Float glass
27th November 2018

REHAU windows and doors have been installed in a luxury houseboat in Belfast, listed on Air B&B as one of the top featured properties in Northern Ireland.

The boat – affectionately known as Nolly – was once destined for the scrapyard but was rescued by Gillian and David Campbell, who bought the barge as a renovation project. As well as being a home for the Campbell’s, it can also be rented out as two apartments.

Gillian Campbell said: “We travelled a lot over the years with David’s job, and during our time in Denmark, we just fell in love with the houseboats we saw in Copenhagen. So, when David retired, we decided to take on a project to build our own houseboat..

While some of the boat’s original portholes could be salvaged for reuse on internal doors and walls, the exterior windows all needed replacing. Gillian continued: “We were advised against using timber frames that can rot, so PVC was the best alternative. Initially, I was a bit unsure about how they would look but I am delighted with them – they are just so clean and bright and let in so much light, particularly in the upstairs living area.”

Gillian was advised on the window and door specification by Rehau’s trade counter partner in Belfast, Windowmate. Sales manager Thomas McAllister explored a number of options for the houseboat and ultimately recommended the Rehau Total70 range. The casement and fixed windows could be easily installed in the steel frame of the boat and offered a high U-value.

Thomas said: “The project was unlike anything we had done before and came with some very unique challenges. Just getting products onto the boat and fitted safely was a different experience for us, but we worked on each problem as they came up to ensure the best installation possible. This included using an odd-leg profile to help seal the windows better onto the boat.”

Windowmate supplied 12 standard casement windows, two fixed light screens and two standard residential doors or the houseboat. However, the French doors to the outdoor living areas presented some issues to the team, as Thomas explained: “Because the dimensions of the boat are not like a normal brick-built house, not all the door sizes are standard, and this posed one or two challenges! When it came to fitting the doors which led out onto the boat’s outdoor seating area, we couldn’t use a standard Rehau door product so instead we manufactured a large casement window and used this as a French door.”