News
Read online at www . proinstaller . co . uk
FEBRUARY 2024 | 15
News
INSTALLER GETS TOP MARKS FROM LOCAL COLLEGE
Glazerite installer , Howard Yarnold Windows and Doors has put the finishing touches on a major installation as part of a local college ’ s drive to reduce carbon emissions . The Birmingham-based business worked with Nuneaton College in Warwickshire to carry out the installation of new windows , which also saw the college add solar panels , cavity wall insulation and more efficient radiators in three of its main buildings .
Established half a century ago , Howard Yarnold Windows & Doors has a large commercial and residential customer base across the West Midlands , Staffordshire , Worcestershire and Warwickshire . While its aluminium products are fabricated in-house at Howard Yarnold ’ s city centre base , its uPVC work is outsourced to longstanding partner , the Glazerite UK Group .
The Nuneaton College project saw windows replaced across three separate study blocks on the site , with single glazed crittal steel windows replaced with more than 70 VEKA M70 windows in Anthracite Grey . The frames were fabricated by Glazerite at its Midlands Division in nearby Wellingborough .
Howard Yarnold Windows and Doors , which employs 35 people , is headed up by Anthony Niblett . He explains : “ The college wanted to look at ways to reduce their carbon footprint so installing double glazed uPVC windows was an ideal solution as they are much more energy efficient and will significantly improve heat retention . They are also much more aesthetic in comparison to the original windows , which had been in place since the 1970s .”
The work , which is in its final stages , saw the Howard Yarnold team overcoming some challenges onsite . Anthony explains : “ The roof wasn ’ t sturdy enough to take the weight of scaffolding , so we installed some of the windows using a large , truck-mounted cherry picker . We were also only able to give Glazerite notice of the install dates shortly before the installation took place , but they rose to the challenge and delivered everything we needed on time .”
Anthony adds : “ We have worked with Glazerite to pick up overspill uPVC work for a decade and trust them because they are reliable and flexible , and always produce high quality windows .
We made the decision last year to cease in-house uPVC fabrication in favour of aluminium and Glazerite was the only choice to pick up the work and help us fulfil uPVC orders going forward .”
Calum Williams , Area Sales Manager , Glazerite concludes : “ The college installation looks fantastic , and will go some way to helping them reduce their carbon footprint .
“ As a fabricator , it ’ s our job to make installers ’ jobs easier . We offer a comprehensive product portfolio and add value in other ways , whether that ’ s turning a job around at short notice , or stepping in when our customers make the decision to cease in-house fabrication as we have done with the team at Howard Yarnold .”
www . glazerite . co . uk
LETTER TO THE MEDIA
The emergence of the solid roof market has been in response to the fact that there are over two million conservatories in the UK that are in urgent need of upgrade .
The replacement of a roof gifts homeowners the opportunity to re-ignite the enjoyment of an additional room all year round . And yet , we ’ re also seeing strong sales of new installations too as the glazing industry further moves into the realms of the single-story extension market .
While ‘ warm roof ’ design is the accepted as the best standard for roof construction in the UK and indeed for local authority building inspectors , we ’ re seeing some adoption of timber cold roofs , which are already suffering from condensation nine months of the year ( Google dew points ). Some of the cold roof samples we have are shocking too with the timber cassettes loosely fitting in between the rafters .
These ‘ cold roofs ’ are being marketed incorrectly as ‘ warm roofs ’. Simply Google ‘ Cold Roof vs Warm Roof ’ to check the roof you are being supplied is a true warm roof . Alternatively email us or tag us on social media and we ’ ll happily help out .
The solid roof replacement sector is still gathering pace and we ’ ve assisted several trade partners and consumers with our award-winning WARMroof , to replace a failing cold roof . The perils of these ‘ inferior roof types is considerable with the threat of condensation , emergence of mold and even rotting timbers over time . Surely as an industry we must focus on the supply of roofs that are ‘ warm ’ by definition and not just in name .
Because if we fail to do this , we are failing the trade and ultimately the consumer with roof solutions that could be deemed not fit for purpose .
So , if anyone ’ s in any doubt a ‘ warm roof ’ enjoys full insulation above the rafters and not just loosely in between as defined by the wider construction and roofing sectors . You have been warned !
Chris Cooke Director , Prefix Systems
www . prefixsystems . co . uk