5) a) What are the various types of Windows used in a house? What are the functions of windows?

 In continuation with the earlier article on ‘the various stages in construction of a house’, after external finishes of a house we will go for the installation of door and window frames.

In this article we will be discussing on the various types of windows used in a house

At PKC Realtors, we install windows as per the client’s requirement. Some of them are discussed below.

Types of Windows:

In general selection of windows depends on the following factors-

• Location of the room
• Size of the room
• Direction of the wind
• Climatic conditions
• Utility of the room
• Architecture of the room

There are many varieties of windows available in the market

Below are some of them-

• Fixed Windows:

• Fixed windows are fixed to the wall without any closing or opening operation
• In general, they are provided to transmit the light into the room
• Fully glazed shutters are fixed to the window frame
• The shutters provided are generally weatherproof

• Awning Windows:

• An awning window is hinged on its top edge, so that it opens upwards and out
• Awning windows commonly are paired with large picture windows and placed along bottom, sides, or top of the picture window to provide ventilation
• They can also be installed above doors
• Because they open out, awning windows are not recommended near walkways 

• Sliding Windows:

• In this case, window shutters are movable in the frame
• The movement may be horizontal or vertical based on our requirements
• The movement of shutters is done by the provision of roller bearings

• Single Hung and Double Windows:

• These are the most common and familiar window types
• The only difference between them is that single-hung has a movable lower sash and a fixed upper sash, while double-hung has two movable sashes; the upper sash slides down
• The main advantage of double-hung windows is somewhat better ventilation
• With both sashes opened about halfway, air naturally flows in through the lower opening and out through the upper opening

• Pivoted Windows:

• In this type of windows, pivots are provided to window frames
• Pivot is a shaft which helps to oscillate the shutter 
• The swinging may either horizontal or vertical based on the position of pivots.

• Louvered Windows:

• Louvered windows are provided for the ventilation without any outside vision
• The louvers may be made of wood, glass or metal
• Louvers can also be folded by provision of cord over pulleys
• Generally, they are provided for bathrooms, toilets and privacy places etc.,

• Casement Windows:

• Casement windows are the widely used and common windows nowadays
• The shutters are attached to frame and these can be opened and closed like door shutters
• The panels of shutters may be single or multiple
• Sometimes wired mesh is provided to stop the entry of mosquitoes and fly’s

• Metal Windows:

• Generally mild steel is used for making metal windows
• These are very cheap and have more strength
• Some other metals like aluminum, bronze, stainless steel etc., are also used to make windows
• For normal casement windows also, metal shutters are provided to give strong support to the panels

• Sash Windows:

• Sash window is type of casement window, but in this case panels are fully glazed
• It consists of top, bottom and intermediate rails
• The space between the rails is divided into small panels by means of small timber members called sash bars or glazing bars

• Bay Windows:

• Bay windows are projected windows form wall which are provided to increase the area of opening, which enables more ventilation and light form outside
• The projection of bay windows are of different shapes- Triangular/Rectangular/Polygonal etc.,
• They give beautiful appearance to the structure

• Dormer Windows:

• Dormer windows are provided for sloped roofs
• These are projected from the sloping surface 
• They provide ventilation as well as lighting to the room
• They also enhance aesthetic sense of room

• Lantern Windows:

• Lantern windows are provided for over the flat roofs
• The main purpose of this window is to provide the more light and air circulation to the interior rooms
• Generally, they are projected from the roof surface so, we can close the roof surface when we required

• Gable Windows:

• Gable windows are provided for sloped roof buildings
• These windows are provided at the gable end of sloped roof, so they are called as gable windows
• They also improve the appearance of building

Therefore these are the various types windows used by PKC Realtors in their construction projects

In the next part of this article, we will be discussing on the installation of electrical and plumbing lines in house construction

For more information,

People can get in touch with me in LinkedIN, Facebook, Instagram

PK,

PKC Groups.

5) What are the various types of Doors used in a house? What are the functions of doors?

 In continuation with the earlier article on ‘the various stages in construction of a house’, after external finishes of a house we will go for the installation of door and window frames

In this article we will be discussing on the various types of doors used in a house

At PKC Realtors, we install doors as per the client’s requirement. Some of them are discussed below.

Types of Doors:

There are many varieties of doors available in the market

Below is the classification of doors based on the materials used for manufacturing them.

• Timber Wood Doors:

• Traditionally, timber wood is largely used for the manufacture of doors/windows 
• Timber is most commonly being used for making of doors
• Its main advantage is the local availability of material and the ease with which it can be made 
• Although they can be used for all locations in the house, they are best placed for exterior locations i.e., main door

• Battened and Ledged Doors:

• Battened and ledged doors are the simplest form of doors and are in use since ages
• Such doors consist of vertical wooden battens of the height of the door 
• Usually three horizontal ledges are provided, one each at the top and bottom and one in the middle
• Battened and ledged doors can also be either braced or braced and framed to provide rigidity and better appearance
• Such doors are commonly adopted for toilets, baths etc., and also in houses where economy is of prime consideration

• Framed and Paneled Doors:

• These types of doors are most commonly provided in the houses 
• The frame for the door is made out of wood and the shutter panels out of timber, plywood, block board, hard board, etc.,
• A number of designs can be made on the panels, thereby making such doors quite decorative
• The panels can also be made out of glass. In cases where part of the door is in wooden panels and the remaining is of glass panels, the door is known as paneled and glazed door
• Paneled and Glazed doors have a flexibility of design which can look aesthetically pleasing
• The door frame for such types of doors can be made out of wood itself or of metal sections like steel etc.,

• Flush Doors:

• A flush door is a completely smooth door, having Plywood or Medium Density Fiberboard fixed over timber frame which is comparatively light
• Flush doors are most commonly employed in the interior of a dwelling
• The frames for such doors can be made out of wood, steel etc., which can hold its weight
• The doors are usually hinged along one side to allow the door to open in one direction only
• Flush doors are commonly provided in houses these days due to the reasons of economy, pleasing appearance, durability etc., 
• While providing these doors for toilets, baths, the inner face of the door should be covered with aluminum sheets to provide protection against water

• Glass Doors:

• Glass is usually provided for doors, mostly for paneling
• Normally such doors are provided on the backside of the house as it provides unobstructed view of the backyard or garden
• Front doors made of glass are equally beautiful, but care should be taken to ensure both privacy and durability 
• Cut glass panels set into wooden frames are frequent and beautiful options for front doors. Such doors are costly and require good maintenance
• They are usually costly than other doors besides being heavier

• Steel Doors:

• Steel or other such metal construction has been used for years as they are efficient and are a sturdy option for exterior and interior doors alike 
• It has been found to be a good substitute for wood and is being used extensively for making frames 
• Holdfasts and hinges are normally welded to the frame in case of steel frames
• Steel frames are quite popular and are being used extensively for houses and other locations as they are economical than the conventional wooden frames
• Shutters can also be made out of Mild Steel (MS) sheets, welded or riveted to a frame of angle iron or channel section, properly braced
• They are long lasting with minimum maintenance
• These can invariably be used where security is of a greater concern

• PVC(Poly Vinyl Chloride) Doors:

• It is basically a plastic material commonly used for making various products including water tanks, pipes, fittings etc., for houses
• The use of PVC for the manufacture of doors has become very popular and a large variety of the same are available in different colors and designs
• The advantages of using PVC doors are that they are termite proof, durable, anti-corrosive, light weight and moisture resistant
• They are also easy to fabricate, install and very economical when compared with wooden doors
• However they are not suited for entry doors as, security is an issue. Also they are not weather proof like wooden or metal doors, also they cannot resist the harsh environmental conditions

• Fiberglass Doors:

• Glass fibers bonded with resin that can be used to manufacture a range of products including bathtubs, doors and windows etc.,
• Fiberglass is said to be one of the most hardened materials with relatively low maintenance costs as compared with wood and steel
• Fiberglass doors are expected to be stable as they do not warp, bow or twist  and offer good insulation properties
• Fiberglass is strong, light & non-flammable and has a high tensile strength
• They can also be painted as per design
• Doors and windows made out of fiberglass can be provided with wooden panels on the surface to improve upon the aesthetics
• Doors made out of fiberglass can be used for both exterior and interior locations
• The exterior doors have designer options such as beveled glass and door stiles

• FRP(Fiber Reinforced Plastic) Doors:

• FRP is a general term relating to the reinforcement of plastic with fibrous glass
• Due to its high strength it can be put to many uses including manufacture of doors
• Typically, the tensile strength is about ten times that of PVC
• FRP molded doors are available in many colors and finishes including natural wood finish
• Necessary wooden supports are provided for fixing the handles, locks, stoppers and other accessories
• FRP doors are in good demand these days for use in modern houses

• Aluminum Doors:

• Aluminum is a metal which has been put to a large number of uses due to being light in weight
• A large number of products made out of aluminum are available including doors, windows, partitions, curtain walls etc.,
• Aluminum frames for doors have the distinct advantage of resisting difficult environmental conditions
• Being light in weight they transfer less loads to the foundations
• Aluminum frames are not affected by termites and as such they are long lasting
• Aesthetically they are quite pleasing and are quite economical in the long run

• Bamboo Jute Composite Doors:

• Bamboo is one of the fastest renewable plants with a maturity cycle of 3-4 years, making it a good natural resource compared to forest hardwoods 
• Bamboo offers good potential for processing it into composites as a wood substitute
• Bamboo laminates could replace timber in many applications including for doors & windows and their frames etc.,
• One of the alternatives to wood product is the jute-coir composite board which can be utilized for the manufacture of doors
• Bamboo-jute composite doors have the advantage of being water resistant, corrosion resistant, termite resistant, eco-friendly, bio-degradable and cost effective

Therefore these are some of the doors used by PKC Realtors in their construction projects

In the next part of this article, we will be discussing on the various types of windows used in house construction and their functions

For more information,

People can get in touch with me in LinkedIN, Facebook, Instagram

PK,

PKC Groups.

What are the functions of doors and windows in a house? How are doors and windows installed?

 In continuation with the earlier article on ‘the various stages in construction of a house’, after external finishes of a house we will go for the installation of door and window frames

In this article we will be discussing on the installation of door and window frames of a house

As we all know that quality comes at a price, at PKC Realtors, we will give our clients the premium quality of wood for the door and window frames.

Door:

A door may be defined as an open able barrier or as a framework of wood, steel, aluminum, glass or a combination of these materials secured in a wall opening. 

Functions of a door: 

• It is provided to give access to the inside of a room of a house
• It serves as a connecting link between the various internal portion of a house
• It provides lighting and ventilation to rooms  
• Controls the physical atmosphere within a space by enclosing it 
• They act as a barrier to noise 

Window:

A window is a vented barrier provided in a wall opening to admit light and air into the structure and also to give outside view. They also increase the beauty appearance of building

Functions of a window:

• Providing Natural Sunlight
• Delivering Energy Efficiency
• Ventilating the Home

How to install door and window frames?

At PKC Realtors the door and window frames are installed in the following manner-

• Wooden doors and windows frame should be installed by grouting the holdfast with cement concrete
• The size of holdfast must be of adequate length and should be properly filled with cement concrete
• The fixing of the wooden frame should also be done parallel with brickwork
• It is very important to decide facing of the frame as well as shutter groove of the frame with respect to the opening/closing direction of the shutter and for maximum movement of the shutter
• Once the frame is fixed in masonry or concrete, it is difficult to change the opening and closing direction of the shutter
• The surface of the frame coming in contact with brickwork or concrete needs to be well treated with the wood preservative like paint or tar coating before installing the frame
• The frame should be finished, and it should be smooth
• It should be erected in perfect plumb, line and level and diagonals to ensure smooth operation
• The Frame joints should be checked, and it should be properly glued and secured with bamboo pins

How to install door and window shutters?

At PKC Realtors the door and window shutters are installed in the following manner-

• Provide a necessary allowance for cutting and smoothening of the shutter and some gap should also be provided for expansion of shutter due to moisture/ humidity
• It is advisable, first to check the opening size of fixed frame and then decide the size of the shutter to reduce the errors and to achieve the good operation performance
• The gap between the shutter and finished floor should be minimum but remember that it should not scratch floor at the time of operations
• Shutter panel of ply should be waterproof 
• In the case of the glass panel, they should be checked, and they should be free from waves, bubble and other defects
• The panel should be fixed in shutter without a gap, and the edges of the panel should be filled up with putty or beading
• The shutter should be installed with proper care 
• The shutter joints should be checked, and it should be properly glued and secured with bamboo pins
• The doors shutter shall have minimum three hinges and two fastenings like tower bolt, hasp and staple and locks
• The window shutter shall have a minimum two hinges and one fastening like tower bolt and one handle for opening and closing
• The surface of the shutter and frame needs to be well treated with the wood preservative like paint, varnish or polish after installing it. It is advisable that the polishing and waxing of shutter will enhance the life of shutter and also looks natural

Following works should be completed before Doors and Windows Installation:

• Brick work should be completed first with required size of the opening before carrying out the doors and windows installation work
• The wood used for doors and windows frame and shutter should be free from blue stain, sapwood, decay, cracks, warping and dead knots
• The frame and shutter should be stocked in sufficient quantity to complete the doors and windows installation work

According to Vastu, we say that the number of doors and windows in a house should always be even and in multiples of 2 an even number 

In the next part of this article, we will be discussing on the various types of doors, windows and their functions

For more information,

People can get in touch with me in LinkedIN, Facebook, Instagram

PK,

PKC Groups.

How do we get a SILK THREAD from a SILK WORM? What is sericulture?

 At PKC Laundries majority of the sarees we get for dry-cleaning are made out of silk and combinations of silk. When we did a fair bit of research on silk sarees and what are the processes involved in making of silk sarees the insights we got are just wooow!

Go through the link below which gives in your insights into the history of SAREE!

https://pkpkclaundries.blogspot.com/2021/05/did-you-know-from-where-did-saree.html

In this article we will be discussing on how we produce a silk thread from a silkworm and what are the various processes involved in it.

Silk:

• Silk is a natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be woven into textiles 
• The protein fiber of silk is composed mainly of fibroin and is produced by certain insect larvae to form cocoons
• The best-known silk is obtained from the cocoons of the larvae of the mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori 
• The shimmering appearance of silk is due to the triangular prism-like structure of the silk fiber, which allows silk cloth to refract incoming light at different angles, thus producing different colors
• The production of Silk originated in China, as early as 4^th millennium BC
• China is the largest producer of Silk followed by India
• The silk output of these two countries combined accounts for over 60% of the global production

What is silk made up of?

• Silk is a fiber made up two different proteins – sericin and fibroin 
• Approximately 80% of silk fiber is made up of fibroin, which is concentrated at the core
• This core is surrounded by a layer of sericin (which makes up the remaining 20% of silk)
• The presence of pigments (such as xanthophyll) in the sericin layer of the fiber imparts color to the silk 
• Each type of silk has a distinct color as mentioned below

         

       

How is a silk thread made?

There are 7 steps in making a silk thread-

• Sericulture
• Thread Extraction
• Dyeing
• Spinning
• Weaving
• Printing
• Finishing

• Sericulture:

• Sericulture is the process of cultivating silkworms and extracting silk from them 
• The caterpillars of the domestic silkmoth (also called ‘Bombyx mori’) are the most commonly used silkworm species in sericulture 
• Other types of silkworms (such as Eri, Muga, and Tasar) are also cultivated for the production of ‘wild silks’ 
• Sericulture is a very important domestic industry in many countries 

Processes involved in sericulture:

For the production of mulberry silk, the sericulture process follows three primary steps.

Stage1 – Moriculture: The cultivation of mulberry leaves

Stage2 - Silkworm rearing: Promoting the growth of the silkworm

Stage3 - Silk reeling: The extraction of silk filaments from the silkworm cocoons

• Female silk moths lay anything from around 300 – 500 eggs at any one time
• These eggs eventually hatch to form silkworms, which are incubated in a controlled environment until they hatch into larvae (caterpillars)
• The silkworms feed continually on a huge amount of mulberry leaves to encourage growth 
• It takes around 6 weeks to grow to their full potential (about 3 inches) 
• At this time, they’ll stop eating and begin to raise their heads – that’s when they’re ready to spin their cocoon
• Attached to a secure frame or tree, the silkworm will begin spinning its silk cocoon by rotating its body in a figure-8 movement around 300,000 times – a process which takes around 3 to 8 days
• Each silkworm produces just one single strand of silk, which measures about 100 mtrs long and is held together by a type of natural gum, called sericin

Finally, the silk filaments are woven together to form a thread and these threads are often plied together to form a yarn.

Did you know? It takes around 2,500 silkworms to produce one pound of raw silk.

• Thread Extraction:

• Once the silkworms have spun their cocoon, they will eventually enclose themselves inside it and then it’s time to extract the silk threads
• The cocoons are placed into boiling water in order to soften and dissolve the gum that is holding the cocoon together
• This is a crucial step in the silk production process as it ensures that there is no damage to the continuity of each thread
• Each thread is then carefully reeled from the cocoon in individual long threads, which are then wound on a reel

• Dyeing:

• Traditional silk dyeing techniques take the dyes from natural resources found in the surrounding environment, such as fruit or indigo plant leaves 
• The threads will be soaked together in bundles, inside a pot of hot indigo leaves and water 
• This process will occur multiple times over a span of days to ensure proper color tone and quality
• Advances in technology mean that manufacturers instead opt for using various dyes such as acid dyes or reactive dyes
• This gives a greater range of choice in colors and shades to be able to serve wider demand

• Spinning:

• The traditional spinning wheel has always, and will always be an integral part of the silk production process
• Although updated industrial processes are now able to spin silk threads much quicker, it simply mimics the functions of the classic spinning wheel
• The process of spinning essentially unwinds the dyed fibers on to a bobbin, so that they lay flat ready for the weaving process
• This can be done in many different ways from hand-spinning to ring-spinning and mule spinning

• Weaving:

• Weaving is the process in which the final piece of silk comes together
• There are many different ways in which silk can be woven – satin weave, plain weave and open weave are most common and the finish of the silk will depend on the type of weave
• Weaving involves interlacing two sets of threads so that they lock around each other and create a strong, uniform piece of fabric
• The threads will be woven at right angles to each other, and the two different angles are called a warp and a weft

• Printing:

• Should a piece of silk require a special pattern or design, it will need to be printed after pre-treatment 
• Printing can be done in 2 different ways Digital Printing or Screen Printing
• Digital silk printing uses a specially designed textile printer, using ink to transfer hand drawn or digitally produced artwork on to fabrics
• Screen silk printing is the traditional, more hands-on method of essentially creating the same outcome – though in some cases, a bolder, more vibrant look may be achieved due to a thicker application of ink

• Finishing:

• In order to be deemed ready for use, silks must be finished
• Finishing a piece of silk gives it that highly lustrous sheen that it is so commonly known for, and is the reason that the desired look and feel can be achieved
• Silk finishing can be done in many different ways, mainly by applying different chemical treatments which can add a host of valuable properties including fire resistance and crease-proofing

In the next part of this article, we will be discussing on the various processes involved in making of a silk saree

For more information,

People can get in touch with me in LinkedIN, Facebook, Instagram

PK,

PKC Groups.