Chain reaction

If there are two unstoppable trends in the infrastructure of the industry – corporate consolidation and the march of the trade counter – then today’s news of the GAP-SIG acquisition could hardly be more significant Read Story. Whether you are buying a suite of windows or a pack of screws, there is now one more major player in the arena and as far as window installers are concerned, another fully national name to persuade some away from the conventional fabricator route.

Of course, there is still the overlap with the other trend in earlier reports of general builders nibbling away at one end of the window market, i.e. those with more modest throughput of windows and doors are the most likely trade counter users, but the overall trend will still be of concern to conventional fabricators.

Elsewhere this week, two bits of potentially good news for the ever-present cowboys in our industry: one that nearly half of consumers are happy to pay tradesmen cash for a better deal (Read Story) and another that price increases may be putting more consumers under pressure to look for cheaper operators Read Story.

And finally, for those who have not yet heard, those considerate people running the G17 Awards have extended the deadline for entries to Monday, August 14, so those late-comers have one last chance to get those nominations in.

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

GAP acquires SIG division - depot chain grows to 112

GAP today announced the acquisition of SIG Building Plastics and SIG Windows, making it the UK’s second largest building plastics trade counter chain, with 112 units as well as giving it a strong presence in the south of England.

The deal also includes an extensive portfolio of drainage, sheet material, window and roofline brands, including Scotplas, Omnico, CFS, PBM-DQS, Summers, Armour, Roplas, Toogood, Drainex, Plastics Pipe Supplies and Project Plastics.

Read More Here...

Building Regs
review launched

An independent review of building regulations and fire safety was announced by the government this week.

The review follows the controversy over cladding after the Grenfell Tower fire but, according to the announcement, will look generally at ‘current building regulations and fire safety with a particular focus on high rise residential buildings’.

Read More Here...

Windows fifth in FMB
price-hike league

Windows have taken fifth place in a table of builders’ fears over materials price rises, according to research published this week.

The report, by the Federation of Master Builders, says a third of small building firms say rising prices are squeezing their margins and almost a quarter say they have had to pass these price increases onto consumers.

Read More Here...

Homes shortage offsets cooling house market to keep prices stable

The growth in house prices remained broadly stable in July, increasing 2.9% year-on-year, slightly lower than the annual figure for June at 3.1%, and with a modest month-on-month rise of 0.3%, according to the Nationwide House Price Index.

Robert Gardner, Nationwide's Chief Economist, said: “On the surface, this appears at odds with recent signs of cooling in the housing market.

Read More Here...

Nearly half admit cash
in hand deals

Almost half the population – and more than half of over-55s – admit paying a tradesman in cash to get a cheaper deal, with Liverpool people topping the league as more than twice as likely as those in London, Plymouth, Southampton and Cardiff.

The survey, by home service site Plentific.com, comes in the wake of the government-backed Taylor Review, which concluded that up to £6billion a year went on work for cash – much of it untaxed – though digital payment platforms could make it more rare in future.

Read More Here...

We Have Email

From: Mike Davis,
MD, CDW Systems

Aluminium is going from strength to strength. The number of installers offering aluminium products has grown by 41% over the past five years.

And it’s not just popular in commercial projects. Demand for aluminium windows and doors in the domestic market has rocketed as more homeowners become aware of the benefits of aluminium such as slim sightlines, high performance and a wide range of colour finishes.

Read More