Clearview National March 2016 - Issue 172 | Page 93

CONSERVATORIES

Complete
Conservatory Package
»»ARE THE DAYS OF SHOPPING
around over for conservatory installers?
Traditionally, they would buy roofs from
one supplier, window and door frames from
another, and source their glass somewhere
else as well, but is this practice dying out?
According to Wellingborough based fabricator
Astraseal that is exactly the feedback they’re
getting from their installer customers.
Astraseal manufacture an extensive range
of PVCu and aluminium windows, doors and
conservatories, and, according to sales and
marketing manager Zac Nedimovic, they’re
getting more and more enquiries from installers
who are attracted by the fact that Astraseal can
offer everything under one roof.
Zac explains: “Many of our customers are
starting to realise that it’s easier and more cost
effective to buy their complete conservatories,
and indeed all their products, from Astraseal,
rather than shopping around and using
different suppliers. From a service perspective,
installers have one point of contact during
the whole buying process, and because
they’re buying direct from the manufacturer,
they know who to turn to if they have any
technical questions. If an installer’s working on
a complex job, for example incorporating a
wide span conservatory roof, bi-folding door
and a house full of windows, it’s reassuring for
them to know they’ll be getting a delivery from
one accountable source. As for price, shopping
around doesn’t guarantee you’ll get the best
deal. We’re a high volume fabricator and we
operate an incredibly lean factory which means
you’ll be hard pushed to find better prices for
the quality we are able to offer.”
According to Zac, another reason
conservatory installers are switching
to Astraseal is because of their ability
to manufacture bigger, more complex
conservatories. “Quite often an installer
will try us for the first time because there
current supplier is unable or unwilling to
tackle a particularly challenging conservatory
project. Once the installers experiences
the exceptional quality and service available
from Astraseal, we tend to win all their
conservatory work.”
Zac continues: “We physically build the
roof in the factory first; including cutting

glazing supports and glazing enclosures to size,
and fitting the cresting; so we know it goes
together and our customers have less to do
onsite.”
The conservatory marketplace is evolv ing,
with the ‘white plastic box’ rapidly going
out of fashion and sophisticated extensions
becoming more popular, and Astraseal has a
product range to match.
Its core conservatory offering features
the Synseal global roof paired with
a choice of REHAU PVCu or Smart
aluminium windows and doors. Often, these
conservatories are specified in a stylish
colour and more increasingly, dual colour.
“Consumer tastes are becoming more
sophisticated and ‘unusual’. Colours such
as chartwell green and duck egg blue are
becoming commonplace,” says Zac.
“We colour coat our frames in-house
and offer an almost unlimited choice. This
service is especially useful when working
with PVCu, because we are able to colour
the whole frame, including the rebate,
which is simply not possible with foils.”
Another key trend according to Zac
is the growth in glass conservatory
roofs, which are beginning to overtake
polycarbonate. “Glass roof technology
has come on leaps and bounds over the
last few years and consumer awareness
around the product is definitely starting to
increase. Consumers want a conservatory
they can use all year round, not one that
will be too hot in the summer and too
cold in the winter, and glass roofs achieve
this. We offer standard spec glass units or
there is a £200 upgrade to Pilkington Activ
Blue, which offers the very best in heat solar
control, thermal efficiency and self-cleaning. We
manufacture all our glass units in-house and
recently invested in a new toughening plant for
maximum efficiency.”
One of the most interesting products in
Astraseal’s conservatory portfolio is the Global
Summer orangery system, which provides the
distinguished look of a traditional orangery
without the need for expensive parapet walls,
leak prone flat roofs, or the added engineering
complexity of a lantern roof. The product may
look complex but in fact is surprisingly easy

to install, incorporating high-quality aluminium
decorative gutter fascias and internal pelmet
pods that hook onto the eaves beam.
Zac comments: “The Global Summer is
a very powerful product because it gives
installers an opportunity to upsell from
a traditional conservatory or to provide
another option if an orangery is out of their
customer’s budget. Ultimately we want to help
our customers capitalise on the latest industry
trends and Global Summer forms part of that
strategy.”
Call Astraseal on 01933 227233 or
visit www.astraseal.co.uk

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