44 | APRIL 2019
Business
Read online at www.proinstaller.co.uk
INSTALLER POISED FOR MORE
GROWTH WITH VIRTU-AL
An installer has unlocked the ex-
traordinary potential of Virtu-AL – the
industry’s fastest growing aluminium effect
entrance door – from Virtuoso Doors and
described it as a ‘game-changing’ product
that’s helped ramp up new business.
Leicestershire-based A14 Building Plastics
has grown by 60% in the last five years and
credits Virtu-AL with bringing in dozens
of enquiries from customers who want the
contemporary, high-end look of an alumini-
um door, but without the price tag.
With a stylish aluminium textured archi-
tectural appearance that’s virtually indistin-
guishable from the real thing, Virtu-AL looks
and feels nothing like a traditional composite
door, yet it benefits from all the characteris-
tics of one. It incorporates realistic detailing
to replicate the appearance of an aluminium
door and achieve a crisp, contemporary look
for a fraction of the cost. And now, home-
owners can complete the aluminium look
with the sleek aluminium outer frame.
The company has also taken advantage of
Virtuoso Doors’ marketing package, which
includes a collection of brochures and one
that’s dedicated entirely to Virtu-AL.
www.virtuoso-doors.co.uk
Spectus Vertical
Fastener focus offers complete supply chain
Sliders deliver
assurance for Stevenswood customers
heritage
authenticity
Trade customers of Stevenswood
and modern
practicality
Spectus Vertical Sliders have been
used in the refurbishment of University of
Sussex student accommodation in Brighton.
The University of Sussex Kings Road stu-
dent accommodation has a prominent posi-
tion in a conservation area on the seafront.
As part of a wider programme of refur-
bishment of the building, which houses
124 students, new windows were specified.
Spectus Vertical Sliders were identified as
the windows that would deliver the aesthet-
ics required for a building in a conservation
area as well as provide more thermally
efficient and secure accommodation.
The Spectus specification team worked
closely with Spectus Approved Vertical
Slider fabricator Mercury Glazing Supplies
and the University of Sussex to develop the
technical specification for the windows.
Secured by Design accreditation was an
important factor, as was thermal efficiency.
Solar shading glass was also specified to
protect the accommodation from the full
glare of the sun.
With over 250 windows needing to be in-
stalled, the installation programme needed
to be carefully planned to minimise disrup-
tion to students living in the flats.
The finished result has transformed the
exterior of the flats and mean they once
more take pride of place on the seafront.
www.spectus.co.uk
used in the manufacture of the windows
and doors supplied by Polyframe and for
installation, thus eliminating fastener risk
across the board.
Stevenswood has grown to become
one of the UK market leaders in the trade
sector. Its Polyframe manufacturing busi-
ness produces all its windows, doors and
conservatories using Rapierstar branded
fasteners. These are available to order at
its 37-strong trade counter network, along
with a considerable range of building prod-
ucts and consumables for installers, includ-
ing Rapierstar screws, roofline products,
silicone sealants, tools and ancillaries.
are benefiting from assured fastener quality
in both the manufacture and installation of
windows and doors thanks to a total sup-
ply chain partnership with Rapierstar.
Having supplied a wide range of its
high performance StarPVCU® screws to
Stevenswood’s window and door manufac-
turing operation Polyframe for more than
three years, Rapierstar is now supplying
its StarFix® range of plug-free masonry
screws and StarTurn® universal timber
screws to the company’s rapidly expanding
network of trade counters. This gives Ste-
venswood customers complete assurance
that only superior quality fasteners are
www.rapierstar.com
PROFILE 22’S FLUSH TILT AND
TURN WINDOWS PROVIDE THE
SOLUTION FOR THE STRAND
Profile 22’s Flush Tilt and Turn win-
dows were chosen for new residential and
retail blocks and a community facility hub
in Kirkholt, Rochdale
The Strand in Rochdale is a partnership
between Rochdale Borough Council and
Rochdale Boroughwide Housing. The
project involved the demolition of three
existing residential and retail buildings
and the construction of new retail blocks
and a community facility hub plus sixteen
new apartments for affordable rent, which
were delivered in partnership with the
Homes and Communities Agency.
The main contractor on the project was
Bardsley and the company invited Profile
22 Approved Window Contractor Fram-
express to tender for the 120 windows
required on the project.
The project’s architects, Triangle Ar-
chitects, had specified the Flush Tilt and
Turn Windows in Anthracite Grey for the
project because of its ability to deliver
aluminium aesthetics but with a better
performance.
The Epwin Window Systems’ specifica-
tion team worked closely with Framexpress
throughout, providing vital technical informa-
tion that always gave Bardsley necessary doc-
umentation and making site visits during the
construction phase to maintain close contact.
www.profile22.co.uk