Sculptured windows remain a very popular choice, particularly in uPVC.  In this article, we explain more about sculptured windows, look at other styles and also explain which aluminium bifolds can match your existing or new PVCu windows.

Can you buy an aluminium bifold to match PVCu sculptured windows?

Aluminium bifolding doors for sculptured windows.

One of the reasons sculptured windows remain popular is their suitability for the wide variety of British homes. There are many different sculptured profile windows available from some of the best brands such as Rehau, Veka or Eurocell.  The Liniar PVCu sculptured window is particularly popular with home improvement companies as well as being slimmer. A putty line feature is another great benefit for those wanting a good looking window.

Ovolo is another name for sculptured.  The prominent feature is how it resembles the beading on traditional windows. With PVCu windows especially, sculptured windows give you all the benefits of timber look windows with the security, energy efficiency and newness of PVCu.

As well as opening out casement windows, you can also have sculptured tilt and turn windows or fixed windows.

Chamfered PVCu windows.

Chamfered windows look slightly different in having a slope to the edge of the profile. This style of window particularly suits older properties thanks to its flatter and neater look, often slimmer too.

Consequently, sculptured windows are ideal for larger windows, conservatory glazing or door side panels.

Sculptured aluminium bifolding door profile to match your existing or new PVCu windows.

Choosing aluminium bifolds for sculptured windows in PVCu.

With many houses having brand new or older PVCu windows, you will already be happy with your purchase.  However, if you’re extending or updating your doors, there are some good reasons to consider a bifolding door matching the sculptured windows in your home. For instance:

• You want bifolding doors to replace your existing French Doors benefitting from more flexibility and a bigger opening in the summer.
• The intended bifolding doors are in close proximity to existing PVCu windows such as in a conservatory or orangery.
• The windows in your home come in one of the latest woodgrain or plain colour foil finishes.
• You just like the look of a more traditional looking bifolding door.

Above all, the benefits of aluminium bifolding doors are well-known over PVCu versions and recommended for this type of patio door.

Presently, there are two products available to match the aesthetics of PVCu windows.  One is the Integral Bifolding door from Epwin Windows. New to the market it is marketed exactly for this purpose.

The Alumina bifolding door offers, in our view, a more sophisticated and technically superior proposition.  The hardware is excellent with premium construction, look and feel. Alumina comes with a low threshold also having a weather rating. The sizes available with Alumina give you bigger door panels and more glass as a result.

As well as bifolding doors, sculptured aluminium like Alumina by Liniar also enable you to have matching single or French doors. The same profile as the bifolds ensures a consistent look throughout your home.

Other reasons to consider sculptured windows and doors.

Contemporary bifolding and sliding doors look great in the home, often providing a great contrast to existing windows.  However, the softer lines of a sculptured aluminium profile are also compelling reasons to consider it.

• Your home has existing timber sculptured windows and a new timber bifold is too expensive. Therefore, look at a woodgrain aluminium bifold door as a solution.
• Older and character properties suit a more traditional looking or woodgrain door over a contemporary product.
• You may prefer sculptured doors like Alumina being easy on the eye compared to the flat appearance of other aluminium systems.
• You prefer the look of a more classic looking and elegant door in your home.

Contact us for where to view and buy sculptured aluminium doors.

When it comes to bifolding doors, we always recommend looking out for different products, particularly new ones; Sculptured doors are one such example.  Our advice is to see the doors and compare to other brands to make a well-informed choice.  Contact us to ask us any questions about these or other bifolding doors and where to buy.

The post Buying Sculptured Windows and Doors appeared first on Aluminium Trade Supply.

The SUNFLEX range of over 35 home improvement products comes from a professional network of trained SUNFLEX suppliers.  Buying from an accredited supplier of products offers homeowners additional peace of mind compared with sourcing them from the broader supply chain.  We explain how manufacturing businesses such as SUNFLEX support their dealer network and how this benefits the homeowner.

Products and services from SUNFLEX suppliers.

SUNFLEX is best known for its German-made bifolding doors as well as sliding doors, frameless products and windows.  The bifolding door products, slide and turn doors and frameless systems are made in Germany. The rest of the SUNFLEX range is made in the UK.  Based in Norwich, the company services its network of installers all, independent professional companies.

As all products are at the quality end of the market, SUNFLEX suppliers specialise in both standard and more demanding projects.  Some installers choose SUNFLEX products as the premium or luxury option added to their standard product range.  Other dealers use SUNFLEX exclusively or as part of an overall range of high-end windows and doors.

Therefore when buying from SUNFLEX suppliers, you benefit from not only quality products but also professional, trained and experienced home improvement businesses. However, you also benefit from a range of support services not available from non-dealer suppliers.

SUNFLEX support services to installers and homeowners.

Like other businesses supplying products to a trained and approved a network of installers, SUNFLEX works with their dealers to ensure you get the best service and customer experience.  Other installers buying brands such as Aluk, Smart Systems, Schuco or Reynaers won’t always get the same service.  The is because many different manufacturers make the products as trade suppliers.  There are countless manufacturers of these products all offering different levels of service, quality, training and after-care. This doesn’t mean these products are inferior, merely that often the exact source of your new windows and doors is unknown.

Many of these trade suppliers are in the business of only making products for the trade. Broadly speaking their work is to supply ready-made doors correctly only.  They rarely deal with you as your contract is not with you.

Sunflex, like other dealer-focused businesses, exclusively making their products, offers the following services to the homeowner, not always available with everyone from the general trade supply market.

Training on fitting SUNFLEX products.

Every approved SUNFLEX dealer undergoes sales, product and installation training.  This training is free and ensures your highly engineered windows and doors are correctly specified, made and fitted.  Only a precise installation ensures a reliable product for years to come.

The training does not just apply to just fitting the products. The SUNFLEX showroom in Norwich is extensive and available for both homeowners to visit as well as provide sales training.

Contact with Recognised Distributors.

As a long-established business with a prominent brand, SUNFLEX receives enquiries from homeowners directly.  When you contact the company, they put you in touch with one of their best suppliers.  First of all, you deal with smart, ethical and sound businesses.  There is no high-pressure selling and only clear information and advice. You also get a full understanding of the process involved as well as fully protected products, expertly crafted and professionally installed.

For the installation itself, your new SUNFLEX windows or door installation is carried out with care and precision. Replacement doors or windows fit with minimum disruption to your home and your possessions. Additionally, suitable cleaning at the end of the installation is part of the final finishing off of the installation, if required. New build installations require less tidying up if building works are ongoing. Your doors are left fully protected if needed, while other trades work around them.

As well as a full service, SUNFLEX suppliers provide the following assurances:

• A home improvement business vetted and approved as a Sunflex UK distributor.
• Have received all the required product and installation training.
• Dealing with a financially stable business.
• Have a history of installing SUNFLEX products to a satisfactory conclusion.
• Peace of mind with guarantees, deposit protection and other accreditations.
• Have the systems in place to solve any problems as well as carry out servicing work.

Above all, at the end of your installation, your SUNFLEX dealer provides full product training. They ensure you understand how to use the product, as well as easy-care cleaning and maintenance. Also provided are your customer documents, operation manuals and any maintenance instructions.

Sunflex Showrooms

A SUNFLEX showroom is the best place to experience and understand the engineering, quality and design of the products. All SUNFLEX showrooms have up-to-date products at full sizes and in real-world environments. It is in these showrooms you see the ultra-low thresholds, slimline profiles and contemporary appearance associated with the brand.

Therefore, buying new windows and doors through a supported dealer network usually provides you with a more direct approach to your manufacturer. Additionally, you are more aware of the training and vetting processes involved to supply top of the range products like Sunflex.

Interested in becoming a supplier of Sunflex doors?

For installers interested in finding out about the benefits of selling these premium, desirable doors, contact us for further information.

Contact us for further information and to get a quote for SUNFLEX windows and doors.

Sunflex offers a range of premium bifolding and sliding doors, windows and entrance doors.  Contact us for any questions and to get details of a local installer and where to buy.

The post Information about SUNFLEX suppliers appeared first on Aluminium Trade Supply.

Windows with built-in blinds come in all the major materials.  As well as aluminium windows, pvcu, timber, and even composite hybrid windows all suit any of the integral blind systems on the market.

Integral blinds provide many benefits over conventional after-market blinds. We explain everything you need to know when buying new windows with blinds between the glass.

Information about windows with built-in blinds.

First of all, buying integral blinds for any window means getting in touch with a reputable supplier of windows and doors. Virtually all integral blind systems reach the homeowner through a network of home improvement businesses and window installers.  Few manufacturers of integral blinds supply the end-user directly as they are higher up the supply chain as manufacturers of double glazed units.

Therefore if you need a price for integral blinds for any windows as well as doors, you need to get a price for the windows at the same time.

Aluminium, as well as PVCu and timber windows all, use the same integral blind systems.  The deciding factor in whether any new or replacement window suits integral blinds is the glazing cavity, as well as the thickness of the sealed unit it accepts.  Most modern windows with built-in blinds come with a 24mm or 28mm glazing cavity for double glazed units.  Triple glazing also suits integral blinds being a deeper cavity – typically 32mm or more.

When you place your order for your new windows, the window manufacturer issues your installer with the glass manufacturing sizes.  These sizes form the basis of the order to the integral blind manufacturers.  Your integral blinds come made to these sizes.  Once your window supplier receives the glass with blinds, he glazes them into your new windows at your property as part of the overall installation.

Many PVCu and timber windows come factory glazed.  Where you need these types of windows with built-in blinds, your windows supplier either provides the units to the manufacturer or the manufacturer deals directly with a supplier of integral blinds.

The benefits of buying windows with integrated blinds.

One of the most significant benefits of buying windows with built-in blinds is less wear and tear.  The blind sits permanently sealed within the double glazed unit. Therefore, they never need cleaning, they do not gather any dust, and the blinds remain protected.  There is no risk of any damage from wind, children, pets or general wear and tear from being exposed to the internal environment of a home.

Another benefit of integral blinds staying clean and dust-free means a longer service life compared to after-market fabric, plastic or wood blinds.

The glass supplied with modern windows and doors is already of an excellent specification.  As standard, most windows today come with quality glass, having a soft-coat low-emissivity coating, warm edge spacer bars and argon gas fill. Doors also have the same specification with the glass always toughened or laminated safety glass.  The result of this good specification is excellent energy efficiency.  However, when you fit an integral blind between the glass, the performance of the unit improves further.

Integral blinds sit very neatly within the glass also offering excellent privacy, with fewer gaps compared to cheaper wood, metal or plastic horizontal blinds. As with any other blind, they tilt as well as raise and lower.

Finally, the manually operated blind often comes with a simple magnet operation or electric option.  This makes windows with built-in blinds a safer product compared to dangling cords.  There is even a solar control integral blind option, opening and closing the blinds as daylight changes.

Origin windows with built-in blinds alongside Origin bifolds, supplied by Open Living in Letchworth.

What to consider when buying windows with built-in blinds.

One primary consideration when buying any windows with integral blinds is that the blind is part of the glass unit. This is a permanent fixture. Therefore, we suggest you visit a showroom and see how full-size windows with blinds look. Only by looking at a product can you decide if windows with built-in blinds are for you.

Furthermore, every integral blind needs a perimeter frame to house the mechanisms for the blind system.  Consequently, windows with integral blinds have less visible glass than standard glass units. Every integral blind differs.  Some have very visible raised and stacked blind slats, others less visible.  You should expect to see a thick sight line at the top of the units with the blind raised.

Despite the reduced glass sizes, the benefit is no new curtains or blinds.  Also, many modern aluminium windows and doors are slim, contemporary and highly attractive products. Therefore where after-market curtains and blinds obscure your glazing, integral blinds let you enjoy the fine lines and colour of your new windows and doors while enjoying privacy and shade from the closed blinds.

Windows with built-in blinds also look great inside the home or office.

Getting a quotation for new windows with integral blinds.

To find out how much windows with built-in blinds cost requires extra and necessary information such as your window sizes, blind colours, preferred blinds operation and details relating to the window frames. Only then can you get an accurate quotation for your home improvement project.

Contact us to find out where to buy or get a price. You can use the contact form on this page for further information or for us to put you in touch with a local supplier offering brands of aluminium windows with built-in blinds.

The post Buying Windows with Built-in Blinds appeared first on Aluminium Trade Supply.

Google Synseal Reviews or Warmcore Reviews and the results are not positive.  A visit to the Synseal Group Reviews on Trustpilot reveals 93% rated as ‘bad’ with just 7% rated as ‘average’. Homeowners contacting our website also ask if they should steer away from Synseal’s products after finding negative Synseal and Warmcore reviews online.

This article addresses some of the negative reviews and importantly, also explains why Synseal, in many cases, is unfairly criticised.

Synseal offers the Warmcore suite of bifolding doors, sliding door and windows.

Information and advice about Synseal Reviews online.

Most of the negative comments centre around the Warmcore range of bifolding doors. On the one hand,  the Synseal reviews on Trustpilot are small in number, compared to over 500 reviews for Origin’s range of windows and doors. On the other hand, some of these reviews are so bad, we think they could unfairly impact sales of the Warmcore product.

Furthermore, many excellent businesses fabricate and install Warmcore are potentially losing out on good business as a result of these reviews.  Even more pertinent is some companies set up entirely on the back of the Warmcore product when it launched in 2015.  Synseal is a substantial systems company with some industry leading brands under its belt.

Moreover, is the Warmcore product good and are the negative Warmcore reviews and Synseal complaints justified?

The Warmcore System is a quality, fit-for-purpose product.

First of all, Warmcore remains fit-for-purpose and not sub-standard.  Our comprehensive review of the Warmcore bifolding door explains more about Synseal’s product.  The Warmcore system is an innovative hybrid system using a combination of a big PVCu thermal core with aluminium on the inside and outside faces.  As a system and as a concept, Warmcore is good.  However, like all door and window systems, it comes with certain characteristics within its design, manufacturing and installation.

The substantial thermal core provides excellent U-Values with standard glass units, where other systems need enhanced glass or triple glazing.  However, this is a PVCu core and entirely different from the polyamide core used in most aluminium systems.  It is also not as forgiving as polyamide meaning extra care in both fabrication and installation.

When Warmcore is incorrectly made and incorrectly fitted, the product is potentially problematic, such as bowed door sashes and even the aluminium capping coming off the thermal core.  We must stress this is not a design fault.  Any product not made to a good standard risks problems as a result.

Above all, the extrusions, thermal core, powder coating, components and hardware all meet or exceed current British and European Standards. Warmcore also meets Secured by Design for security as well as the relevant classifications for air wind and water and a 10 year guarantee.

Understanding the negative Synseal Reviews.

With many years experience in the fabrication and installation of windows and doors, we can see that the negative reviews around Synseal are seemingly as a result of incorrect fabrication and poor installation.  The Warmcore system itself is not entirely to blame.

Synseal, to their credit, responds to these reviews and stresses they do not manufacture the product. Synseals only designs and supplies the materials. It is Synseal’s network of nationwide fabricators making Warmcore. Also to their credit is Synseal acknowledging early versions of Warmcore had issues and these are now addressed.

Just like every other major systems company Synseal’s role is supplying bar lengths and accessories to their fabricators. They also provide training, tooling and overall support.  Schuco, Reynaers, Smart Systems, Aluk, SAPA Building Systems for aluminium work in exactly the same way.  Liniar, Rehau, Kommerling, Eurocell, Duraflex and others with PVCu also work in exactly the same way.

We can also tell you that every systems company like the aforementioned invests substantial sums in bringing a product to market.  Design, testing, independent certification, training and supply is an expensive and complicated process.  No systems company sets out to design a bad product. And Warmcore is not a bad product.

Furthermore, as with any new product, manufacturers and installers regularly working with it, provide feedback to the systems company. As a result, they continually improve their product throughout its life cycle.  Assuming Synseal supplies correctly extruded profiles to their fabricators, it is fabricators and installers apparently letting the company down from the online reviews.

Synseal works just like most major systems companies.

There are also comments relating to Synseal charging customers for site visits to inspect their product.  We can tell you they are not unique in this and other systems companies also charge.  The role of the systems company in the overall supply chain is rarely dealing with homeowners directly.  In these reviews, Synseal does clarify their role and how they work.

So we stress again, that the negative Synseal reviews are putting the blame on the designer of the product and the raw material supplier.  This is unfair when the negative experiences are down factors, many of which are clearly outside of Synseal’s direct control.  However, it does appear that Synseal needs to improve how it supplies Warmcore materials.

We understand that Synseal do fabricate some of their products as well, so for balance presume some of the negative reviews relate to doors coming out of the Synseal factory.

Our advice to Synseal is this:

1. Get actively involved in not only assessing some of their fabricators better but also work closely with the homeowners to achieve a satisfactory conclusion.
2. Provide better training to fabricators and installers of Warmcore.  Many of the problems would never arise with a correctly made and fitted product.
3. Synseal must encourage these customers to leave further reviews once problems are fully resolved and the customer is happy.

Alufold Warmcore bifolds offer unique features you won’t find on other products.

Looking to buy Warmcore? Choose your fabricator and installer carefully.

Above all, do your research and check out who makes your Warmcore doors.  A good Warmcore supplier makes a fine product or sources it from a good fabricator. We stress again, Warmcore, like any other door and window, needs precise fabrication and correct installation.

The door and window industry is a competitive space with many different ways to buy windows and doors. There are some fabricators selling at rock bottom prices and reflected in the quality.  There are also excellent fabricators making outstanding products of the highest quality with a 1st-class service all round. Therefore, any product is only as good a who makes and fits it.  Importantly, the professional Warmcore fabricators and installers do not experience the issues raised by the negative Synseal reviews.

This is where we can help you.  Use our contact form on this page and get in touch.  We can put you in touch with Warmcore fabricators or suppliers that not only fully understand Warmcore, but they also make it well and know how to fix it.

One such Warmcore fabricator and installer working nationwide is Aluhaus in Nottingham.  Not only do Aluhaus make Warmcore well, but they’ve also re-engineered and enhanced it providing even more features and benefits over the standard Warmcore. 

Synseals’s Warmcore range is a good product and the negative Synseal reviews should not frighten you to death about the consequences of buying it. Contact us for further information, advice or where to buy.

If you make or fit Warmcore, please leave your comments below with your experiences.

The post The Negative Synseal Reviews Explained appeared first on Aluminium Trade Supply.

The aluminium doors, windows and curtain walling products from Senior Architectural Systems are some of the most widely specified in the construction sector.  The newest product from Senior is the PURe® Commercial Door.

Senior Architectural commercial doors are also extensively used in commercial buildings such as schools, shops, offices and hospitals all over the United Kingdom.  We review the new  PURe® Commercial Door explaining its construction, features and where you can use it.

Senior Systems commercial doors are extensively specified in high traffic buildings.

Information about the Senior Architectural PURe® Commercial Door.

The PURe® Commercial Door joins the general and patented PURe range from Senior Architectural.  This particular series of windows and doors come with the very latest in thermal core technology.  PURe uses a high insulated polyurethane thermal core.  As a result, the U-Values (subject to glass choices and design details) get down to impressive levels for energy efficient buildings.

Furthermore, the PUR thermal barrier is solid.  Senior Architectural says that testing profiles with the new  PUR thermal core provided better shear testing results compared to some systems with the conventional polyamide thermal break. As well as this, all PURe windows and doors offer a long life span, simple construction and decent warranty.

The current PURe range from Senior Architectural includes:

• Casement windows and inward opening windows as well as tilt and turn.
• Residential hinged doors.
• Inline and Lift and Slide Doors.
• Bifolding doors.

So the Senior Architectural PURe® Commercial Door is intended as a heavy duty option to the existing range of domestic products and especially for high traffic buildings.

Uses for the new PURe® Commercial Door.

First of all, this new Senior commercial door is not entirely a competitor, to other commercial aluminium doors on the market.

This door is a rebated door opening in or out.  Most commercial doors generally come as centre hung doors with a concealed closer and threshold pivot, therefore capable of opening in and out. This does not mean the new Senior door is unsuitable as the main entrance door to a building. It just means that entrances needing double action doors still need to use the centre hung door arrangement.  The other range of commercial door products from Senior such as its SFG and SD ranges provide solutions in double action door applications.

We see the new PURe® commercial door as an ideal door as the main entrance to apartment buildings, in any office building needing a single action rebated door and especially in buildings such as care homes, nurseries, retirement apartments and similar commercial buildings also acting as dwellings.

Another important consideration with specifying this door is how this door sits with the current requirements of The Equality Act, BS8300 and Part M of the current Building Regulations.  These standards stipulate specific opening and closing forces for doors in public buildings.  The best way of achieving compliance is to provide a door with an automatic opening. Senior Systems does offer this functionality with this new commercial door.

Above all, this new and highly thermally efficient commercial door is ideal anywhere needing a reliable, high-traffic door.  It is suitable as an entrance door, personnel door, fire exit door as well as an access control door.

Features and Benefits of the new Senior Systems commercial door.

A commercial door needs to meet several additional requirements, over and above a door in a dwelling.  With this new door, Senior Systems introduce some expected features as well as some new ones for a high-traffic door.

Door sizes up to 1400mm wide and 3000mm high.

The first stand-out feature of the door is its impressive door sizes.  Most commercial doors with a concealed or face fixed door closer generally come at about 1200mm wide and 2400mm high. The size and strength of the door closer determine most commercial door sizes.

For doors without a door closer, free-swinging on hinges, typically 1250mm high and 2500mm high feature with most high traffic doors.  Here, Senior Architectural excel, with door sizes of up to 1400mm wide and 3000mm high.  The caveat to these big sizes is the locking system fitted.

Doors fitted with a panic bar only go up to 1350mm wide and 2500mm high. With panic bar rods restricted on size, this reduced size is acceptable. The same applies to doors fitted with an electronic or access control lock with dimensions up to  1400mm wide and 2500mm high.

It is unlikely many public buildings (shops, supermarkets, office blocks etc.) will specify doors at these sizes with user comfort in mind.  However, it does allow architects more design freedom in self-build homes as well as other medium-traffic commercial projects needing reliable doors at bigger widths and heights than conventional residential doors.

A rebated door with an anti-finger trap stile.

The anti-finger trap hinge stile is not a legal requirement, but any sensible professional installer provides it as standard with a public entrance door.  The PURe® commercial door also comes with the anti-finger trap hinge stile. You also get floating mullions, a 75mm frame depth as well as the expected choice of midrails and bottom rails. As a result, this door offers nearly all of the options for a reliable commercial door.

Above all, these impressive door sizes demonstrate the engineering and peace-of-mind robustness in a door such as this. Senior Systems products are renowned for their reliability and durability, already tried and tested in high-traffic buildings for years.  We know many aluminium fabricators love making Senior products.

A high performance commercial door with slim sightlines.

With maximum weights up to 180kg per door leaf, and with the strong PUR core, these are robust doors. Again they will suit projects where big doors are a design feature as well as suitable for apartment building balcony doors, entry and exit doors or even as part of an impressive entrance lobby.

Sightlines are rarely a consideration when specifying commercial doors, and Senior say they have kept these to a minimum, allowing for bigger glass sizes and better views. These doors come as hinged open in or out doors, as a fire exit door with a suitable panic exit device or with a range of electronic locking options.

There are three thresholds available, being a fully framed where Build Regulation compliance is not needed, a low threshold as well as a rebated option.  Therefore these are ideal doors to commercial developments of apartments.

For doors likely to undergo extensive use and even abuse, such as schools, an optional tie-rod protects the bottom rail of the door. This provides a cheaper option to the welded Kawneer commercial door.

Thermal, performance and technical specifications.

Commercial doors don’t need to meet the same low U-Values and Energy Ratings of residential products.  Non-thermal commercial entrance doors continue to get specified in high traffic buildings, alongside polyamide versions. As a result, U-Values are high with a commercial door.  Another reason for this is the big range of exit devices, door closers, door entry systems and other door furniture. With a commercial door, functionality such as public safety as well as building security often means a compromise in thermal performance.

Commercial door U-Values.

Senior’s new door with the whole PUR concept offers incredible thermal and acoustic efficiency.  Not only are U-Values down to 0.94W/m2K (CEN Standard) possible it surpasses the usually-acceptable 3.5Wm2K U-Value for standard commercial doors.  Again this places the product well for commercial developments of apartments as well as any other building where the overall thermal performance is essential.

Senior Architectural have added their existing expertise in commercial door systems to this new product too. You get the glass thicknesses up to 60mm thick. Therefore the door works with acoustic glazing, integral blinds, triple glazing and other high specification glass options.

Weather Performance.

Weather performance testing meets the usual BS 6375-1:2009. The door achieves 600Pa for air and water tightness, with 2400Pa for wind resistance. All these are perfectly acceptable for a commercial door product.

As expected, security testing meets PAS24: 2016, and Document Q. Do check with your supplier. Security certification entirely depends on what locking systems come with the door as well as the glass. Also important is with what door configuration, Senior tested the PURe® commercial door.

As with any door and window, different door configurations all produce different ratings.  Do not assume every Senior door design achieves the stated performance figures.  Senior Architectural operates an excellent Technical Department to provide the correct information.

We see this as an ideal door for new flats and apartments.

Summary and conclusion.

For specifiers, this new product allows them to choose a reliable and robust door offering more features than conventional doors.  The thermal performance makes this new commercial door different from other comparable doors for the commercial sector.

Aluk offers the Optio 58BD Entrance Door, the 58BD Flush Entrance Door both hinged doors for the medium-use commercial market. Smart Systems has the Visoline range, although now slightly dated.  SAPA Building Systems has the Dualframe 75HP. Comar also has the 7P.i range and specifically the Comar 7P.i ECO Door system.  All of these offer reliable doors for the commercial sector but remain polyamide systems.  Importantly, not every one of these has the same outstanding U-Values, size capability and glazing range.

We see this as an excellent door for anything other than the primary high traffic entrance to a commercial building.  Here the established centre hung or automatic doors remain the best choice.  However, for commercial doors elsewhere in a building they are new, different and fit for purpose.

As expected from an aluminium door, there is a big range of colours as well as several options for door furniture and accessories.

Senior fabricators benefit from punch tooling, pre-drilled door cleats and colour coded components. Senior ensure all their products are easy to make and fit. The PURe® commercial door is no exception.

Commercial door installers already offering the broader range of Senior aluminium doors will invariably embrace the product, and it does provide an alternative and very energy efficient door over other commercial door brands.

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Bifolding doors provide an excellent solution for new extensions as well as replacing older patio doors.  The range of bifolding door sizes available means that there is no such thing as a standard size.  So a bifolding door can be made to fit almost anything from a tradition french door opening through to the largest folding glass walls.

Bifolding doors, therefore, provide great flexibility and functionality, enabling most houses to benefit from these popular types of doors.  We explain some of the important things around bifolding door sizes.

SUNFLEX is one high quality system with panels up to 3.5 metres high.

Understanding bifolding door sizes.

Most bifolding doors come with minimum panel sizes from 400mm wide.  The maximum panel width varies with each product. Typically maximum sizes go up to about 1200mm wide. For the bifolding door heights, most brands accommodate standard and taller openings.  Some bifolding doors such as SUNFLEX go up to 3.5 metres high to meet a need for even bigger doors.

With most bifolding doors allowing up to seven leaves (with more possible), many different configurations exist.  Door panels slide to the left or the right, as well as an equal or unequal split.

Study the various bifold door systems, and you see how the number of panels provides different ways to slide and fold.  The number of panels also affects bifolding door sizes.

The panel width you choose determines the number of door panels. Most bifolding doors go up to at least 1 metre wide per panel, with others better engineered for wider panels.

The bifolding door brand may dictate the design.

Another consideration is whether your choice of bifold determines the overall configuration. Again this is largely down to the door panel sizes. For instance:

A four-metre door opening with door panels at 1metre width naturally gives you four panels.  If you choose a brand with door panels up to 1350mm, you only need three panels.  Three panels mean less visible mullions, bigger doors and, of course, bigger glass.

A 3.6-metre wide door opening requires four panels with a system offering leaves up to 1000mm. Choose a 1200mm wide panel and again benefit from only three panels. And remember the fewer door panels, the cheaper the bifold door.

Another consideration when thinking about bifolding door sizes is the space taken with the panels open and folded back.  A 1200mm door undoubtedly provides bigger glass and better views with the doors closed. However, they will take up a lot of space folded together. This especially applies if you want your doors to fold into the room and not out onto the patio.

Bifolding door panel sizes compared.

Most of the popular and cheaper systems like the Visofold 1000 bifolding door or the Aluk Optio offer panels up to 1000mm wide. This size is perfectly adequate for most projects and bifolding door sizes.  The premium and better-engineered doors are the ones going wider and taller.  Size capability with bifold door systems is a good indicator of their overall quality and engineering too.

Take a look at some of the well-known brands to see the panel sizes offered.

Importantly, many of the sizes shown with these popular quality brands are for guidance only. Not every system allows you to have their door at the maximum width with the maximum height.  Often a wider or panels mean less on the height.  Check with your supplier or contact us for help and advice.

Finally, the bigger the panel, the fewer doors and fewer visible mullions. As a result, you get a six-metre door with only five panels as a further example.

Floating Mullions on Bifolding Doors.

If you desire an even number of door panels (2, 4, or 6) all sliding/folding in one direction, many brands must come with a floating mullion. The floating mullion adds an extra aluminium profile and sight line to the locking side of the door. As a result, the closed door set can look uneven, especially on a two panel bifold.  The floating mullion on even number doors presents the door gear from hitting the side frame when the doors close.

You won’t need a floating million on an even number of doors (4 or 6) where they are split. For instance a four panel door with one door opening to the left and three to the right.

Bifolding door sizes for smaller openings.

Many new build homes, as well as older properties, feature a French door or two panel sliding door at the back of the house.  Is it worth having a bifolding door in these apertures intended for French Doors?  There are pros and cons to replacing French doors with a two or three panel bifolding door.

Two panel doors can only fold in one direction. This may not be convenient if this is the only door at the back of the house and you use it often.  Consider a three panel bifold.  You get the traffic door but much smaller door panels.

If you do have a traffic door, consider hanging it on the adjacent leaf. As a result, your doors fully open to the one side which works much better.  The floating mullion is necessary on a two panel door too.

Finally, consider privacy and shade.

With all bifolding doors for large openings comes issues with heat, light and shade. This is especially true for elevations in direct sunlight.

Integral glass blinds provide a great solution but add to the cost.  Integral blinds work particularly well with bigger bifolding door sizes.  The benefit of integral blinds is no cleaning, blowing in the wind and a discreet blind housed between the glass of your doors.  We recommend visiting a good showroom and seeing integral blinds in action. They also come as motorised or solar-controlled and in many different colours too.

Our top tips for getting your bifolding door sizes right.

• Always talk to a professional installer and avoid a builder fitting the doors. You also get a better guarantee when supplied and installed.
• The wider the door panel, the fewer visible mullions with bigger door glass.
• Consider the benefits of a traffic or lead door.
• An odd number of door panels gives you a more flexible bifold door.
• Ensure the large doors have premium handles. The more panels, the more internal handles you get.
• Doors over six metres may have joints in the frame.
• Consider one of the premium brands above the cheaper systems.

Need more help and where to buy? Contact us today.

Every year we help thousands of homeowners, answering their questions, suggesting the right products and helping them get in touch with the right suppliers.  Contact us for free, independent and impartial advice.

The post Bifolding Door Sizes; what to consider appeared first on Aluminium Trade Supply.

To get the most out of your new doors for your extension, it is worth knowing a little about sliding patio door sizes.  The size of your new sliding doors is what offers the best comfort and light in the winter months. Furthermore, you want the right functionality when using the doors in the warmer weather.

In this article, we explain some of the things to consider when choosing sliding doors and why the size of your door matters.

New extensions allow greater flexibility in types and sizes of patio doors.

What are the best sliding patio door sizes for your home?

Our message about choosing the best sliding patio doors remains the same. There is no bad product on the market. A well-made and properly fitted door is reliable and functional whatever the brand or system.  Add to this a choice of colour, flexible threshold options and glass options and you get a great product in the home.

First of all, it’s worth addressing how much to spend on doors. Many homeowners also want windows as well as sliding doors.  We suggest focussing the bigger part of the overall doors and windows budget on the doors.  Windows are fairly similar across the board from most of the major systems.  All windows come in many different types and styles but the smaller window sizes consequently place less stress and demand on the product.  Easy to fit, easy to operate, a window is often just a window and usually reliable.

On the other hand, doors come bigger, heavier, with more components and greater demands placed on them.  A well-engineered door with functionality, smooth rolling and quality hardware is where we suggest spending as much as possible.

Sliding patio doors for new extensions.

Choosing the right size sliding door for a new extension gives you much more flexibility and choice than when replacing an existing patio door. There are a number of options to consider here. Most sliding door systems come at sizes to meet small doors on a balcony, porch or other area.  Bigger sliding doors come at sizes of at least 3 metres wide and 3 metres high. Some ultra-premium doors such as the Panoramah! sliding doors go up to nine metres or more.

Whatever your sliding patio door sizes, you have a fairly good choice of options for a new extension.

• Conventional sliding patio doors in the familiar inline sliding operation.
• The latest ultra-slim sliding doors.
• Just like bifolds, sliding doors on a corner with a fixed or moveable corner post.
• Sliding doors disappearing fully into a wall when opened.
• The same flush threshold that is so desirable on bifolding doors.

There are some outstanding products on the market to consider suitable for both standard size or oversize sliding patio doors.

The Schuco Sliding door is one of the best German brands with an excellent lift and slide action. Reynaers Hi-Finity sliding door with gorgeous door furniture and big size capability is another. Also worth considering is the Alumil S650 also sold as the Dutemann Glide-S. This door offers sizes of more than 6 metres with just two panels. Sunflex SVG30 offers a 30mm or 83mm mullion, based on a UK system, but re-engineered to be even better.

The latest slimline sliding doors also offer great solutions.  Many of the products on the market use the Cortizo system such as air 20SL doors, Infiniglide and others. There are complexities with these types of slim doors made around the glass you should be aware of.

Involve your builder and architect when buying patio doors.

Another good tip is to involve your builder or architect at the design stage.  Visit a good showroom, take a look at the threshold for the benefit of your builder.  Also worth doing is asking your supplier for a sample of the door track and threshold.  Not only does this further reinforce what happens at the threshold, but also gives your builder an actual size sample to work with.

Getting your sliding patio door sizes right also means everyone involved in your project understanding the product too. Sliding doors are not all the same. Do this part of your design right and you benefit from either a standard threshold or a flush one.  There is nothing to fear with a well-designed flush threshold.  These are great for aesthetics as well as a minimal step.  Furthermore, wheelchair users or pushchairs and even kids bikes transition easily in and out.

Stepping out in style.  Triple track doors all sliding to one side.

Sliding patio doors for existing openings.

Looking to replace your old patio doors? This is easier.  The good is too, is that old doors came at smaller sizes.  Latest generation sliding doors come at bigger panel sizes.  Therefore old doors such as the Monarch Monaframe in four or six panels now get replaced with fewer panels and bigger glass.  Moreover, you get better functionality, improved security and thinner sight lines.

Any of the doors available are ideal as a replacement for old doors.  And even if you have a hardwood subframe, most doors come with a direct fix arrangement. There are other benefits when replacing your old doors with a new one.

• Improved security thanks to better locking systems and smoother slide action.
• Double as well as triple tracks giving you more options where your doors slide.
• A 50% clear opening changing your three panel doors, as opposed to a 33% clear opening.
• Neater looking doors when having less panels thanks to less visible mullions.

Choosing how your new doors slide.

A number of options exist in how your new sliding doors open and operate.

Inline Sliding Patio doors. The traditional arrangement where each panel sits on a track and within the overall frame.  Simply unlock and push/pull the door to the designed position.  Slimline doors made around the glass usually come inline sliding only.

Lift and Slide. This is one great way of making big doors effortless in opening and sliding.  A different type of rotating handle controls the door.  The door lifts up when turning the handle 180° and ready to move.  Another benefit is securing the door in the partially open position too.

Tilt and slide.  Available with Schuco, Reynaers, Comar and others are added ventilation.  The door panels tilts in like an opening window, providing ventilation without sliding the door open.

Choosing your sliding door sizes? Some useful advice.

• Plan early and involve all parties. You will get a smoother project with less stress. Get them to see a door or a sample.
• Always see the doors in a showroom.  If your builder supplies the doors make sure you know what you are getting.
• The bigger the doors, the likelihood of additional machinery to transport and fix. The price reflects this.
• Try out the doors.  Many showrooms already have big sliding doors to see and use. Or get in touch and we can tell you where to view.
• Expect your doors to be a different brand from your windows.  Neither will they look the same.

Need more help? Contact us and ask a question.

Every day we answer questions about buying aluminium doors, windows and other home improvement products.  Our service is free.  Leave a comment or use our contact form on this page to ask a question, get some advice and find out where to buy the latest sliding doors.

The post Understanding sliding patio door sizes appeared first on Aluminium Trade Supply.

Our Centor bifolding door review takes an in-depth look at this luxury bifolding door. Engineered for high performance, Centor bifolds come from an award-winning company. In this review of the, we pull out some of the best features of the 335 Bifold, why buy it and what doors are comparable to it. The Centor 335 bifold door is the all aluminium model.

Information about Centor Bifolding Doors.

First of all, a little history of Centor and how relevant they are to today’s buoyant bifolding door market. Whatever door you look at, Centor is one reason why you are even considering a bifold door for your home.  Why? Because Centor invented the world’s first folding sliding door suitable for external use with weather resistance.

Indeed, credit invariably goes to Centor for transforming the home improvement market for doors. Centor is why today, a folding sliding door comes totally fit for purpose as an exterior door.  As well as this, the bifolding door hardware side of the Centor business makes sophisticated hardware for door systems generally. The business started in 1951 making hardware for doors.

How good are Centor Doors?

Centor handle on a premium timber bifold by David Salisbury.

In our professional opinion, Centor is a luxury brand amongst the best bifolding doors you can buy.  A Centor bifolding door is best known for its cutting-edge design, excellent functionality as well as long term performance. Importantly, look around and Centor is in the product range of some of the best home improvement companies, also selling other great brands.

Expertly made and with some clever features and options, Centor bifolds come in two versions.  Centor 335, formerly the C1 is the full aluminium bifold door.  Centor Integrated is the ultra-premium aluminium and timber hybrid door product.

Features and benefits of the Centor 335 bifold door.

The Centor 335 bifold door is a thermally insulated aluminium bifold with all the functionality and style associated with bifolding doors. The meeting stile sight line is 136mm.  So you won’t find it as slim as another highly engineered door such as the Sunflex SF 55 models, the Dutemann FD85 or the Schuco ASS70. However, we suggest you look at other innovations on the Centor 335 bifold door. Some of these are very clever indeed.

One of the best concealed bifold door tracks.

First of all, the all-important track.  A Centor 335 bifolding door comes with a concealed track. The design of the concealed track arrangement makes for one of the best flush threshold options.  Therefore, not only do you get a great looking low threshold, but also one that offers an aesthetically pleasing one too.  Moreover, level tracks are great for families with a pushchair, a child’s bike or a wheelchair user.

The advanced track on a Centor 335 door has the wheels enclosed by the track. Hidden hardware and improved rolling are just two advantages of this arrangement.  This arrangement is certainly preferred as other quality bifold doors use it.

Besides this, come over advantages. One is the concealed wheels are less exposed to the elements and last longer. Another is the integral drainage system meaning you can wash the track through removing any dirt.

The carriage wheels on the Centor product also come with a top-of-the-line design.  Thanks to a mature market, many bifolding doors offer premium components.  With a Centor door, you get angled wheels and an angled track. As the door panel slides, the wheels stay in constant contact with the track. The stacked doors are tight and sliding them is effortless.

Removable Track Sections for easy cleaning.

However, Centor offers one feature above other doors.  Where other bifold door suppliers say take care when cleaning the track, Centor makes it easy.  Removable sections on the door track allow easy cleaning compared to putting a vacuum hose in the cavity housing the wheels.  Simply remove the section, clean the track and put back in place.

The flawless finish on the bifold door corners.

Second is how Centor makes this door.  Unlike other systems, the powder coating process happens after the doors get assembled.

Other bifolding doors have the powder coated finish first.  Then, the five or six-metre painted bars, in the chosen colour, get cut to the required sizes.  After this, the bars are machined and assembled.  The cutting and machining process removes the paint finish where saw and router blades make contact with the paint.  There is nothing wrong with this process.  In fact, most windows and doors come made this way. Any bare aluminium edges are hidden, sealed and rarely exposed to the elements when made right. However, Centor bifolding doors come made the other way round.

A Centor 335 bifold door is cut, machined and assembled. Then it is sent for painting.  So what is the benefit? Invariably it is paint coverage in areas of the door where other products have bare metal.  Not a problem with a properly serviced machine and a sharp blade.  However the real difference is door edge, namely only that has a flawless fit and finish because of greater paint coverage.

In addition to this, Centor bifolding doors come with a marine grade finish of 60 microns, where standard powder coated finishes use 40 microns.

We know how powder coating plants work.  Painting bars is their preferred method. Painting assembled components invariably this is not as easy as painting big numbers of aluminium bars.  Powder coating shapes and short bars slow down a paint line. While this is not the concern of the end user, for Centor, it has a great end result. A flawless door corner with 100% paint coverage. Other systems rely on a precise corner joint, ensuring the bare metal exposed by the saw blade is not visible.  This does not make other doors inferior. However, it’s another fine detail associated with Centor products.

A screening option for the open doors.

One other innovation with Centor doors is an integrated screen available as an option.  While bifolding doors come into their own in the summer, so do bugs and insects.

Centor screens allow ventilation with all the protection of an insect screen and shade too. The screens sit neatly within the outer frame profile and offer added functionality to the doors.  You get a choice of standard or tight weave, light filtering and blackout screens.

The flyscreen option is simple to use.  Just slide the screen across when needed.  A great idea doing away with the need for interior blinds as well as integral blinds. Of course, the blind is also ideal for doors in direct sunlight, also keeping the room cooler. Best of all the blind allows the doors to remain open longer.  When many close the doors on warm nights to keep moths and insects out of the room with the lights on, the blind helps keep the doors open for longer. Check them out.

Sophisticated bifold door seals.

Rubber seals or brushes are commonplace on bifold doors providing good sealing and weather resistance. The door seals are another great design feature of Centor bifolding doors. All bifold door brands offer good sealing.  Some have a standard design, others have a more thought out design.   Doors such as the Schuco ASS70 has gaskets that move away from the frame, extending their service life as one example.  Origin bifolding doors prefer to use Q-Lon where others use a rubber. Origin also offers colour matched gaskets where most doors come with black.

The gaskets on a Centor 335 bifold door offers an alternative design where the door panels meet and at the outer frame. Centor doors are seal-heavy using multiple gasket arrangements.  One advantage is stormproof design.  Another benefit is centre seals insulating the door better.

Other stand-out features of Centor 335 doors.

From a company starting out designing door hardware, come other functional yet impressive features rarely seen on other premium bifold doors.

• Milled and aesthetically minimalist hidden door hinges where other bifolds offer visible hinges.
• Wheels that clean and buff the track as they roll also lengthening service life and creating a unique sound as the doors move.
• Premium engineered door handles looking far better than other brands. Go see a Centor door and study the fine detail.
• The intermediate handles come in a flat and very contemporary design and one of the best looking handles we’ve seen on a bifold.
• An open corner arrangement available with the Centor 107 Cornerless Folding Door product

Centor bifolding doors review. Summary.

Of all the high end bifolding doors, Centor offers a lot of features.  The wheel movement and design is one of the best.   The facility to clean the track is simple yet we wonder why other door designers don’t adopt it.

Other brands to compare with Centor include the Dutemann FD85 based on the Alumil System for its great hardware, appearance and large door panels. The Solarlux bifolding door is another with similar attention to detail and design.  The Sunflex SF55 is another contender amongst high-end doors.  All of these also have a one-manufacturer supply route, through a Dealer Network of some professional and very experienced door companies with excellent showrooms.

We don’t mention performance in this review. Any door this good comes with the expected high specifications and product standards.  Hurricane testing, Secured by Design, premium aluminium profiles as well as good size capability with large door panels.  Also without question is a huge choice of colours, handle choices and glass upgrades.  The Centor bifolding door is at the top of the price bracket and a fine example of a luxury bifold door where you get what you pay for.

Use our contact form to get in touch to find out more, ask a question or find out where to buy Centor bifolding doors as well as other brands.

The post The Centor Bifolding Doors review appeared first on Aluminium Trade Supply.

The brand new Atlas Lantern 2.0 replaces the existing Atlas Roof lantern which has been a firm favourite with installers all over the UK.  Talk to many installers and Atlas is their product of choice. Attractive, easy to assemble, simple to fit and a hit with homeowners too.  This hugely popular roof forms the basis of many home extensions and renovations.

Supplied by The Customade Group, which includes other well-known brands such as Fineline Aluminium making contemporary doors and glazing systems, Polyframe Doors, Virtuoso Doors, Stevenswood Trade, REAL Aluminium selling Smart Systems and Atlas Glazed Roof Solutions.

Dark grey Atlas roofs with blue solar-activ glass by Open Living of Letchworth

Information about Atlas Lantern 2.0 Roof.

For years the first generation Atlas Lantern roof offered one of the best in aluminium roofs on the market.  Its standout features such as slim roof bars, a discreet frame, a slimmer ridge and rafters all make Atlas roofs the ideal product alongside sliding doors as well as the latest bifolding doors. Also, Atlas Roofs provided a better all-round solution thanks to no unsightly tie bars and supports.

The idea for the Atlas roof came as a result of the decades-old curtain walling concept.  In other words, a sturdy box mullion (the roof bar) used in facade glazing gave the original Atlas roof a very slim 40mm frame where other lanterns roofs came substantially thicker and bulkier.  As a result, an Atlas roof was not only a very slim roof but also one of the strongest.

As well as great design, Atlas roofs work well with modern extensions thanks to ultra-low sight lines giving an altogether better-looking lantern roof compared to other products.  PVCu installation elsewhere in the home also benefitted from a choice of PVCu as well as aluminium external cappings, matching any existing windows in a home.

Above all, Atlas roofs deliver outstanding thermal performance, high specification glazing and a big choice of colours. When it comes to a lantern roof to complement the latest and some of the best bifolding doors, Atlas is up there as a popular choice.

New Features and Benefits of the latest Atlas Roof Lantern.

One of the first things about any product and especially roof lanterns is ease of installation.  Homeowners do not care if an installer finds a product easy to fit. However, fitters do.  If a good fitter struggles with installing a product, chances are the installer stops selling it.

Easy installation remains one of the new features of the new Atlas Lantern 2.0 Roof.  And just like the original model the fitter has a trouble-free installation with helpful features.  For instance, Atlas cut to size and numbers all the roof parts as well as providing easy installation instructions.  As a result, a typical Atlas roof takes less than a day to install in a home.  The early adopters of this new lanter roof report installation times is faster as well as much easier.

and is now urging fellow installers to cut their own lantern installation times with this pioneering solution, which is faster and easier to fit than ever.  This new roof has fewer parts and components.  The overall assembly is better and eaiser than the first generation lantern and the entire module comes together better too.

Installers love products that are easy to fit.  Here, the product comes with good packaging and easy to understand instructions.  Finally, you don’t need to use silicone within the product making the job cleaner too.

40mm slim roof bars.

The Atlas Lantern 2.0 retains the same slim 40mm roof bars which for us remains the right dimension for both aesthetics and strength. To little aluminium and the rooflight risks looking like a structurally silicone glazed product.  Too much aluminium and gone is the contemporary appearance.

We think Atlas has got it right retaining the 40mm dimension, and there seemed no reason to change it. It compares favourably to other roofs on the market.  Atlas is not alone in providing a slimline aluminium roof.  Products such as the Korniche roof lantern come in at 57mm. Synseal Stratus lantern roof is 58.5mm.

Bigger Thermal Break.

The bigger the thermal break, the smaller the aluminium sections either side and therefore a more thermally efficient aluminium section.

Atlas says the thermal break is 14% larger which is not a substantial amount, yet does improve the thermal performance of any aluminium bar.  The U-Value of a product largely depends on the glass specification.  Here, the installer has a big choice with several brands offering glass units with a very low centre pane U-Value.

A new simplified Ringbeam.

The improved ringbeam drip, Atlas says makes the roof even more weatherproof. Sleeker, better looking and blending better. This crucial area, separating the roof from the roof enables easier fixing with the new Atlas lantern roof 2.0.

As well as the much-improved appearance, the ringbeam sits much lower.  The benefit of this is a lower-sitting roof with the rafters looking less bulky too. Compared to the original Atlas roof, no slough where the detail at this point was concerned, it is even more of an improvement.

A slimmer more attractive roof ridge.

One of the most visible differences in the latest Atlas Lantern Roof 2.0 is the ride.  A reduction in size by a quarter, may not sound a lot, but see the two details side by side and the improvement is impressive.

While you rarely look at  a lantern roof from the outside, it does make for a much less obtrusive appearance. If your bedroom window looks down onto the flat roof of the extension, the entire assembly looks altogether neater and slimmer.

Dark grey atlas roof installed by Aspire Bifolds of Epsom, Surrey.

The new Atlas Lantern Roof 2.0, summary.

In addition to some excellent improvements, the usual features come with the Atlas roof.  A choice of sizes and stock colours improve lead times.  Also available are made to order sizes as well as special colours.  Glass options are extensive with this roof too.  Most installers advise the customer to have a self-cleaning or a blue-activ solar glass. Both help with interior comfort, also making the roof look very smart when viewed from the outside.

Installers all over the UK use Atlas, and it remains one of the best aluminium lantern roofs on the market.  Atlas has created a new product that offers even more for their installer customers.  Better looking, slimmer, sleeker, hugely reliable and very modern looking.  Furthermore, it remains easy to fit meaning fitters like working with it and businesses like selling it.  The end user now gets an even better roof than before too.

The Atlas lantern roof is already incredibly popular with the trade.  We also think the homeonwers will love this product as few on the market offer lines that slim and so aesthetically pleasing.  Excellent design and execution with improved performance make this a great product for all manner of installers, including those specialising in the upper tier of windows, sliding and bifolding doors in new extensions. At the same time this roof retains all the great features of the first generation lantern.

For installers wanting faster lead times, the new Atlas roof comes with five day delivery when ordered in stock sizes in either the Regular or Contemporary style.

Use our contact form to find out more about the latest Atlas lantern roof, ask us a question or if you want our help finding a local installer.

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There are many sliding patio doors on the market from many good brands. The SUNFLEX sliding patio door is one of these. SUNFLEX already has a sought-after range of bifolding doors, and their sliding door is no exception. We review their aluminium sliding door offered in SVG30 and SVG83 models.

Our review focuses on the design, size capability and technical aspects of the products as well as where to use them. Several compelling reasons make this door worthy of consideration with systems such as Reynaers, Schuco and even the very latest ultra-slim sliding patio doors.

A contemporary sliding door with a choice of mullion sight lines.

A full review of the SUNFLEX sliding patio door.

Made in the UK, the SUNFLEX sliding door is a tried-and-tested door offering large sliding panels with bigger glass and better views compared to a folding sliding door. Patio doors today provide a strong visual appearance to the back of a house and especially with slim profiles and bold colours.

First of all, the SUNFLEX sliding patio door comes in two versions, namely the SVG30 and the SVG83. The product codes relate to the overall thickness of the door mullion, also known as the interlock.

This well-designed and quality-made sliding door comes in a choice of one or two panels for smaller apertures as well as three or more panels for bigger sized doors. For those thinking bigger, the product also creates the ultimate sliding glass walls with up to 8 panels on multiple tracks.  The SUNFLEX sliding patio door even allows open corner sliding doors and panels disappearing into a wall pocket.

Importantly, the SUNFLEX door is not just for new contemporary extensions.  It is entirely suitable as a replacement to old metal or plastic doors as well as patio doors in hardwood subframes.

As standard come thermally insulated frames, quality glass units as well as a big choice of colours.

Finally, there is a choice between a conventional inline sliding design or the latest lift and slide operation. 

Choosing between the SUNFLEX SVG30 and SVG83 models.

The two models are mostly the same on the outer frame, track and door leaves. You also get the same hardware, locking systems and patio door handles. The operating method of inline or lift and slide is also available.  Where the SVG 30 and SVG83 differ is the sight line of the door mullion.

The SVG 30 gives you a 30mm sight line and the SGV83 an 83mm sight line.  The choice of the product mainly comes down to the sizes of the doors and the technical capability. If sight lines are important in choosing a sliding door or a bifolding door, both the SVG30 and SVG83 provide thinner aluminium sight lines than even the 115mm sight line SUNFLEX bifolding doors lead the market with.

If your door is under 2800mm high or less than 6.25 square metres or less than 250kg per sliding panel, then you benefit from the 30mm sight line.  For those embarking on a Grand Designs type extension with bigger sliding door panels, then the SVG83 goes up to 3.2m high – again subject to technical considerations. However, with most standard size extensions needing patio doors, the SVG30 is suitable.  And this is where this slimline product stands out.

SUNFLEX level threshold achieves the desired look with excellent weather protection.

A cheaper solution to the expensive ultra-slim sliding doors with SUNFLEX.

Ultra-slim sliding patio doors are the newest type of product on the market offering sightlines from 17mm up to 35mm or more.  These super thin, structurally bonded doors cost more and come with other manufacturing and installation considerations.  Conventional sliding doors like the SVG30 or 83 are dry glazed meaning unlike the ultra-slim doors, glazing is done on site, not in the factory.

With a 30mm interlock, the SVG30 offers a far simpler-made yet premium sliding door.  Structurally-bonded products such as the Infiniglide 6 Sliding Door, Alumen Cor-Vision Plus, Schuco ASS70 PD Panorama all offer interlocks between 24mm and 30mm.  Even the Metra NC-S 120 STH Slim Sliding Door Express bifolds sells as the XP Slide Panoramic costs far more and has the same 30mm sight line.

The other visual consideration with structurally bonded patio doors, as good as they are, is the very deep interlock. One the one hand it is thin to look at face on. On the other hand, it is much more prominent than a conventional slider often projecting back 150mm or more. This is for structural reasons as well as acting as a door handle with many systems.

Therefore, a product like the SVG30 offers similar thin sight lines of the much more expensive structurally bonded products at far less cost and in our view, looks aesthetically similar without the deep projecting mullion. See both types of doors and we think you’ll agree, there is not much difference.

SUNFLEX sliding patio doors designed as a frameless open corner and with a flush triple track threshold.

Design features and benefits of a SUNFLEX sliding patio door.

There are some design features worth highlighting with either the SVG30 or SVG83 patio door.

Bifolding doors are excellent for achieving a low, flush threshold. Some sliding door systems are challenging to set lower, compromising weather performance. SUNFLEX has engineered the door so that your internal flooring finishes flush with the low track of the door. As a result, you get the desirable flush floor with weather performance too. The product also offers its exclusive finishing trim, again rarely available with other sliding doors. This trim provides a neat detail between the flooring and the track as well as ensuring a proper clearance.

Further enhancements to the product include design details giving a bigger clear opening on three panel doors than other systems. Another useful feature on three panel doors is SUNFLEX making each panel a slightly different size. Where no external handle is fitted, the doors fully open and stack flush. Again, something not always available with other systems.

For doors sliding into a wall pocket and disappearing from view, there is another neat touch. A purpose-made profile closes off the gap between the door and the structure. Consequently, the doors look entirely flush with the wall. Again another neat touch.

And if you’re considering a cornerless bifolding door, the same frameless open corner is possible with these sliding doors too.

Patio door security, weather performance and hardware options.

The locking system on these doors has a five-point lock with mushroom headed cams, ensuring a tight seal and optimum locking point. Other security enhancements include internal glazing preventing removal of the glass from outside. The sliding panels also have an anti-lift feature. This prevents anyone forcing the panels up off the track.

Toughened glass usually comes as standard with any door. Upgrade the glass to laminated to meet Secured by Design standards as well as the latest Document Q of the Building Regulations for new homes. 

Four different handle options provide choice available in matching or , contrasting colours and satin stainless steel. Door colour options include grey or black colours as well as the full range of RAL colours or different colours inside and out.

SVG 30 patio doors sliding into a wall pocket and stacking open completely flush.

Reasons to buy a SUNFLEX sliding patio door.

Our website reviews many different brands and systems, and this is certainly one door to consider with other quality brands. However, there are some standout reasons to consider either the SUNFLEX SVG30 or SVG83 seriously.

First of all, it’s by SUNFLEX, one of the premier brands in the UK with award-winning and very slim bifolding doors.  These doors offer the same benefits of one manufacturer with the associated consistent quality.

Another reason is the enhancements. The product is engineered to cover the fine detail other systems may miss. For instance, the flush stacking panels or the low threshold with weather resistance. Designed to disappear into a wall pocket or as an open corner door, there is excellent attention to detail.

The price of these doors compared to the structurally glazed products on the market is another compelling reason. Many ultra-slim doors use the Cortizo or other European systems. However, these do come with a more complicated installation and a higher price.  The SVG30 especially offers similar thin lines giving you an alternative to the highly desirable slimline doors very much on-trend.

Considering a Schuco ASS70, a Reynears CP30, CP155, an Edgeglide or similar quality product?  We suggest you also get a price on the SUNFLEX sliding patio door and compare the features and specifications.

Contact us for further information.

For further information, as well as where to buy SUNFLEX products and to get a quote, get in touch using our contact form.

The post The SUNFLEX sliding patio door review. appeared first on Aluminium Trade Supply.

Daimant install PVC and aluminium Windows, Doors, Conservatories and Bi-fold Doors to your specification, that meet the latest Building Regulations, with 10 years Guarantee, in South Wales
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There are many sliding patio doors on the market from many good brands. The SUNFLEX sliding patio door is one of these. SUNFLEX already has a sought-after range of bifolding doors, and their sliding door is no exception. We review their aluminium sliding door offered in SVG30 and SVG83 models.

Our review focuses on the design, size capability and technical aspects of the products as well as where to use them. Several compelling reasons make this door worthy of consideration with systems such as Reynaers, Schuco and even the very latest ultra-slim sliding patio doors.

A contemporary sliding door with a choice of mullion sight lines.

A full review of the SUNFLEX sliding patio door.

Made in the UK, the SUNFLEX sliding door is a tried-and-tested door offering large sliding panels with bigger glass and better views compared to a folding sliding door. Patio doors today provide a strong visual appearance to the back of a house and especially with slim profiles and bold colours.

First of all, the SUNFLEX sliding patio door comes in two versions, namely the SVG30 and the SVG83. The product codes relate to the overall thickness of the door mullion, also known as the interlock.

This well-designed and quality-made sliding door comes in a choice of one or two panels for smaller apertures as well as three or more panels for bigger sized doors. For those thinking bigger, the product also creates the ultimate sliding glass walls with up to 8 panels on multiple tracks.  The SUNFLEX sliding patio door even allows open corner sliding doors and panels disappearing into a wall pocket.

Importantly, the SUNFLEX door is not just for new contemporary extensions.  It is entirely suitable as a replacement to old metal or plastic doors as well as patio doors in hardwood subframes.

As standard come thermally insulated frames, quality glass units as well as a big choice of colours.

Finally, there is a choice between a conventional inline sliding design or the latest lift and slide operation. 

Choosing between the SUNFLEX SVG30 and SVG83 models.

The two models are mostly the same on the outer frame, track and door leaves. You also get the same hardware, locking systems and patio door handles. The operating method of inline or lift and slide is also available.  Where the SVG 30 and SVG83 differ is the sight line of the door mullion.

The SVG 30 gives you a 30mm sight line and the SGV83 an 83mm sight line.  The choice of the product mainly comes down to the sizes of the doors and the technical capability. If sight lines are important in choosing a sliding door or a bifolding door, both the SVG30 and SVG83 provide thinner aluminium sight lines than even the 115mm sight line SUNFLEX bifolding doors lead the market with.

If your door is under 2800mm high or less than 6.25 square metres or less than 250kg per sliding panel, then you benefit from the 30mm sight line.  For those embarking on a Grand Designs type extension with bigger sliding door panels, then the SVG83 goes up to 3.2m high – again subject to technical considerations. However, with most standard size extensions needing patio doors, the SVG30 is suitable.  And this is where this slimline product stands out.

SUNFLEX level threshold achieves the desired look with excellent weather protection.

A cheaper solution to the expensive ultra-slim sliding doors with SUNFLEX.

Ultra-slim sliding patio doors are the newest type of product on the market offering sightlines from 17mm up to 35mm or more.  These super thin, structurally bonded doors cost more and come with other manufacturing and installation considerations.  Conventional sliding doors like the SVG30 or 83 are dry glazed meaning unlike the ultra-slim doors, glazing is done on site, not in the factory.

With a 30mm interlock, the SVG30 offers a far simpler-made yet premium sliding door.  Structurally-bonded products such as the Infiniglide 6 Sliding Door, Alumen Cor-Vision Plus, Schuco ASS70 PD Panorama all offer interlocks between 24mm and 30mm.  Even the Metra NC-S 120 STH Slim Sliding Door Express bifolds sells as the XP Slide Panoramic costs far more and has the same 30mm sight line.

The other visual consideration with structurally bonded patio doors, as good as they are, is the very deep interlock. One the one hand it is thin to look at face on. On the other hand, it is much more prominent than a conventional slider often projecting back 150mm or more. This is for structural reasons as well as acting as a door handle with many systems.

Therefore, a product like the SVG30 offers similar thin sight lines of the much more expensive structurally bonded products at far less cost and in our view, looks aesthetically similar without the deep projecting mullion. See both types of doors and we think you’ll agree, there is not much difference.

SUNFLEX sliding patio doors designed as a frameless open corner and with a flush triple track threshold.

Design features and benefits of a SUNFLEX sliding patio door.

There are some design features worth highlighting with either the SVG30 or SVG83 patio door.

Bifolding doors are excellent for achieving a low, flush threshold. Some sliding door systems are challenging to set lower, compromising weather performance. SUNFLEX has engineered the door so that your internal flooring finishes flush with the low track of the door. As a result, you get the desirable flush floor with weather performance too. The product also offers its exclusive finishing trim, again rarely available with other sliding doors. This trim provides a neat detail between the flooring and the track as well as ensuring a proper clearance.

Further enhancements to the product include design details giving a bigger clear opening on three panel doors than other systems. Another useful feature on three panel doors is SUNFLEX making each panel a slightly different size. Where no external handle is fitted, the doors fully open and stack flush. Again, something not always available with other systems.

For doors sliding into a wall pocket and disappearing from view, there is another neat touch. A purpose-made profile closes off the gap between the door and the structure. Consequently, the doors look entirely flush with the wall. Again another neat touch.

And if you’re considering a cornerless bifolding door, the same frameless open corner is possible with these sliding doors too.

Patio door security, weather performance and hardware options.

The locking system on these doors has a five-point lock with mushroom headed cams, ensuring a tight seal and optimum locking point. Other security enhancements include internal glazing preventing removal of the glass from outside. The sliding panels also have an anti-lift feature. This prevents anyone forcing the panels up off the track.

Toughened glass usually comes as standard with any door. Upgrade the glass to laminated to meet Secured by Design standards as well as the latest Document Q of the Building Regulations for new homes. 

Four different handle options provide choice available in matching or , contrasting colours and satin stainless steel. Door colour options include grey or black colours as well as the full range of RAL colours or different colours inside and out.

SVG 30 patio doors sliding into a wall pocket and stacking open completely flush.

Reasons to buy a SUNFLEX sliding patio door.

Our website reviews many different brands and systems, and this is certainly one door to consider with other quality brands. However, there are some standout reasons to consider either the SUNFLEX SVG30 or SVG83 seriously.

First of all, it’s by SUNFLEX, one of the premier brands in the UK with award-winning and very slim bifolding doors.  These doors offer the same benefits of one manufacturer with the associated consistent quality.

Another reason is the enhancements. The product is engineered to cover the fine detail other systems may miss. For instance, the flush stacking panels or the low threshold with weather resistance. Designed to disappear into a wall pocket or as an open corner door, there is excellent attention to detail.

The price of these doors compared to the structurally glazed products on the market is another compelling reason. Many ultra-slim doors use the Cortizo or other European systems. However, these do come with a more complicated installation and a higher price.  The SVG30 especially offers similar thin lines giving you an alternative to the highly desirable slimline doors very much on-trend.

Considering a Schuco ASS70, a Reynears CP30, CP155, an Edgeglide or similar quality product?  We suggest you also get a price on the SUNFLEX sliding patio door and compare the features and specifications.

Contact us for further information.

For further information, as well as where to buy SUNFLEX products and to get a quote, get in touch using our contact form.

The post The SUNFLEX sliding patio door review. appeared first on Aluminium Trade Supply.

Looking to get a quote or buy Origin aluminium windows? We explain how Origin windows suppliers work and why you should get in touch with Origin directly to find one.  We also explain the general service you can expect, information about showrooms, training and aftercare.

The Origin range of windows is available to homeowners from a network of professional installers also known as  Origin Accredited Suppliers.

A fine example of a dedicated Origin Showroom.

Information about Origin Windows Suppliers.

First of all, it is worth explaining why Origin is different from many other aluminium systems companies. This difference not only benefits suppliers of Origin products, but it also benefits you the homeowner.

Origin is a systems company.  Systems companies design and produce the aluminium ‘system’, specifically their range of bifolding doors, sliding doors, entrance doors and windows.  However, this is where the similarity between Origin and other systems companies ends.

Other systems companies supply their aluminium profiles to many different manufacturers. For example, anyone looking to buy new windows from Origin buys them directly from any of the Origin window suppliers. These suppliers buy directly from Origin as only Origin makes their windows.

Other systems companies work differently, namely supplying window components to one of many manufacturers and then to an installer.  Some of these manufacturers only supply the trade, such as installers or builders. Others prefer to concentrate only on commercial markets.  Even though these window manufacturers make good products, their business is supplying frames only.  As a result, they do not deal with the homeowner.

Origin is especially focused on engagement with the homeowner. From the retail facing website, a dedicated customer service department and putting you in touch with their best installers.  For this reason, we recommend you take advantage of communicating with Origin. Above all, you get peace of mind in dealing with the company making your windows and doors.

Benefits of using Origin and their professional installer network.

Origin offers outstanding support to its professional installer network, specifically intended to provide you, the homeowner with the best possible service and customer experience.

Locating your nearest Origin Accredited Supplier.

When you get in touch with Origin on their website, you have a number of options.  It is easy to make a start by talking to one of Origin’s experts.  Or you can quickly get the details of your nearest Accredited Supplier.  It is this supplier providing you with a price, ordering your new windows and project managing your installation. These fully trained suppliers work with you to personalise your windows, making them perfect for your home.  Importantly, Origin ensures you get their best and Gold Status suppliers. And you can also choose the day and time to visit a showroom.

Of course, you have the choice of Origin putting you in touch with your local dealer or providing you with  the details for you to make your own contact.

Getting a price for Origin windows is an easy process too. Origin windows suppliers use bespoke software, designed by Origin to enable you to get a fast quotation.

The Origin window and door showrooms.

Origin helps and contributes substantially to creating some of the best door and window showrooms in the UK. When you get in touch with Origin, they refer you to their best installers all with outstanding showrooms.  In these showrooms, you will find fully installed windows, bifolding doors and front doors. Many showrooms showcase many different types of products in a variety of real-world installations.

Besides being able to see windows and doors, you also get to view the entire range of aluminium colours, handle options, threshold options and glass.

Every Origin showroom is thoughtfully designed, providing a relaxed, welcoming and no pressure environment. Above all, you get to see exactly how your new windows and doors can look in your home.

Quality British products and a professional installation.

One of the most important aspects of buying new windows or bifolding doors is a trouble-free installation. This is where Origin truly stands out from other systems companies and why it makes sense to contact them for details of your nearest showroom.

Origin ensures every installer undergoes full and ongoing training on the sales, specification and installation of their products. However, they go even further.

Buy another system from any of the many manufacturers and you won’t get the same delivery process or the all-important protection of your new windows and doors in transit. Origin provides some of the best lead time and delivery services in the industry.  Whichever Origin windows supplier you choose, they all receive windows and doors delivered and protected in the same way.

For the installation of your new windows, Origin is unique in also supporting your local Origin windows supplier with installation assistance when required. Something rarely offered by other systems companies. Examples include helping with the sophisticated Origin inline sliding patio door or dealing with any complex issues on site. As a result, Origin is a systems company wanting to be part of your project and your overall customer experience through their professional network of installers.

Aftercare service for your new windows.

Finally, Origin offers what the glazing industry acknowledges as one of the best customer experiences after you improve your home with their windows. The 20-year guarantee is the first. Second is the ability to register products like bifolding doors, in the unlikely even spare parts are required or if they need repair through accidental damage.

For all these great reasons, it makes sense to get in touch with Origin where they can put you in touch with your local installer and start your journey improving your home.

The post How to find Origin Windows Suppliers appeared first on Aluminium Trade Supply.

Our Schuco bifolding doors review looks at two of the popular models within the Schuco sliding folding range. One is the ASS70FD the other is the ASS80 FD HI.  Amongst professional installers and trade, this brand is regarded as being one of the best.  In this in-depth Schuco bifolding doors review, we compare the two products side by side. We also tell you which other comparable doors you can look at when deciding which is the right folding sliding door residential projects.

Schuco Bifolding Door Review. ASS70 vs AS80

First of all, it is worth comparing what you get with both models of Schuco bifold.  Most installers offer the ASS70 as this model meets most residential bifolding door requirements.  Whether these are to replace old doors or as part of a new extension, this product meets virtually all needs. The ASS80 FD HI (high insulation) offers a few differences and is also more expensive.

Therefore our at-a-glance-guide illustrates the main differences between the Schuco ASS70 and the ASS80.  In total there are five different bifolding doors from Schuco including non-thermal, steel and commercial systems. These two are suitable for the home improvement market.

Reasons to buy a Schuco ASS70 FD or ASS80FD HI .

Before we list some of the main design features in our Schuco bifolding doors review, we want to highlight one in particular. That is the integration of an opening window within a bifolding door panel.  The ability to keep the doors closed and ‘open a window’ has been a feature of these doors for many years, but few know about it.  What you get is a Schuco AWS 70 BS.HI aluminium window, fixed within integrated within a door panel, letting you tilt the window back for ventilation. Bear in mind this is an opening inwards window only. It does not open out.

Where you can use Schuco Bifold Doors.

A gallery of Schuco bifolding doors in various new build and existing installations. Supplied and Installed by Aspire Bifolds of Surrey.

Schuco bifolding doors review.  Conclusion.

Whether as a replacement for old doors or in a new build project, the Schuco ASS70 is a sought-after bifold perfect for the residential or commercial market.  Importantly, the Schuco name is one associated with world-renowned products and prestigious projects.   Just like other quality doors, we have never heard of issues with a Schuco bifolding door or the service levels from their network of reputable and professional installers.

For the homeowner, this means added peace of mind.  For the trade, selling Schuco doors is a great upgrade to Aluk or Smart systems doors.

The trade and installers report this door sells itself, it is that good.  While many systems offer large panel sizes like Schuco, the entire door comes with fine details all adding to its long term reliability and quality.   The key difference with a Schuco door is the fine details and ensuring a good user and installer experience.  There is no gasket friction, the hinges have extra sealing and the operation is faultless.  Furthermore, the 10-14mm adjustment on the width with the 8mm height tolerance allows every Schuco door to have the precise adjustment other door systems lack.

As always with such a good brand, check out who makes the door as many installers buy the product from the trade. A good installer will have no problem in telling you who makes their doors.  There are many manufacturers of this door. You can even check them out with Schuco or you will see the relevant accreditations on their websites.

Finally, the only way to truly appreciate the ASS70FD or the ASS80 FD HI outside of a written review such as this is to go try them out and compare with other doors.  Use our contact form on this page to get in touch, ask a question as well as find out where to buy.

The post Schuco bifolding doors review appeared first on Aluminium Trade Supply.

A to Z Glazing Specialise in the assembly and installation of frameless glass doors as well as Aluminium doors and frames for any commercial or public building.

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Looking to get a quote or buy Origin aluminium windows? We explain how Origin windows suppliers work and why you should get in touch with Origin directly to find one.  We also explain the general service you can expect, information about showrooms, training and aftercare.

The Origin range of windows is available to homeowners from a network of professional installers also known as  Origin Accredited Suppliers.

A fine example of a dedicated Origin Showroom.

Information about Origin Windows Suppliers.

First of all, it is worth explaining why Origin is different from many other aluminium systems companies. This difference not only benefits suppliers of Origin products, but it also benefits you the homeowner.

Origin is a systems company.  Systems companies design and produce the aluminium ‘system’, specifically their range of bifolding doors, sliding doors, entrance doors and windows.  However, this is where the similarity between Origin and other systems companies ends.

Other systems companies supply their aluminium profiles to many different manufacturers. For example, anyone looking to buy new windows from Origin buys them directly from any of the Origin window suppliers. These suppliers buy directly from Origin as only Origin makes their windows.

Other systems companies work differently, namely supplying window components to one of many manufacturers and then to an installer.  Some of these manufacturers only supply the trade, such as installers or builders. Others prefer to concentrate only on commercial markets.  Even though these window manufacturers make good products, their business is supplying frames only.  As a result, they do not deal with the homeowner.

Origin is especially focused on engagement with the homeowner. From the retail facing website, a dedicated customer service department and putting you in touch with their best installers.  For this reason, we recommend you take advantage of communicating with Origin. Above all, you get peace of mind in dealing with the company making your windows and doors.

Benefits of using Origin and their professional installer network.

Origin offers outstanding support to its professional installer network, specifically intended to provide you, the homeowner with the best possible service and customer experience.

Locating your nearest Origin Accredited Supplier.

When you get in touch with Origin on their website, you have a number of options.  It is easy to make a start by talking to one of Origin’s experts.  Or you can quickly get the details of your nearest Accredited Supplier.  It is this supplier providing you with a price, ordering your new windows and project managing your installation. These fully trained suppliers work with you to personalise your windows, making them perfect for your home.  Importantly, Origin ensures you get their best and Gold Status suppliers. And you can also choose the day and time to visit a showroom.

Of course, you have the choice of Origin putting you in touch with your local dealer or providing you with  the details for you to make your own contact.

Getting a price for Origin windows is an easy process too. Origin windows suppliers use bespoke software, designed by Origin to enable you to get a fast quotation.

The Origin window and door showrooms.

Origin helps and contributes substantially to creating some of the best door and window showrooms in the UK. When you get in touch with Origin, they refer you to their best installers all with outstanding showrooms.  In these showrooms, you will find fully installed windows, bifolding doors and front doors. Many showrooms showcase many different types of products in a variety of real-world installations.

Besides being able to see windows and doors, you also get to view the entire range of aluminium colours, handle options, threshold options and glass.

Every Origin showroom is thoughtfully designed, providing a relaxed, welcoming and no pressure environment. Above all, you get to see exactly how your new windows and doors can look in your home.

Quality British products and a professional installation.

One of the most important aspects of buying new windows or bifolding doors is a trouble-free installation. This is where Origin truly stands out from other systems companies and why it makes sense to contact them for details of your nearest showroom.

Origin ensures every installer undergoes full and ongoing training on the sales, specification and installation of their products. However, they go even further.

Buy another system from any of the many manufacturers and you won’t get the same delivery process or the all-important protection of your new windows and doors in transit. Origin provides some of the best lead time and delivery services in the industry.  Whichever Origin windows supplier you choose, they all receive windows and doors delivered and protected in the same way.

For the installation of your new windows, Origin is unique in also supporting your local Origin windows supplier with installation assistance when required. Something rarely offered by other systems companies. Examples include helping with the sophisticated Origin inline sliding patio door or dealing with any complex issues on site. As a result, Origin is a systems company wanting to be part of your project and your overall customer experience through their professional network of installers.

Aftercare service for your new windows.

Finally, Origin offers what the glazing industry acknowledges as one of the best customer experiences after you improve your home with their windows. The 20-year guarantee is the first. Second is the ability to register products like bifolding doors, in the unlikely even spare parts are required or if they need repair through accidental damage.

For all these great reasons, it makes sense to get in touch with Origin where they can put you in touch with your local installer and start your journey improving your home.

The post How to find Origin Windows Suppliers appeared first on Aluminium Trade Supply.

At Grand Designs Live 2019 held in Excel London from 4th to 12th May, there are many exhibitors for aluminium windows, doors and glazing.  As well as this, you will see timber, PVCu and composite windows in doors. In this article, we explain why upper-tier home improvement companies exhibit at premier exhibitions such as Grand Designs Live. We also explain why, if you are embarking on a home improvement project, it makes sense to visit an exhibition.

Windows and Doors at Grand Designs Live.

Exhibitions focusing on home improvements, building projects and general renovations provide an excellent opportunity for you, the homeowner to see just what technical and design innovations exist with the latest glazing systems.  Not only do get to see just how sophisticated modern windows and doors now are, but there are other great reasons to visit too.

A better experience than a home improvement showroom.

By far, the biggest reason to visit Grand Designs live is the sheer variety of products on display. You will see much more than even the best local showroom, simply because of the bigger exhibition space and a bigger variety of companies to discover.

As well as this, even the best local home improvement company cannot sell every product there is. Therefore if you’re looking for something different this is the place to find it.

One recent trend in home improvements is big glass windows and doors. Bigger floor space and height, let specialist window and door companies exhibit some stand out products. An excellent example is the advanced Reynaers Hi-Finity sliding door you can see in our image above, at an impressive 3.5 metres high.

Unique patio doors.

With patio doors being one of the primary products for any home renovation or new extension, you always get to see a big range of bifolding and sliding doors. What you also get to see is bifolding doors you might not know about.  One of these is the frameless sliding and fold door from FGC. Many other frameless doors come designed for projects such as verandahs or pool enclosures that don’t need a fully weather rated exterior door.

FGC doors come with no visible mullions, glass spacer bars and full security with weather performance. They also come with one of the lowest bifolding door thresholds for that desirable seamless link.

Frameless bifold doors with virtually no aluminium, unlike other bifolding doors on the market.

Expert help with your home improvement project.

You might think that all window and door companies are the same.  They are not. Many of the people exhibiting at Grand Designs Live specialist in home renovations and building projects.  For instance, the national window companies and other local firms prefer to stay away from complicated jobs. They rarely work an architect, preferring simple window replacements.

Therefore, when visiting an exhibition, you get to talk to more specialist glazing companies – people that work with architects, builders, homeowners and their tradespeople.  So you’re more likely to not only find the right product but also one of the best businesses to work with.

For instance, companies like FGC have a huge amount of expertise in working with architects and builders.  Sliding doors from Sunflex via ID Systems come with German-engineering and ultra-slim sight lines you’ll only find in the best showrooms.  Then there are luxury brands like Centor at Grand Designs Live, with Centor bifolds made like no other on the market.  You also get to see composite materials like the wood/aluminium windows and doors from Internorm, one of the best brands of Hybrid Windows.

As well as this you can see the latest in contemporary front doors, steel-look products even the latest timber windows.  Everything you need for your new extension all under one roof.

A better shopping environment.

Many people don’t like the idea of visiting a home improvement showrooms believing there is a pressured sales environment.  In fact, few window companies work in this way these days.  That said, an exhibition provides an opportunity to browse lots of modern or traditional windows and doors. Best of all you see them at your leisure without the more ‘confined’ environment of a window showroom.

The post Reasons to visit Grand Designs Live 2019 appeared first on Aluminium Trade Supply.