Grey matter

At one time, it was either all about PVC-U or all about aluminium. Just like those many British cities that are eternally divided by two football teams, you were either one or the other and that was that.

Then, in recent weeks, the division has begun to blur a little. After a preview at FIT, Synseal has taken its Warmcore aluminium patio door concept into the window arena and already has more than a score of partners around the UK wanting to work with it Read Story. Also, one major fabricator is kitting up to push its aluminium window output Read Story and there are hints that others are planning inroads of their own. And remember last week’s survey, showing that homeowners cite aluminium as their first choice rose from 7% to 8% in just one quarter Read Story.

At the same time, we keep hearing of the PVC-U side snatching some lucrative commercial contracts by promoting RAL 7016 grey on smooth foil as a ‘value-engineered’ alternative.

Finally, and very far from grey, take a look a video clip of how a glass façade by day has become a massive moving image screen by night with the use of embedded LEDs. Read Story

Whether you prefer your windows plain grey or a cacophony of colour, we hope you enjoy this week’s issue.

Chris Church Editor

Please send all your news stories to news@the-glazine.com

This Week's News

Big drop in house moves

The number of people buying homes fell by nearly a fifth last month compared with the previous April, according to new figures from the Office of National Statistics.

Part of the drop may be linked to major tax and financial changes causing some buyers to rush transactions through in March but the figure is still not good news for home improvement businesses looking to gain from the ‘move and improve’ phenomenon, as buying a new home is one of the major triggers for choosing windows, doors and other home improvements.

Some 84,280 house sales went through last month, as against the 98,550 the previous April, representing a drop of 18.7% (seasonally adjusted to 14.5%). The figures are collated via HM Revenue and Customs and record only those purchases over £40,000.

Read the Rest Here...

Could PAS24 doors fall short of PartQ?

“Lack of clarity, continuous testing and third-party accreditation, could mean thousands of PAS24:2012 accredited doors fitted in the UK fall short of Part Q.”

That is the warning from. Sliders UK Chairman Ian Longbottom who says it fails to safeguard product quality because it doesn’t oblige fabricators to independently assess quality management systems or to ensure that specifications are met consistently.

Read the Rest Here...

Construction flat in Q1

Construction new orders fell flat across the first quarter of 2016, growing by just one per cent over the previous quarter to £15.7 billion.

Private housing new orders were at their lowest for over two years and public sector construction excluding housing totalled £1.7 billion, its lowest quarterly figure for more than four years, according to the latest statistics from the Office for National Statistics & construction industry analysts Barbour ABI.

Office construction however crossed the £2 billion mark for the first time since the great recession and the commercial sector, totalling £4.8 billion, was up 15 per cent compared to a year ago.

Read the Rest Here...

New butt joint
licences issued.

Masterframe is issuing licences for casement manufacturers to use its patent butt joint technique.

Alan Burgess, Managing Director explained how the technique came about: “A long time ago, we deduced that most homeowners who wanted really pretty looking windows did not want shiny plastic, mitre welded ones.

“We knew wood foil, with traditional butt joints was the answer, however there was a challenge in that most mechanical joints are open ended, meaning water penetrates easily. What was needed was a new method of joining the sections together to provide a fully sealed waterproof joint, which had a traditional ‘butted’ appearance.

Read the Rest Here...

We Have Email

From:
Roy Frost,
MD Deceuninck UK & Ireland

The industry hasn’t had a major product crisis for years, thank goodness. But the industry has a habit of creating its own crises; own goals that knock the industry off-course.

Usually they’re down to bad practice and reckless cost saving. And matching what others are doing, rather than doing what’s technically correct or sensible.

Read More