Clearview 225 - August 2020 | Page 42

Outdoor Living LOCKDOWN SHOWDOWN Besides online shopping specialists, food retailers and toilet paper manufacturers I can’t imagine many businesses came out of the lockdown in a particular good place… quite a let-down when 2020 had started on quite a high, at least where Icotherm is concerned. Obviously we have not been immune to this crisis, comments Anne-Marie Busch, Marketing Manager. However, the enquiries volume picked up very quickly when we tentatively restarted production in May. We are only just getting back to working with a full team, and our lead times are still much longer than normal (up to 4 weeks on some products) as the industry suppliers’ themselves are finding it difficult to fulfil the requirements in a timely manner. The somewhat confusing Green Home grant announcement doesn’t appear to have had any impact on us, as the focus for this immediately shifted to windows and doors. And to be honest it is pretty much impossible to find any information on the matter whatsoever. So to answer anybody who might have been asked about it, right now, we do not know if our roofs would fall under the eligible (and still elusive) products list. So right now Icotherm is doing well and this lockdown showdown is definitely in our favour. We have had the most consistent order volumes rate to date and what we believe can only be a consistently growth in homeowners wanting to increase usable home space through the use of conservatory roof replacements or the additional of single story extensions. More people are working from home, and for many this will become a regular event, so provisions must be made. Timber roofs – why? This topic may seem a little repetitive by now – it certainly feels like it to us, but it is also very relevant. » WE OFTEN GET ASKED EITHER why we opted to design a timber system, or why we believe it is the better option over aluminium says Anne-Marie Busch, Marketing Manager at Icotherm Roof Systems. The truth is simple: roofs are made of timber, roofs were always made of timber, and will more than likely be made of timber for the foreseeable future. It is a reliable material, that can be worked to create complex, bespoke solutions, recyclable, with excellent insulation properties, and it can be adjusted whilst on site. So, as far as the decision to use this material for the system, the answer was always going to be obvious. Because roofs just aren’t made with aluminium… which again is the reason why the systems using this material end up having to use timber to make up for the metal’s issues when constructing a solid roof solution. Timber is used to stop cold bridges (and condensation risks), and installers end up with a mix of aluminium and timber, all amalgamated together, for a much more complex and lengthy installation. At Icotherm we are 100% invested our timber solution. We offer a roof system with excellent ventilation, fully supported by all required structural calculations, that has passed insulation and condensation risk analysis with flying colours. We are always looking at ways to improve performance and develop solution that will help installer get the roof up quicker – for example replacing most of the bolts requirements with faster screwing options. We also offer a gable solution that does not require tie bars for a completely uninterrupted ceiling. We have committed a lot of resources to ensuring our roofs perform at the highest standards and believe that timber systems are the best long-term roofing solutions. If your customers are looking for a conservatory transformation the Icotherm roofs range would offer them all the options they need. Contact sales@icotherm.co.uk for a quote. ABOUT ICOTHERM: Icotherm Roof Systems is a trading name of Iconservatories Limited. Icotherm Roof Systems designs and manufactures a range of timber framed warm roof solutions for the trade. Our most popular solution, Icoroof – the original pitched roof, has sold in the thousands since its inception in 2014. 42 » AUG 2020 » CLEARVIEW-UK.COM