CONSERVATORIES & SOLIDROOFS
Business bonanza for Select few
ROOF REPLACEMENTS ON A HIGH
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THE MARKET FOR conservatory roof replacements is on a high says Prefix Systems and one of the latest jobs carried out by Stevenage-based Conserv-A-Tech, shows that consumers still yearn for the appeal of a glazed roof.
As part of Prefix’ s proven Refurbish My Conservatory scheme, Conserv-A- Tech have access to dedicated marketing materials, along with specific products for roof replacements. These products have been specially designed by Prefix for these types of applications and include Retro-Fix posts to carry the additional loading of glass or even solid roofs and Bi-Span to support the structural requirements for large openings.
With around 3million existing conservatories installed in the UK and many first-generation ones glazed in tired polycarbonate, there’ s an important market sector emerging. Over the last 10 years the market has also seen the rapid development of specialist solar control glass with U-values now down to 1.0W /( m2K) and so glass is now very much the dominant glazed material.
Eric Knappett, owner and director of Conserv-A-Tech commented:“ Conservatory roof replacements are becoming more prevalent in terms of our sales opportunities. It’ s re-assuring to know that we have a supporting brand and product range specific to this sector.”
www. prefixsystems. co. uk
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EUROCELL HAS LAUNCHED A pioneering industry initiative in Select – the sector’ s first comprehensive solid conservatory roof approved installer scheme. Designed to give scheme members a competitive edge and boost business, Eurocell Select will seek to address homeowners’ fears about product and workmanship quality.
Built upon the company’ s leading Equinox solid conservatory roof range, Eurocell Select is being operated in partnership with certification body, CERTASS.
The scheme features a two-year workmanship( installation) warranty, an alternative dispute resolution service( ADR) with no annual fees and low per case fee( from £ 35 per party) and a comprehensive marketing support package.
Membership will be limited to 150 companies during the introductory period, so it will be a race against time for professional installers seeking to grow sales and profit to sign up on a‘ first come, first served’ basis. Those‘ early adopters’ will get free entry to the scheme, discounted CERTASS accreditation and a significant Eurocell contribution to the first year’ s subscriptions.
Entrance to the scheme includes typical‘ professionalism criteria’, such as meeting the terms set out in competent persons and quality assured installer schemes; and installing Equinox, in compliance with Eurocell specifications.
www. eurocell-select. co. uk
Conservatory installed values up by 9 %
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NEW FINDINGS FROM PALMER Market Research reveal that the total installed value of the UK conservatory market jumped by 9 % to £ 1.05bn last year – the highest level since 2009.
According to the Market for Domestic Conservatories 2017 average installed prices also rose by 12 %. The rate of fall in volume also slowed to 1.4 % compared to 6 % last year.
Nonetheless, the market still hit a new all-time low in volume of 77,700 units, with a 4 % decline in first-time installations.
Figures from Palmer show that PVC-U remains the dominant material type across sectors, with aluminium remaining static and failing to replicate the inroads that it has made in other areas. Wood is again forecast to be static this year, ahead of decline going forward.
The Market for Domestic Conservatories also tracks the rapid growth seen in orangery and orangery-hybrid – up 38 % in 2016.
The trend towards higher value products, reflects a broader shift across the window and door industry. The Window, Door and Conservatory Markets in Housing in Great Britain, published in September, citing growth of 1 % in volume terms and 7 % in value terms to £ 4.5bn.
www. palmermarketresearch. co. uk
64 » DEC 2017 » CLEARVIEW-UK. COM