DOORS&WINDOWS
A trending industry:
windows and doors
Exploring window and door trends
» DEVELOPMENTS AND POPULARITY
in interior and exterior home design over the
years have led to an increasing demand for
windows and doors that can add security,
functionality and overall style. Here, Richard
Banks, commercial director of PVCu windows
and doors manufacturer Euramax, discusses
the window and door trends taking over the
industry.
WINDOW STYLE
The introduction of double glazing and
uPVC in the 1970s kickstarted what has
become ongoing demand for high quality,
stylish windows. Now, windows are no longer
valued just for the ability to let air and light
in, but the ability to create space and bring the
outside in. Floor to ceiling windows are ideal
for open plan interior as they create space by
letting more natural light in. Other popular
window styles include sash, fixed and tilt and
turn.
COLOURED DOORS
Similarly, to windows, doors are now
regarded for more than just accessibility
purposes. Doors are the first impression and
first point of contact a person has with a
house, therefore appearance has become highly
important. For this reason, coloured doors are
now a key trend in the industry.
In fact, around 40 per cent of the market
demand coloured doors. Shifting from
standard white and wooden brown, doors have
transformed into bright and bold features of
a home. Popular colour options now include
cobalt blue, shades of green and red, while
grey and black are unusual options that add
individuality to a property.
COMPOSITE
For years, PVCu has been a popular
material choice for both windows and doors
thanks to its low maintenance, high durability
and strength properties. Now, 54 per cent of
the current market is made up of composite
doors, the highest percentage than any other
material. One reason is the material’s ability
to boast both the strength and durability of a
modern material, while looking like traditional
wood. As a composite door can be engraved
with
a woodgrain
effect, homeowners can get the best of both
worlds from this high-performing material.
TRENDY ENERGY
Growing environmental concerns are
influencing the need for people to reduce their
carbon footprints. To be defined as energy
efficient, windows and doors must have a
high rating from The British Fenestration
Council (BFRC). The council rates energy
efficiency performance on a scale from G
for low efficiency, to A for high efficiency.
Furthermore, U-values measure the amount
of heat that passes through a glazed unit.
Ensuring that the U-value is low means that
the product has a high thermal performance,
increasing energy efficiency. Energy efficient
products can reduce energy bills, save
homeowners money and increase the value of
a house by as much as ten per cent.
SMART TECH
In a heavily digitalised generation,
technology is profound. Developments in
technology are constantly driving society, with
applications such as Hive and Amazon’s Alexa
influencing the demand for SMART products.
As a result, SMART technology is being
incorporated into the windows and doors
industry for enhanced security, efficiency and
accessibility.
For example, automated SMART locks
do not require keys for manual locking and
unlocking. Instead, the locks are controlled
remotely from the owner’s SMART phone
using a wireless connection to lock or unlock
the window and door. This development holds
great potential for the holiday homes industry,
as trips away are more often organised online.
In the era of Airbnb, holiday makers can gain
access to their accommodation via a code on
their smart phones — meaning that those
renting the buildings can manage security
from anywhere in the world.
SMART sensors are another popular
form of SMART technology. In the window
and door industry, these sensors can alert a
homeowner when a window or door has been
left unlocked, whereas SMART alarms can
even be activated when a window or door
has been attempted to be opened or has been
damaged.
Though strength and durability are still
necessary requirements within the industry,
looks have become of increasing importance.
However, appearance isn’t all and it is clear
that homeowners aren’t just wanting their
windows and doors to look good — they also
need to do good. From energy-saving materials
to SMART locking systems, a number of
technologies are driving the windows and
doors market.
www.euramax.co.uk
34 » JUL 2020 » CLEARVIEW-UK.COM