional, integral blinds in the Aluminium framed folding doors.

Future.

In the wings, a new generation of frameless panelled doors awaits! "Glass Curtains" will soon be able to fill apertures currently filled by bifolding doors, with much the same qualities but with the added benefit of no vertical frames between panels and providing an uninterrupted panoramic vista - even round curved areas. The panel system can even accommodate arched apertures, fitting easily inside old cloisters.

Massively popular in warmer climates but with fewer applications here in Britain, "Glass Curtains" are currently available as single-glazed for balcony enclosures or as internal room dividers, both commercially and in the home. It is the newest concept in Open Plan living.

For more information about clear glass curtains and to browse through a few installations, visit the Glass Curtains pages of http://www.sunseekerdoors.co.uk/ where you can get an obligation-free quotation for your installation.

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