AG MILLWORKS BLOG Looking for project inspiration, before and afters, FAQs, and expert advice? You've come to the right place! Explore the blog to learn more about our folding, sliding, and swing door systems. |
Monday, December 09 2024
As homeowners, we often ask ourselves how we can elevate our living spaces. One of the best ways to start is by replacing your doors and windows. In this blog, we will explore a case study of a beautiful California dream house that features a variety of luxury doors from AG Millworks. Each door offers unique benefits, enhancing both functionality and style. Remember, every room in your home plays a key role in your daily activities, so it's essential to consider your family's traffic patterns and optimize the space for the best possible flow and sense of spaciousness. Multi-Sliding Doors
Multi-sliding doors are ideal for backyards, particularly for families that love entertaining. They are easy to operate and perfect for homes with pools, allowing guests to move in and out effortlessly. Sliding doors also offer a clear view of the yard, so you can enjoy your company whether you're indoors or outdoors. Their simple design ensures a smooth traffic flow, making them perfect for entertaining and enhancing the connection between indoor and outdoor spaces. Sliding Door Elevation View:
Styling Choices:
Multi-Sliding Pocketed Window Pocketing your windows creates a picturesque frame from the outside in. AG Millworks Sliding Windows, made from either all wood or clad, are not only durable but also provide an incredible amount of natural light. These windows are perfect for brightening up a room and showcasing your beautiful interiors. Imagine enjoying a brilliantly lit space with a view of the outdoors in any season. These windows meet Title 24 compliance, ensuring you can enjoy them year-round. Their durable construction includes glass designed to protect you from harsh weather. Pocketed Sliding Window Elevation View:
Styling Choices:
Create a Resort-Style Home with Sliding Doors and Windows As illustrated by this image, combining both sliding doors and sliding windows creates a stunning architectural feature that is sure to impress. When designing your windows and doors, it's important to think about optimizing the space to create a sanctuary where you can relax. Incorporating elements that elevate your home will give your home a resort-style feel. Key features that contribute to this lifestyle include ambient light, fresh air, and picturesque views that frame the outdoors. Imagine living in a piece of art, where your gardens are beautifully framed within your home by maximizing wall space with expansive views. Don't limit yourself to just one view—extend it throughout your space. By incorporating a combination of sliding doors and windows, you add depth and create a cohesive, breathtaking environment. French Swing Pair French swing doors are the epitome of classic door design, offering a timeless aesthetic that exudes romance. In this sitting room, French doors were selected to impart a sense of sophistication, ideal for entertaining guests and creating a welcoming ambiance. Unlike sliding doors, which move horizontally, French swing doors operate with an inward or outward motion. In this instance, the doors swing outward, enhancing the room's grandeur from within. This approach is an excellent alternative when pocketing doors is not feasible due to architectural constraints. Another notable feature is the fabulous fixed sidelites, which create a more expansive view from the inside out. These large side panels, positioned adjacent to the door, bring in additional light and serve as a striking visual accent. The fixed sidelites perfectly complement the French swing doors in this project, enhancing both the aesthetic appeal and the sense of openness. French doors, distinguished by their glass centers, should not be confused with swing doors typically made from solid wood. These French doors feature large glass panels that mirror the visually expansive quality of the sliding doors seen in the adjacent room. Maintaining consistent design motifs across various door styles, even when colors differ, is crucial for achieving a well-balanced aesthetic. Enhancing their timeless aesthetic and romantic appeal, these French swing doors feature Simulated Divided Lites (SDL). This energy-efficient design replicates the look of authentic divided lites, with SDL bars permanently adhered to both sides of the glass, adding depth that closely resembles true divided lites. This modern element refreshes the luxury patio door's appearance, seamlessly blending classic charm with a contemporary design. French Swing Pair Elevation View:
Styling Choices:
Bi-fold Door & Window Combo One of the best design decisions in this home was the bi-fold door and window combination in the master bedroom. This choice was particularly ideal for the narrow space, given the architectural limitations. Let's explore the details and the solutions they implemented. While AG Millworks Bi-fold door and window combinations are typically found in kitchens—where the window functions as a server window and the bi-fold serves as a patio door—this innovative solution was ideal for this bedroom. Why? Upon closer inspection, the roofline takes up part of what would otherwise be uninterrupted ocean views. Given the narrow space and architectural constraints, a fully pocketed sliding unit was not an option, nor was a French swing door due to the lack of space for the door to swing. The optimal architectural solution was to design a window that opens into an expansive bi-fold door, maximizing the coastal views without interruption. Let's delve into the architectural details of this ingenious design. Consider this ingenious architectural feature: the half wall leading to the window cleverly covers the roofline, while the window itself offers a stunning view of the coastline. It even makes the deck appear wider than it actually is, creating a win-win situation. The beauty of a bi-fold door lies in its ability to provide expansive views without the need for pocketing, enhancing the resort-like lifestyle that permeates the entire home design. Cohesive style motifs are essential in any upscale design, and the goal for this project was to seamlessly bring the outside in. Bifold Door & Window Combo Elevation View: (exterior view)
Style Choices:
Enhancing your living spaces can significantly impact your daily life, and upgrading your doors and windows is a great way to start. By exploring the case study of a beautiful California dream house featuring luxury doors from AG Millworks, we've seen how thoughtful design choices can elevate both functionality and style. Remember, by considering your family's traffic patterns and optimizing space, you can create a home that flows seamlessly and feels more spacious, ultimately bringing the outside in and achieving a resort-style living experience. Tuesday, November 26 2024
Screen Options Carried by AG Millworks for Luxury Patio Doors Have you ever wondered what types of screens are designed for luxury patio or entryway doors? In this blog, we'll explore industry insights and the available options for beautiful, seamless screens in luxury homes. At AG Millworks, we offer two options that suit most door types and homes: the Brio Accordion Retractable Screen and the Centor Flat Retractable Screen. Brio Retractable Accordion Screen Brio Retractable Accordion Screens are great for their simple, yet functional, design, easy operation, and excellent insect protection. The pleated screen mess neatly folds in like an accordion into an enclosed compartment embedded into the door jamb.
•Screens are fully installed in the jamb and available up to 30’ x 10’6” with double screens Centor Flat Screen & Shade The flat screen and shades come pre-installed in the factory and seamlessly roll into an encasement that is embedded into the door jamb. Available as a full screen, full shade or as a shade/screen combo.
Light Filtering Shades For Centor
Tuscany Shell
Boston Cloud
Tuscany Egret
Screen Mesh
Screens and shades are essential for your patio door because they enhance privacy, control natural light, and protect against insects, all while seamlessly blending with your home's aesthetic. Wednesday, October 23 2024
Bi-fold doors have become a popular choice in modern home design due to their unique blend of practicality and style. Interior Designer, Jeff Hines from Cyril Group Design, exemplifies their transformative potential through his work on an early 1900s Mediterranean-style home. Hines remodeled this historic home by incorporating custom bi-fold doors to open up the narrow kitchen. The Vision Hines’ vision preserved the home’s historical integrity while enhancing its flow with modern bi-fold doors. Crafted from Accoya wood, these doors feature a striking contrast: white on the inside to match the kitchen and a custom turquoise on the outside to complement the historic fenestration. When stacked neatly to the side, the doors connect the interior with the exterior spaces. Bi-fold doors offer a unique blend of practicality and style, making them an ideal choice for modern home design. As Jeff Hines explains, “It was a combination of thoughts, providing a solution that opened up the kitchen to the back garden and complemented the existing exterior design. We also appreciated the custom opportunities with AG Millworks.”
Enhancing Accessibility and Flow"I wanted to ensure the new space complemented the existing home without feeling too modern," Hines explained. "Growing up in Hawaii and Southern California, I’ve always appreciated the seamless blend of interior and exterior spaces. I also love natural light and windows or doors that extend from floor to ceiling", J.H.
When asked about the kitchen flow, architect Jeff Hines knew precisely how the bi-folds would influence traffic in the small kitchen. He explains, "I pulled the cabinets away from the exterior wall and created an island to allow for full-height windows and doors. I also like to study the view into the kitchen from various vantage points—outside, sitting at the island, and sitting in the dining room. With these views in mind, we hid most of the large appliances behind cabinet doors. I also prefer access and multiple paths into and around a kitchen, which supported the island and folding door concepts," says Jeff Hines. Overcoming Structural Challenges
Every remodeling project comes with its own set of challenges. For Hines, the biggest challenge was the structural scope. "The existing kitchen had columns approximately 2 feet in from the exterior wall that supported the second story. Our vision required removing and relocating these columns, which involved installing new steel beams, footings, and columns. This allowed us to create a cleaner, rectangular space for the design," Hines noted.
Innovative Design FeaturesBi-fold doors are known for their accordion-style bellows, which allow them to stack neatly to the side. This innovative system makes these doors both practical and stylish, especially for homes that lack the structural integrity for fully pocketed doors. As Hines described, bi-fold doors "provide a solution that opens up the kitchen to the back garden and complements the existing exterior design."
As shown in Hines' project, adding Simulated Divided Lites (SDLs) to the bi-folds helped integrate them seamlessly with the home's existing fenestration, maintaining the historical integrity of the structure while introducing modern functionality. The inclusion of a "man door" in the bi-fold system adds another layer of convenience. This door swings on hinges, allowing for easy entry and exit without the need to open the entire bi-fold, making it ideal for day-to-day use. Additionally, a second handle towards the center of the door helps push the panel out to accordion and slide to the center, providing easier usage.
In conclusion, Hines considered other options but found that custom bi-fold doors were best suited to integrate with the home’s historical fenestration. He noted, “Having custom options made it much easier to design the folding doors that would complement the existing adjacent doors and windows and meet the historical review requirements. The folding doors at first glance appear similar to the existing doors in the dining room; not until they are opened do guests realize they are bi-folding. It makes for a nice surprise.” This project showcases how bi-fold doors can transform small rooms into expansive spaces while maintaining a home’s historical charm. Explore the benefits of bi-fold doors and discover how they can elevate your living space to new heights. Designer: Jeff Hines, Cyril Group Design Thursday, September 12 2024
Pivot doors, the epitome of contemporary design, are revolutionizing the way we perceive entry doors. Unlike traditional hinged doors, pivot entry doors bring a fresh, sophisticated look to your living space. In this blog post, we delve into the unique features and customization options that make pivot doors the ideal choice for those looking to elevate their home’s aesthetic.
Notable Customization Options for Pivot Doors Elegant Hardware: The FritsJurgens M+32 self-closing System offers precision engineering for any size pivot door, allowing for a smooth, controlled closure with fully adjustable speed and latching options. Its hidden mechanism ensures a seamless, modern aesthetic without sacrificing functionality, providing an effortless user experience while enhancing the door’s sleek design. Perfect for both residential and commercial spaces.
The FritsJurgens System One features a free-swing pivot door system that allows for effortless, smooth motion without a hold or close position. This versatile system is ideal for creating fluid transitions between spaces while maintaining a clean, modern aesthetic. Fully concealed within the door, System One provides maximum design flexibility, supporting doors of various sizes and materials while ensuring a seamless appearance with no visible hardware.
The Dorma LM Series Free Swing System delivers exceptional ease of use with its smooth, unobstructed swing function. Designed for both elegance and performance, this system allows doors to open effortlessly in both directions while remaining seamlessly integrated into the door frame. Ideal for high-traffic areas, the Dorma LM Series combines durability with a sleek, modern look, ensuring reliable operation and enhanced user comfort. The Ghostop Magnet Catch enhances the functionality of free swing hardware by providing a discreet and effective solution for door hold. When integrated with free swing systems, it allows the door to remain in an open position without drifting, thanks to the magnetic hold. This feature ensures that the door stays in place when opened and closes softly and securely when released. The Ghostop Magnet Catch is ideal for maintaining a clean, unobtrusive look while offering practical benefits in high-traffic or frequently used areas.
Monday, August 26 2024
What is a Thermal Break?Imagine your door frame acting like a highway for heat. When it's hot outside, the heat zooms right through the metal into your cool interior, and vice versa. A thermal break is like a roadblock on that highway. It’s a barrier of low thermal conductivity material inserted between the door's aluminum metal components. This clever design slows down the heat transfer, keeping your indoor temperature stable. Thermal breaks prove highly effective in AG Millworks Bi-fold and Multi-Sliding systems, particularly when there's a notable temperature contrast between indoors and outdoors. These breaks play a crucial role in reducing the U-factor, to meet Title 24 prescriptive compliance.
Why Should You Care About Thermal Breaks?1. Saving Heat Heat tends to escape through doors, especially if they’re made of aluminum metal. Aluminum, being a great conductor, lets heat travel quickly. Without a thermal break, your door could be letting out (or letting in) more heat than you'd like. By inserting a thermal break, you significantly cut down this heat loss, making your building more energy-efficient. 2. Preventing Condensation Have you ever noticed frost or condensation on the inside of your door during winter? That’s because the cold outside seeps through the aluminum, making the inside surface cold too. When warm indoor air hits this cold surface, it cools down and releases moisture, leading to condensation. Over time, this moisture can cause water damage. Thermal breaks help prevent this by keeping the inside surface of the door closer to the indoor temperature. The Big BenefitsUsing doors with thermal breaks comes with a bunch of perks:
Thermal breaks are not just a technical detail; they are a significant upgrade to your building's overall performance. By opting for thermally broken doors, you’re making a smart investment in energy efficiency, comfort, and long-term savings.
Thursday, June 06 2024
For those who find moving large doors challenging due to medical reasons, AG Millworks ensures accessibility for everyone. Our solutions cater to individuals with limited mobility, making door operation effortless. In this blog, we'll introduce the Lift and Slide handle, designed for multi-sliding door units. This innovative hardware moves even the largest doors with a gentle touch. We also offer automated sliding doors that open and close at the push of a button, thanks to a built-in mechanism. Additionally, our ADA Sill and Stainless Steele Recessed Track is designed with a narrow profile to accommodate wheelchair users, preventing them from getting stuck. Let's explore the benefits of these features and how they enhance accessibility and convenience. Lift & Slide Handle Set At AG Millworks, we consider accessibility and inclusivity, which is why our Rocky Mountain Hardware handle set for Lift & Slide Doors is designed to assist individuals with mobility challenges. Combining functionality with aesthetic appeal, these handles feature a sleek, flush pull design that allows for easy grip without protruding from the door surface, ensuring a seamless and streamlined look. Engineered for smooth operation, they facilitate effortless gliding of large panel doors, providing convenience and accessibility to all. Crafted from durable bronze, they not only enhance security and longevity, but also offer peace of mind for both residential and commercial applications. With a simple nudge of a finger, this innovative handle set can move entire walls.
Automation by Summit Operate Your Multi-Slide Patio Door System with a Click of a ButtonAG Millworks and Summit Automation have partnered to provide a reliable automation solution for multi-slide patio door systems, ensuring seamless and quiet operation. AG Millworks manages the essential millwork preparation, while Summit Automation supplies the motor, equipment, device installation, and comprehensive support. Discover this innovative technology designed with accessibility in mind. Understanding the needs of individuals with disabilities, medical issues, and mobility challenges, this automated door solution is perfect for both smart-home constructions and existing setups. Experience the benefits of this inclusive upgrade:
Stainless Steel Recessed Track (designed for Multi-Slide Door Units)
The AG Millworks recessed track system for Multi-Slide doors, crafted from premium heavy-gauge stainless steel, offers an excellent solution for individuals using wheelchairs or mobility devices. This customized configuration ensures durability and smooth operation, enhancing accessibility for those with mobility challenges. ADA Ultra Guide (for Bi-fold & French Swing Systems)
At AG Millworks, we prioritize accessibility and innovation, ensuring everyone can enjoy our doors. The Lift and Slide handle, automated sliding doors, and ADA Sill exemplify our commitment to inclusivity and convenience. These features make daily living more comfortable and enjoyable. Discover how our solutions enhance your home with effortless operation and elegance. Stay tuned for more insights on our dedication to accessibility and quality. Friday, May 17 2024
AG Millworks Glass Doors AG Millworks has been committed to providing exceptional glass for our large patio glass doors since 1986. With decades of innovation and continuous evolution in the art of glass design, you are sure to find more than what you expect. Let's start with the composition of our glass. Argon gas is used between glass lites to ensure insulation, helping your door meet Title 24 Prescriptive Compliance and energy efficiency standards as certified by the NFRC (National Fenestration Rating Council). Our various glass options include clear, tinted, laminated, and etched. Now, let's explore stylish customization to elevate your door's aesthetics. Glass Stop Choices:
Glass stops not only secure the glass pane in place but also provide a sleek, finished look while enhancing the door's insulation and protection. Here are our 3 Glass stop options. Choosing the right stop depends on your existing architectural style.
Bevel Square Ovolo Lite Options:
AG Millworks offers lite options tailored to your design needs, whether you prefer TDL True Divided Lite, SDL Simulated Divided Lite, or Intermediate Rails. Lites are ideal for homes with traditional elements, providing a beautiful way to blend modern doors with timeless aesthetics, maintaining your home's stylistic integrity. SDL simplifies the division of a large glass lite without the need for individual cutouts, offering a contemporary take on the sought-after "cottage" look. Intermediate Rail is particularly suited for creating striking aesthetics on Pivot Doors.
Expanding Your Custom Folding Glass Doors Fixed Side Lite
Max Width & Height 96” x 120” Fixed side lites consist of glass panels positioned alongside a main door, serving as decorative elements rather than functional openings. They enhance the appearance of the door unit, providing a more spacious and inviting ambiance. Transoms
Bifold Glass Door, Sliding Glass Door, and French Door Combination Our innovative transoms are handcrafted to match your folding glass door system without the risk of deflection. We can also build transoms to match the ones already in your home. AG Mllworks makes crafting your ideal door a breeze. Discover broad possibilities and enhance your dream entryway today. In our upcoming blog, we'll delve into the mechanical hardware options available.
Wednesday, April 24 2024
AG Millworks Sill Options Selecting the appropriate mechanisms for your door can feel overwhelming. In this blog, we'll explore the technical complexities behind crafting an ideal door. Let's start by dissecting the frame, which comprises the head jamb, leg jamb, and the essential sill. At AG Millworks, we understand the individuality of each home and the necessity for tailored sill options to address specific requirements. Bifold Sills
ShootBolt Channel guide:
Unique Winged Design:
Available in ADA Ultra Guide
Multi-Slide Sills
SILLution Sliding Door Threshold Our Sliding Door System comes standard with our SILLution threshold made from heavy-duty extruded aluminum, providing a flat and smooth surface so doors slide with ease. Stainless Steel Recessed Track The AG Millworks recessed track system for Multi-Slide Doors is made of premium quality heavy-gauge stainless steel welded into a customized configuration. AG Millworks makes crafting your ideal door a breeze. Discover broad possibilities and enhance your dream entryway today. In our upcoming blog, we'll delve into door handles. Tuesday, April 23 2024
Personalizing your AG Millworks Patio Door is simple. Locate a nearby dealer and inquire about the ease of ordering and customizing using our innovative Configurator System. Customizing your door is just a click away, with a wide array of options to match different style preferences. Each made-to-order unit is pre-built, inspected, and fully assembled in-house, simplifying the installation process and conserving your valuable time and money. Stile Options Personalize the look of your door with three stile options: each offers a unique aesthetic.
Slimline 2-1/2" Euro 3-7/16" Traditional 4-3/4" Material Options: Clad, aluminum on the exterior and wood on the interior for a sleek, modern aesthetic, ideal for trend-conscious individuals. With 18 wood species, Clad is especially suitable for those who frequently change interior paint colors. All clad door systems have LVL cores for dimensional stability and 3/16" thick veneer skins. We recommend Basswood, known for its refined smooth texture for an exceptional paint finish. The paint used on AG Millworks' doors is AMMA Certified #2605 (500, 70% Kynar), ensuring long-lasting durability and beauty. Additionally, all AG Millworks Clad products include a 10-year limited warranty. All-Wood Options are available.
AG Millworks makes crafting your ideal door a breeze. Discover limitless possibilities and enhance your dream entryway today. In our upcoming blog, we'll delve into sill options. Thursday, April 11 2024
So, you've decided it's time to upgrade your patio doors. But, with so many options out there, how do you know which one is right for you? At AG Millworks, we offer a variety of door types to suit every architectural style and functional need. Let's explore each type and see how it fits into different spaces. Bi-Fold Doors and Windows:
Multi-Slide Patio Doors
Lift & Slide Doors:
French Swing Doors:
Pivot Doors:
In our next blog post, we'll dive into the extensive customization options available for AG Millworks Doors, ensuring your doors become the centerpiece of your home's aesthetic. Stay tuned for an exploration of how our doors can transform your living space into something truly extraordinary. |
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