D&G Window Solutions · Fenestration Knowledge Series

Fenestration Knowledge

Practical, technically grounded insight on glass, steel windows, metal windows, aluminium systems and heritage repair.

The D&G Window Solutions Fenestration Knowledge Series

Windows sit at the meeting point of architecture, engineering, craft and conservation. This recurring series shares practical, technically grounded insight on glass, custom steel windows and metal windows, aluminium windows and doors, and the careful refurbishment of heritage fenestration.

Latest in the series

Heritage steel window with wavy crown glass transitioning to industrial and modern architectural glazing.

Article 06

Secondary Glazing for Heritage Steel Windows

Learn how a carefully designed inner pane can improve comfort and acoustic performance while keeping an original steel window in place.

Read Article 06 →

Earlier in the series

Heritage steel window with wavy crown glass transitioning to industrial and modern architectural glazing.

Article 05

How Modern Safety Glass Actually Works

Understand the difference between toughened and laminated glass, how each behaves after breakage, and why the frame, hardware and risk assessment matter.

Read Article 05 →

A craftsperson carefully removes failed putty and corrosion from an original heritage steel window in Cape Town.

Article 04

Why Heritage Steel Windows Should Be Repaired Before They Are Replaced

Learn why surface rust, failed putty and stiff hardware do not automatically mean an original steel window must be replaced—and how a repair-first assessment works.

Read Article 04 →

Three custom arched steel double-door sets in a Cape Town home

Article 03

The History of Steel Windows

Follow steel windows from Victorian industry and Modernist architecture to today’s made-to-measure steel windows, doors and shopfronts in Cape Town.

Read Article 03 →

Original wavy glass in a heritage steel window distorting warm reflections across slender glazing bars.

Article 02

Why Old Glass Looks Wavy—and Why It Matters

Discover why historic window glass has waves, bubbles and uneven reflections, why it has not flowed over time, and when original panes should be retained.

Read Article 02 →

Heritage steel window with wavy crown glass transitioning to industrial and modern architectural glazing.

Article 01

The History of Glass: How One Material Changed the Way We Build

From ancient glassmaking and Roman windows to crown glass, float glass and modern high-performance glazing—and why that history still matters when assessing heritage steel windows.

Read Article 01 →

Six articles are now live

Part 6 is now published, and new chapters will continue every Saturday. The series connects the history of the window with the decisions owners, architects and contractors face today.

Article 07 · Next SaturdayHow to Choose the Right Glass for Steel Windows
Article 08 · PlannedCondensation, Draughts and Thermal Performance
Article 09 · PlannedRepair or Replace? The True Cost of Heritage Windows
Article 10 · PlannedPlanning a Heritage Window Refurbishment

Knowledge for better window decisions

D&G Window Solutions works with the whole opening: frame, glass, hardware, installation and the fabric of the building around it. That perspective helps us decide what should be retained, what can be repaired and what should be replaced for safety, performance or long-term value.