Domestic, Residential, Commercial, Semi-Commercial? You hear these terms a lot when architects, builders and window manufacturers talk about windows and doors. But what do they mean? Let us break it down for you.
Traditionally, domestic or residential windows and doors were based on a slim aluminium profile and used exclusively in residential homes or building renovation projects where window and door openings were not very large. By contrast the bold, square, chunky window and door systems you typically see in office buildings and shopfronts are known as commercial window systems and often span wide openings.
As the interest and desire for high performance window and door products has grown we increasingly see home owners opt for wider, bolder frame and sash designs traditionally associated with commercial style windows for use in their home or building project.
A third style of window sometimes described as semi- commercial has emerged offering bolder, wider frame designs which can span larger openings without the price tag typically associated with true commercial systems.
When speaking about products from the Vantage®, Elevate™ or ThermalHEART™ range I’d categorise the systems as follows.
The Vantage® Residential Series are true domestic windows, based on a 50mm platform, designed for residential applications, maximum door panel heights are typically restricted to 2400mm high.
The Vantage® Designer or Magnum™ Series is your next step up and some might consider the design of these systems to be semi-commercial with frames based on a 100mm platform. The frames are bolder and can span larger openings with maximum door panel sizes of 2700mm. The systems are still designed for installation into residential applications and no special sub sills or installation details are required.
Elevate™ Architectural and Commercial Series windows and doors are true commercial systems, delivering clean bold profiles and spanning large openings. Unlike the products described earlier as residential or semi commercial. Commercial window and door systems must be installed using sub head and jamb details to ensure the maximum product performance can be achieved.
The reasons why you might opt for a commercial window system over a residential one for your home are varied, typically home owners will make this decision based on the aesthetic or performance characteristics of the products. Commercial systems have a bulkier squarer looking frame which is popular and well suited to contemporary home designs. The option to create bigger windows and doors is also a major factor which influences the selection and specification of commercial systems. By contrast, some home owners will prefer the residential style system which tends to deliver a more economical solution and slimmer frame profile.
Me personally, I like products which fit into the semi-commercial category- giving a modern style, good panel sizes and strength and still having the convenience of being able to be installed using traditional residential installation methods with no requirement for sub heads or sills.
