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OCTOBER 2015 PRO INSTALLER
PRO BUSINESS
www.proinstaller.co.uk
HOW THE DOUBLE GLAZING
INDUSTRY IS CHANGING
A recent report on the double glazing industry by Insight Data has highlighted
several ways in which the
industry is currently changing. Here are five of the
most fascinating trends
the report has found:
1. HIGH VALUE PVCU
PRODUCTS ARE GROWING
IN POPULARITY
The Window Industry report
highlights a growing trend
amongst installers for high
end PVCu products. These
include items such as flush sash
windows, vertical sliders and
custom colouring. This seems to
reflect a growing trend amongst
installers of diversification.
Many double glazing installers
are continuing to expand their
product ranges to tackle new
markets.
2. DEMAND FOR
CONSERVATORY
REPLACEMENT PRODUCTS
IS GROWING
Although experiencing a somewhat sluggish start, demand for
conservatory replacement products, such as frames, roofs and
roofline, is beginning to pick up.
The report highlights a growing
popularity amongst homeowners for this type of product and
all signs are pointing to the
conservatory repair/replacement
market being particularly lucrative in the coming years.
5. THE ROLES OF
INSTALLER AND BUILDER
ARE BLURRING
3. THE ALUMINIUM MARKET
IS RAPIDLY EXPANDING
‘a growing trend
amongst homeowners
to find a costeffective alternative
to an extension’
The report finds that aluminium is now a firmly established
alternative to PVCu for windows, doors and conservatories:
not just bifolding doors. It’s not
surprising to see the growth of
aluminium, when you consider
the host of aesthetic and thermal
performance benefits that the
material provides.
4. SOLID CONSERVATORY
ROOFS ARE BECOMING
POPULAR
According to the Insight report
solid conservatory roofs are also
now becoming popular, highlighting a growing trend amongst
homeowners to find a cost-effective alternative to an extension.
Solid roof conservatories blend
the increased natural light benefits of a conservatory with the
permanency and ‘cosiness’ of an
extension.
One of the most interesting
things that the research seems to
suggest is that the lines between
that of the installer and the
builder will become increasingly
blurred over the coming years
due to the growth of retail trade
counters. In effect, the business
model is altering the supplier/installer relationship, and widening
access to new trade customers,
‘Builder Installers’. The wide
range of easily available home
improvement products offered
through these outlets will mean
that both installers and builders
could evolve into a shared role
of ‘home improvement specialist’
over the coming decade.
www.thecpa.co.uk
CELEBRATING
A QUARTER OF
A CENTURY IN
PARTNERSHIP
Surrey based Professional Window Contracting
has just celebrated 25 years in business and
25 years as part of the REHAU family.
To mark the event,
REHAU’s Southern
Head of Sales Glyn
Rogers and Marketing
and Technical Director
Gareth Jones visited
the company’s Sutton headquarters to
present founder and
Managing Director Tony
Longworth with an
engraved trophy and
framed certificate.
Glyn, who has worked
closely with Professional for many years, said:
“Professional Windows is
one of only a very small
number of companies who
have been able to achieve
real success across several
market sectors.
“As well as its core window contracting business
serving the new build and
social housing sectors, it
also has a highly successful retail business - Cheam
Windows, with four show
centres across Surrey and
a thriving trade counter
– Professional Building
Plastics, based at its Sutton
HQ.
“All three are continuing to grow and it’s a real
pleasure for REHAU to still
be supporting them all after a quarter of a century.”
Professional Window
Contracting started out as
a fabricator, manufacturing
for 16 years as it also built
its reputation in the commercial market as a social
housing installer.
However, nine years ago,
Tony Longworth took the
strategic decision to stop
fabricating and instead
switched by buying in
from REHAU trade specialist Climatec Windows in
Southend. That proved an
important move and meant
Professional was able to
focus on sales and installation, expanding rapidly to
achieve a turnover last year
of more than £6.6m
As well as acknowledging
the fantastic contribution
of his team and particularly
his business partner Gary
Hand, Tony attributes part
of the company’s success to another important
decision – choosing the
REHAU brand at the outset
and st icking to that for 25
years.
‘REHAU has never
let us down’
Tony said: “REHAU has
never let us down over
25 years and continues to
provide us with valuable
technical and planning
support on many of our
large scale social housing
projects.”
Visit www.
professionalwindows.co.uk