Surrey Homes | SH43 | May 2018 | Restoration & New Build supplement inside

SH Restoration & New Build Supplement
Bifold doors
best unspoilt view.
On the security side, modern
technology and top-grade precision
engineering on both the bifolding and
sliding doors means that either system
offers unsurpassed security that far
exceeds building regulations, and also
gives outstanding weather ratings.
The U-values (measures of how
much heat windows allow to escape)
on the thermally broken aluminium
systems are very low indeed, and a
range of glazing options can enhance
the features required – solar protection
glass, sound proofing and so on.
Are there any kinds you would
advise against? The British weather
often limits how often a set of doors
can realistically be left open and we
often see just the one door of a set
of bifolding doors being used which
makes it seem a bit pointless to have
them. This is another reason people
tend to choose sliding doors instead.
However, if the opening is not
especially wide, say less than 3 metres,
then bifolds would enable a wider
possible opening door area; bifolds
can provide up to 95% clear opening
of the maximum door width. Sliding
doors will always have at least one
panel width remaining in the doorway
at all times, so this must be taken into
consideration.
Of course, when space prohibits the
opening of certain doors, such as an
upwards sloped garden, then sliding
doors are the only viable option.
What are the options in sliding
doors? Our sliding doors come in a
range of over 200 colours. We offer
some colours as standard, so there is a
slight cost increase and possible longer
lead time for the more unusual colours.
The handles and furniture can be
configured and personalised.
There are various track options, such
as the popular flush track, where the
running gear is recessed into the floor
to provide a seamless run from indoors
to outdoors when the doors are open.
Moveable corner posts can be specified
to create ‘infinity corners’ with no
pillar in the way when the doors on a
corner are open.
What about glazed French windows
– is there still a place for them? Very
much so. Classic styles will always find
a place in certain homes, especially
when the modern look is not called for.
A period house may not suit modern
architecture, and listed properties or
houses in conservation areas may be
restricted to fitting only certain styles.
As mentioned, Crittall steel frame
windows are only available in French
doors, and the Crittall look is also very
much in vogue.
You are an official Crittall supplier,
what is the appeal of these most
fashionable windows and doors? The
Crittall company and its steel-framed
windows have been around for nearly
two centuries, so it has a heritage that
many companies cannot even dream
of. Once you recognise Crittall, you
see it everywhere, including worldwide
in many famous buildings. There is
a timeless elegance to Crittall, and
the modern product has advanced so
much it is virtually maintenance free.
The price can put it out of reach of
some, which increases its appeal further
amongst wealthy clients.
The Crittall factory process involves
a small army of skilled craftsmen
making adjustments by hand – this
has to be one of the few remaining
factories doing this. The intricacies
of steel make this process impossible
to automate, hence the final product
has a very personal input from the
manufacturer. The slight imperfections
in the finish of the steel give a very
desirable aging effect to the material
too, something that cannot be replicated
in other products.
What would be a cheaper option to
get a similar modernist effect? We
also offer an aluminium product that
can give a similar style at a slightly
reduced cost. Our heritage aluminium
range have slightly thicker frames so
will not appeal to everybody, but it
does have the advantage of the frame
being thermally broken, so will be
more efficient at keeping the heat
when necessary. In our opinion though
nothing really compares to genuine
Crittall, it really is something quite
magical, and has a style all of its own.
What exciting developments are there
in glass technology? Switchable privacy
glass is a feature that really appeals to
people – a small electrical charge alters
the state of the glazing from transparent
to translucent or opaque. No need for
curtains or blinds any more, privacy at
the touch of a button.
OLED technology incorporated into
glass will offer new lighting source
possibilities, and integration of display
technology may mean we all start
looking at the window to watch movies
or see news articles. The technology is
almost ready, so the future is not so far
away at all.
Can you tell me about a really
special project your company has
been involved in? We specifically
designed the VISION sliding door
system ourselves, trying to take the
best features we saw in other sliding
doors and improve on them to make a
special product that really performed
well. Every set of slim sliding doors we
install really puts a satisfactory feeling of
accomplishment in our minds. It really
means something to us when people
choose the VISION system since we
spent many hours finely designing the
very best system we could.
YES Glazing Solutions, Great South
Street Farm, Biggin Hill, Westerham
TN16 2HP 0808 159 1506
yesglazing.co.uk
surrey-homes.co.uk
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