Open windows are dangerous to children of all ages, especially younger kids, and if you live on higher floors. Toddlers are good at causing mayhem and running about unrestrained, and a moment of distraction can cause potentially fatal accidents from broken windows or falls. These accidents are easily preventable by childproofing your windows and practising proper window safety. We discuss window safety and other methods to childproof your home windows for peace of mind.
Unintentional yet fatal accidents occur due to children falling out of open windows or getting entangled in blind cords. Windows are particularly hazardous for toddlers who are highly mobile, curious, and want to explore but are unaware of the dangers. It can take only take one second of distraction for an accident to occur. Since children have a different centre of gravity and their heads are much heavier than the rest of their bodies, they usually hit the ground head-first, proving potentially fatal. Childproofing your windows as soon as your child starts crawling is essential.
Upgrade to a window glass solution that doesn’t break easily. The cost of retrofit double glazing is affordable and an easy fix to stronger, longer-lasting windows.
Keep blind cords out of reach of children. Kids can easily hurt themselves or get strangled in loose blind cords. Otherwise, motorised blind options make it easier to operate your blinds without too much effort.
Move furniture like big armchairs or sofas away from windows, especially ones higher from the ground. Toddlers are curious and can get up onto furniture easily without you noticing.
Window gates or grilles are a great solution, as they’ll allow you to easily manoeuvre your windows without worrying about your child opening them accidentally. Install vertical bars to prevent your child from climbing on them like a ladder, and choose grilles that don’t have large gaps between the bars. Alternatively, a mesh window guard would be more pleasing to the eye, allowing you a more aesthetic solution without being too complicated to install.
Install a window model that comes with built-in locks. Otherwise, you can easily find window sash locks for almost every window type at your local hardware store. However, this can be inconvenient and limit ventilation in your home as you’ll have to keep the windows closed almost all the time.
Teach your child about proper window safety etiquette. Ensure they understand the dangers of playing around with windows and explain the consequences of opening them or playing with the blind cords. Alternatively, you can create a danger zone around the immediate area of the window and mark it off to prevent your children from playing near it.
Practising window safety begins with investing in durable, high-quality windows. For double-glazed windows with noise reduction and increased insulation, contact Atlas Glass, Auckland’s premier glazing specialists.
Mould spores thrive in damp conditions and can grow virtually everywhere — from wood and fabric to drywall and plastic — making them prevalent in homes throughout New Zealand. Mould can cause many health effects, from milder colds to severe infections. It can be dangerous if left untreated, especially for immune-compromised and asthmatic individuals. Mould can also cause permanent damage to your furniture and even compromise the structural integrity of your home. Stamp out mould infestation; we discuss how to prevent mould in your home and how double-glazing windows can benefit you.
You can identify mould by its distinctive discoloured spots or a rotten and musty smell. If you are experiencing cold-like symptoms or allergy flare-ups without apparent reason, it could be the cause of mould lurking in your walls.
High levels of humidity and moisture are the primary cause of mould. Water can enter your home through cracks in your roof or walls. Leaks can also form from sinks and water-wielding appliances. Winter is prime time for mould formation, as most of us keep windows and doors tightly closed to prevent chilly drafts from getting in. Proper ventilation can prevent adequate circulation and build up excessive humid air indoors. Homes with single-pane glass windows can also experience excessive condensation, which can collect on joinery and walls, damaging them.
Upon discovering damp patches in the walls and ceiling or around your home, you must run a thorough inspection to find the source and deal with it promptly. There could be more existing mould than you expect.
Install a well-functioning ventilation system in high-moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms. This allows fresh, dry air to enter your home, expelling moist and warm air outside. In addition to being great for collecting moisture from the air, dehumidifiers also work well to reduce dust mites — perfect for sensitive individuals or those with allergies. Consider investing in double-glazed windows, which feature a trapped layer of air between two glass panes that serve as an insulating barrier and help limit excess moisture and condensation.
Regular vacuuming, dusting, and cleaning around your home — especially in high-moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms — will help prevent mould formation.
Avoid dry brushing mouldy areas as this can release spores into the air, increasing their spread and concentration. Use a mild detergent like sugar soap and a microfibre cloth to dab at mould, ensuring you dry the area thoroughly after cleaning. Otherwise, a solution of diluted vinegar will work well too. If neither of these solutions is effective, switch to a diluted bleach solution or a commercial mould cleaning product while wearing proper safety gear to protect your eyes, skin, and clothes from chemicals.
Mould prevention is vital to ensuring the health and safety of your family and home. Double glazing your windows is an easy way to achieve that. As Auckland’s retrofit double glazing experts, Atlas Glass will support you in the manufacturing and installation process at every step. Upgrade your home with an easy method to prevent mould formation; talk to our expert team for a free consultation and quote today!
According to New Zealand police, 7 out of 10 burglaries in 2020 happened in residential areas. Though burglary rates have decreased through the years, it's better to be wary and alert than sorry. You can lessen the risk of a break-in by keeping your home secure and following safety measures.
From installing sturdy locks to double glazing wooden frames and windows, refer to these tips for preventing a break-in.
One of the pillars of home security is setting up CCTV cameras. Don't just place cameras on every corner that give a wide-angle view of every room. Instead, place the cameras in strategic locations and at close angles.
Remember, it's a robber you're trying to catch and stop. A camera showing an entire room makes it difficult for authorities to identify the culprit. A CCTV camera placed at the front door at eye level makes it easier to find the culprit since you can get a good look at their features.
Robbers target windows first since they are easy to break. Double glazing adds an effective layer of protection to your windows. They require more force to break, take more time, and produce more noise, all factors that deter burglars.
Double-glazing is an economical option to keep your glass windows and wooden frames in the best condition. If you have aging single-glazed windows, you can consider retrofitting. With our retrofit double-glazing service, you can give your windows some added protection and security. As experts in glass supply in Auckland, we offer various glazing services depending on your needs.
In some circumstances, you can also consider reglazing with laminated glass. As a form of safety glass, laminated glass is designed to stay intact upon impact. This is possible due to the layers of glass that are bonded together with a special film during processing.
If a thief wants to make their break-in "subtle", they'll attempt to enter your home through the door or window when they suspect no one is home. Installing reliable locks to entrance points in your home is a must. A heavy-duty deadbolt lock is worth considering since it's not spring-activated. Spring locks don't provide much security compared to a deadbolt lock. You should also have more than one lock in your front and back doors.
Talk to your neighbours and try to bond with them. Once you've established a good relationship with them, they can call you if they see anyone suspicious around your home. A bonus is that they can empty your mailbox for you if you're away, so it doesn't seem like you're not home.
You can look out for each other and avoid break-ins as soon as they're about to happen.
You want to create an illusion that people are at home, even when you're away or out of town. One of the best ways to do that is to keep your lights on. Check out if the lights are visible from the outside windows.
If you think turning on your lights while you're not there is a waste of electricity, you can install an automated lighting system. When you're on an overnight trip, another way to make it seem like someone is home is to keep the curtains or blinds partially opened.
You can start safeguarding your home by reinforcing your locks and windows. As a leading company that offers glass supply in Auckland, we at Atlas Glass can provide state-of-the-art double glazing in your Auckland home. Reach out to our team to find the best glazing solutions for your home. Follow these measures and give your home the security upgrade it deserves. These efforts will prevent a break-in and protect your household and valuables.
With Auckland’s unpredictable climate and wet, cold winters, it’s hard to avoid condensation building up on windows around the home. Unfortunately, constantly wet surfaces are more prone to growing mouldy, and trying to heat wet homes during winter will not only give you larger power bills to deal with, but it can also affect the health of your home and family.
If you’re wondering what condensation really is, and what you can do about condensation in your home, then this blog post is for you. Here, we break down the fundamentals of condensation, explaining what it is and why it occurs on your windows. We also explore how double glazing benefits homes by reducing condensation and making your home more comfortable, eco-friendly, and cost-efficient!
Every year when winter rolls around, many of us pull up our blinds in the morning to find a cold window covered in frost, with water droplets pooling on the sill. This is condensation—but what is window condensation, and why does it happen?
Condensation is formed when moisture in the air comes into contact with a cold surface. Single pane windows are a prime location for condensation to build because they do not hold heat, sticking closer to the temperature outside your home. As we heat rooms in our house to combat the chill of winter, moisture in the air also heats up, reaching a “dew point”—a temperature at which the water vapour condenses, turning into the water droplets on our windows.
Certain areas of our homes are also more prone to condensation such as kitchens, bathrooms, and other areas where moisture or humidity tends to build. Essentially, the colder the temperature is outside, the higher the likelihood of condensation accumulating inside.
When it comes to choosing the best glass for your windows, double glazing is an excellent option to consider. Double glazing is made of two glass layers sealed together as an insulated unit, with a layer of gas separating the panes. This thermal break between the two panes of glass is a key feature of double glazing. Not only does it prevent heat from passing through the window, but the inner glass pane also stays closer to the internal temperature of the room, reducing the chance of humid air condensing on cold surfaces.
Double glazing is a very eco-friendly method of insulating, keeping your family cosy, warm, and dry in winter, and cool in summer. Combined with effective ventilation, double glazing offers the ultimate solution for moisture-prone homes. Pair that with the high thermal resistance of timber window joinery and you will reduce the effects of condensation further still, providing a healthier indoor environment with minimum heat loss and lower electricity bills.
Ready to lock out the frost and cold from your home for good? With the insulating properties of double-glazed window solutions from Atlas Glass and an effective home ventilation system, your home will stay dryer, warmer, and more comfortable all winter.
If you’re looking for double glazing in Auckland and want to ensure your family home is healthy, warm, and dry. Contact our friendly team today to discuss effective window solutions for your home!
As the weather starts to get chillier in Auckland, it’s time to start thinking about how you’re going to manage your asthma symptoms during the winter. For some, the solution is simple.
Double glazing your timber windows could reduce moisture and mould in your home, getting rid of the nasty allergens that are causing your symptoms. Read on to learn about the health benefits you can get from your windows!
A big problem with regular glass windows is the build up of condensation that occurs during winter. This happens because of the difference in temperature between the inside and outside environments.
Condensation increases the moisture levels in the home, leading to a higher risk of mould and rot in your timber window frames. If you don’t have double glazed windows, there’s a good chance that moisture could be building up, causing those nasty allergies and asthma symptoms.
What’s more, regular windows simply don’t provide the same protection from the outside world. Pollution, pollen and other nasties could be making their way into your home, causing sneezing and difficulty breathing… You know the symptoms all too well!
So, what can you do about it? Double glazed windows could be the key to solving your problems.
The two layers of glass in a double glazed window will keep the heat in and the cold out. The gas in between the panes virtually eliminates any condensation all year round. By keeping the moisture out, your timber frames will stay in tip top condition. You can forget about damp air, mould or rot in your home.
As for other pollutants, double glazed windows offer an extra barrier between you and the outside world. They keep the clean air in and any pollutants or pollen out. Everyone will be able to breathe easy with double glazed windows in the mix.
Unfortunately, not all double glazed windows are made equal. If you’re thinking about retrofitting or installing new double-glazed windows, it’s important to do your research.
The Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ, in partnership with National Asthma Council Australia, has launched its Sensitive Choice initiative. They’ll help you find reliable local companies that provide high-quality windows.
The best glass companies will install your new windows perfectly, maximising the benefits for you and your family.
What Atlas Glass Can Do For Your Windows
If you’re based in Auckland and struggling with those pesky asthma symptoms, Atlas Glass is the company to call. We offer the very best timber double glazed windows that you can rely on to reduce your asthma and allergies. With years of experience in the industry, we provide you with services that are simply unbeatable.
Call 09 820 0160 or contact Atlas Glass for a free quote today.
