Why Would A Glass Balustrade Company Be Providing Curved Windows?
Providing curved windows has been a natural area of expansion for Balcony Systems. We started business in the UK as a glass balustrading company and bespoke curved glass balustrades has always been something that we have provided our customers.
Having mastered the art and precision of creating customized curved glass, we were ready to take on more products.
Since most curved glass balustrades are created for balconies with curves that overlook great views, curved sliding doors were also needed by our customers in order to maximize those views. Therefore, we started to specialise in providing curved sliding patio doors, to exactly match the radius of our glass balustrading.
From sliding doors with curves, it became a natural progression to also be able to provide curved windows.
What Kinds of Curved Windows Does Balcony Systems Provide?
So far, the windows that we provide are basically smaller versions of our curved patio doors. This means that we provide fixed and sliding panels that are perfectly curved and fit very well. We do not yet manufacture curved windows that open up and swing out.
What is the Typical Application for a Balcony Systems’ Sliding Curved Window?
Typically, our windows will be retrofitted into an older curved building, possibly a turret or an oast house.
Alternatively, they are often included as part of a new build.
What is So Special About Balcony Systems’ Curved Windows?
Being curved glass specialists, the precision with which we make the windows is second-to-none. Having started with the glass, we then form the frame around it. Everything is bespoke to create the perfect fit for your curved windows.
To speak to a friendly expert who will be happy to answer your questions about our curved windows, no matter how early into the project you are, call 01342 410411 today!
Curved windows and doors
This section discusses the various special options related to the creation of Door/Window library elements.
General Guidelines
Once a door/window is inserted into a wall, the default position of these library parts’ coordinate system is rotated so that the x-y plane is vertical and the z axis points horizontally into the wall. The origin is placed on the bottom center of the wall opening, on the exterior side of the wall. This way, doors/windows can be easily modeled by elements in the x-y plane. See the illustrations below.
Because of the special behavior of these library parts, the 2D symbol is generated from a special built-in projection otherwise not accessible by users (an upside-down side view from a 90 degree direction). The symbol and the 3D shape are fitted to the Door/Window origin by the lower (y) center (x) of the bounding box, but no adjustment is made along the z axis to enable users to design doors/windows extending beyond the wall in either z direction.
Considering these rules, here are some hints that will help you construct doors/windows that will work properly:
When constructing the door/window in the floor plan window, visualize it as if you are looking at it from the inside of the wall it will be inserted into.
Think of the project zero level as the external surface of the wall.
Elements that should be inside the wall, like the window frame, should be above the zero level.
Door panels opening to the outside should be below the zero level.
Positioning
A door is correctly defined if its insertion works as follows: clicking to the right of the insertion point means that the door leaf will open to the same side on the right. A window is correctly defined if, upon insertion, the side that is clicked corresponds to the outer side.
An opening position can take one of 8 forms. These are represented by three global variables in GDL:
mirroring to the Y-Z plane in 3D or to the Y axis in 2D ( SYMB_MIRRORED )
mirroring by the longitudinal axis of the wall (rotation by 180 degrees: SYMB_ROTANGLE )
flipping ( WIDO_REVEAL_SIDE )
Usually each part of the window should react in a different way to these conditions. The specification must be clear on deciding how the parts of the object should, or should not act. E.g. a door leaf moves with these transformations, but the cavity closure does not. To keep the library part consistent, several transformations should be used for these combinations. When changing the reveal side (flipping), the library part is mirrored and dragged back by the value of the nominal frame thickness.
Illustration of the 8 states with a simplified door – the little circle flags the origin.
Global variables 1.
Example drawing 1.
Global variables 2.
Example drawing 2.
Sample code undoing the automatic transformations done by ARCHICAD:
Note that though flipping and mirroring is possible for all doors and windows, it is incorrect in manufacturer libraries where a library part models a real window – which, of course, cannot be turned inside out. In this case the script should undo the mirroring done by ARCHICAD.
Creation of Door/Window Library Parts
When creating Door/Window type library parts, several possibilities exist, presenting different problems:
Creation of rectangular doors/windows in straight walls
3D related challenges
Creation of non-rectangular doors/windows in straight walls
Creation of rectangular doors/windows in curved walls
Creation of non-rectangular doors/windows in curved walls
Cutting custom wall opening
WALLHOLE2
Extending the wall polygon
WALLBLOCK2
WALLLINE2
WALLARC2
Rectangular Doors/Windows in Straight Walls
This is the easiest and most straightforward way of creating doors and windows. The use of simple GDL commands such as PRISM_ or RECT is recommended.
If you want to match the surface materials of door/window elements to those of the wall, the bottom surface of the elements should match the outside, and the top surface the inside of the wall. You can achieve this from your scripts using the WALL_MAT_A, WALL_MAT_B and WALL_MAT_EDGE global variables representing the surface materials of the wall into which the door/window is placed. In the 2D script, the WALL_SECT_PEN, WALL_FILL_PEN and WALL_FILL global variables can be useful, as these give you the pen numbers of the wall contour and fill plus the index number of the fill of the wall on the floor plan into which the door/window is placed. With composite walls, you have to use the corresponding global variables.
The object libraries come with a large set of door/window macros. These GDL scripts contain common building elements which are used by many doors/windows in the library. There are macros for generating commonly-used frames, panels and many other types of door/window parts. Open some door/window library parts to see what kind of macros they call and what type of parts those macros generate.
3D Related Challenges
Non-Rectangular Doors/Windows in Straight Walls
When working with doors/windows, it is important to know that placing a door/window always cuts a rectangular hole into the wall. The size of this hole is determined by the A and B parameters of the door/window library part. However, when the door/window is not rectangular in elevation, it does not entirely fill the cut rectangular hole. The solution to this is to use the WALLHOLE or WALLNICHE command to define a polygon shape to be cut into the wall where the door/window is placed. There are two solutions for this:
The 3D script has to contain parts that generate those parts of the wall that fill the hole between the door/window body and the edges of the rectangular wall cut. In this case, special attention must be paid to the visibility of the edges of these fillings.
WALLHOLE
This command can be used in doors’/windows’ 3D script to cut custom hole(s) in the wall they are placed into. During the 3D generation of the current wall, the 3D script of all its doors/windows is interpreted without model generation to collect the WALLHOLE commands. If they exist, the current wall will be cut using an infinite tube with the polygonal cross-section and direction defined in the script. There can be any number of WALLHOLEs for any door/window, so it is possible to cut more holes for the same door/window, even intersecting ones. If at least one WALLHOLE command is interpreted in a door/window 3D script, no rectangular opening will be generated for that door/window.
The 3D reveal will not be generated automatically for custom holes, you have to generate it from the script. The hole customized this way will only be visible in 3D, because WALLHOLE commands do not have any effect in 2D. A 2D representation can be scripted if needed (used with framing in plan off).
The use of convex polygonal cross-sections is recommended; using concave polygons may result in strange shadings/renderings or cut errors. Convex polygons can be combined to obtain concave ones. Mirroring transformations affect the cutting direction in an unexpected way – to get a more straightforward result, use the WALLNICHE command.
Curved windows and doors
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Hinge Placement Rules and Traditions Here’s a long and thorough look at the reasons for the traditional placement of hinges on architectural doors. April 22, 2014
How to Make an Elliptical Jamb Advice on various approaches to laying up and gluing an elliptical door jamb. December 9, 2013
Fabricating a Curved Jamb Laminating, piecing together, or sawing out of large stock: there’s more than one way to build an arched door jamb. April 18, 2015
Machining MDF Raised Panels Four out of four doctors agree: you can run MDF door panels in one pass on the shaper, if your cutters are sharp.January 2, 2014
Fine Points of Architectural Door Construction Here is a thoroughly professional discussion of the pros and cons of «engineered» door construction, along with a conversation about springing or crowning doors for a snug closure. September 7, 2013
Laying Up a Laminated Door Arch An extended discussion with pictures goes into depth about various ways to make a laminated wood arch for a doorway. September 5, 2006
Sequencing the Work for a Stain-Grade Door and Trim Install Woodworkers and installers discuss the timing of steps in a job that involves pre-finishing and installation of door jambs, doors, and trim. April 22, 2014
Solid Wood Entry Door Construction An extended technical discussion of proven methods for constructing large, heavy, durable custom doors using solid sawn lumber. January 18, 2007
Choosing Wood and Finish for Church Doors Woodweb pros weigh in on material choice for a set of chapel doors. November 30, 2009
Wood Choice for Reproduction Windows Spanish Cedar, White Oak, and Cypress are options that come to mind for a durable exterior application. and January 23, 2014
Door and Window Building: CNC Versus Traditional Machinery Here’s a thoughtful and sophisticated conversation about the proper place of CNC equipment and traditional shapers, mortisers, etc., in custom door and window production. October 3, 2011
Moisture Issues with Exterior Screen Doors This extensive thread examines wood choices and finishing methods for custom-made exterior screen doors. March 26, 2010
Eliminating Wood Problems — An Industry Review: 10 Ways of Eliminating Wood Problems Gene Wengert explains why eliminating wood problems begins and ends with monitoring and controlling the moisture content (MC) in wood -March 18, 2000
Interior Door Construction Questions Here’s a long and detailed discussion of lumber choices and construction methods for thick custom interior doors. March 20, 2012
Window Beading and Water Drainage Issues An extended discussion of window construction wood joinery and water management. June 18, 2010
Poplar for a Storm Door: Movement Issues An extended discussion of the behavior of Poplar in an exterior exposure. Science says Poplar is suitable for exterior woodwork, but experience may indicate the contrary. June 3, 2007
Shopping for Mortising Machinery Woodworkers discuss the practicality, cost, and operation of horizontal and vertical mortising equipment for door construction. June 2, 2009
Weather Detailing for Replacement Exterior Door Panels Exterior doors exposed to weather take a beating. Here’s an interesting discussion of how to detail wood door panels in a replacement and repair situation. October 19, 2013
Learning to Make Full Size Doors Some detailed information and some commentary about context, for a woodworker who wants to break into wood door construction. May 15, 2014
Preventing Cupping in a Wide Board Woodworkers discuss the «rip and flip» method, relief cuts, and similar methods of reducing wood movement. November 19, 2005
Repairing Warped Interior Doors The fix for some closet doors that developed a bow along a long stile could include some innovative hardware — or not. March 22, 2013
Achieving Consistent Copes Why is it so difficult to cut copes the same every time? October 5, 2004
Constructing large passage doors Using the right materials, glues and assembly methods. September 2, 2002
Labor and Cost for a Complex Wood Window The fine woodwork for a custom decorative window can be painstaking and slow. Here are some detailed thoughts on methods and the time involved (including an interesting description of doing the work with a CNC).June 12, 2013
Bowed, Round Top Double Hung Top Sash Arched top windows that will fit into a curved wall. How are you going to build that? Well . here’s a book recommendation and some general ideas. November 29, 2014
Window Part Terminology Woodworkers try to bring order to the vocabulary universe and define «muntin,» «mullion,» «bar,» «rail,» and related window and door terminology. March 26, 2010
Gluing door veneer Systems for gluing hardwood veneer to stave-core stile and rail doors. Illustrated.. February 6, 2002
Facing a Flush-Panel Steel Garage Door A ton of advice on attaching paintable wood faces to an insulated steel garage door, including advice on fasteners, adhesive, and door track hardware. November 2, 2010
Exterior Door Finish Finding a finish that will stand up to the elements over time. October 20, 2004
Solid Wood Door Construction Methods A long discussion of various ways to construct heavy wood architectural doors. April 4, 2011
Louvered Door Assembly Techniques Here’s an extended discussion about systematizing and speeding up the fussy, complicated process of assembling big louvered doors. October 11, 2012
Custom Fabricating Louvered Shutters A long and chatty thread about whether, why, and how to build your own louvered wood exterior window shutters. April 24, 2006
Door Construction and Wood Movement Experienced pros try to educate a newcomer about the power of wood movement and the necessity of allowing for it in constructing complicated assemblies such as architectural doors. May 12, 2013
Building an Entry Door Here’s a boatload of advice and commentary for a woodworker contemplating his first entry door. August 29, 2014
Setting Commercial Doors Advice for experienced residential carpenters on working with steel door frames and hardware on commercial jobs. March 26, 2010
Door Construction: Methods and Lumber Choices A general discussion on how to build interior doors, and what kind of wood to use. May 5, 2014
Vertical-Board Solid Wood Door Techniques Top craftsmen chime in with a diverse set of ideas and illustrations for building solid wood doors with vertical boards, in ways that can withstand wood movement and look great. March 25, 2009
Multi-Ply Construction Details for Raised Panels on Exterior Doors Woodworkers develop ideas for back-to-back panel construction on exterior doors. November 14, 2011
Fabricating Solid Wood Doors A discussion of the risks involved with solid wood door construction, and some detailed advice on «plank construction» methods. January 12, 2009
Construction Details for a Large Glazed Entry Door Door builders discuss joinery, hinging, and materials choices for a big, heavy door with five horizontal lights.November 14, 2011
Insulated Wine Cellar Door Details Advice on materials and techniques for a large custom door for a wine storage closet. February 13, 2013
Hinge Fastening for Big, Heavy Entry Doors It takes some big, long screws to hold up a heavy door. January 20, 2010
Building Insulated-Core Carriage Doors Detailed instruction on how to construct a custom architectural wood door with an insulating foam core. April 4, 2011
Building Heavy Barn Doors Can you make those barn doors stable? Here’s a discussion of how to anticipate and deal with the inevitable movement of wood components. March 18, 2006
How to Make Historically Accurate Curved Window Frames Advice on whether (and how) to steam-bend, laminate, or «brick-lay» the parts for a reproduction curved window. April 22, 2014
Determining left and right hand doors How do you keep them straight? (From WOODWEB’s Architectural Woodworking Forum) March 5, 2003
Restoring Historic Windows How to keep what’s good, and make them work. April 11, 2005
Entry Door Materials Pros discuss wood choice, finishing, and construction methods for a durable exterior door. October 4, 2005
Making Arched Window Casing Trim Steam bending is impractical — laminating small strips into an arch shape for moulding stock is the way to go. April 24, 2009
Ellipse jig Making your own jig for ellipse-based arcs. (From WOODWEB’s Cabinetmaking Forum) March 5, 2003
Boring Machine Accuracy and Dowel Joinery A discussion on achieving a nice joint fit when using dowels along with cope-and-stick joinery for 1-3/4″-thick door construction. May 6, 2009
Plank Doors with Stave Cores Advice on stave-core construction for a plank door. March 26, 2010
Weather-Stripping for Exterior Doors Expert advice on keeping the weather from finding its way around an exterior door. March 22, 2013
Locust for Window Sashes? Locust is durable and rot-resistant, but it’s not stable or easy to machine — so probably not the best choice for window parts. January 23, 2014
Reproduction Exterior Doors with Insulated Glass Advice about insulated, tempered, and laminated glazing for exterior doors, with some nice photo examples.October 17, 2011
Accurate End Cuts for Entry Door Parts Advice on machinery and tooling to make highly accurate cross cuts on wide lumber for architectural door construction. April 17, 2013
Putty for Nail Holes in Windows and Trim Struggling to find a nail-hole filler that’s compatible with waterborne clear finish. December 6, 2011
Storm Door over Wood Entry Door Will a glass storm door installed over a wood entry door increase the risk of damage from the sun? November 14, 2014
Exterior Doors and Sun Exposure Another discussion about the beating doors can take from the sun, and how to protect against it. July 13, 2011
Best Joinery for Passageway Door Construction Cope-and-stick joinery is the classic «man door» method. But what’s the strongest joint — dowel, mortise and tenon, or what? December 2, 2006
Shaper Advice for Euro-style Outswing & Tilt-Turn Windows Tilt-and-turn windows in the European style require fine tolerances and call for good tooling. January 28, 2014
Setting Door Jambs Without the Doors Thoughts on getting door jambs accurately set before the doors themselves are even built. August 27, 2009
Custom Wood Entry Door with Inlayed Stainless Steel A customer’s unusual entry door request gives rise to a discussion of wood movement and wood door construction techniques. September 23, 2008
Historic Roller Track Door Hardware Here’s some great architectural woodworking history: a look at old track-and-roller pocket door hardware with some original ads and patent documentation. November 14, 2014
Exterior Door Construction Details A discussion of the relative merits of mortise and tenon versus dowel construction. July 3, 2006
Troubleshooting Warping in a Mirrored Door Attaching a mirror to one face of a large melamine door leads to warping in the course of a year. December 1, 2013
Laminating Stile and Rail Stock for Doors Here’s a long discussion on how to lay up stock for architectural door stiles and rails from multiple laminations of wood. February 10, 2009
Solid Wood Passage Doors Woodworkers scratch their heads over a challenging door construction problem. October 26, 2013
Troubleshooting and Repair of Glue Failure in an Exterior Door A raised-panel Hickory exterior door behind a glass storm door is coming apart from the effects of solar heat and moisture condensation. What can be learned (or done) in this situation? June 3, 2007
Hidden Room (Secret Door) Details Tips on hardware and other details for concealing a door by disguising it as a bookshelf, pool-cue rack, or the like. February 8, 2008
Exterior door finishes Products to use for protection from rain. May 22, 2002
Window Hinge Mortising Retrofit Techniques Detailed advice for cutting new Soss hinge mortises on custom replacement windows to match already-mortised existing window jambs. June 3, 2007
Troubleshooting Warped Exterior Doors Woodworkers discuss the fine points of a small warping problem in a fine custom exterior door. September 8, 2008
«Hinge-Fold» Door Details How to double up two doors in an entry so that one hinges off the other — like a bi-fold, but different. May 26, 2008
Custom Software for Wood Man Doors A custom builder’s looking for a versatile design and drafting package for original wood door designs. But is it worth it? September 1, 2010
Labor Charge to Hang Doors Millwork installers discuss the steps, labor time and cost for installing interior pass-through doors. October 4, 2005
16’x12′ Solid Wood Pocket Door This project was mostly a pipe dream — but the discussion produced some interesting thoughts and information about honeycomb-core veneered panels as a lightweight door or moveable wall solution. April 24, 2012
Spiral Versus Fluted Dowels Is either one better? The question sparks a discussion of how dowel joints work. March 20, 2007
Attaching Jamb Extensions Fine points, tips, and tricks for window and door jamb extension installation. August 31, 2009
Price and Quality for Interior Doors Custom woodworkers have to charge for quality that typical mass-market interior doors can’t match. October 17, 2011
Entry Door Ideas for a Jacuzzi Building Thoughts on building a durable exterior door able to withstand the steamy environment of a room housing a hot tub. December 14, 2009
Machining Dadoes into Door Jambs Ideas for high-volume production methods for cutting dadoes in door side jambs to receive the header jamb. April 30, 2006
Door Joinery: Haunched Tenons Versus Floating Tenons Thoughts on the cost and performance of various entry door woodworking joints. February 23, 2010
How to Make a Full Radius Arch Top Cab Door From laying up blanks to cutting, here are some tips on making arched top door stiles. November 2, 2010
Polyethylene Honeycomb Cores and Veneer for Pocket Doors A discussion of various methods for building pocket doors, with the goal of light weight and limited warping. August 5, 2010
Panels for Railroad Roundhouse Doors A discussion of technical assembly details for some huge architectural doors to be made of sawn wood. June 28, 2013
Glue Choice for Oak Exterior Doors Epoxy with fiber filler should work well. April 4, 2011
Rain Resistance of Wood Panel Entry Doors Woodworkers discuss the practicality of making a wood entry door leak-proof in a rainstorm. June 2, 2009
Machining and Tooling for Large Tenon Production Woodworkers suggest workable setups for high-volume production of large tenons for heavy doors. April 24, 2006
Wood Door Thickness and Quality To make 1-3/8″ solid wood interior doors, you usually have to start with 8/4 stock. Here, experienced pros explain their door fabrication processes in detail. February 17, 2006
Best Equipment for Tenoning Door Parts Basic advice on machinery and cutters for making cope-and-stick architectural door parts. August 5, 2006
Veneered solid-core doors Ideas for building exterior, teak-faced, slab doors. September 20, 2003
Joinery Details for Wood Doors Crafting wood doors is an advanced capability that has to be learned from practice. But here are a few tips. June 15, 2014
Installing an Interlocking Door Threshold Using tail wags, ear movements, growls, and barks, an old dog describes in detail the installation process for a Pemko interlocking residential door threshold. October 19, 2014
Is Western Hemlock Suitable for Doors and Window Sash? A discussion of the properties and best use of Hemlock. September 7, 2013
Threaded-Rod Reinforcement for an Exterior Door Woodworkers kick around a complex technical topic: whether and how to use steel to reinforce a wood door. (Also in this thread, a discussion of a «Copernicus» design pattern.)July 11, 2013
Exterior Door Construction for Harsh Weather Conditions If you were building solid wood exterior doors for conditions in Bahrain, how would you go about it? Here’s a discussion of the problems and possible solutions. December 27, 2008
Laminating a Fire Door You can’t modify a fire-rated door without voiding the rating. Here are some details about the rules. April 4, 2011
— Spreadsheet Calculation Program — for Curves, Angles, Compound Miters and Springback Free downloadable program(s) in both Excel and MS Works, including illustrations that support the formulas.. August 6, 2002
Solid Poplar Versus Laminations for Door Stiles Solid poplar has a good track record for door construction, but LVL stave cores may have their own advantages. June 8, 2008
Measuring and Estimating Trim Quantities Tips for figuring quantities and ordering lengths. March 14, 2005
Reproducing a Period Door from a Photo Historical reviewers tend to care a lot about appearance of building details, but less about construction. Here, a woodworker gets a leg up on the research to recreate a passage door that can pass for period. April 22, 2014
Glass Panels in Mahogany Exterior Doors Wood movement and weathering are the chief concerns. December 14, 2009
Solid Wood Door Basics A few tips for a cabinetmaker considering whether to try building man doors. April 10, 2009
Door Core Alternatives Several woodworkers explain why they use engineered lumber products for stave-core door construction. February 5, 2007
Festool Domino XL for Entry Door? Craftsmen discuss using Festool’s loose tenon tool for building doors. January 23, 2014
Peg Joinery for Window Sash How to make square pegs fit into round holes. July 23, 2014
Hanging Pocket Doors in a Half-Round-Top Opening Thoughts on an unusual door situation: a pocket door in an arched opening. April 24, 2009
Is Poplar Good for Exterior Door Cores? Controversy over whether Poplar can perform in exterior exposures. May 11, 2008
Teak Door Core Material Well-informed opinions about whether to use engineered core, a solid Teak core with Teak veneer, or simple laminations of solid Teak when building a Teak door. February 1, 2011
Casing a Double-Curved Door Arch How do you make and install moldings for an arched doorway set into a curved wall? Very, very carefully. April 24, 2006
Loose Tenon Size for Door Construction Thoughts on a practical size for loose tenons and mortises in man door construction. October 13, 2009
Making Custom Storm Doors Fit Lessons learned as a craftsman recovers from a dimensional mis-step on a custom wood storm door project. June 8, 2008
Raised Panels — Rip and Re-Glue or Not? Is it worth ripping, flipping, and re-gluing boards for exterior door raised panels, if the rough stock is wide enough to make a full panel? Opinion and discussion. June 4, 2012
Glue Choice for Cypress Shutters A shutter specialist advises on adhesive selection for exterior shutter fabrication. October 16, 2013
Oversized Pocket Door with Glass Panels A woodworker worries about weight concerns, hardware choices, and other practical issues with an 8′ by 10′ pocket door. June 22, 2010
Best Tenon Length for a Large Door Here’s a good discussion of joinery for frame-and-panel entry doors. April 4, 2011
Fire Ratings for Historic Wood Doors Information on how to find code-compliant fire-rated doors, and what you need to be qualified to build them yourself. March 12, 2009
Hinge Hardware for a Pivoting Round Window A discussion on finding replacement mounting hardware for a restored round window that has to pivot in at the top, out at the bottom. November 2, 2010
Exterior Door Construction Alternatives Craftsmen discuss various ways of building wood exterior doors, including a foam-core panel method with interior and exterior wood elements isolated from each other. June 29, 2008
Choosing Wood for an Exterior Door What species will provide good looks and durability? Craftsman trade opinions. July 2, 2005
Passage door construction Techniques and joinery used in the construction of passage doors. January 3, 2001
Inserting Glass into a Wood Entry Door Woodworkers describe techniques they’ve used to put glazing into entry doors. April 3, 2012
Wood Choices for Exterior Shutters Spanish Cedar, Redwood, Cedar, and Cypress lead the list. May 24, 2010
Heavy Duty Hinge Selection A discussion of hinge choices for a large, flush-mounted mirrored door. February 13, 2013
Fabricating Solid Wood Panel Entry Doors Should the center panel be glued up, or built of tongue and groove pieces that allow movement? Pros share ideas and techniques. November 19, 2005
Glass Stops for Window Sashes — Inside or Outside? Here’s a discussion of how to hold the glass in on custom windows built using modern insulated glass. March 4, 2007
Steam Bending Alder Pondering whether to steam-bend alder for a curved shutter frame, a woodworker hears that other woods, or other methods, may meet his needs better. April 21, 2011
Entry Door Wood Choices What’s the best wood species for a custom exterior door?
Widebelt Sanding Schedule — for Doors Grits and removal sequences for a smooth surface. February 28, 2004
Building Plantation Shutters Solutions for building custom shutters, including hardware choices. February 12, 2009
Construction of Exterior Doors Woodworkers discuss stave-core and ladder-core methods for building a veneered exterior door. June 24, 2007
Adhesive for Exterior Doors Dark-stained wood exterior doors can get very hot in service. Here, woodworkers discuss choices for glues that will perform under those tough conditions. September 6, 2007
Assorted Videos for Millwork Installers and Cabinetmakers January 25, 2007
Mixed Wood Species in an Exterior Door A woodworker describes a failure in an exterior door built out of Walnut and Oak on two different faces. But was it the wood, or the construction method, that caused the problem? August 15, 2012
Sealing Door Bottoms Painters on site typically don’t take care of door bottoms, so door makers recommend priming with shellac or epoxy. October 19, 2013
Custom Wood Garage Doors Tips on how to create overhead garage door using real wood. December 26, 2006
Veneer Over LVL for Door-Building Issues of moisture content, wood movement, and splitting when veneering over LVL for custom door construction. April 5, 2007
Extra-Large Exterior Plank Entry Doors Some suggested methods for making large plank doors. October 11, 2007
Simulated Divided-Light Door Details How to apply false windowpane dividers to large panes of insulated glass. June 26, 2009
Template Material for Router Work Pros suggest aluminum, MDF, phenolic board, or particleboard. Also here, a discussion of techniques for making templates and some tips about using them. November 22, 2005
Black Walnut for Windows A discussion considering whether Black Walnut is an appropriate wood for constructing custom reproduction window sash. April 4, 2011
Crossbuck X Braces for a Door Alternative methods for constructing a door with x-shaped cross braces. June 4, 2012
«Fire Rated» Door Mysteries Woodworkers discuss the issues around passage door fire ratings, and whether field modification of labeled doors is allowed. March 3, 2009
Finishing Doors Finishers discuss ways to efficiently spray large quantities of interior doors. September 11, 2006
Door Gap and Outdoor Humidity A woodworker gets expert advice on predicting the moisture-related dimensional changes in a wood door, for purposes of calibrating the door gap to allow for the movement. October 11, 2007
Solid Wood Exterior Doors Tips on building an exterior door with solid wood. September 7, 2011
Interior and Exterior Wood Door Construction Specs Door makers discuss what is adequate thickness for large interior or exterior doors, and whether to laminate or use solid wood for stiles, rails, and panels. October 2, 2007
Replicating Historic Wood Window Sash Reproducing true double hung windows from an old house is tricky, but it’s a worthwhile challenge for a devoted woodworker. Here are tips on the methods and the pitfalls. August 15, 2012
A Small Power Feeder for a Router? It can improve control and precision, especially for climb-cutting. February 25, 2005
Stave Core Veneer Door Layup A discussion of vacuum-bag veneering and other construction tips for veneered stave-core doors. July 13, 2010
Troubleshooting a Bowed Slab Door Cedar slats on one face, Oak slats on the other face, bowing about a quarter inch . what went wrong? November 5, 2013
Ideas for an Extra-Large Wood Entry Door An order for double 5′-wide entry doors poses challenges for hardware and construction details. February 19, 2008
Rounded-Over Ends at Window Butt Joints Practical and style considerations in window joinery: whether to round over ends. June 18, 2010
Finishing an Exposed Exterior Door The harsh conditions of a south-facing exterior environment can trash any finish, and the door under it. But here’s a closer look at the best bets. October 3, 2011
Fire-Rated Garage Door Issues Putting a pretty face on a fire-rated door is not as simple as it sounds. September 23, 2008
Fabricating a Laminate-Over-Foam-Core Door Cabinetmakers consider how to lay up a large door with laminate on the outside and foam on the inside. September 27, 2008
Troubleshooting Swelling of Doors in a Humid Climate Once the doors are fit to the opening they may perform fine for many years. September 18, 2014
MDF for Door Panels Woodworkers discuss the suitability of MDF for the raised panels in interior house doors. April 24, 2006
Tooling for Cope-and-Stick Doors Pros describe machinery and cutterheads for coped mortise and tenon door part machining. August 23, 2005
Plank Entry Door Construction A discussion of joinery and wood movement for solid wood full-size man doors. August 11, 2009
Construction Methods for Wide Wooden Gates A discussion about building cedar outdoor gates, covering dimensions and adhesive choices. February 5, 2007
Double Doors, Flush Bolts, and Door Seals The quest for a double door bottom which incorporates a flush bolt and door seal that aren’t visible when the door is closed. May 15, 2014
Sound Control and Airflow for Louvered Doors Considerations relating to sound transmission and air flow through louvers on the doors of an equipment room. April 4, 2011
Thin Louvered Closet Doors Ideas for an unusual door project. February 16, 2006
French Door Hardware A quick but thorough round-up of French door hardware options, past and present. May 26, 2008
Veneering an Exterior Door Can you use veneer on a solid-core slab door that’s exposed to the outdoors? October 19, 2013
Rabbeting Exterior Doors for Compression-Bulb Weatherstripping Advice on how to cut clean slots for weatherstripping in door jambs. May 5, 2007
Stripping Old Windows How to get old paint off historic window sashes without damaging the wood. March 18, 2006
Woven Cherry Door Panels Thin slats woven together into a door panel is a cool idea, but kiln-dried wood is too brittle. Green wood may work. November 10, 2006
Casement Window Repair Problem Woodworkers discuss the difficulty of replacing or repairing damaged windows. February 6, 2007
Repairing an Old Wood Door Tips on replacing the bottom portion of a Cypress exterior door, with structurally strong joinery and a passable visual blend. November 2, 2010
Tooling Up for Efficient Custom Wood Window Production Advice on tooling and construction methods for speeding up the process of setting up to build custom windows in small quantities. July 15, 2012
Cutting Long Through Mortises Advice on tools and techniques for mortise and tenon joinery for a historical shutter reproduction. June 22, 2010
Building Large Exterior Doors Advice on joinery and lumber choice for oversize exterior doors (5 out of 5 doctors agree: no Poplar!)October 17, 2011
Plank Style Entry Door Advice on managing wood movement in a solid wood plank entry door. May 20, 2006
Alder for Exterior Doors Soft and unstable, Alder wood is not well suited for building entry doors. August 23, 2006
Reinforcing Door Stiles with Steel Is steel reinforcement a practical idea to prevent a wood door from warping? Here’s a discussion. August 22, 2014
Caulking Interactions with Insulated Glass Units Questions exist about whether silicone caulking can degrade the sealing material in some insulated glass products. January 20, 2011
End Gap Specs for a Solid-Surface Windowsill An unusual application for solid surfacing leads to a discussion about movement joints and tolerances. May 23, 2007
Window Sash Joinery Details Information on meeting rail and parting bead configurations for custom window sash. April 24, 2009
Wood Choice for Interior Doors Pros discuss materials options for custom built pass-through doors. September 3, 2005
Attaching Screen to Doors Advice on screen door fabrication techniques. June 11, 2010
Sanding Defects on Doors with a Wide-Belt Sander «Dips» from the sander where door stiles meet rails are probably an adjustment problem. May 11, 2008
Exterior Bi-Fold Door Details Advice on how to retrofit 3-foot-wide doors into an existing garage door opening, bi-fold style. July 13, 2010
Sunlight and a Cherry Entry Door Cherry is a problematic wood for any exterior use, because it is known to first darken, then bleach, from exposure to sunlight. April 24, 2006
Angle for arched window casing Methods for making the calculation. October 30, 2003
Arched Door Jamb Joinery Tips on building and installing round-top door jambs. July 25, 2010
Joinery and Hardware for Narrow-Stile Architectural Doors Construction and hardware suggestions for doors with narrow vertical pieces, such as traditional French doors. September 15, 2011
Templating Systems for Production Door Installation Advice on choosing jigs for hanging residential doors on site, in quantity. July 30, 2009
Building interior room doors Pros share their methods for constructing custom interior doors. June 6, 2001
Passage and entry door construction Step-by-step descriptions and photos of the process. August 9, 2001
Shoji Screen Ideas Basic tips for a first-timer on fabricating shoji screens. September 10, 2007
Screen Door Corner Joinery Advice on wood choice and joinery for a custom wood screen door replacement. August 15, 2011
Fabricating Radius Jambs An architectural millwork pro outlines his process for making radius-curve door jambs. December 26, 2006
Insulated Core Entry Door Construction Discussion and debate about how to build an insulated-core exterior door using wood. December 27, 2008
Counterweights for a Folding Door Thoughts on how to balance the weight of a heavy folding door with vertical action. October 2, 2010
Modifying Fire-Rated Doors Doors with official fire resistance ratings need to be manufactured by qualified companies, and modifying the doors voids the ratings. November 3, 2010
Stave-Core Door Methods A discussion of construction details and materials choices for fabricating stave-core solid wood doors. February 5, 2007
Ash for Exterior Doors Woodworkers share observations on the workability and durability of Ash wood used to make entry doors. July 27, 2008
Tenoning Shutter Slats Advice on joinery for old-style storm shutters. December 19, 2009
Moisture Protection for a Wood Door in a Stone Threshold A church door replacement job raises questions of protecting wood from moisture in contact with stone.September 25, 2014
Weatherstripping Pocket Doors A quick tip on how to draft-stop an interior architectural pocket door. November 14, 2014
Elliptical Jamb Extensions Pros puzzle out how to make extension jambs for elliptical windows. January 9, 2008
Window Sash Shaper Cutters for Outswing Casement Windows Outswing windows are a challenge for toolmakers and woodworkers. Here is some info. January 2, 2012
Fixing Manufactured Windows A few tips on pulling apart and repairing window sash that have failed prematurely from rot. May 20, 2011
Metal Edging for Oak Doors Pros discuss the options for metal edge trim on sawn wood doors. July 3, 2006
Routing Flutes on Large Cabinet Doors Advice on tool choice, measuring, marking, and jigs for cutting multiple flutes into a big door panel. January 18, 2007
Interior Barn-Style Doors Tips for building board-and-batten doors mounted on slider or roller tracks. April 6, 2011
Flexible Door Stop Stock for Curves Plastic moulding or bending plywood are suggested solutions. July 25, 2010
Raised Panel Barrel Arch Doorway Advice on grain direction, panel construction, and more for a custom door arch. December 14, 2009
Exterior Door Core Material and Moisture Which will handle moisture changes better, LVL or solid wood door cores? February 8, 2008
Black Locust for Window Sash Black Locust wood is naturally durable, but unstable and prone to movement and cracking. April 13, 2010
«Crosette Corner» Period Door Casing An example with some discussion of a wide-shoulder door casing from the Georgian period in American architecture. January 19, 2011
Applying Divided Lights to Insulated Windows Some woodworkers have learned to piggyback original divided-light window glazing on the interior of modern insulated sash. June 17, 2012
Custom Mouldings for Arched Window Tops Manufactured windows may not have regular, true, or consistent dimensions. The safest bet is to make a template from the actual window. October 13, 2005
Shutter Louver End Detailing Plastic hardware for louver ends is the norm, but tenoning the ends is a classier way to go. July 12, 2008
Warpage in maple door panels Despite a careful glue-up, a woodworker gets warpage in door panels. June 14, 2000
Repairing a sequenced MDF door reverse the terminal warp of a sequenced MDF/cherry door. 1998.
Alternatives to Ball Catches Ball catches don’t work well when doors and jambs move from seasonal humidity changes. Here are some suggestions for other hardware. January 14, 2013
Cupping Door Stile A moisture-related wood movement problem leads to a discussion of LVL versus solid wood core material for veneered exterior doors. August 6, 2008
Exterior Door Joinery Ideas for detailing the joints on frame-and-panel doors for weather resistance. June 8, 2008
Single Versus Double Glazing For a wood shop that makes custom windows and doors, insulated glazing is a debatable topic. September 7, 2013
Building a Circular Window Jamb Constructing the circle from overlapping half-circle segments promotes stability and accuracy. December 24, 2012
Hardware for Heavy Bifold Doors Advice on hinge and track choices for an extra-beefy bifold door, with discussion of a few fine points. February 27, 2013
Pulling Casing Tight to the Wall Stiff hardwood casing is hard to get tight. Here are a handful of tips and tricks. November 11, 2005
Applied mouldings on raised-panel doors Ideas for applying mouldings to raised panel doors without affecting panel movement. September 26, 2000
Door Panel and Moulding Assembly Methods Advice on constructing a door with floating panels and applied mouldings. July 12, 2012
Weatherstripping for an Arched Bead-Board Door Bead-board lets air bypass the air seal at the grooves between the beads. Here are suggested solutions. March 3, 2009
Grit Progression for Sanding Doors on the Widebelt Which grits to use depends on how much thickness you need to remove. July 9, 2009
Door and Home Construction Equipment A brief introduction to specialized machinery designed for door manufacturing. September 20, 2008
Louvered Shutter Specs Quick advice on dimensions and assembly details for custom-built louvered window shutters. March 4, 2007
Flipper Door Hardware for Passage Door Advice on choosing hardware for built-in doors that open and slide back into a recess. December 28, 2014
Hidden Door Hardware Advice on how to hinge a heavy door disguised as a hanging mirror on a wall. May 11, 2011
Boring Long Holes in Doors Here’s how a pro lines up a bore hole the whole length of a man-door’s strike rail. January 18, 2007
Stable Construction for a Slat Door For an unusual door design, woodworkers suggest methods that won’t risk excessive movement of the pieces. August 5, 2006
Battened Plank Door Detail Here’s a way to kerf the boards in a solid wood door to help absorb wood movement. February 5, 2007
Steel-Rod Reinforced Brace for an Outdoor Gate Advice on the joinery for burying a steel reinforcing rod within the curved wooden brace in a custom outdoor wooden gate. July 11, 2013
Handles for Sliding Glass Office Windows June 4, 2009
MDF Panel Door Warping Issues How to anticipate and minimize warping in a large MDF frame-and-panel door. July 12, 2008
How to Retrofit Weatherstripping on Arched Doors You can use traditional metal V-fold weatherstripping, or the appropriate router jig for modern synthetic weatherstripping. May 12, 2008
Sandwich-Style Interior Door Assembly Tricks it works. June 28, 2007
Under Mount Door Sweep for Exterior Door? Where to find entry door sweep hardware that attaches to the underside of the door instead of to the face. March 20, 2012
Building Shutters out of Ash Brief advice on the characteristics of Ash wood when used to construct custom window shutters. August 15, 2012
Arched Jambs for Circle-Top Doors Quick tips on fabricating arched door jambs. May 16, 2008
Gap Between Exterior Wood Double Doors but given the variability of wood, it’s a judgement call. December 26, 2007
Water-resistant Adhesives for Exterior Millwork Choosing the right adhesive is really a matter of how much water resistance is required. 1998
Louvering an Arched-Top Door Fitting louver ends to an arched door shape is tricky. May 21, 2007
Door Rail Attachments and Wood Movement Advice on gluing large-dimension door rails so as to allow for expansion and contraction of the lumber. October 27, 2009
Sourcing Large Dowels for Door Construction Suppliers typically have minimum order quantity requirements. March 22, 2013
Panel Spacers for Passage Door Small spaceballs work for letting cabinet door panels move. But what do you use for thick raised panels in a 1-3/4″ full size passage door? August 19, 2008
Heavy Solid-Wood Gate Details Hinges are the easy part. April 24, 2012
Traditional Double-Hung Window Plans Here’s a good source for drawings and instructions if you’re looking to re-create a historic old double-hung window sash and frame (or just about any other old-time wood component). June 22, 2012
Shutter Manufacturing Be a fly on the wall as a CNC router cuts out parts for louvered arched wood shutters. (Leave the sound turned off for this one.)July 12, 2007
Making Soundproof Studio Doors Quick tips on making a door that will keep sound in (or out). September 7, 2013
Good Books about Historic Windows Trying to learn some architectural woodworking history about windows? Here’s a short list of valuable reference books. April 21, 2011
Bonding wood to glass Recommended glues and tapes for bonding wood to glass. January 24, 2001
Stave-Core Door Skin Thickness? Quick tips on applying and planing down the veneer skin on a stave-core door. October 11, 2007
Building Traditional Double-Hung Windows Information and hardware sources for constructing windows the old-fashioned way.
How much pressure? A few gluing tips as well as a demonstration of the pressure that Clam Clamps exert on miters. January 28, 2007
Biscuit Casing and Jointing Tweaking a biscuit jointer, and slotting casing for biscuits. January 28, 2007
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The editors, writers, and staff at WOODWEB try to promote safe practices. What is safe for one woodworker under certain conditions may not be safe for others in different circumstances. Readers should undertake the use of materials and methods discussed at WOODWEB after considerate evaluation, and at their own risk.
