COLOUR
Surfaces – design beyond the colour
Leon James , Product Manager for Exterior Products at RENOLIT Cramlington Ltd looks at how surface textures are having an increasing impact on customer demand .
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THE MARKET IS CHANGING , AND consumers are looking for more …
As consumers look for something different , solid colour and woodgrain surfaced window profiles , doors and facades are a key area for growth within the UK fenestration industry . Many window systems companies report that sales of foiled components now account from approximately 30 % to even 50 % of their output . While traditional products continue to sell well , a younger audience is emerging with different tastes , influenced by a rise in popular building television programmes , highly publicised “ house & home ” exhibitions and modern architecture that uses colour to create pleasant and varied environments . This has led
Leon James , Product Manager for Exterior Products at RENOLIT Cramlington Ltd to a growth in the use of solid colour exterior foils of 36 % in the UK laminated profiles market during the past three years .
As colour has become more established , ( RENOLIT offer nearly sixty different colours in their global exterior stock range and many more on a make-to-order basis ), a wide choice is now the norm . Increasingly it is the surface which has become as important as the colour or design itself to the overall finished effect . Demand is now focussed on more authentic textures to enhance the overall finished effect by adding style , design and feeling .
This is a trend that is expected to continue .
The exterior market is following the shift already seen in kitchen and furniture markets towards smooth , very matt and realistic textures .
The first some years ago to introduce an exterior film with a smooth architectural finish , RENOLIT next introduced Smooth 2 with improved scratch and mar resistance . Where colour is the primary driver , this midgloss product provides the ideal cover .
The new highly desirable low gloss Ulti- Matt finish was introduced at FIT Show 2017 and developed in response to customer demand to complement the existing Smooth 2 offer . It works especially well with popular darker colours such as Anthracite Grey and the much-anticipated real Black which received an enthusiastic welcome . This new finish is ideally suited to contemporary window styles and has already been taken up by a number of leading UK system companies .
It is not just architectural surfaces that are evolving , with an increasing demand for premium wood finishes as the market looks for alternatives to the traditional wood tick .
Elegant Ash is ideally suited to traditional and heritage installations , to replicate the look of painted wood in a range of colours to enhance the country ’ s legacy of architectural period buildings .
Evolving further , appeal is maximised by the structured VLF structured surface . The natural look and authentic feel of the linear and deeply structured VLF will really impress . With its sense of depth and structure it is possibly the most realistic woodgrain finish on the market . Modern hardwoods need the right partner to be able to reveal their full effect while solid colours with a strong textured surface serve as the stage for the latest architectural trend and have the appearance of painted solid wood .
It is clear then that with the rising demand for a coloured finish , consumers are looking to differentiate from the norm and add something different within the UK Window Industry . RENOLIT offer a range of realistic woodgrains , modern popular solid colours with a variety of surfaces finished , all produced to RENOLIT ’ s exacting quality standards . So you can be assured that not only are you using the best looking products , but the best performing ones to .
You can rely on it .
www . renolit . com
72 » MAR 2018 » CLEARVIEW-UK . COM