Architectural Aluminum and Glass
By Dave Jefferies
Big Glass Openings is bringing an exciting line of architectural aluminum and glass products to markets in North America, not previously available.
A leading manufacturer of Belgian-made Reynaers products in Canada, Big Glass Openings offers a wide variety of high-end aluminum windows and door systems that suit the modern design trends towards wide open spaces, expansive views and superior energy ratings. There are very few other products available in the marketplace able to satisfy clients’ requirements for huge openings and thin frame profiles.
All the systems are meticulously designed with high-quality fabricating processes tightly controlled to ensure the delivery of windows and doors not matched by any other manufacturers. European markets have been well served by the Reynaers lineup for a number of years.
Whether it’s a monster opening offering an expansive view of the waters of Georgian Bay, or sleek door systems opening onto a posh patio in the forests of Muskoka, or walls of glass in a mountain retreat in the Rockies, Big Glass Openings can provide the design, the product, the installation and the project management. With decades of institutional and residential experience, Big Glass Openings stands out among its competitors for exceptional quality and service. Among the company’s many attributes is its relationship with major glass suppliers in the US, Europe and Canada, enabling access to the most sophisticated glass available.
In the Barrie facility, all of the aluminum is fabricated and prepared after it is powder coated or anodized to suit the client’s colour choice. As part the quality control process, each door and window is assembled prior to shipping, and then larger elements are disassembled to suit shipping guidelines.
Whether the client’s need is a supplier, an installer, or a design consultant, Big Glass Openings is the place to call. Big Glass’ product line is centered on the following key products:
• Bi-folding Doors- CF 77
• Lift Slide Patio Doors- CP 155 and CP 130
• Fixed Windows and Operable Windows- Tilt/Turns, Casements, Awnings and Parallel Opening Vents- CS 86
• Swing Doors- CS 86
• The ‘super sized’ Hi-Finity Sliding Door System
People are continuously looking for ways to maximize their living spaces, both visually and from a functionality perspective.
The Concept Folding 77 (CF 77) bi-folding door offers the opportunity to optimize daylight as well as space, with a visually compelling aesthetic design choice. Another practical feature of CF 77 is the optional door locking principle, which allows use of the last door leaf as an entrance swing door without affecting the folding capacity of the system.
These folding doors are becoming popular in North America, allowing a complete ‘disappearance’ of the line between indoors and out. Nothing matches this blending of the ‘in’ and the ‘out’ like a bifold door, and Big Glass builds them as wide as the home’s structural engineer can design a supporting lintel above. At 10 feet tall, these doors are the best in the market in terms of the hardware performance.
The Concept System 86-HI (CS 86) is a well insulated system for windows and doors, which meets the highest current code requirements concerning thermal performance. The system’s insulation concept ensures elevated water and air tightness. The CS 86 window and door line uses the same basic aluminum profile for the various configurations required: tilt-turn windows, casements, awnings style, parallel opening vents, swing doors, and fixed windows. Tilit-turn windows have been a standard configuration in Europe for decades. The same handle gives the operator the option of swinging the window inside the room, tilting it such that only the top of the window leans into the room. Tilt for less clear opening, and still fairly protected from rain and snow. Or turn for full opening of the window. Casement windows as commonly seen in North America are available from Big Glass, as are awing style windows opening out or in, depending on the client’s preference. The CS 86 is a high performing lineup that gives homeowners and designers the largest possible openings with the most modern slim look of the sashes and surrounding framing.
The Concept Patio (CP 155) is a premium insulated sliding door system with great performance characteristics. The sophisticated design concept fulfils the user’s high expectations of optimum quality, high insulation and ease of operation. The system gives a lot of design freedom by allowing large dimensions up to 10 feet in height and up to a per leaf weight of 400 kg. (heights up to 12 feet can be achieved with specialized engineering).
This allows robust glass types to be used in the door system while maintaining ease of operation. Standard North American sliding doors don’t have the ‘lift-slide’ approach used by European door designers. Without the lift-slide, the door simply doesn’t have the air and water tightness and thermal performance that every caliber of home and door system should have with this quality of product.
This system is also available with a low threshold that creates perfect continuity between the indoor and outdoor spaces and improves the accessibility to the building. All types of the CP 155 sliding door use durable wheels and stainless steel rails, for optimal opening comfort. In case of a lift-slide system, the sliding door is lifted up before sliding across the bottom rail. In the closed position, the lift and slide is put down and anchored, which is an extra plus for isolation and theft prevention. Both systems are completely windproof, waterproof, and hermetically sealed.
For years, the higher end residential market has been underserved by sub-standard product options like wood and vinyl. These solutions simply have too many restrictions, whether it’s size limitations or durability issues or strength issues. The ultra-slim design of the Hi-Finity sliding door creates large transparent surfaces, with a light, sleek and elegant appearance. This fully transparent and accessible sliding door seamlessly extends the house’s interior to the outside. Despite the minimal visual sidelines, the systems high strength allows Hi-Finity to carry the weight of a large glass pane up to 500 kilograms. This in combination with the high energy performance and the minimalistic look makes this product the best solution for low-consumption contemporary architecture. By integrating the aluminum profiles into the walls, floor and ceiling, the glass surfaces are extending from floor to ceiling, creating the ultimate minimalistic appearance, completely merging indoor and outdoor into one. An extra design aspect is given by the handle that has a slim, elegant and streamlined appearance. With this handle, big opening surfaces can be easily operated. For an even higher level of comfort, an optional concealed motor opens the vents fully automatically by a push of the button on the remote control.
Depending on customer preference, Big Glass powder coats or anodizes its entire line, with warranty-protected quality finishes. Clients are encouraged to contact us and arrange to visit the Barrie-based showroom to see the many options, designs and products available.