Comfort, functionality
and beauty
Convenient and secure
communication. On the driveways
and terraces, materials are used that have a non-slippery surface - they owe it
to the appropriate finish: textures such as checks and reliefs. In obtaining such an effect, stones
with a rough surface, eg flamed or grained, will also be great. Safety and comfort are also favored by
the lighting of the entry zone - motion sensors are here - and the use of
electrical anti-icing systems.
Aesthetic consistency. Today, the estate is unity - the
boundaries between the house and the surroundings are wound up. We also use the same materials that we
use to finish façades and even interiors, for finishing terraces, driveways (eg
stoneware and stone tiles), or for building or finishing fences and elements of
small architecture (eg clinker brick)
New generation
materials. New technologies favor
the emergence of modern materials for the convenience of users and their easier
maintenance, which does not require much. The
materials are more durable and more resistant to loads and weather conditions. A good example here are: wood-based
composites, which are increasingly replacing wooden elements on terraces;used
for building elements of small architecture, heat treated wood, which becomes
more resistant; metal mesh
elements that do not rust, or metal fences - light and easy to assemble.
Saving resources. Manufacturers of fencing materials
strive for the least possible consumption of raw materials, eg lightweight
steel elements contain less steel than in a traditional fencing mesh. The ecological trend is also
represented by openwork and perforated surfaces that allow rainwater to pass
through. In the management of
organic waste, composting is becoming more and more standard.
The rank of light. Outdoor lighting is not limited to a
lamp above the entrance platform. Elevations
are lighted, garden paths, trees, shrubs and rebates are highlighted. Effective and effective lighting of
the property is now significantly cheaper, not only at the stage of purchasing
lamps, light sources (in the perspective of their long-term use), but also
taking into account energy costs - this is supported by energy-saving light
sources and solar lamps.
Energy efficiency. The energy saving is provided by
garage doors with high thermal insulation parameters. You can buy gates with transoms,
thanks to which garages are also illuminated with natural light. Increasingly, in gardens, we use solar
lamps that do not use electricity.
System solutions. With a view to a coherent concept of
the house and its surroundings, manufacturers suggest, for example, fencing
elements and, for this, entry gates kept in the same style, and even made of
the same materials. Also, façade
materials manufacturers in their offer have not only tiles or façade bricks,
but also an assortment intended for making in the same stylization the surface
of sidewalks, paths or driveways or products for the implementation of elements
of small garden architecture (eg barbecue, benches, gazebos) , fences (posts
and walls for securing the fencing spans), as well as retaining walls and
stairs, while leveling the ground level differences.
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FENCES
They are carried out,
matching the style of the house and in accordance with the regulations and with
the investors' safety in mind.
From stone. They are durable, prestigious and
extremely solid. For the
construction of the fence wall you can use a rock, such as granite, syenite,
basalt, porphyry and quartzite - they are non-absorbent, frost-resistant. The hard sandstone is also quite
resistant, but this stone also has many types of porous, more susceptible to
mechanical damage, biological corrosion and less resistant to weather
conditions. Also when deciding on
limestone, let's choose its hard varieties. Let's
also pay attention to the material processing, preferably when it is splitted
or unpolished, because in this form it is the most durable. Soft limestone varieties are porous
and easily damaged and degraded under the influence of atmospheric conditions. They also overlap with not always the
desired patina. In order to
prolong the durability of the wall with stones easily soaked with water, it is
worth impregnating them with special preparations preventing the penetration of
moisture, as well as protecting against algae and moss.It is most convenient to
brick fences made of hewn stones with a shape similar to a rectangular prism.
Gabions. This is quite a new solution for house
fencing. They create a modular
system (we buy it in elements-modules) composed of baskets made of a steel
galvanized mesh filled with stones or other materials. Gabion baskets are placed on leveled
ground and only then fill. The
structure is very durable, because it is made of concretes or bolts connected
to the ground, respectively connected with a galvanized net. The most frequently used stones for
gabion fillings are stones: they can be hewn into regular blocks, large or
smaller pebbles, as well as broken stone. More
and more often, the gabions are filled with wooden elements, glass or ceramics,
eg with demolition materials or after the renovation of the house.
Brick fence. Bricks, poles and fencing foundations
rise from the brick. Due to their
durability and aesthetic qualities, facing and clinker facing bricks are
increasingly used. Clinker bricks
are the most durable. These
materials are also characterized by low water absorption - clinker below 6%,
brickwork facing up to 9%. Thanks
to these parameters, clinker bricks and facing bricks do not absorb water that
can freeze and disintegrate bricks, so they do not crumble and have a lasting,
effective color. They are
available in many colors: in many shades of red and brown, gray, yellow, to
bricks, anthracite, white, green or blue. There
are also melange bricks (shaded) available in very different combinations of
colors. The surface of the bricks
can be smooth or textured (grooved, brackish, split / hammered). Some manufacturers in their offer have
special bricks with an aged surface, reminiscent of the appearance of an old
brick. In addition to bricks with
a standard shape, each manufacturer offers a selection of many patterns of
fittings that eventually allow to create a fence with an individual appearance,
perfectly matching the home and harmonizing with the surroundings. A wide range of clinker and façade
products should satisfy even the most demanding investor. Fences made of clinker or veneered
bricks will also not give us renovations and troublesome maintenance. Such fences are very durable - we
still see old brick fences from the past centuries. Both clinker bricks and facing bricks
are 100% ecological products - they are made of high-quality clay, safe for
health and the environment. A
fence made of solid facing and clinker brick gives us a sense of security. It is also an effective barrier to
noise, so it is worth using them on properties located on busy streets.
Artificial stone and
clinker. Instead of expensive
clinker or stone, you can use concrete elements that mimic these
materials.Artificial clinker is made of natural ingredients based on cement and
sand. Their advantage is not only
faithful reproduction of colors and textures of clinker, but also relatively
good durability - it is a material resistant to mechanical damage, frost and
moisture, and its colors do not fade under the influence of UV rays. The super-economical version,
replacing bricks, is cladding tiles imitating clinker, made of various cement
mixtures, quartz sand and dispersion resins. They
can have different face dimensions and a thickness of 9-11 mm . In
addition to the basic plates, corners are usually available. Stone elements - most often sandstone,
river stone or erratic - can be imitated by tiles made of cement and mineral
aggregates, such as granite, mica or marble. The
elevating technical parameters and their aesthetics are added to plasticizers,
binders and dyes. The fencing
wall finished with such tiles must necessarily be impregnated, because it is a
material that is absorbent.
Metal fences. Traditional steel nets fastened to
metal posts are now being replaced by fences made of steel or aluminum
panels.These are complete fencing systems made of finished panels of different
heights (from over 60 cm to over 2 m )
and widths (2-3 m ). They are very durable and provide a
high level of stiffness. They are
fastened to steel posts, sometimes in the set are also transversely mounted at
the top and bottom angles. The
panels have a modern, simple style, nothing resembling a traditional grid. Panels do not have to be painted
anymore. They are made of
galvanized wires and protected against corrosion by PVC coating. They have a green, anthracite, black
and white colors, or you can order them to be painted in any RAL color. The posts are also galvanized inside
and outside, and then coated with polyester powder. It is possible to buy wing or sliding
entry gates to the fence, they have the same filling as fencing elements. Thanks to the few accessories
necessary for assembly, this system is fast and does not require professional
preparation. With wooden
elements. The shape and method of
finishing wooden elements is usually very simple. They are made of wooden rungs, werches
or horizontally placed boards (lumber). The
construction of fences often uses elements from fairly cheap pine, fir, spruce,
alder or aspen wood. Less
expensive is used more expensive ash, elm, acacia, oak and larch wood, although
it is harder and more resistant to weather conditions. Only bars are often made of larch
wood, and the filling elements are already of lower quality. Fences can also be made of ready-made
wooden spans and panels. The
panels consist of a wooden frame filled with wooden slats. The dimensions of the panels are
usually (height, width) 180x180 cm, 180x120 cm, 180x90 cm. You can also buy panels of less
typical dimensions, e.g. 150x180 cm, 100x180 cm. They are usually made of pine, spruce,
planed wood, they are usually impregnated with pressure, so they do not have to
be additionally secured, they are also more durable. They can be straight or arched, full,
openwork only at the top or in full. Blind
panels are also available - their slats are mounted at an acute angle.
Two separate gates are a
more energy-efficient solution than one large photo by WIŚNIOWSKI
Two separate gates are a
more energy-efficient solution than one large photo by WIŚNIOWSKI
ENTRY GATE
Types of gates. It can be slidable or openable. The choice of the type depends
primarily on the size of the plot and how much space there is in the driveway. When it is shallow and the driveway is
short, it is only possible to install a sliding gate, when the plot is deep,
and a long driveway, you can choose a single-or double-leaf hinged gate. Sliding gates dominate on small town
plots. They are usually built
from one wing, which moves on the guides, therefore, to mount them, it is
necessary to place a fence along the fence. The
gate is secured by two pillars - one holds it vertically and the other protects
the sash against slipping out of the guide. Sliding
gates can be made of rail - then the gate leaf moves on rollers along a rail
placed in the surface. A
self-supporting gate is a much more convenient solution - the wing has a
counterweight and moves several centimeters above the surface of the driveway. This type of gate will be appreciated
especially in winter, when the wing does not contact the icy or snowy driveway.
Automatic drive. This is already the standard today. It is not only convenient, but also
economical. The gate opens with
the remote control and we will not have to get out of the car to open it
manually. Therefore, we do not
need to extinguish and run the car engine every few minutes, which contributes
to saving fuel and producing less exhaust. The
drives are supplied with alternating voltage of 230 V or 24 V DC. You can also
use a battery drive - this is a solution for people who want to save
electricity, especially because there are already available battery drives that
allow the use of solar energy.
The wing gates mainly
use cylinders with a screw or telescopic drive. In sliding - mainly gearmotor with a
built-in programmer.Their work is usually controlled by the pilot. It sends a radio signal to the control
center, which transmits it to the actuators that control the movement of the
gate.
Clinker pavement can be
used to lay the terrace surface and stairs, as well as paths and driveways.
GARAGE DOOR
Types. When choosing a garage door, we take
into account, above all, such criteria as safety, good technical parameters,
durability and functionality. Deciding
on the oldest traditional type of gate, i.e. a hinged gate, we must provide 1- 1.5 m of free space for open wings. Therefore, on a more and more common
smaller properties, a sectional or rolling gate is selected, a slightly more
space needs an open swing gate wing (0.5-1 m ). It
floats up and hides under the ceiling. The
sectional door opens up or to the side, and its armor moves on the guides. In turn, the armor of the roller door
is hidden in the cassette on the outside or is wound on a shaft placed above
the garage ceiling.
Aesthetics. Since garages are most often now built
into the house, modern garage doors are designed with the architecture of the
building in mind. You can buy
them together with external doors. We
can easily match them to the style of the house. Both very modern gates are available -
economical in form, with colors and patterns in line with the latest trends, as
well as those matching the traditional architecture, eg with rustic patterns. These from reputable manufacturers are
made of durable high quality materials, they do not fade when exposed to
sunlight or rain.
Security. The garage door should also be a
difficult place to cross for intruders, which is why it is more and more often
equipped with a class C burglar lock. Security is also facilitated by the
opening of the gate to the remote control.
By combining various
types of paving stones, we can create interesting compositions and designate
specific zones in the garden.
The materials produced
today for the surface of terraces, balconies and driveways have been adapted to
their function. Many of them can
be used in each of these places, others have limitations - they are intended
only for terraces or balconies. The
advantage of modern materials for the surface around the house is also their
aesthetic side - we easily choose them for the style of the house and the
nature of the garden.
Clinker pavement. It is an excellent material for driveways
and terraces set on the ground. It
has the same properties as other clinker elements: it is very durable, has high
strength parameters, is resistant to weather conditions, and in addition is a
fully ecological material (fired from clay and clean rinsed sand without
artificial admixtures and dyes). It
has four times higher strength than concrete pavement and the highest class of
resistance to abrasion, so it does not fade, does not rub off, does not lose
color. After laying, it does not
require additional care. It is
most often used for laying pavement on driveways, sidewalks, garden paths, as a
foundation for garden arbors and on terraces laid on the ground, as well as for
the construction of stairs or other elements of garden architecture related to
the surface. The basic elements
of the pavement are bricks or cubes. As
a standard, they can be 45 or 52
mm thick (71, 40 or 50 mm thickness is also found ) and dimensions 20x10 cm (22x10 or
50x50 cm are also met). A clinker
brick is a very versatile material, and its rectangular shape is perfect for
creating many attractive designs, because the paver has several different
surfaces to use, both vertically and horizontally. Separate curbs or edgings are not
required. Because the clinker
brick is uniformly colored throughout the entire cross-section, it can be cut
freely. Brick paving has a
slightly rough surface - thanks to it it is non-slip and therefore safe. As for the colors, the clinker bricks
are available in shades of red, brown, yellow and even graphite; as uniform color or shaded products. Although these materials are
relatively expensive, they are more and more eagerly chosen by investors due to
their strength parameters, low susceptibility to damage and interesting
arrangement possibilities. Clinker
pavement is a natural complement to the home environment, whose façade or some
elements are made using clinker bricks or other natural materials. It looks very aesthetically both on
large surfaces and in small arrangements.
Granite cubes. Surfaces made of granite blocks are
very durable, resistant to damage, fully ecological (natural product). They give a unique character, they
work great on large surfaces or are a very effective complement to the
arrangement for the surface of clinker pavement or concrete cobblestones. They are versatile when it comes to
the possibility of combining them with other surface materials, very often used
by garden designers and the home environment, both in modern and traditional
styles.
Concrete cubes and
boards. They have good technical
properties - made of concrete of the appropriate density are durable and
resistant to mechanical damage, in which they do not give way even to stone
elements. You can choose
rectangular, square or pie segments. Particularly
functional on the terraces are elements with a width of 40-50 cm - you can conveniently set garden
furniture on them. A very
practical novelty are cubes and plates with rinsed surface enriched with
elements of precious aggregates, which increases the non-slip properties of the
elements. Concrete pavements are
less durable than those made of clinker paving stones or granite blocks, but
they are cheaper and at the same time equally aesthetic. The offer available on the market is
wide both in terms of color and variety of shapes. In addition to cubes in standard
shades of gray, red, brown or yellow, shaded cubes are created creating unique
melanges after proper arrangement.
For water saving
The garage door can be
lit by fitting the luminaires in the lintel above the gates or under the canopy
eaves.
Wooden elements. They are used on terraces and
balconies, including those that are not roofed. In this role, exotic wood and the
national termodrewno, that is species growing in Poland thermally processed, will be
perfect. This product has increased resistance to moisture, biological
corrosion and UV radiation. Wooden
decking boards may have different cross-sections, e.g. 19x90, 21x120 or 45x145
mm. In addition to terrace boards
on balconies or terraces on the second floor, ready-made modular panels of
various shapes and sizes are readily used, which can be quickly mounted on a
carrying grid with the help of the catches placed on them. For the sake of user safety, it is
best to use grooved elements, i.e. with grooves grooved along the board - they
are non-slip. Species to be laid
in these places must be hard, with a low shrinkage ratio - this condition is
best met by exotic wood: afromosia, badi, bangkirai, cumaru, grapia, ipe,
massaranduba.
Modern ceramics. On terraces and balconies, gres tiles
are eagerly used. Their
absorbability is below 3%, they are frost-proof, they also have an IV or V
abrasion class, so that they do not wipe. The
advantage of gres is also the hardness, thanks to which the tiles are durable
and resistant to scratches. When
choosing stoneware, we should also pay attention to its non-slip properties, it
is marked with the symbol R9-R13 - the higher the numerical value, the better
the anti-slip properties.
PATH OF ENERGY SAVING
Light sources
Good lighting of the
property is necessary for practical reasons - properly lit entrance and terrace
zone gives us a sense of security, it also allows us to enjoy the garden, for
example on long summer evenings.
- Good garden lighting
does not have to be very expensive. Just
plan them well. Circuits should
have separate switches, which will allow illumination of the selected area of the property without switching on
all connected lighting circuits. Not
all lamps must work at all times and with the same intensity - use lighting
that allows you to adjust the light intensity.
- To illuminate the
property, choose such sources of light that will save our finances and the
environment. A good solution is,
for example, LED lamps - certainly the most modern and the most energy-saving. They light about 30-50 thousand. hours. LED lamps with a power of 7 W are
equivalent to 40 watt tungsten bulbs. They
also emit very little heat, they give light without UV radiation. They work perfectly outdoors because
they are resistant to both high and low temperatures.
- Metahalts are also
used for the luminaires mounted on the property. They shine 5-10 thousand. hours, and their light color is
similar to natural. They work
well as spot lighting. For
luminaires it is worth to use the twilight sensor and motion sensor. Lamps will turn on automatically in
specific situations. The first
one will work in the garden lighting, the second one should be used in the
entrance zone, for example on the platform and driveway - it will only turn on
when movement is detected in its zone.
- To save energy, let us
also pay attention to the choice of lighting fixtures - energy wastage
generates, for example, luminaires emitting light into the sky.
