Renewable and durable, wood is a beautiful natural material that Architectural Openings uses in a variety of species for windows, doors and curtain walls.
Why Wood?
Mahogany
Utile is the FSC certified species of African mahogany preferred by Architectural Openings, as well as Sapele, both of which are sustainable and most often selected for Architectural Openings products.
The characteristically reddish brown wood is quarter sawn, ensuring a straight grain suitable for fabricating dimensionally stable, decay resistant long-lasting windows, doors and curtain walls.
Teak
Cultivated on plantations in many tropical regions, teak is FSC certified and readily available in the quality required to make windows, doors and curtain walls.
Well known for resistance to rot and insect damage, teak is oily to the touch and although lacking a figurative grain has a brownish color that darkens beautifully with age.
White Oak
Indigenous to the eastern United States and readily available both quarter and rift sawn, this wood is resistant to rot and often used in boat building as well as Architectural Openings products that have to withstand the elements - often in installations along the shore-line.
White Oak is suitable for both exterior and interior application but most often is combined as an interior finish with mahogany or teak on the outside.
Cherry
Plentiful in eastern U.S. forests the quarter sawn cherry heartwood used by Architectural Openings has a very smooth, close grain and is resistant to decay as well as durable.
Over time cherry heartwood will develop a golden brown color that is especially attractive as an interior finish.
Reclaimed Long Leaf Yellow Pine
Known for its orange and yellow coloring, reclaimed long leaf yellow pine originated in forests along the southern east and gulf coasts of the United States, and today only a small percentage of the original stands survive.
Reclaimed timber currently available is sought after for its aesthetic qualities and is suitable for interior finish of curtain walls, windows and doors.
Douglas Fir
This sustainable, large tree that grows in the western United States when quarter sawn has a very straight grain, attractive light brown color and yields ideal board quality needed for both interior and exterior use on curtain walls, doors and windows.
Technically not a fir tree but its own genus, Douglas Fir is widely used in construction because it finishes well and is exceptionally stiff and strong.
Maple
A tree native to northeastern North America, with a cream to white colored sap wood, quarter sawn maple is moderately priced and hard enough to be used for flooring and chopping blocks.
The even texture and attractive grain produces a light natural interior finish and can also be used on the outside of Architectural Openings products.
Forest Stewardship Council
The Forest Stewardship Council sets standards for responsible forest management. A voluntary program, FSC uses the power of the marketplace to protect forests for future generations.
AO purchases the wood used in the production of our doors and windows from certified FSC members.
click on a swatch to select a wood species
click for more about Architectural Openings Wood Products
Glazing
Finishes
Hardware
Fabrication
CAD
Our standard glazing pocket is 1" thick (up to 1 1/2"). Our minimum quality glass is low E and we offer a large variety of glass options such as Argon filled, laminated, and the Heat mirror tm series of glass (superior U-values, UV protection, and noise reduction). Spacer and perimeter bars are available in brown, black, white, beige or gray. Glass is manufactured locally for rapid replacement, if necessary. Manufacturer's warranty is passed along to the client.
Factory applied finish is available and recommended. Customers may choose a paint finish, stain or split finish (e.g. painted exterior an stained interior). All mortise and tenon joints are back-primed with an oil-based primer before assembly.
Hinges: Our standard door and tilt/turn hinges are heavy weight, three way adjustable hinges from G-U Hardware. Hinge covers are available in a variety of colors including brass and bronze.
Handles:Two solid brass handles (interior and exterior) are standard on our French doors. Anodized aluminum (in a variety of colors) and solid brass are available on all our windows and doors. Rustic hardware, from manufacturers such as Rocky Mountain Hardware, is also available.
Locks: Our standard door and tilt/turn hinges are heavy weight, three way adjustable hinges from G-U Hardware. Hinge covers are available in a variety of colors including brass and bronze.
Sills: Architectural Openings' proprietary American style doorsill is available in mahogany. European "step-over" sills are available for the ultimate in weather tightness.
Extensions: Jam extensions, sill extensions, and exterior casing are available loose or factory applied.
Gaskets: Architectural Openings' proprietary dual silicon gasket system (perimeter box gasket and perimeter bulb gasket). This system, combined with the multi-point hardware, creates an extremely weather-tight seal.
Screens: Screen mesh is available in charcoal gray or light gray fiberglass, aluminum, stainless steel, or bronze. Window screens are available as removeable aluminum frame, fixed mahogany frame, or roll down/roll across. Mahogany screen doors are available for French doors, Sliders, and Folders. Roll-down screening for doors, is also available.
CAD drawings are professionally produced in house. After the architect signs-off, cut lists, material orders and CNC coordinates are created automatically.
Window Technical Drawings
(Adobe Acrobat .pdf format )
Hopper
Tilt-turn
Door Technical Drawings
(Adobe Acrobat .pdf format )