42 | SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS Optimal Windows Sue Russell Wooden joinery staging a renaissance Not all wood is suitable for joinery, says Sam Burges, of Optimal Windows. “We use Western Red Cedar from Canada and thermally modified Radiata Pine.” Window shopping for a sustainable home? Talk to one of our expert Passive House designers: hello@context.nz Call: 09 358 0140 www.context.nz Passive House 01 02 03 04 05 01 03 04 Winter Summer 02 05 Some 20km north of Kerikeri, Sam Burges operates a thriving window-joinery business which began its life in a farm wool-shed about 15 years ago. Today, a new purpose-built workshop is about to be extended. Sam is one of a very small group of window manufacturers that traces its beginnings back to what is common-practice in many parts of Europe. “We had a little bit of a slow start when we began but it coincided with growing interest in double-glazing and the benefits that come from building doors and window-frames using smart-technologies and wood as the building medium,” Sam says. The market Optimal Windows serves is higher-end, architecturally designed homes where clients want to create striking design. “Some of our market is people who want wooden windows and there are other clients who want the best performance. We work in both markets.” Aesthetically there’s something really appealing about wood surrounding glass or as a door. Sam says the overwhelming majority of clients choose wood because they want the grain to be seen, rather than painted over. Wooden joinery ties a design to earlier eras of construction, particularly in Europe. “There’s something very appealing about wood but not all wood is suitable for joinery. They have to be durable and stable and New Zealand doesn’t have a lot of native species that are suitable. We use Western Red Cedar from Canada and thermally modified Radiata Pine.” Sam’s also pleased to see that standards for windows in New Zealand are changing. Come November this year they will have to meet or exceed a thermal performance standard. “Then that standard is increasing again next year and I welcome this. In terms of design is the potential to use thicker timber suitable for triple glazing.” In terms of individual design Sam works with a window engineer who assesses the value of the joinery, separate from the performance of the glazing that will be fitted into it. “He uses thermal performance standards aligned to Passive Houses, so we are well prepared for any improvements in building code standards.” Today Optimal Windows is supplying more into the Passive industry. Demand for their windows and doors is soaring however Sam says at this time he and the team haven’t turned any work down. “We’re pretty chocka. We know it’s quite a milestone for people when their windows and doors arrive. It’s the beginning of the home feeling closed in and getting closer to completion, so we work very hard to deliver our windows and doors on time.” Wooden joinery does require ongoing maintenance to keep it in pristine condition. Often customers choose to regularly oil the wood, to feed the timber and keep the grain alive. And finding new staff isn’t easy at this time, however Sam says those who are drawn to working with timber as craftsmen are out there. “We’ve just employed a builder who is actually overqualified but he just wanted to work with this medium in the ways we do and be part of a team building bespoke, beautifully designed and engineered windows and doors. They take real pride in that achievement.”
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