Six things you should do when choosing windows and doors for your home

The joinery you choose will have a huge impact on the style, light, ventilation, and energy efficiency of your new home. Kiwi company APL has been making quality windows and doors for nearly 50 years.

Signature Homes prides itself on aligning with the best building material suppliers in the country such as APL, who we trust to deliver innovative window and door solutions.

Signature Homes prides itself on aligning with the best building material suppliers in the country such as APL’s three brands Altherm, First and Vantage who we trust to deliver innovative window and door solutions

If you’re thinking about building a new home from a pre-designed plan or from scratch, you can take comfort in knowing that by building with Signature Homes you will have access to the best building materials in the industry.

Here’s their guide to getting it right.

1. Decide what you want your home to look like

The best way to decide is to look at examples of windows and doors that you like. Go crazy on Pinterest, look through home and lifestyle magazines and websites, save your favourite house images, colours, styles, configurations, and hardware.

2. Consider how you’ll live in your home

Think about how you want your new home to function. Your life stage, whether you have children living at home, and whether you spend a lot of time entertaining guests outdoors are all factors to consider when choosing joinery.

3. Understand your options

Once you have identified your priorities and style, you can choose windows, doors and hardware to suit your project. APL offers a wide range of solutions for all homes, from entrance doors to windows, sliders, bi-folds and thermally efficient products.

Look at different format and configuration options to find what best suits your needs. For example, if you have an amazing view you might choose over-the-wall sliding doors to enjoy the views without obstruction.

4. Choose your colours

Think about the palette of colours and materials you have used elsewhere in your home and choose joinery to complement these. Consider a statement colour for your front door – it’s a great way to personalise your home and can be bold or subtle to suit your style.

5. Choose your handles and other hardware

Your hardware choice completes the look and function of your windows and doors. Will a contemporary or classic style work best with the look of your home? Do you prefer squared-off or rounded designs? Do you want it to blend in or be a focal point? You can colour-match your hardware to your window and door frames for a unified look or use a contrasting colour to make a statement.

6. Decide on the kind of glass you want

Double glazing keeps your house warmer and drier in winter and cooler in summer, while also dampening sound and reducing the UV light entering your home. You can optimise the thermal efficiency of your home by choosing a performance glass, or by using Argon gas or a thermal spacer in your double glazing. If there are areas of your home where you’d like increased privacy, consider tints, switchable glass or privacy glass.

Don’t know your bi-folds from your sliding doors? View a showcase of APL windows and doors used in recent Signature Home builds here or check out our videos to understand how we build homes at Signature.