The Minton: Ideas and Renovation – 32 – Day 27

Posted on    by

The installation of invisible grills at our Minton home completed ahead of the original projection; we’d been early advised that it’d take four days when in actual fact it took just two. Generally speaking; the grills in the front and yard balconies and also single pane windows are satisfyingly stiff after the fasteners were added – but for the double-pane windows, not so. The workers tried their hardest to tighten the securing screws as much as they could before the window panes themselves started bending from the collective tension ever so slightly apparently, making it hard for the windows to shut properly.

Earlier on when the Legate contractor came by for measurements, we were asked if we wanted 3 or 4 inch gaps between the wires. There wouldn’t had been any cost difference between the two. We went with 3 inch gaps, but it wasn’t an easy decision. Aesthetics wise, wider gaps do help reduce the visual perception that you’re ‘caged in’. But larger gaps might also defeat the purpose of having those grills – you wouldn’t want children to be able to (somehow) squeeze their limbs through a large gap. Unknowingly at that point too, we didn’t realize how much the wires in some parts would be able to bend depending on the strength of the window frame the grill will be mounted on. And now that the installation is done, we’re glad that we decided on a narrower gap.

We also had the option of installing grills and support frames that were full-length – i.e. mounted onto the bay window surface itself. But earlier reports from other residents noted that the installation workers might accidentally cause hairline cracks on the plaster layer of the bay window surfaces. Nothing serious and quite superficial, but that was disconcerting to think of it. We didn’t like the idea of full-length grill frames kissing our bay window surfaces, and just as importantly, longer grills might have likely cost us more money too.

Pictures!

Completed installation for one of our rooms. It's probably very hard to see; but there's a cable running horizontally right through the grills to secure the vertical cables.
Completed installation for one of our rooms. It’s probably very hard to see; but there’s a cable running horizontally right through the grills to secure the vertical cables.
The attachment screw on on the grill frame that secures the horizontal cable.
The attachment screw on on the grill frame that secures the horizontal wire.
Cross-joint fasteners at our yard. Interestingly, each grill cable is either coated with some kind of smooth compound (I'm assuming it's to prevent corrosion), or a nylon/plastic tubing.
Cross-joint fasteners at our yard. Interestingly, each grill wire is either coated with some kind of smooth compound (I’m assuming it’s to prevent corrosion), or a nylon/plastic tubing.
We were initially not intending to grill the section of the yard balcony that provides access to the air-con ledge, but eventually did - for our kid's safety again. The grills had to feature casement type windows though to provide access to the ledge.
We were initially not intending to grill the section of the yard balcony that provides access to the air-con ledge, but eventually did – for our kid’s safety again. The grills had to feature casement type windows though to provide access to the ledge.

The surfaces for our bay windows had also been done too by our interior designer’s workers. Apparently it didn’t take long; just a couple hours in the morning to do surfaces for three of our rooms.

Hard surfacing for the study room. This surface is a different color than the other two rooms (conscious choice to match the furniture color in this room).
Hard surfacing for the study room. This surface is a different color than the other two rooms (conscious choice to match the furniture color in this room).
Surfacing for the two bedrooms.
Surfacing for the two bedrooms. Looks hard enough and you should be able to see its texture.

Next major update on FRI – the start date for our carpentry installation!

4 thoughts on “The Minton: Ideas and Renovation – 32 – Day 27”

  1. Hi, I chanced across your blog while searching for info on Legate. Looking to install invisible grilles. Would you say it’s worth it and safe for a family with kids?

  2. Hey there; welcome to our blog. Our Legate grills all around the house – windows, both front and back balconies – were pretty costly, but definitely worth it in our case. It’s not just the safety it affords, but the peace of mind too since we can’t always be in eye-contact range on our two young kids even when we’re at home.

  4. Hey there. You’ll need to contact a contractor (grills?), and discuss with him your project scope. He’ll then be able to produce an quotation based on your required works.

Comments are closed.