Heritage
The new solution to an old ‘ problem ’?
Aluminium was always the commercial contractor ’ s choice . Residential projects were rare , domestic plans were daring ; grand designs indeed . For those wanting sleek - bordering on spaceage - homes , aluminium offered high-end , metallic , sharp and something that could really stand out from the crowd .
Heritage properties on the other hand tended towards timber . Whether a sympathetic renovation or a new development that nods to the past , traditional timber could offer a look in-keeping with the building ’ s surroundings as if it had been the original fitting . Later , PVC-U or composite could mimic the material but provide better performance , easier maintenance , and a less expensive , faster fabrication and fitting process .
The specification of historical ( but not listed ) properties and the application of aluminium could not be more different when considering the above , but what if you could combine the two for a modern match made in heritage heaven ? Dave Saxon of D & I Windows says you can , and you should …
“ Aluminium is new to us . We [ D & I Windows of Barnsley ] only switched to the system a year or so ago , following an overall shift in market demand . Since then I ’ ve waxed lyrical about the joy of fabricating aluminium , the properties it possesses as a manufacturing material , the stunning products available , our own suppliers and sustainability factors .
“ But , there ’ s one area of the market we wouldn ’ t associate aluminium with so readily and that is the Heritage sector . On paper it goes against everything we would associate with Heritage properties . In short , Heritage is classic and cosy , aluminium is cold and contemporary . Look at it this way though , 30 years ago , no one would have put ‘ plastic ’ windows into a pretty cottage . Now , PVCu is the primary choice of renovators looking for the traditional look but with energy efficiency , ease of maintenance and value for money .
“ Likewise , new homes with an ‘ old ’ look are becoming popular again . For the most part , housing estates of 20th century went to great pains to have their own aesthetic , which means when you drive past a collection of houses from the 1970s to early 2000s , you can date them fairly accurately on looks alone ; the brick or stone , the windows and doors , even the driveways and garden design ( if left original ).
“ Again , changes in taste have meant that smaller , bespoke developments sit alongside 100-year-old houses and have been designed to complement their surroundings . When drawing up the plans for these and tendering contracts for fenestration , there is likely to be two main choices to initially consider : PVCu or timber . I believe aluminium fits the bill beautifully for Heritage - new and old - though , and this is why .
“ When it comes to performance , whether renovating , replacing or newbuild , we want the best we can afford . The ‘ down side ’ of Heritage properties are often cited as being damp , cold and draughty . Replacing old windows with new ones will improve that instantly , but by going for aluminium - in our case Sheerline , for example - even with double-glazed windows , you can achieve U-values as low as 1.4W / m 2 K ; better with triple glazing . Polyamide thermal breaks further help ‘ break ’ heat loss ; meaning that the old adage of ‘ aluminium is cold ’ goes out the window completely ( pun intended ).
“ Renovation properties can be a pain when it comes to fitting windows in particular , but Sheerline ’ s state of the art construction means that the screws are placed inside the mitre joints , creating perfect 90 ° angles without any protrusions . These windows are perfect for refurbishment because they are easily adjustable .
“ The slim sightlines achieved through aluminium mean that even small window openings will have minimum frame and maximum glass , which means more light inside the property ( who said cottages have to be dimly lit ) and better views of that gorgeous garden and countryside surroundings .
“ Finally , aluminium looks great in grey , yes , but with powder coating and heritage hardware , you ’ d never know it wasn ’ t a more traditional material until it comes to maintenance ; the final burden of Heritage property doors and windows .
“ I ’ ve been in the industry for decades and I ’ ve seen every trend come and go , aluminium is here to stay and when it comes to Heritage projects , I ’ d pick ali every time .”
www . dandiwindows . co . uk
CLEARVIEW-UK . COM AUGUST 2022
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