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Case Study: Conservation Compliant Sash Windows

Mon, 16 Dec 2024 10:40:53 GMT

Using conservation compliant UPVC sash windows to replace timber - and why it is the way forward.

This week we completed a superb project of replacing a complete house of timber – bar the orangery – with Premium Masterframe sash windows. The house originally had single glazed timber sash windows and timber doors which as one can imagine were draughty, had no insulation factor and were a headache when it came to upkeep. Above as pictured is the specification of window we used: the Masterframe Vintage profile which is conservation compliant.

Above is how the front of the house was finished along with a Solidor timber core composite door for the authentic feel of a timber door with bespoke astragal bar side windows. The importance here of using conservation compliant UPVC to replace timber windows is the authentic look. Masterframe are competent using the patented Timberweld when joining their sashes which is how a timber window would be put together. The authentic run through sash horn is also routered into the profile using a state-of-the-art CNC machine only available to Masterframe rather than stuck on as additional piece of profile – exactly how a timber window would be made. Even the astragal Georgian glass decoration is implemented onto the window so sophisticatedly, that these are given a 10-year guarantee themselves. The quality of this system is unrivalled.

Moving onto the rear of the house, using the same system along with a Solidor timber core composite back door. The use of the authentic deep bottom rail to allow for hook lifts at the bottom of the windows makes for easy use and the 2/3 split windows upstairs are Egress compliant. All tilt inwards for easy cleaning from the inside making the maintenance of these windows so much easier for the customer – and of course NO PAINTING! The satin white woodgrain finish - which is standard - is in keeping with the traditional timber finish. Masterframe finishes all of their windows themselves and are able to achieve any colour including luxury paints such as Farrow&Ball or Little Greene.

Furthermore, it is clear why Masterframe sash windows are the best choice when replacing timber or even old UPVC windows. An excellent example of why this specification of window are approved for timber replacement in conservation areas. Ourselves and Masterframe work closely to ensure only quality products are installed and all specification requirements are met.

Using Aluspace

Wed, 01 Feb 2023 10:42:11 GMT

Putting the glazing industry's newest trend to the test

In recent months, we have had many requests to carry out work using the new industrial looks aluminium for internal projects; however, we never quite found the right product to go about this with. Every product we looked at either didn't match close enough with the external aluminium products we were using, were not bespoke enough or had not enough glazing options - until Aluspace.

Our aluminium profile we use - Smart Architectural - brought out a new range late last year. You might think they did not get up to speed quick enough, but this is because they were waiting and testing until they got it RIGHT! - and how right they got it.

The profile matches perfectly to their Heritage bifold and window system so that a whole project can be cohesive throughout. Their colour options of any RAL colour, their standard being matte RAL 9005 for a quick turnaround - which is what most customers want. The option of 4mm or 6mm single glazing or even double glazing for noise reduction. We are also loving seeing the return of the Pilkington Reeded glass, used above.

When it came to this project, the customer wanted their property completed transformed. We installed Premium Palladio front and side doors with bespoke arched top boxes. We also installed Ultimate Rose Heritage sash windows finished in white ash woodgrain to replace the existing sashes.

The final part of the renovation was the kitchen/utility/dining area. For this, we used Smart Architectural aluminium products for all of the elements making the black slimline look a feature of the property. We installed a three section bifold with solar powered in-between glass blinds constructed in the Smart Visofold 6000 series Heritage option along with a Smart Alitherm Heritage window above the sink. For the internal doors we continued with the Heritage industrial look using Aluspace which looks absolutley incredible! We used a mixture of single and double glazing. We used double glazing for noise reduction through to the utility as that is where the washing machine is. Overall the project turned out amazing. We cannot thank our team enough for carrying out this great work - once again - and also our customers.

This was heavily directed by Austin and his creativity by using the Aluspace for pocket doors so that the doors could slide back into the wall cavities, creating more usable space for the customers.

We will continue to use Aluspace for all future projects and cannot recommend the profile enough. A true well done to Smarts and the team at Garrard Windows who manufacture all of our aluminium and UPVC.

This customer had their whole kitchen completed by Nicholas Hythe, they can be found in St Ives with a showroom on the Quadrant.

It is good to be back!

Thu, 06 May 2021 10:01:19 GMT

How we are complying with Covid-19 restrictions and how we are making every installation as safe as possible.

With our showrooms allowed to open from the 12th April, we have been so delighted to be able to welcome customers back to our showroom and assist them face to face (with masks on of course). For every business and work environment Covid-19 has presented challenges for everyone. From communicating with our manufacturers to our customers, things have definitely changed.

While here at County Windows all of our staff from carpenters to technical support have come back full time, not all companies are the same. For larger companies trying to keep their staff from working so closely together, they are keeping them working from home. Gone are the days of just picking up the phone and talking to customer services or the fabricators. Now it is perhaps arranging a phone call from home or a string of emails. However the communication difficulties are a small price to pay to be back doing what we love which is improving your home.

In our organisation, we are lucky enough to have a spacious office in which we are all able to work socially distanced whilst still having our showroom open. We have created extra ventilation into our more enclosed offices to allow more than sufficient air flow to reduce the risk of spreading the virus. In our showroom we have masks available to our customers on request and A LOT of hand sanitiser placed around our showroom along with gloves if our customers would prefer.
When placing an order with us we now have a recommended virtual signing system which allows us to be contact free and reduce the amount of site visits/showroom visits us or our customers have to make. A contact free dual terminal card machine has also been installed in our showroom so there is no shared contact between our staff and customers when making a payment in person.
We also now try to give you a provisional price without a site visit reducing the amount of people Austin goes out to see and therefore reducing the risk of spreading the virus. Provisional quotes can be obtained by sending in architectural drawings, approximate dimensions you have taken yourself and the details of the work that would be needed to be carried out or for front doors we have a virtual front door designer on our website for our customers to use.

We cannot thank our customers enough for their patience and support during these challenging times. It seems a lifetime ago where our customers could come in to our showroom and freely touch and try the products they want to buy without masks on. But hopefully with all of the protective measures we and everyone in the country is taking, this will be reality in the near future. Thank you from all of us here at County Windows for complying with our in-store safety measures.

Your perfect stay at home office!

Mon, 27 Jul 2020 10:07:48 GMT

In the "new normal" of Covid-19 many people will now be working from home. For those pushed for space, we may have a solution for you...

It was great during lockdown, feet up in front of the TV, laptop on your lap and a tea with a stack of biscuits to one side but now things are starting to go back to normal on the business front and therefore we are all very busy again; however many people are now working from home permanently. Working from home certainly comes with its challenges for space. Sometimes an extension just is not possible and if it just going to be used as an office space, it might not quite warrant the expenditure.

That is why we are supplying and/or installing the impeccable KYUBE garden building. This system of external building would be a great addition to any home. We are mainly going to be using the steel frame system only because of longevity, but the timber frame model will be available for supply only. The steel frame models we will be installing are externally cladded with a range of door and window options and colours. Internally finished with modern materials, laminate flooring and skirting boards so no need to decorate. These buildings come prewired for electricity. As for sizing we can install anywhere from 3m x 2.5m to 6m x 3m. Feel free to submit an enquiry for a brochure on this product.

We are back!

Mon, 27 Jul 2020 09:00:22 GMT

What you can expect when you visit our showrooms post Covid-19.

A lot has changed since the start of lockdown for all of us. It was a complete change in the way many of us go about our daily lives and how we work within our businesses. At County Windows we recognise just how important it is that we keep our customers and our staff safe. We want to be an active participant in helping reduce the spread of Covid-19.

When you arrive at one of our showrooms, you will see a table with hand sanitizer, face masks and gloves provided. You will then be asked for your details as we feel obligated to make our visitors aware if any one of our customers has contracted the virus and therefore we need to know who has visited and when. All of our samples and display models are sanitized so they can be touched and used as they would be normally. We are complying to the social distancing guidelines and want to keep all of our customers as safe as possible.

We want to thank all of our customers for their incredible patience during this difficult time. Many thanks from all of us here at County Windows, stay safe.

Composite and UPVC doors

Sat, 25 Jan 2020 12:24:06 GMT

How to differentiate different types of 'composite doors' and the difference between UPVC panel door and UPVC doors; also, how to choose the best lock for your home.

All of the doors we supply and fit are produced to a British Standard and also are fitted with British standard locks; however, check with whoever you decide to buy from that this is the case. We also offer a range of doors and door security to suit every customers needs. In this market the choice of doors and security can be overwhelming. A lot of our customers come to us perplexed not knowing which options are right for them. Here is a breakdown of the differences between our composite doors, UPVC doors and locking systems to clear up some of this confusion.

Solidor - composite door

A Solidor is constructed of a 44mm solid timber core that is lead free and has a 5 chamber profile. This profile uses 100% recycled reinforcing and is very strong and thermally efficient. The locking system consists of, as standard, 2 hook locks, 3 hinge protectors and a latch lock. The locking cylinder is an Ultion cylinder which is an exceptional lock as it has a laser cut key specific to the door which can not be copied by a key cutter. To know if it is a real Solidor, knock on the door and you should hear a solid core and not hollow.

Palladio - composite door

A Palladio door is composed of 65mm fibreglass reinforced Monocoque composite door. It is a double rebated door ensuring exceptional draught prevention. Comes as standard with a 9-point locking system consisting of 2 hook locks, 2 shoot bolts, 4 roller locks and a dead latch lock. This composite door has a combined U value of 0.64.

Smart Designer Door - composite door

A Smart Designer Door is comprised of aluminium polyamide. Every door is made of customised aluminium moulding. The polyamide acts as a thermal barrier making the door thermally efficient. This door comes as standard with a 10-point locking system.

Foam composite door

A foam composite door is composed of a rigid foam infill panel and is finished with a GRP outer skin.

UPVC panel door

This door is comprised a solid UPVC panel. Available in a range of finishes and can mimic the look of a composite door without the extra security of a composite core. These will match closely with UPVC window rather than being a feature.

UPVC door

A UPVC door is a door comprised of UPVC midrail and transom paired with UPVC panels.

If you have any questions regarding door types and how to differentiate them, please feel free to contact the office.

The best solution for your uninhabitable conservatory

Thu, 23 Jan 2020 09:41:48 GMT

The perfect hybrid roof system to fix all of your problems

A lot of homeowners have uninhabitable conservatories. We constantly have potential customers coming to us with the same problems; their conservatory is scorching hot in the summer and arctic cold in the winter. Ultraframe Ultraroof hybrid insulated roof is the solution to this problem. It keeps your conservatory at the perfect temperature all throughout the year. The roof pictured above is a composed of composite tiles and opening roof lights. This roof converts a conservatory into an extension of the house, increasing property value and giving you more space in your home.

These hybrid roof systems can be composed of other materials such as aluminium panels, UPVC uTech panels and glass strips (these can come tinted). This creates a completely bespoke way of either replacing a roof or constructing a new conservatory. All of these roof systems are the only fire tested roof on the market, giving peace of mind along with our FENSA registered installers and insurance backed 10 year guarantee.

If you would like to discuss these roof systems with us, please give us a call, send us an email or come into our showroom.

A home ready for the winter!

Tue, 19 Nov 2019 12:34:08 GMT

As the temperature dropped below zero today, and people will be grateful of their double glazing. The property above has just had new windows and a new patio alongside that! A brilliant example of the outstanding work from our team.

Our doors and windows

Mon, 17 Jun 2019 14:28:38 GMT

Important information about our windows and doors that sets us apart.

In a normal side opening windows, there are 10 security points:

The above images consists of two claw bolts, two sliding bolts, two shoot bolts, three hinge protectors (the amount of these can depend on the size of the window) and the central lock which can also be locked with a key. All of our windows and doors are secured by design. Secured by design is a police enterprise that officiates the improvement of security of properties. Since bringing in the secured by design initiative, the has been up to 87% reduction in burglaries which is due to the scheme being approved by over 200 police specialists nationwide.

Above referenced from https://www.securedbydesign.com/

Our Solidor security is also superior.

ALL of our Solidor's are secured by design. To know how to be reassured your Solidor is officiated by secured by design, there is a trademark (I have attached an image below) near the lock on the door.

Also, our Solidor consist of (as standard) Ultion laser cut locks and keys. You are unable to get these keys cut, as a result no one else will be able to get it cut. The specialist keys can only be made complimentary to their locks by superior industry technology.

Make sure you're protected!

Fri, 31 May 2019 15:08:44 GMT

How to check that your products are covered.

Purchasing and installing double glazing products without an approved installer and an insurance backed guarantee can at the seem like an unimportant and simple oversite, but in the long run it will cause more problems that you could anticipate and problems that a worth seeking out a company that are approved installers and can issue an insurance backed guarantee.

The problems that can occur would be incidents such as:
- the windows not being fitted correctly and that causing problems of it's own.
- it is very difficult to sell your home without a FENSA or equivalent certification.
- if the company you purchased the double glazing from becomes bankrupt and you have problems with your products, an insurance backed guarantee will ensure that your home is taken care of.
- if problems occur with the double glazing that you purchased an insurance backed guarantee will cover any costs that endure when fixing
a product unless the damage is from wear and tear, accidental damage or misuse.

All glazing products installed by County Windows are FENSA approved and come with a 10 year insurance backed guarantee.

Warning about budget replacement roofs

Fri, 12 Apr 2019 15:46:31 GMT

If it seems too good to be true, it probably is

The photo above is the disaster of a clad over roof. We are seeing in this industry far too many of these horror stories. What happens is, a trader who is intending on not constructing a replacement roof properly and is offering a budget option, tells a potential customer exactly what they want to hear. How they 'replace' the roof will be a very big red flag. How they do this is:

External clad over: Removing the glass panels in the roof and then strapping timber batons to the outside frame. They will then fix the solid roof to the batons.

Internal clad over: This method is done by fixing batons to the inside of the conservatory, then adding a layer of insulation to the batons and then covering with plaster boarding the inside over the insulation.

External and internal clad over: This involves the two above methods combined.

Solid panel clad over: This method of replacing an existing conservatory roof involves removing the glass and replacing it with solid panels. This option also doesn't offer an internal finish, unless it is internally cladded.

The problem with these replacement roof methods:

Structural Quality: A solid roof's structure needs to be much more rigid, due to it's weight, so that it is able to withstand high winds and heavy snowfalls.

Fire testing: All of our Ultraframe replacement roof products that we install are fire tested to reach the standards they are supposed to. An accredited fire safety certificate is available on request.

Weight: These roofs are far too heavy for a conservatory roof system. A conservatory roof system is called a conservatory roof system for a reason. It is only supposed to have a frame with glass panels.

Building regulations: Clad over roof systems do not usually comply with Building Regulations because of the quality of the structure and the inadequate thermal efficiency.

Warranty and Guarantee: Not all clad over roofs come with a warrantee or guarantee. Also, not all guarantee's are backed with insurance. However, at County Windows, we guarantee all of our roofs for 10 years.

With our replacement roofs, we tick all the boxes.

To formulate your replacement roof project, with peace of mind, call today on 01480 461 505 or email us at info@countywindows.com

We are now stocking Ultraframe!

Thu, 11 Apr 2019 15:56:12 GMT

The search is finally over...

We have been looking for a prestigious conservatory product and we finally found it. Ultraframe. With these products not only did we find a prestigious conservatory product, we found amazing extension, orangery and lantern products also. With Ultraframe, we are now able to offer products that set us apart from other building and window companies. Our installers expertise allow us to choose new products and they have no problem adapting their skills and being able to fit them. These products from Ultraframe allow us to cater to every customer's wants. Additionally, these roofs have been fully fire tested and fire certificate is available upon request.

This allows our products to be as versatile as possible. This means we can turn what would be either a normal brick extension or an all glass conservatory, into a room that will become a feature in your home. The addition of bi-fold doors to the conservatory make this room a hub throughout the year.

The conservatory above demonstrates the LivinRoom option offered by Ultraframe. This is shown as a chic conservatory outside but from the inside it is a fully inhabitable room. This above portrays how versatile Ultraframe's products are. This option could even be made to look more like a room by adding super-insulated columns. This adds wall space to the conservatory without the additional cost of brickwork. The LivinRoom option also helps to keep the cost down because without the addition of the pelmet and a modern corniche.

The replacement roof above is an option offered by Ultraframe called LivinRoom. This offers the option to have a solid roof with sections of glass for the addition of natural light. This offers the option of improving the thermal efficiency of your home from an already existing conservatory.

The conservatory above exhibits the super-insulated columns. As mentioned above, this adds wall space and makes the extension to your home have more of a room-feel.

Above is the tiled version of the LivinRoof. This option offered by Ultraframe is called the UltraRoof. This, again, offers the option of a solid roof which is thermally efficient with the advantage of natural light. This also improves the thermal efficiency of an already existing conservatory.

Get your Ultraframe product installed for summer 2019. Call us today on 01480 461 505 or email us at info@countywindows.com

On top of one of our sky lanterns

Tue, 26 Feb 2019 15:17:07 GMT

A rare top view form one of our best-selling products

This sky lantern has blue tinted self-cleaning glass with white UPVC casing. The outside roof is a fibreglass compound mixture with a modern grey coating.

A lot of our previous customers ask what our sky lantern roofs look like from the outside but our installer teams kept forgetting to take a picture of the finished product. Our director, Austin, took advantage of the beautiful weather yesterday morning and photographed one of our newest installations from the outside.

This blue tinted glazing will filter the amount of light that the glass will let in, so if you have a garden that is south facing and are worried about getting a sky lantern as the room may get too hot, this is the perfect solution.

Also keep an eye out through new products we have some exciting things in store for 2019.

Getting your home summer ready

Fri, 22 Feb 2019 10:46:08 GMT

What to put on your to-do list after the annual spring clean

Everyone wants to enjoy the summer months before the winter chill comes around again. This conservatory was completed this week with two large beautiful sky lanterns for a couple who did not want to waste a moment of the British summer sunshine, which we all know you have to treasure every moment of.

So after your home has been blitzed from your hard work of cleaning, dusting and maybe having a shift around, treat yourself to a home improvement and make the most of summer.

Installation of a door canopy 23/10/18

Tue, 23 Oct 2018 10:52:41 GMT

Today, one of our installers and our apprentice installed a door canopy above the door at the St Ives showroom. We thought that it is going to be ideal when it is raining and we are unable to find our keys, just one of that many perks of working for a home improvement company. All jokes aside, this is a very good example of one of the many styles of door canopies we do. Like what you see? Give us a call today on 01480 461505 or send us an enquiry email: enquiries@countywindows.com or even drop in our showroom! 11, White Hart Court, St Ives, PE27 5EA

Roof Installation 15/10/18

Fri, 19 Oct 2018 09:49:51 GMT

This week, the team has been hard at work installing a conservatory roof.

This above is the internal workings of a conservatory roof which our expert installers have been working hard to put together. The finished product was a success. These satisfied customers can now enjoy their new conservatory roof for Christmas. Considering having a new conservatory in time for Christmas? Give us a call today!