JANUARY 2020 | 25
Installer Support
Read online at www.proinstaller.co.uk
TAKING THE
HARD TO INSTALL
OUT OF GLASS
HARDWARE
CRL’s taper-Loc glass balustrade system is a dry wall system that is easy
to install and maintain, leading it to be chosen by installers working on
prestigious projects such as the Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles.
With trends in door and
window hardware having a big
effect on the overall look and feel
of a building, what are the key
looks that installers might find
themselves working with and just
how easy are they to fit? Simon
Boocock, Managing Director of
CRL Europe, looks at some of the
main trends now being seen in
this market.
Hardware is an all-important
part of any window and door de-
sign. With glass being an increas-
ingly popular material for use on
external and internal projects, the
hardware that holds it all togeth-
er doesn’t just have a practical
job to do. The finish and style
of hardware chosen can make a
huge difference to the look and
feel of the entire project. Little
wonder then that we are seeing
some key trends emerging in this
market, which are now being seen
across all types of commercial and
residential situations, from office
blocks to apartment buildings.
A major trend in hardware de-
sign currently is towards finishes
other than chrome. Matte black,
for example, makes a sophisti-
cated and elegant statement that
is bold but also timeless. While
light colours have always been
a popular way of reflecting light
and creating a sense of spacious-
ness, there is now a shift towards
dark, ambient shades, and black
in particular.
Like chrome before it, matte
black offers a huge level of ver-
satility, enabling it to be specified
for virtually any situation. This
is a finish that sits well in any
setting and works in harmony
with a wide range of materials
and finishes. Giving installers the
opportunity to offer customers
a greater choice when select-
ing door hardware, matte black
creates a minimal look, which
is another key trend in terms of
architectural hardware.
The lean towards alternative
finishes is particularly preva-
lent in bathroom design, with
shower hardware now available
in this latest striking matte black
finish. Increasingly being seen
on brassware, this finish is now
filtering through to shower and
door hardware including hinges,
support bars and door knobs,
creating a harmonious look
throughout the bathroom. On a
practical note, a matte finish of-
fers a fingerprint and smudge-re-
sistant alternative to polished
surfaces such as chrome and
stainless steel, another reason for
its aesthetic appeal.
The ‘barely there’ approach
to design that is being seen in
commercial and residential pro-
jects currently, with the framel-
ess look refusing to be ignored,
lends itself particularly well to
the addition of matte black as
a hardware finish. Glass parti-
tions and balustrades too, are
increasingly being specified for
open-plan office environments
CRL offers hardware in a range of finishes,
including sophisticated Matte Black, from partition
systems to hinges and hydraulic patch fittings.
and public buildings, creating
a high-end aesthetic look while
also being a highly practical way
of creating a bright, spacious
environment. For installers, it is
important that such hardware
is straightforward to fit, with
minimal downtime and minimal
mess.
Using a dry-glazed system, for
example, will keep disruption to
a minimum throughout installa-
tion and any future maintenance.
Choosing a system with thin pro-
files means that the architectural
hardware will barely be noticed
and when it is opting for an on-
trend finish such as matte black
creates a stylish, cohesive look in
the modern setting.
Such systems will not only
make installation straightforward,
the end result will be a feeling
of openness and light that is in
character with the ethos of the
entire building
For more details call 01706
863600, email crl@crlaurence.
co.uk, or visit
www.crlaurence.co.uk