How to measure for your made to measure windows and doors

Firstly - don't worry if measuring isn't your strong point! For now, we only need approximate sizes to start designing your dream windows and doors, a professional survey will be carried out if you decide to proceed. This ensures everything is perfect before installation.

Let's get started!

1. Choosing a style - things to consider

When choosing the style of each window and door, there are a number of things to be considered:

• Do you want to keep the look of the current design
• Are you happy with the number of opening sashes
• For first floor rooms, like bedrooms, you will need to ensure you have side opening sashes which are required for escape during a fire.
• For doors, which way do you want the door to open, inward or outward?
• For french doors, which one will open first and be the main traffic door?

What is a window sash?

Basically, it's the opening part of a window. It is the bit that can be opened, closed, or tilted to let in air and light. Most windows have two main parts: the frame (the stationary part) and the sash (the moving part with the glass).

Sashes can slide up and down, side to side, or even swing open like a door. They have special mechanisms like hinges, pulleys, or tracks to make them work smoothly.

Window sashes are important because they control how much air and light get into your room.

2. How to draw each type

Use the printable graph paper here to sketch the layout of your windows and doors.

• To show which parts of the window open, you will need to place an arrow pointing to where the hinges are;
• The point of the arrow indicates the hinge side of the sash.

The example below left shows a sketch of the front of a house - with a door and window on the ground floor, and two windows on the first floor. Lines annotate the way the windows and doors open.

The image below right shows the same house front, with an indication of how the front upstairs window should be drawn to annotate which way the window opens. 

3. Measure the opening - from the inside

• Width - measure from the inside, wall to wall either side of the existing window

• Height - measure from the inside, underside of internal wall to the top of window sill

• Measure the width and height of every window and door - for doors measure from the top to the floor level

 

Bi-folding Doors

Bi-Folding doors are available in a wide range of styles, your helpful B&Q advisor will discuss these in detail with you, but In preparation, there is certain information we will need to know.

• How many opening elements (sashes) are required – the width of the opening will determine this but as a rule each opening element has a maximum width of 1000mm (1 metre).
• Do you want each door sash to open inwards (into the room) or outward (to the outside) When determining this please consider an internal furniture or outside walls etc.
• Where do you want the first door sash to open, depending upon the configuration of your home will you approach the bi-fold door from the left or right?
• The first opening door sash determines where the sashes will stack when fully open.

Examples of a 3 sash bi-fold door configuration