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study guide: WindoWs & doors

Learning Objectives:• Thefeaturesandbenefitsoftheproductsyousell.

• Howtoansweryourcustomers’product-relatedquestions.

• Howtohelpyourcustomerchoosetherightproducts.

• Howtoincreasetransactionsizesbylearningmoreaboutadd-onsalesandupsellingtechniques.

Product Knowledge:

• TheJambistheframearoundthetopandsideofawindow.

• TheSillisthepiecethatformsthebottommemberofawindowframe.Itshedswaterawayfromthewindowandwallandusuallyextends1”to1-1/2”fromthewall.

• TheFrameistheentirejambandsillassembly.

• TheSash(orVent)istheframethatimmediatelysurroundstheglass,ortheentireframeandglassassembly.

• The Stopsarefastenedaroundtheinsideofthejambtoholdtheslidingsashinplaceorprovideameetingsurfaceforaswingingsash.

• TheMullionistheconnectingpiecebetweentwoormorewindowsfastenedtogether.

• TheStoolistheflattrimpieceatthebottominsideofthewindow.

• The Apronisfastenedalongtheinteriorwallbeneaththestool,tohidethegapbetweenthebottomofthewindowandthewall.

• TheCasingisthetrimaroundtheinsideoroutsideofthewindowthathidesthegapbetweenthewindowandthesurroundingwall.

Window frame materials

Next,let’slookatthebasictypesofmaterialsusedinthewindowframe.

Wood

•Woodsasharemadewithmortise-and-tenonjointsandgluedtogether.

•Theyareusuallymadefrompineorspruce.

•Theadvantageofwoodisthatitisthestrongestandbestnaturalinsulator.

•Itiseasytoworkwithanddurableifmaintainedproperly.

•Thedisadvantageofwoodisthatitmaydecayorbedamagedbyinsects.

•Italsorequiresmoremaintenancethanothertypes.

Chapter 1: Window MaterialsModule 1: Window Construction

Tounderstandwindows,it’sbesttolearnthevariouspartsofawindow.Clickoneachcirclebelowtolearnaboutthedifferenttypes.

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Aluminum

•Aluminumframesaredesignedtocompensateforthenaturaldisadvantagesoftheframematerial.

•Theadvantageisthattheyareusuallytheleastexpensiveframematerial.

•Theyarealsomoredurablethanbarewood,arelightweightandeasytohandle.

•However,aluminumisasoftandweakmaterialthatdoesn’tholdfastenerswellanditmaycorrode,especiallyifitcomesintocontactwithasteelnailorscrew.

•Anotherdisadvantageisthataluminumisapoorinsulatorcomparedtowoodorvinyl,sosomemanufacturersinsulatethemwithextrudedvinylandfoam.

•Thesewindowsareoftensoldwithanodizedcoatingsorfactoryappliedpaintsforbetterdurability.

Vinyl

•VinylwindowsaremadefromrigidPVC(orpolyvinylchloride).

•Theyhaveinternalwebsandhollowstoenhancestrengthandenergyefficiency.Thesehollowinteriorsalsocontrolexpansionandcontraction.

•Theadvantageofvinylisthatithasasolidcolorthroughoutsothefinishcan’tchiporpeel.

•Itisalsoenergyefficient,corrosionresistantandmaintenancefree.

•Thedisadvantageisthatitcannotbepainted,althoughsomemanufacturersoffertheminavarietyofcolors.

Fiberglass

•Fiberglasswindowscontainaircavitiessimilartothoseinvinylwindows.Thesecavitiesaddinsulationpropertiestothewindow.

•Theadvantageofthesewindowsisthattheyarestableandwillnotwarp,crack,rotorbow.Theyarealsoeasytopaint.

•Theyarelowmaintenance,chemicallyresistantandstanduptothecorrosiveeffectsofsaltandchemicals.

•Thedisadvantageoffiberglassisthatitisusuallymoreexpensivethanvinyl.

Composition

•Compositionwindowsblenddifferenttypesofmaterialstogether,suchasacombinationofwoodfibersandpolymers,oracombinationoffiberglassandothermaterials.Compositionisusuallyspecifictoeachmanufacturer.

•Thesewindowsusuallyofferamoredurableandenergyefficientconstructionthanothertypesofwindows.

Understanding Window Efficiency

Thereareseveralwaystomeasuretheefficiencyofawindow.

• WindowswithanEnergyStarapprovalmeansitmeetsorexceedsstandardssetbytheUnitedStatesEnvironmentalProtectionAgency(EPA)forenergyefficiency.Thesewindowswillbethemostefficient.

• AnotherwaytoeffectivelygaugetheenergyefficiencyofawindowistoseeifithasacertificationfromtheNationalFenestrationRatingCouncil(NFRC).TheNFRCrateswindowwithseveralnumbers.Onthenextscreen,we’lllearnmoreaboutthosenumbers.

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Q: What is the difference between R-value and the U-factor?

A:TheR-valuemeasureshowsomethingresistsheatloss.AhigherR-valueonawindow,forexample,meansithashighinsulatingpropertiesandwillresistthetransferofheat.TheU-factor,ontheotherhand,measurestherateofheattransfer,butittakesintoaccounttheairflowaroundthewindowandtheradiatedheatoftheglass.TheU-factoristhebestwayoftellinghowwellaproductpreventsheatfromescaping.

Q: How do I know I’m getting an energy efficient window?

A:LookonthelabelforaratingbytheNationalFenestrationRatingCouncil.Itwillratetheenergyefficiencyofeachmodelofwindow.Thereareanumberoffactorsaffectenergyefficiency,includinghowtheframeisbuilt,thetypeofglassused,thetypeoflow-emissivitycoatingontheglassandtheweatherstripping.

Q: Are there building code regulations on the windows I buy?

A: Windowsmustmeettwosafetyguidelines:windloadandhumanimpact.Standardfactory-builtwindowsmeetmostwindloadrequirements.Alwayscheckwithlocalcodestomakesurethewindowsyoubuycomply.

Q: What does “cladding” mean, when referring to a window?

A:Claddingisanexteriorlayerofvinyloraluminumcoveringawoodframe.Itisgenerallyonlyonthesideofthewindowthatfacestheoutside.Thecladdingprovidesadditionalprotectionandweatherresistanceforthewindowframe.

Upselling

• Vinylwindowshaveframesandsashcornersweldedtogethertopreventwaterinfiltration.However,inbetterqualitywindows,theseseamsarenearlyinvisibleforasmoothfinish.

• Lessexpensivevinylwindowsmaytwistanddistortwhenexposedtotemperatureextremes.Encourageyourcustomertobuybetterqualitywindowsdesignedwithmorevinylandmetalreinforcement.

Taking it to the Floor:

• TheU-factormeasureshowwellthewindowcankeepheatfromescapingtheindoors.Thelowerthenumber,themoreefficientthewindow.Thisnumberisespeciallyimportantduringthewinterheatingseason.

• TheSolarHeatGainCoefficient(orSHGC)measureshowwellaproductblocksheatfromthesun.Lowernumbersmeantheproductisbetteratblockingheat.Thisnumberisimportantduringthesummercoolingseason.

• TheVisibleTransmittance(orVT)numbermeasureshowmuchlightpassesthroughthewindow.Thehigherthenumber,themorelightpassesthrough.

• TheAirLeakage(orAL)measureshowmuchairfromtheoutsidepassesthroughthewindowintothehome.Thelowerthenumber,thebettertheproductisatkeepingairout.Formoreinformation,visithttp://nfrccommunity.site-ym.com/?page=RetailerAssistance.

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• Ifyourcustomerwantsthedurabilityofvinyl,butwantsamoreupscalelookontheinsideofthehome,suggestcladwoodwindows.Thesearecladwithvinyloraluminumonthesurfacefacingtheexteriorofthehouse,andhavethewoodexposedontheinsidesoitcanbestained.

Add-On Sales

Somecustomersmaywantnewwindowsfortheirhome,butarenotabletoaffordthepurchaseandinstallationcost.Forthosecustomers,offerasashkitasanalternative.Sashkitsallowcustomerstoreplaceonlythesashwithouttearingouttheentirewindowframe.Thenewsashwillbebetterinsulatedandstillsavethecustomermoneyinenergycosts.

Module 2: Glass

Single-Pane Clear Glass

•Single-paneclearglassisthesimplestandleastexpensivetypeofglass.

•However,ithasverylittleinsulatingvalueandprovidesonlyathinbarriertotheoutside.

•Itcanbecuttosizewithsimpletools. Low-E Glass

•Low-Eglass,whichisalsoknownaslow-emissivityglass,isafeatureofglassthatmaybecombinedwithotherfeatures.

•Ithasaspecialcoatingontheglassthatreducesthetransferofheatthroughtheglass.

•Itmayalsobetintedtofurtherreduceheatgain.

•Inthesummer,theglassletsinvisiblesunlightandblocksoutUVrays,whichhelpspreventfadingonfurnitureandcarpetsbecauseofsunrays.

•Inthewinter,thecoatingreflectsheatbackintotheroom.

•Differentwindowmanufacturersmaypromotetheirownspecialglasswithhighenergyefficiencyratings. Laminated Glass •Laminatedglassconsistsofmultiplelayersofglassbondedtogetherwithatoughplasticlayerinthemiddle.

•Itactsandlookslikeasinglepieceofglass,butthelayershelpimproveinsulationpropertiesoftheglass.

•IteliminatesmostUVrays,whichhelpsprotecthomefurnishingfromthedamagingeffectsofthesun.

•Laminatedglasscanalsohelpinsulateagainstnoise. Tempered Glass

•Temperedglassisproducedbyaheat-treatingprocessthatmakesitverystrongandoftenusedforsafety.

•Whenitbreaks,itshattersintotinypebble-likepieces,insteadofdangerousshards.Thisfeaturemakesitidealforpatiodoorsandglassshowerenclosures.

•Itcannotbecutinthefield,butmustbemanufacturedtosize.

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Insulating Glass

•Insulatingglasshastwoorthreepanesofglasswithadeadairspacebetweenthepanes.

•Thespaceisoftenfilledwithalowconductancegaslikeargon,carbondioxideorkrypton.

•Thedead-airspaceandthegasreducethetransferofheatbetweenthelayers.

•Thismayalsobeafeatureoflow-eand/orlaminatedglassandmaybecombinedwithotherfeatures.

•EachpaneofglassaddsR-1insulationtotheassembly.Adouble-panedglassoffersR-2insulation.

•TheseinertgasescanaddasmuchasR-2tothewindowassembly.

Obscure Glass

•Obscureglassallowslighttoentertheroombutblurstheimagetoprotectprivacy.

•Thisisafeatureofglassoftenusedinconjunctionwithotherfeatures.

•Obscureglassismostoftenusedforbathroomsordoorswheretheremaybenocoveringonthewindow,butwhereprivacyisstilldesired.

•Varioussurfacetexturepatternsareavailable,rangingfromtranslucenttoasemi-opaqueeffect.

Q: What is safety glass and where should I use it?

A:Safetyglasshelpscutdownoninjuriesfrompeoplefallingagainstglass.Temperedglassisatypeofsafetyglass.Itshattersintosmallpiecesratherthanshards,reducingthechanceofinjury.Othertypesofsafetyglassarelaminateorwirereinforced.Localbuildingcodeswilldictatewhereyoushoulduseit.Generally,useitalongstaircases;inswinging,slidingandbifolddoors;nearbathtubsandshowers;andinanywindowthatiswithin18inchesofthefloor.Q: What is the difference between plate glass and sheet glass?

A:Plateglassisgenerallyusedforlargepicturewindows.Itprovidesaclearviewwithoutdistortion.Itisusually3/16”thick.Sheetglassisthemostcommonglass.Itisusuallyabout3/32”forsinglestrengthglass.Otherthicknessesareavailable.Q: Is there a way to get the effect of window tinting without replacing all the glass?

A:Therearewindowfilmsthatachievesomeofthesameeffectsastintingwithouthavingtoreplacethewindows.Thesecomeinarollandyoucanapplythemtoanywindowinthehome.Filmsarebestinareaswheredirectsunlightisaproblem.TheycanhelpblockUVrays,heatandofferprivacy.Q: Is there a type of glass that can help insulate against noise?

A:Yes.Laminatedglassisparticularlyeffectiveinreducingnoise.Upselling Skills

• Ifyourcustomerwantsawindowthatismoreefficientandeasytomaintain,herearesomefeaturesyoucanrecommend.

•Oneinnovativetypeofwindowautomaticallytintsonhot,brightdaystoblocksunlight.Whendaysarecool,thesewindowsstaycleartoallowlightandheattopassthroughthewindow.

•Otherwindowsmayhavemini-blindsinstalledbetweenthepanesofglass.Theycanbeopenandshutbyhardwarelocatedontheframe.

•Somemanufacturersofferself-cleaningglass.Thesewindowshaveaspecialcoatingontheglassthatallowsdirttobeeasilywashedawaybyrainwater.Thesewindowsalsoresistwaterspotsandstreaks.

•Customerslivinginareasthatareoftensubjectedtohighwindswillwantimpact-resistantwindows.Thesewindowsalsoprovideanextralevelofprotectionagainsthomeburglaries.

Taking it to the Floor:

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Add-on Sales

Customersreplacingapaneofglasswillneedtheseitems.

• Aputty knifeisthebesttoolforremovingoldglazingandapplyingnew.

• Glazier’s pointsholdtheglassinthewindow.

• Glazier’s puttyhelpssealaroundtheedgesoftheglass.

Aftercustomerschoosewhattypeofglasstheywantintheirwindow,theywillalsowanttoconsidertheoptionsforaddingscreens.Tofindoutmoreaboutthedifferenttypesofscreensavailable,pleaserefertoNRHA’sBasicTrainingCourseinHardwareRetailing.TheScreenmoduleisintheBindingandContainmentchapteroftheHardwareandFastenerscategory.

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Product Knowledge:

Fixed

•Afixedwindow,alsocalledastationarywindow,isatypeofwindowthatdoesn’topen.

•Inthistypeofwindow,theglassissetdirectlyintothewindowframe.

•Fixedwindowsareoftenusedasdecorativewindowsandmaybemanufacturedindifferentshapes,suchastriangles,trapezoidsorcircles.

•Anothertypeisthepicturewindow.Theseusuallyhavealargepaneofglassthatisintendedtocreateanunobstructedviewofapanoramicsceneoutdoors.

•Fixedwindowsareoftenusedtocomplimentotherwindows.Examplesarecircletopsorellipses,whicharepopularovermultiplewindowsorpatiodoors.

Casement

•Acasementwindowhasahingeonthesidetoswingoutwardsothesashdoesn’ttakeupspaceintheroom.

•Itusuallyhasgearedcrankoperatorsthatmakethewindoweasytoopenandclose.Ifthewindowisoutofreach,apolecanbeusedtooperatethecrank.

•Oneadvantageofthiswindowisthatitcanbefullyopenedtoprovide100-percentventilation.

•Itcanbeinstalledasasinglewindoworinpairs.

•OnevariationistheTiltandTurnwindow.Ithashingesatthebottomsothatitopensatthetoplikeahopperwindow.Italsohashingesonthesidesoitcanswingopenlikestandardcasementwindow.

Awning

•Anawningwindowissimilartoacasementwindowinthatitoperateswithacrank.However,itishingedatthetopandswingsoutwardatthebottom.

•Itcanbefullyopenedtoprovide100-percentventilation.

•Thereareseveraltypesavailable.OnetypeistheBasementUtilitywindow.Thewindowswingsinandhasablockframesoitcanbeeasilyinstalledinamasonrywall.

•AnothertypeisaHopperwindow.Itishingedatthebottomoftheframe.

Hung Window

•Ahungwindowhasasashthatslidesupanddownonatrack.

•Ithasanupperandlowersash,usuallythesamesize.

•Therearetwobasictypes.InaSingle-Hungwindow,onlythelowersashopens.

•InaDouble-Hungwindow,boththeloweranduppersashopens.

•Thewindowsashstaysinanupordownpositionwiththehelpofafrictionmechanismsuchashiddenspringsorweights.

•OnestyleisaCottageorOrielwindowstylethathasasmallerupperandlargerlowersash.

Chapter 2: Types of WindowsModule 1: Basic Windows

Tounderstandwindows,it’sbesttolearnthevariouspartsofawindow.Clickoneachcirclebelowtolearnaboutthedifferenttypes.

study guide: WindoWs & doors

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Horizontal Sliding

•Inthehorizontalslidingwindow,thesashslideshorizontally.

•Itmayhaveoneormorepanelsthatarefixed,oroneormorepanelsthatslide.

•Thiswindowisagoodfitforaplacewhereaswingingsashwouldbeintheway.

•Itisalsoeasytoopen,whichmakesitagoodfitforusingoverplaceslikekitchencountersorsinks.

Glass Block

•Aspeciallymadeblockofglassusedforavarietyofapplications,includingfillingthespaceofawindow.

•Letsinlightbutprovidesmoresecurityandinsulationthanaregularwindow.

•Installswithmortarlikemasonryblock.

•Agoodsolutionforbasementwindowstoprovideextrasecurity.

•Typicalsizesare6”x6”,8”x8”,12”x12”,4”x8”and6”x8”.Typicalthicknessis4”.

•Availableinavarietyofglasspatterns.

•Somemanufacturersmakeaone-piece,preassembledwindowindifferentshapesfilledwithglassblock.

•Acrylicisanothermaterialusedtomakeblockwindows.

•Someunitscomewithbuilt-inventsand/orhingedwindows.Garden

•Alsoknownasagreenhousewindow.

•Usedforthosewhowantamini-greenhouseintheirkitchenorotherroom.

•Hasacentersashwithtwoflankingsashatrightanglesandaslopedsashontop.

•Itprojectsfromtheoutsidewall.

•Includesshelvesforplants.

•Somemanufacturersmaketheunitwiththetopsashata90ºangle.

Skylight

•Awindowinstalledinaslopingroof.

•Maybefixedorvented.Ventedmodelscanbeopenedwithamanualcrankoranelectricmotorwithremoteoperation.

•Usesfourcommonlightshaftsforinstallationsonaroofwithaflatceilingontheinside.

•Caremustbetakenduringinstallationtoensurethatthewindowisproperlyflashedandcaulkedtoavoidleaks.

Barn

•Alsoknownasautilitysash.

•Glasswithwoodaroundtheglassandnoframe.

•Usedforplaceswhereglassmaybebrokenfrequently,soitisjustaseconomicaltoreplacetheentiresashasitistoreglaze.

•Usedtoreplacebrokenglassinbarnsandutilitybuildings.

•ACellarSashtypeisathree-litesashofvaryingsizes.

•ASlipHeadunitisasinglesashthatslidesupthroughtheheadjambtoopen.

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Q: What are some signals I need new windows?

A:Somesignalsareairleakingaroundthewindows;windowsthatdon’topeneasilyandarepaintedornailedshut,whichcouldpreventasafeescapeduringafire;orthesashandotherpartsarerottingordeteriorating.Q: What type of weatherstripping would you recommend for my window?

A:Itmostlydependsonwhattypeofwindowyouhave.Foradouble-hungwindow,useapile-typeweatherstripping.Itisdesignedtoallowthesashtoslidebackandforth.Itisusuallyinstalledatthetopandbottomofaslidingwindowtrack.Foracasementwindow,youmighttryabulb-typeweatherstripping,usuallyafoam-filledvinyl.Anotherpopulartypeisaleaf-orfin-typeweatherstrippingthatisV-shapedandfitsontothejambonthesashsideofthestop.Q: Does my roof slope enough for a skylight?

A: Youcaninstallaskylightonaslopeaslowas4/12withoutspecialinstallation.Thismeanstheroofrisesvertically4”forevery12”itextendshorizontally.Skylightsizesrangefrom18”to60”wideto18”to60”long.Upselling Skills

Customersbuyingahungwindowshouldconsiderbuyingatiltstylewindow.Inadditiontoslidingupanddown,bottom,toporbothsashesmayalsotiltinforeasycleaning.Thiseasycleaningfeaturemakesthemidealforupperfloors.Add-on Sales

Herearesomeoftheitemscustomersinstallingareplacementwindowwillneed.

• Recommend building papertomaketheopeningwherethewindowwillsitwatertight.

• Useastaple guntoattachthepaper.

• Customerswillalsoneedalevelandameasuring tapeforcorrectlypositioningthewindow.

• Useshimstohelpholdthewindowinplace.

• Makesurecustomershavetheappropriatehammerandnailsforsecuringthewindow.

• Finally,recommendcaulkforsealingaroundtheedgesoftheinstalledwindow.

Taking it to the Floor:

Module 2: Combination Windows

Bay

•Abaywindowhastwoflankingwindowsthataremulled(orconnectedbyadivider)atanangleoneachsideofalargecenterwindow.

•Thecombinationofthethreewindowsprojectsfromthewall.

•Thewindowiscoveredbyasmallroofsectionthatisusuallybuiltatthejobsite.Roofingmaterialmaybeshingles,oroftengalvanizedmetalorcopper.

•Thecenterwindowmaybefixedoroperational.

•Thetwoflankingwindowsareusuallycasement,single-ordouble-hungorfixed.

•Theanglesbetweenthethreewindowsmaybe30ºor45º.

•OnetypeistheBoxBaywindow,whichhasthethreewindowssetat90º.

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Bow

•Abowwindowprojectsfromthewalllikeabaywindow,butdoesnothavethesharpanglesofthebaywindow.

•Instead,aseriesofnarrowwindowsaremulledtogethertoformanarc.

•Individualunitsofthewindowmaybefixedoroperational.Typically,thetwoendunitsoperateandtherestarefixed.Combination Picture Window

•Apicturewindowisawindowcombinationunitthatcombinestwoofthebasicstylesofwindows.

•Itoftenconsistsofalarge,fixedwindowmulledwithasmalleroperatingwindowononeorbothsides.

•Commoncombinationsincludeapicturewindowflankedbytwodoublehungwindows,apicturewindowflankedbytwocasementwindows,apicturewindowovertwoawningwindowsoraround-topfixedwindowoveracasementwindow.Storm

•Astormwindowissometimescalledacombinationwindowsinceitcombinesthefunctionofascreenandastormwindow.

•Thistypeofwindowimprovesenergyefficiencybyprotectingtheprimarywindowfromtheweather.

•Itfastensdirectlytotheexteriorcasingsurroundingthewindow.

•Thereareseveraldifferentstyles.TheSingle-Trackframestyleconsistsofapieceofglassinalightweightsashpermanentlyfixedinanail-onframe.Usedoverfixedwindows.

•TheDual-Trackframestyleconsistsofaglazedsashinthetophalfoftheoutertrackandascreeninthelowerhalf.Anotherglazedsashintheinsidetrackcanberaisedforventilation.

•TheTriple-Trackframestylehastwoglazedsashesandascreenpanel,allinaseparatetrack.Thisisagoodchoiceforsecondfloorwindows.

Q: Why is there condensation on the inside of the window?

A: Condensationindicatesthatthereishigherhumidityinsidetheroomthanoutside.Havingtoomuchmoisturecollectingontheinsideofthewindowcancausedeteriorationandevenmold.Correcttheproblembyusingaceilingfantokeepaircirculating;byusingexhaustfansinroomswithhighhumidity;andbyusingadehumidifier.Q: How does a window attach to the frame of the house?

A: Thewindowsitsintheroughopeningofthehouse.Howitattachestothehouse’sframedependsonthehome’sconstructionandthetypeofwindow.Somewindows,usuallyvinylwindows,haveanailfinthatattachesthewindowtothestud.Otherwindowsareheldinplacewithwoodstops,withthewindowjambnailedorscrewedtothestops.Checkthemanufacturer’smaterialforthepreferredinstallationmethodforthewindowyouarebuying.Q: Are there special instructions for installing a bay window?

A: Abaywindowhasaheadboardandaseatboard,whicharethepiecesthatfillinthetopandbottomofthecurveofthebay.Bothbowandbaywindowsusuallycomewiththeheadandseatboardsinstalled.Theycanusuallybeinstalledwithouttheneedforanadditionalheadandseatboardatthefoundation.Youwillalsoneedaroofoverthewindow,whichsomemanufacturerssupply.Finally,rememberthatabaywindowisheavierthanaconventionalwindow,sotherequirementsforroughinginthesillaredifferentthanwithaconventionalwindow.You’llneedtocheckthebuildingrequirementsforyourarea.

Taking it to the Floor:

11

Upselling Skills

Customerscanbuyastockwindow,butremindthemthatmostwindowmanufacturerscancustomdesignawindowtofitanysizeopeningandarchitecturaldesign.Withthesewindows,customerscanchoosefromseveraloptions,includingwindowhardware,glass,thefinishontheinteriorandexterior,andthestyleofgrillsbetweenthelites.Add-on Sales

Thewindowsyousellmaynotincludeinteriortrim.Remindcustomersofthisandthenhelpthemfindawindowcasingthatcomplementstheothermillworkintheirhome.

Also,customersbuyingunfinishedwoodwindowswillneedpaintorstaintofinishandmaintaintheirnewwindow.RefertothepaintcategoryinNRHA’sBasicTrainingCourseinHardware Retailingformoreinformationonsellingpaintandaccessories.

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Learning Objectives:• Thefeaturesandbenefitsoftheproductsyousell.

• Howtoansweryourcustomers’product-relatedquestions.

• Howtohelpyourcustomerchoosetherightproducts.

• Howtoincreasetransactionsizesbylearningmoreaboutadd-onsalesandupsellingtechniques.

Product Knowledge:

Chapter 3: Selling Doors

Panel Door

•Apaneldoorhaspanelsfillingthespacebetweenthestileandrailframingmembers.

•Stile-and-Railreferstotheconstructionofthedoor.Stilesaretheverticalframingmembers.Railsarethehorizontalframingmembers.

•Typically,doorshaveatoprail,abottomrailandalockrailatthestandardlocksetheight.

•Mullionsaretheverticalmembersbetweenthestiles.

•Popularstylesarefour-andsix-paneldoors.

Flush Door

•Aflushdoorhasasmooth,flatsurfacewithaholloworsolidcore.

•Itcanbepaintedorstainedtoblendinwithamoremoderndecor.

•Asolidcoreflushdoorhasaparticleboardcore,whichprovidesbettersecurity,soundproofingandfireresistancethanahollowcoredoor.

•Sizesaresimilartothoseofapaneldoor.

General Swing GuidelinesWhensellingadoor,especiallyifyou’resellingtoacustomerreplacinganexistingdoor,it’simportanttoknowwhichwaythedoorwillswingwhenit’sinstalled.Herearesomeguidelinesforspecifyingdoorswings.

•Exteriordoorsalwaysswingintothebuilding.Mostinteriordoorsswingintotheroom.

•Somedoorsforsmallroomsmightswingoutoftheroom,butadoorshouldneverswingintotheflowoftraffic.

•Adoorshouldalwaysswingtowardsawall.

•Whichdirectionadoorswingsisoftenreferredtoas“handing.”However,termsandconventionsvaryamongcustomers,regionsofthecountryandevenamongsuppliers.

•Whensellingadoor,besuretodrawadiagramofthedoororwalkovertoasimilardoorinyourstoretobesureyouunderstandeachother.Prehungdoorsareexpensive,andacustomermaynotacceptitifitisincorrectlyhanded.Makesureyougettheorderrightthefirsttime.

Interiorandexteriordoorsfallintotwobasiccategories:PanelandFlush

study guide: WindoWs & doors

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Door Swing Standards

TheAmericanNationalStandardsInstitute(ANSI)publishesstandardsforprimarydoorswings.ThefollowingrulesareaccordingtoANSI.

• Whenyouspecifydoorhanding,youcanviewthedoorfromtheoutside.Ifthedoorswingsin,itiseitherarighthandoralefthanddoor.Ifitswingsout,itcanbeeitheralefthandreverseorarighthandreverseswing.

• Todecidetheswing,imagineyourselfstandinginfrontofthedoor,outsidetheroomorbuilding.Ifthedoorswingsinandopenstotheleft,it’salefthandswing.Ifthedoorswingsout,itisalefthandreverse.

• Ifyou’restandinginfrontofthedooranditswingstotheright,it’sarighthandswing.Ifthedoorswingsoutandopenstotheright,it’sareverserighthandswing.

• Pairsofdoorsworkthesame,exceptthatyouwillalsoneedtodistinguishbetweentheactivedoor(theonewiththelockset)andtheinactivedoor(theonefastenedatthetopandbottomwithflushbolts.)

• OntheWestCoastandinareassuchasUpstateNewYork,doorhandingisspecifiedtheoppositeway(aleft-handdoorbyANSIstandardsiscalledaright-handdoor,andviceversa.)

• Whensellingadoor,besuretodrawadiagramofthedoororwalkovertoasimilardoorinyourstoretobesureyouunderstandeachother.Prehungdoorsareexpensive,andacustomermaynotacceptitifitisincorrectlyhanded.Makesureyougettheorderrightthefirsttime.

Door Sizing

Herearetheindustryconventionsforwritingdoorsizes.•Doorsizeiswritteninfeetandinches,withaslashseparatingthetwo:feet/inches.

•Forexample:adoorthatis6’8”tallwouldbewritten6/8.Thewidthmightbe2/8,or2’8”.

•Ifthedoorisaspecialornonstandardsize,thenitiswrittenininchesonly.

•Thecompletesizewillincludethewidthxheight–thickness.

•Forexample:adoor2’8”wide,6’8”talland1-3/8”thickwouldbewritten2/8x6/8–1-3/8”.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Which type of door is more secure?A:Securityofthedoorwilldependonitsconstruction.Forexample,hollowcoredoorsaretheleastsecure.Butinaddition,formoresecurity,selectadoorwithlittleornoglass.Youshouldalsoavoidoutswingingdoors,asthesehaveagapbetweenthedoorandthejambthatiseasiertoforceopen.

Q: What is the difference between an architectural door and a residential door?A: Anarchitecturaldooriscustommanufacturedtomeetcertainspecificationsfromabuilderorarchitectforaspecificproject.Theyaregenerallyusedincommercialapplicationsandarealsooftenlargerthanresidentialdoors.Residentialdoorsarestandarddoorsusedforhomesandtownhouses.

Q: How many hinges do I need for my door?A: Usethreebutthingesfordoorsupto3feetwide,andfourhingesforwiderdoors.You’llalsowantfourhingesfordoorstallerthan7feettall.

Taking it to the Floor:

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Upselling Skills

• Sincedoorsareoftencustomorderitemsthatcan’tbereturned,it’simportantforyoutomakesureyourcustomersgetexactlythedoortheywant.

• Sincemostmanufacturersofferawidevarietyofdoorstyles.Besuretoshowcustomersyourspecialorderoptionssotheygetexactlythedoortheywant.

• Askcustomersplentyofopen-endedquestionsthatallowthemtoexplaintheirproject,needsandexpectations.

• Alsorealizethatpriceisanimportantfactor,butisn’ttheonlyissue.Formanycustomers,pricebecomesimportantonlyafterthey’vedeterminedthataproductmeetstheirneeds.Valuetendstobemoreimportant.

Add-on Sales

Ifcustomersintendtoinstalladoorthemselves,herearesomeoftheitemsthey’llneed.

• Alevelandaplumbbobwillhelppositionthedoor.

• Askiftheyneedanyadditionalcarpenter’s pencilsformarkingmeasurements.

• Shimswillholdthedoorinthehouse’sframingmembers.

• Usefinish nailsandahammertosecuredoorframe.

• Remindthecustomertocaulkaroundthedoortrimafteritisinstalled.

15

Product Knowledge:

Interior Door Construction

First,let’slookatthethreebasicwaysinteriordoorsareconstructed.

Solid doors

•Soliddoorsareheavyandsoundproof.

•TheymaybemadeofwoodorMDF.

Solid core doors

•Solidcoredoorsareusuallymoreaffordablethansolidwooddoors.

•Ontheinsideofthedoorisaninnercoreofasolidwoodfibermaterial.Thatcoreisthenlaminatedwithplywood,steelorfiberglass.

Hollow core doors

•Hollowcoredoorsareusuallytheleastexpensive.Theyconsistofacoreofcardboardinahoneycombarrangement,setinsideasimplewoodframewithaplywoodveneergluedoverit.Theyarelightweight,donotoffermuchsoundblockingorsecurity.Youcanalsotellthedifferencebetweendifferentdoorsbytheirstyleandthewaytheyoperate.Herearesomecommonstyles.

Interior Panel Door

•TheframeofaninteriorpaneldooristypicallymadeofSouthernpineandpanelsmaybeflatorraised.

•Flatpaneldoorsareoftenmadeofplywood,particleboardormediumdensityfiberboard(MDF).

•Raisedpaneldoorsareoftenmadeof3/4”or1-1/8”solidorveneeredwood,oranon-veneerpanelsuchasparticleboardorMDF.

•Astandardgradeismadeforapaintfinish.Premiumgradeismadeforstainorvarnish.

•Standardwidthsare1/6(or18”,or1’6”),1/8(20”),2/0(24”),2/4(28”),2/6(30”),2/8(32”)and3/0(36”).

•Standardthicknessforapaneldooris1-3/8”.

•Standardheightsare6/8(or80”or6’8”),7/0(84”)and8/10(106”).

Sash Door

•Asashdoorisastile-and-railconstructiondoorwherepanesofglassorotherglazingmaterialfillthespacebetweentheframingmembers.

•Theglazingunitsmaybeasinglepaneordividedintosmallerindividuallights.

•Buildingcodesgenerallyrequirethatglassinadoorbesafetyglass(tempered,laminatedorembeddedwithwiremesh).

Chapter 4: Types of DoorsModule 1: Interior Doors

study guide: WindoWs & doors

16

French Door

•Frenchdoors,alsoknownascasementdoors,areusuallyinstalledinpairs.

•Theycanbebothinteriorandexteriordoors.

•Thedoorconsistsmostlyofglass,oftenwith1,5,10or15lites(orpanesofglass).

•Standardthicknessesare1-3/8”or1-3/4”.

•Standardwidthsare2/0(24”),2/6(30”),2/8(32”)or3/0(36”).

•Standardheightsare6/8(80”)and7/0(84”).

Pocket Door

•Apocketdoorrollsbackintoapocketinthewall.

•Itusesstandardinteriordoorswithaframeforthepocket.

•Apre-builtpocketkitincludesaframetohousethedoorinsidethewall,trackandhardware.

•Afterthepocketframeisinstalled,thepocketpartiscoveredwithwallfinishmaterialtolooklikepartofthewall.

Bypassing Door

•Abypassingdoorisalsoknownasaslidingdoorandisoftenusedforclosets.

•Ithastwoormorestandardinteriordoorshungonrollerfromatrackandopensfromsidetoside.

•Floorguidesholdthedoorsinplaceatthebottom.Allofthehardwareandtracktypicallycomespackagedwiththedoor.

•Doorshouldnotexceedtheweightlimitforthetrack.

•Instructionsshouldspecifythefinishedopening,whichisthedistancebetweenthejambs.

•Typicalwidthsare4’,5’and6’.

•Mostcommonstyleisahollowcoreflushdoor,butitmayalsobelouver,panelormirrored.Doorsalsodon’thavetocomefromakit;customerscanchoosethemdirectlyfromastore’sstockofdoors.

Bifold Door

•Abifolddoorisbestforclosetsorsmallroomswhereanopendoorwouldinterferewithtraffic.

•Ituseshollowcoreflush,panel,mirroredorlouverdoors.

•Akitmayincludeoneortwopairsofdoorsthatfoldinhalftoopen,atrackandahardwarekit.Doorscanalsocomefromastore’smillworkstock.

•Aunitmayincludeonepairofdoorsforopeningsupto48”wide,andtwopairsforopeningsfrom48”to72”wide.

•Standardheightis6/6(78”)toallowforthetrack,forafinishedopeningof6’8”.

Louver Door

•Alouverdoorisastile-and-railconstructiondoorthatcanbeaclosetdoor.

•Thestyleisusefulinclimateswhereaircirculationisimportanttopreventmoldandmildew.

•Standardwidthsrangefrom1’to3’.

•Standardheightsare6/6(78”)and6/8(80”).

17

Q: How do I fix a door that is sticking or that doesn’t seem to fit into the door frame?A:Seeifyoucandeterminewherethedoorissticking.First,makesurethescrewsonthehingesaretight.Mostlikely,youmayneedtouseaplanetoshavedownoneoftheedgessothedoorwillfit.

Q: What is the fire rating on a door?A: Thefireratingisthelengthoftimeadoorcanresistthespreadofafire.

Q: What size hinges should I buy?A: Use4”x4”hingesfor1-3/4”doorsand3-1/2”x3-1/2”hingesfor1-3/8”doors.

Q: What is a pre-hung door?A: Apre-hungdoorisinstalledintheframeatthefactory.Doingthissimplifiesinstallationandsavestime.Italsomakesiteasierforado-it-yourselfertocompletetheproject.Theotheroptionisablank,orslab,whichisadooronly,andnotmountedinthejamb.

Q: Can I use an interior door as an exterior door, too?A:Someofthestylesofinteriordoorsarestylesyouwilluseforexteriordoors,too.However,Exteriordoorsgenerallyhavefeaturesmoresuitabletoexterioruse.It’sbesttobuydoorsdesignatedforinterioruseontheinteriorofyourhomeanddoorsdesignatedforexterioruseontheexterior.

Upselling Skills Betterdoorsdoabetterjobofreducingthesoundthattravelsfromoneroomtoanother.SoundtransmissionismeasuredbySTC,orSoundTransmissionClass.RecommendthosedoorswithhigherSTCnumbers,whichrepresentbetternoisereduction.Hollowdoorsoffertheleastsoundblocking,whilesoliddoorsofferthebest.

Add-on Sales

• Themostnaturaladd-onsaleforanyonebuyingadoorisahandlesetorlockset.Ifyourstoreoffersaspecialorderservice,makesuretotellthecustomerthatthestylechoicesarenotlimitedtowhat’sontheshelf.

• Ifthecustomerisbuyinganunfinisheddoor,askiftheyintendtopaintorstainthedoor.Then,onceyou’vehelpedthemchoosethepaintorstaintheywouldliketouse,recommendtheadditionalproductstheyneedtocompletetheproject,suchasbrushes,staining padsanddropcloths.

Taking it to the Floor:

18

Product Knowledge:

Entry Door

•Theentrydoorisusuallythemostornatedoorofthehouse,socustomerswilllikelyplaceagreatdealofemphasisonthedesignofthedoortheychoose.

•Doorsmaybesolidorhaveglassinserts.

•Entrydoorsmaybesoldasanentrysystem,whichconsistsofaprehungdoorinaframewiththeweatherstripping,sillandthresholdalreadyinplace.

•Thethresholdisinstalledunderadoortofillthegapbetweenthebottomofthedoorandthefloor.

•Thesillisaslopedmemberthatformsthebottompartofthedoor-and-frameunit.Itshedswaterawayfromthestructure.

•Anotheroptionisaslabdoor,whichisadoorwithouttheframing.

•Standardwidthsare2/8(32”)and3/0(36”).

•Standardheightis6/8(80”),with7/0(84”)and8/0(96”)alsoavailable.

•Standardthicknessis1-3/4”.

Exterior Door Construction

• Customershavethreebasicoptionswhenchoosingadoor:Wood,steelorfiberglass.Eachtypehasitsadvantages.

Wood

•Construction:Wooddoorsuseastile-and-railconstruction.Somewoodendoorsaremadeofsolidwood,usingeitherhardwoodorsoftwood.Othershaveanengineered-woodcorecoveredwithaveneer.

•Finishing:Wooddoorsmaybefinishedwithpaintorstain.

•Maintenance:Scratchesinwooddoorsareeasytorepair.However,wooddoorsmaycrackorbowduetotheeffectsoftheweather.

Steel

•Construction:Steeldoorsconsistofawoodorsteelframe,filledwithfoaminsulationandcoveredwithasteelskin.Theyoffergoodsecurity.

•Finishing:Mosthaveabaked-on,pre-primedfinishthatmustbepaintedtopreventrust.Othersmayhaveavinylfinishorawood-fibercoating.

•Maintenance:Thesedoorsaredurableandresistfire,warpingandcrackingandarelowmaintenance.Theyare,however,pronetodenting.

Fiberglass

•Construction:Thesedoorsconsistofawoodenframe,filledwithfoaminsulationandcoveredwithamoldedfiberglassskin.

•Finishing:Fiberglassdoorsareavailableinavarietyoffinishes,includingawoodgraintexture.Youcanalsopaintorstainthem.

• Maintenance:Requireverylittlemaintenance,aredurable,energyefficientandresistcrackingandwarpingduetotheweather.Theyareagoodchoiceforextremeclimateconditions.

Module 2: Exterior Doors

19

Storm Door

•Astormdoorsitsinfrontoftheprimaryentrydoortoprotectitfromtheweather,increaseenergyefficiencyandprovideventilationinthesummer.

•Stormdoorsmayhavealightweightstile-and-railwoodenframeorahollowaluminumframe.Somedoorshaveavinylcladdingovertheframe.

•Ithaslargeglasspanelsthatcanbeexchangedforscreens,dependingontheseason.

•Somedoorsusecontinuoushingesrunningthefulllengthofthedoor.

•Sizeis1-1/8”thick,andheightis81”.

•Standardwidthsare30”,32”and36”.

•Alwaysopenstheoppositewayoftheprimarydoor.Therefore,stormdoorsalwaysopenout.

•Avariationisthesecuritydoorthathasaheavy-dutyaluminumorsteelframewithheavy-gaugealuminumorsteelbars.

Patio Doors

•Therearetwotypesofpatiodoors:swingingandsliding.

•Bothcomeinavarietyofmaterials,includingaluminum,vinyl,woodandwood-claddoors.Woodcladdoorsarethosewithwoodenframesbutcladinvinyl,fiberglassoraluminum.

•Thesedoorsaretypicallysoldaspartofacompleteentrysystemwherethedoorframehasweatherstrippingonthelatchedgeandalongthetop.Beawarethatweatherstrippingonslidingdoorscan’tsealastightlyasaswingingdoor.

•Whilethesedoorstypicallyhaveglass,theycanalsohavescreens.

Swinging Patio Door

•SwingingpatiodoorlookssimilartoaFrenchdoorasitgenerallyconsistsoftwodoors.Someconfigurationshavethreedoors.

•Theswingingpatiodoormayhaveoneactive(oroperating)doorandoneormoreinactive(orfixed)doors.Or,bothdoorsmaybeactive.

•Swingingdoorsarehingedtoopeninthecenterwiththeactivepanellatchedtothejamb.

•LikeinteriorFrenchdoors,theyoftencontainlargeglasspanelsbetweenthestilesandrails.

•Adeadboltcanbeinstalledonthisdoor,makingitmoresecurethanaslidingdoor.

Sliding Patio Door

•Mostslidingdoorsconsistoftwopanels,oneactiveandoneinactive(orstationary).

•Theactivedoorissetonrollersthatrideonatrack.Rollersarecomponentsthatoftenwearout.

•Thesedoorsconsistofeitherwoodoraluminumframeswheretheframesurroundsasingleglasspane.

•Glassistemperedforsafety.

Commercial Door

•Canbeasteelorwooddoor,orawooddoorcladinamateriallikealuminum.

•Usesheavy-dutyhardwareforextrasecurityanddurability.

•Oftenincludesoptionslikeacrash-barinstalledontheinteriorofthedoor.

•Doubledoorsmayhavearemovablecentermullionthatdividethemandallowforawideobjecttobemovedthroughthedoors.

20

Other Door Features

Herearethreeotherfeaturesthatoftencomewithanentrydoor:Glass

•Manymanufacturersofferglassasadecorativeoptioninadoor.

•Glassmaybeasinglelite(orpane)ordividedintoseverallitesanddividedbypanes.

•Betterdoorshaveinsulatedglassforenergyefficiency.Sidelight

•Adecorativepanelnexttoafrontentrydoorthatcomplementsitsstyle.

•Usuallyfilledwithglasspanes.

•Notamovingpartofthedoor,butgenerallysoldaspartoftheunit.

•Standardwidthsrangefrom10”to18”.

•Standardheightis80-1/2”.Transom

•Adecorativepanelthatgoesoverthetopofadoor.

•Usuallyfilledwithaglasspane.

•Maybestationaryorhinged.

•Availableinvariousconfigurationsoflitesandtrimoptions.

A: What is the advantage of a swinging patio door over a sliding one?Q: Aswingingdoorismoreenergyefficientbecausetheweatherstrippingcanbesealedmuchtighterthanonaslidingdoor.Also,aswingingdoorcanbelatchedwithadeadbolt.

Q: What is a thermal break?A: Athermalbreakisaninsulatedseparationthatpreventscoldandheatfromtheoutsidefrompassingthroughthedoor.Thisisusuallyafeatureofhigh-enddoors,usuallyhigh-qualitysteelandfiberglass.

Q: What kind of deadbolt should I use with my door?A: Therearetwotypesofdeadbolts:singlecylinderanddoublecylinder.Asinglecylinderdeadboltmustbeopenedwithakeyfromtheoutsideandaturnontheinside.Ifyourdoorhasasidelightoraglasspane,Isug-gestadoublecylinderdeadbolt.Withthistype,anintrudercan’tbreaktheglassandreachinandunlockthebolt.Thisdesigndoespresentadanger,however,incaseofafire,asakeyhastobeusedtoexit.

Q: Can I install hinges or plane off the edge of a steel door?A: Yes.Moststeelentrydoorsusewoodframessoit’seasiertoinstallthehingesortoplanedowntheedgessotheyfitinadoorframe.

Q: How do I make sure I get the correct size storm door?A:Measurethewidthoftheoutsidedoorjambwherethedoorwillhang.Measureatthetop,middleandbot-tomofthedoor,thenrecordthesmallestofthethreemeasurements.Next,measurefromthetopofthejambtothedoorsill,intheleft,centerandright.Again,recordthesmallestmeasurement.

Q: Isn’t a storm door the same as a screen door?A:Sometimestheymightbereferredtoasthesamething.Generally,though,ascreendoorusuallyreferstoadooronlydesignedtoholdscreeningmaterial.Stormdoorsusuallyrefertoadoorwithalargeglasspanel,whichcanusuallybeexchangedforascreen,dependingontheseason.

Taking it to the Floor:

21

Upselling Skills•Doorsavailabletocustomerswillcomeinavarietyofpricepoints.Herearesomewaysyoucansellyourcus-

tomerabetterdoor.

•Aself-storingfeatureonsomestormdoorsallowsthepaneltoslideuptoallowforventilationwithoutneedingtoberemoved.

•Onekeyconsiderationwhenbuyingadoorisenergyefficiency.Alwayspointouttocustomerstheenergyefficiencyofthevariousdoorsyousellandencouragethemoreefficientmodels.Fiberglassandsteeldoorsaregenerallymoreefficientthanwood.Anenergy-efficientdoorshouldincludeathermalbreakinthedoor’sconstruction,weatherstripping,andanadjustablesill.

• Ifthedoorhasglass,recommenddoorswithdouble-ortriple-panedglass.Qualityglasshasalow-ecoatingandisfilledwithargongas.Someglassisalsoreinforcedtoprovidegreatersecurity.

Add-on Sales• Anyonebuyinganexteriordoorwillneeda handlesetorlockset.Recommendonethathasaqualitydeadbolt

foraddedsecurity.

• Forcustomerspurchasinganewentrydoor,suggesttheyconsideradoor knocker, doorbell,mailboxornewsetofhouse numbers.Helpthemfindaccessoriesthatmatchthestyleandfinishofthedoorknobforaunifiedlookonthefrontofthehouse.

• Ifit’snotincludedwiththedoor,suggestadoor closertoanyonebuyingastormdoor.

• Somecustomersmaywanttheadditionalsecurityofachain door guardforanentrydoor.

22

Product Knowledge:

Garage Doors

•Garagedoorsconsistofaseriesofnarrowpanelshingedtogetherandfastenedwithrollersthatfollowcurvedtracksoneithersideofthedoor.

•Aspringhelpscounterbalancetheweightofthedoor.

•Commonwidthsare9’,8’and10’.Doubledoorscanbe16’,18’or19’wide.

•Standardheightsarefrom6’6”to7’.

•Doorsgenerallyneedupto18”headroomabovethedoortoinstallthetrackandopener.

•Panelsmaybeflushorraised.Somedoorsusewindowpanelstoaddstyletothedoor.

•Garagedoorsareavailableinavarietyofstyles,soyourcustomerwilloftenchooseagaragedoorbasedonhowthatstylecomplementsthestyleoftheirhome.

Garage Door Springs

•Therearetwotypesofspringsavailable:extensionortorsion.

•Extensionspringsaremountedperpendiculartothecloseddooraboveatrack.Theyexpandandcontractwhenthedoorisopenedandclosed.

•Torsionspringsareusuallylocatedabovethedoor.Theywindandunwindtoprovidethepowernecessarytoopenandclosethedoor.

•Heavierdoorsanddouble-cardoorstypicallyhavetorsionsprings.Bettergaragedoorsusetorsionspringsastheyaresafer,morereliableandprovideasmootheroperation.

Garage Door Materials

Garagedoorscanbeconstructedofseveraldifferenttypesofmaterials.Herearethemaintypesusedtoday.

Wood

•Thebiggestbenefittoawoodengaragedoorisitsappearance.

•Stylesofthisdoorvary,butapopularoptionisthecarriagehousestyle.

•Usuallyhasrailandstileconstruction.

•Woodisnotadurablematerialbecauseitmaywarpandcrackasitweathers.Therefore,awoodengaragedoorrequiresregularmaintenance.

•Itisusuallypaintedorstained.

Composite Wood

•Compositewoodpanelsmaybeusedinconjunctionwithapolystyrenecoreforinsulatingpurposes.

•Doorsmadefromcompositewoodcanhaveasimilarappearancetowood,butunlikewoodtheywillnotcrackorrot.

Module 3: Garage Doors

23

Steel •Asteelgaragedoorisgenerallythemostsecureandhighestqualitytypeofdoor.

•Sometypeshavefoamcoresforbetterinsulation.

•Mostaremadeofgalvanizedsteel,sotheywillwithstandtheeffectsoftheweatherandwillnotrustorrequirefrequentrepainting.Theyarelowmaintenance.

Aluminum

•Aluminumgaragedoorsarelightweightandinexpensive.

•However,thesedoorswilldenteasilyandarenotasinsulatedasothertypesofdoors.

Fiberglass

•Usuallyconsistsofafiberglassouterlayersurroundingafoamcoreandasteelframework.

•Fiberglassgaragedoorsarelightweight,buttendtobreakeasily.

•Thesedoorsarenotasinsulatedasothertypes,sonotsuitedforcoldclimates.

Garage Door Construction

•Anotherimportantfactorinchoosinggaragedoorsisthenumberoflayersusedinconstructingthedoor.

•Singlelayerdoorsconsistofasinglelayerofgalvanizedsteel.Thisdooriseconomical,buthasnoinsulatingvalue.

•Doublelayerdoorshavealayerofgalvanizedsteelontheoutsidewithalayerofinsulatingmaterialsuchaspolystyreneontheback.

•Triplelayerdoorshavealayerofgalvanizedsteelontheoutside,alayerofinsulatingmaterialinthemiddleandanotherlayerofsteelontheinside.Thisisthestrongestdoorwiththemostinsulatingvalue.

•Steelisnottheonlymaterialthatmaybeusedwithmultiplelayers.Wood,fiberglassandothermaterialsmayalsohaveafoambackingforaddedinsulatingvalue.

Q: I don’t heat my garage, so why should I have an insulated garage door?A: Evenifyoudon’tplanonheatingorcoolingyourgarage,it’sstillagoodideatogetaninsulatedgaragedoor,particularlyifyourgarageisattachedtoyourhome.Coldairenteringthegaragethroughthegaragedoorcantraveldirectlytothelivingareaofthehome.Aninsulatedgaragedoorwillhelpyourhomestaymorecomfortableandbemoreenergyefficient.Also,insulateddoorsoffermoresoundprotectionfromtheoutside.CustomersbuyingagaragedoorshouldlookfortheR-value.ThehighertheR-valueofthedoor,thebettertheinsulationitprovides.Forcoldclimates,recommendanR-valueofatleast10.

Q: How well will my garage door withstand a hurricane?A:Anyonelivingincoastalregionsorareaspronetohurricanesshouldhaveawindloadtesteddoor.Thesedoorsarereinforcedtowithstandhighwinds.Theyhavestructuralreinforcementbars,heavydutyhardware,thicksteelskinsandanexteriorfinishthatresiststhecorrosiveeffectsofsaltwater.Areaspronetotornadosmayalsowantawindloadtesteddoor.

Q: If I’m just replacing my door, do I need a new track?A:Eachmanufacturerhasdesigneditsgaragedoortoworkwithaspecifictypeoftrack,soIrecommendreplacingthetracktoo.Replacingthetrackhelpsensureyourgaragedoorsystemissafe.Also,usinganexistingtrackmayvoidthewarrantyonthedoor.

Taking it to the Floor:

24

Q: Should I get an extra lock for my garage door?A:Ifyouareusingagaragedooropenerthathasanelectroniclock,itisnotnecessarytohaveanadditionallock.Infact,it’sbestnottohaveamanuallockinthissituationbecausesomeonemayaccidentallylockthedoor.Then,ifsomeonetriestousetheelectricopenertoopenthedoor,theactionoftheopeningdooragainstthelockcoulddamagethedoor.Ifyourdoordoesnothaveanelectricopener,thenyes,youshouldinstallalock.

Upselling•Betterqualitygaragedoorswillhaveawide,vinylbubbleweatherstrippingalongthebottomedgeofthedoor

tosealbetweenthedoorandthefloor.Doorswillalsohaveweathersealsbetweenthepanelsandaroundtheedgesofthedoortocreateasealwhenthedoorcloses.

•Recommenddoorsinsulatedwithrigidpolyurethaneinsulationratherthanpolystyrene.Insulateddoorsarestrongerinadditiontobeingquieterandmoreenergyefficient.

•Remindthecustomerthatthereisawiderangeofdesignandcolorchoicesforgaragedoorsthatcanmakethehomemoreattractive.Manyofthesedoorswillbeavailablethroughspecialorder,soletthecustomerknowaboutthisservice.

Add-on Sales• Perhapsthemostimportantadd-onsaleyoucanofferwhenacustomerpurchasesagaragedoorisa

garage door opener.Thereareseveraldifferentstylesavailable,sotobesureyourecommendtheproperone,reviewtheDoorHardwaremoduleintheHardwareandFastenerschapterofNRHA’sBasicTrainingcourseinHardware Retailing.

Somecustomersmaywishtoinstalltheirowngaragedoor.Herearesomeproductsthey’llneed.

• Askiftheyhaveastep ladderforinstallingthegaragedoortrack.

• Recommenda ratcheting socket wrenchfortighteningthefasteners.

• Useacordless screwdriverfordrivingscrews.