Communities in Irvine and Los Angeles gain extra space, energy efficiency
To bring out the best in its California projects, home builder TRI Pointe Homes chose the Series 600 Multi-Slide Doors by Western Window Systems.
TRI Pointe Homes was drawn by the product’s simplicity in both design and mechanics, which provides a seamless transition between indoors and outdoors. The doors open to outdoor courtyards in the Messina at Orchard Hills community in Irvine, Calif., and to patios and balconies in the Playa Vista development in Los Angeles.
“We have a lot of courtyards, and these spaces get fairly tight, so these doors are perfect,” explains Mark Pulver, purchasing manager at TRI Pointe Homes.
In the Messina development, for example, potential homeowners are given the option to have up to three Multi-Slide Doors in a unit’s courtyard. These doors open the home to an outdoor area where homeowners can barbecue, sunbathe, or entertain guests.
Pulver explains that because the Multi-Slide Doors stack on top of each other, they free up more usable space. “French doors can get in the way of furniture and to open them, you have a lot of these moving parts like hinges and rollers that can be a maintenance issue,” he says. The Multi-Slide Doors don’t hang over the patio like French doors or bi-fold doors, which can take up to 3 feet of space.
Playa Vista’s model homes feature the Multi-Slide Doors, and Pulver says they prove to be a popular upgrade for buyers who visit the models and are looking to purchase a higher-end home.
“The current trend for outdoor/indoor living was a big push,” he says. “It has a lot to do with the Southern California weather. It can be March, and it can be 80 degrees outside. These doors can be utilized all year-round.”
Aesthetics aren’t the only reason most homeowners are attracted to the doors. Pulver says sustainability is a popular decision-driver for people looking for homes in the area.
“The doors come with thermally broken panels, so that helps us achieve California’s Title 24, as it relates to the transmission of heat and cold through the glass,” Pulver says. A thermal break, also known as an insulating barrier, comes standard on the frames and panels of all Series 600 doors. This feature limits condensation, lowers U factors, increases energy performance, and reduces thermal conductivity in the home. These product characteristics all help a home meet California’s stringent energy-efficiency code.
“The doors are just one component of the house,” Pulver says, “But they make it easy on our side to make these homes sustainable.”
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