A royal finish

Work has recently finished on the new Leonardo Royal Hotel Edinburgh with fabricator, Total Glass, manufacturing 350 unique WarmCore windows for the building.

Previously a Premier Inn site, the hotel was acquired by Leonardo Hotels, said to be one of Europe’s fastest growing hotel groups, and given a €7m, 4* refurbishment across its 282 rooms. The WarmCore windows were installed by Reliant Windows and were finished in a bespoke pale silver metallic colour.

The hotel chain prides itself on designing each of its 80 hotels individually, so the specification for the project reportedly required something unique with regards to the windows. According to Total Glass, WarmCore’s composite structure made it ‘straightforward’ to manufacture the specialised colour requirements demanded by the project designers, allowing the whole project to be delivered within seven weeks.

Phill Cresswell, sales and marketing manager at Total Glass, said: “We’ve worked closely with Reliant Windows on a number of projects and when we were approached about delivering aluminium windows for the Leonardo Royal Hotel, we knew that WarmCore was the only product for the job.

“WarmCore has revolutionised our aluminium supply chain and given us the capability to turnaround dual colour and bespoke colour requests very quickly, allowing us to tender for a number of commercial projects like this one which we couldn’t have done with an alternative aluminium system, given the complexity of the specification and the time requirements. Specifiers love the guaranteed low ‘U’ values and easy maintenance that WarmCore offers – hands down it will be our product of choice for similar projects in the future.”

The post A royal finish appeared first on Glass & Glazing Products Magazine (GGP).

Image Above: Chris Hornby (left) of Yorkshire Windows and Doors with Mark Atkinson (right) from Hurst Plastics

As Hull nears the end of an extraordinary year as ‘UK City of Culture 2017’, Hurst Plastics has unveiled a unique composite entrance door that pays tribute to one of the most prominent landmarks of the company’s home city.

Manufactured at Hurst Plastics’ dedicated factory in Hull, the door features a spectacular image of the Humber Bridge from local photographer Wendy Rowe, who lives in Hessle. The iconic 2220-metre long suspension bridge, which was given Grade I listed building status in July, was chosen by Hurst as a fitting subject for the door because it captures the heart of Hull as a thriving city port and vibrant cultural destination. The bridge also inspired the name for the one-off door – the Humber Door.

The door was presented to Hull-based installer Yorkshire Windows and Doors, which has been a customer of Hurst Plastics for 20 years. The company will display the door in its showroom in Sutton Fields before handing it over to local charity Dove House Hospice. The hospice will auction the door at its annual Winter Ball, which takes place in November at The Country Park Inn in Hessle. The fundraising gala event hopes to raise £12,000 for the hospice.

Mark Atkinson, Sales Director at Hurst Plastics, presented the door to Chris Hornby from Yorkshire Windows. Mark said: “This is a really special year for Hull and we just had to produce something that marked the occasion and honoured our famous bridge. We have some clever technology that’s capable of reproducing any photograph onto glass and so the idea was borne to create a door with a dazzling image that really captures the essence of Hull. And here it is – the Humber Door!

“The finished door is remarkable and we’re proud to have created a real statement piece that’s like nothing else out there. And of course, we’re delighted to donate it to Dove House Hospice and to lend our support to a fantastic local charity. We certainly hope it opens the door to a bidding frenzy at the auction!”

Chris Hornby, Managing Director of Yorkshire Windows and Doors, added: “It is a real privilege to be custodians of this magnificent door, which is a true celebration of Hull. I’m a Hull man and this year has been an incredibly proud year for the people of Hull as UK City of Culture. I’m very pleased that the door will also help to raise money for Dove House Hospice. I have personal experience of the hospice and it’s a wonderful place.”

The Humber Door was created in a half-glazed design to dedicate as much glazing as possible to the image of the bridge. It was made in one of Hurst’s most popular contemporary colours – Anthracite Grey – and features a complementary chrome handle and letterplate.

For more information on the range of Hurst composite doors or Hurst’s digital printing service, please contact Hurst Plastics on 01482 790790 or visit www.hurst-plastics.co.uk.

For more information and to book tickets, visit: www.dovehouse.org.uk/ball

Eurocell has added 250 products to its over-the-counter range bringing the total number available to over 4,000. From loft hatches to laminate flooring, hacksaws to hardhats, the aim of the additions is to ensure that all the day-to-day items that a jobbing builder might need are at hand.

The company opened over 20 new branches this year, and with a total of over 150 covering Penzance to Inverness, the network can be considered a truly comprehensive national one.

The new products span a dozen categories ranging from an expanded timber selection and access equipment, through to PPE, tools, fixings and decorating supplies. For example, there is a new collection of loft hatches with three variations available in either drop down or push up configurations, plus a one-hour fire option. An expanded timber range has been rolled out to even more stores, and now encompasses, for instance, 18mm OSB sheet products up to 2.4m in length.

Last year saw the opening of 20 Eurocell branches around the country, with over 170 in total now, covering Penzance to Inverness. “We choose locations carefully, looking for spots that we know will be accessible for local tradespeople who might otherwise have to make a significant journey to pick up supplies,” says Eurocell Head of Marketing Chris Coxon. “One of the things we’ve noticed over the past few years is that our customers are buying more and more tools and materials from us. By adding even more staples to the range, we hope they can make one stop with us and then get straight back to work”.

Among the major new lines, for example, is a collection of insulated loft hatches with three variations in either drop down or push up configurations, plus a one-hour fire option. The design of the multi-point catch mechanism means that the Drop Down Loft Door can maintain a more effective draught seal around the entire accessible opening, helping to meet the air leakage requirements of Part L of the Building Regulations and preventing the problem of moist warm air entering. It has been independently tested by the BRE to BS EN 13141-1:2004, and easily surpasses the regulation requirements for air leakage. The door can also be used in conjunction with the company’s pole-operated loft ladders.

Looking floor-wards, there’s now a range of laminate flooring available from Eurocell branches. With the look and feel of real wood the click-together system comes in a choice of Michigan Oak or Ontario Oak with underlay, profiles and beading included in the range.

Eurocell’s catalogue of tools and accessories has expanded. High-vis orange fencing, screwdriver sets, wood chisels and heavy-duty staple guns are among the extra items. There are more decorating and cleaning products too.

With the roofing season upon us, Eurocell has also added two types of insulation: Celotex GA4000, a general-purpose insulation board and Knauf’s Earthwool Loft Roll, a 1.14m-wide low-density glass mineral wool quilt for pitched roofs.

Last, but by no means least, Eurocell has added significantly to its PPE range. Now customers can purchase hard hats, a choice of several styles of safety eye wear, ear defenders, masks and gloves.

And to save even more of those precious minutes on site, Eurocell now offers a click-and-collect service. Customers can order online using a smartphone, tablet or laptop and then pick up from their nearest branch. Alternatively, there’s free delivery within 24 hours for orders over £100.

To find out which of the 170+ Eurocell branches is your nearest, visit http://www.eurocell.co.uk/branch-finder.

Apeer is now offering Yale’s highly impressive Conexis keyless smart door lock as an option across the full range of the company’s composite residential doors, complementing the high security performance of its doors with the convenience of app-based control and dispensing with conventional keys. It is simple and intuitive to operate by anyone familiar with a smartphone.

Yale Conexis offers the freedom to control access through the door remotely or directly without keys, unlocking and locking doors using app enabled smart phones, key cards, tags or phone tags (sold separately). With all functions controlled via the Conexis app the user may send mobile ‘keys’ to family and friends, with the option to give access permanently or for a few weeks or hours if required. ‘Keys’ may be revoked instantly. Five keys are provided with the lock, with additional keys purchased via the app.

The app also allows the user to keep track of who comes and goes, sending notifications to the user’s smart phone, ideal to check when children arrive home for example. And for the simple function of unlocking the door for direct access, the user simply presents their smart phone to the lock to wake the Bluetooth function, and then twists the device through 90 degrees to release the door.

The Conexis lock works perfectly on Apeer doors as they have been using the Yale mantis multi point lock for over 15 years now and Conexis can be retrofitted to any Apeer door where customers would like to upgrade. In fact the Conexis smart lock may be installed on all regular locking mechanisms.

Apeer doors may be ordered with Conexis through Apeer or regular distributors.

Further information at www.apeer.co.uk

A new dining space at Drayton Manor Hotel has been filled with natural light thanks to the installation of four largescale Stratus lantern roofs.

The fully thermally broken aluminium lanterns were installed this summer by Swadlincote Window Company Ltd. in the popular hotel which serves guests of the Drayton Manor theme park in Tamworth.

The Garden Room extension has been added to the back of the hotel to offer extensive views of the grounds, finished with modern décor and facilities. The contemporary style of the aluminium Stratus with white interior finish has helped to keep the space light and open, complementing the large windows and folding sliding doors.

Michael McGuinness at Swadlincote Window Company Ltd. said:

“We won the project through the main contractor, DF Beniston Ltd. They wanted a reliable company to install a product that would fill the new dining area with natural light. We were thrilled when we won the project because it was great to work for one of the biggest theme parks in the UK.

“During discussions with the main contractor, we recommended the Stratus roof system due to the large glass area which would allow an endless amount of light through. We glazed the roofs with Celsius Elite glass which is highly insulated, has very good UV protection and has an excellent solar factor.

“After seeing the finished product, we were delighted. The amount of light coming through was just right and it really opened up the new dining area. We were just so thankful for being chosen to help with this fantastic project and we hope that the staff and customers enjoy the new dining area for years to come!”

The Stratus lantern roof from Synseal Group is fully thermally broken with a hardwearing aluminium exterior, combining beautiful, modern aesthetics with excellent thermal performance all year round. The polyamide thermal break system offers improved thermal efficiency up to 65% better than conventional aluminium systems, according to the company.

In addition, the 20° pitch and 66% smaller ridge than standard systems also give the Straus lanterns a very clean, discreet finish both inside and out.

Stratus is available in three styles including a contemporary design supported solely by the hip rafters, without the need for side rafters. The large three-way design specified for this installation is available up to 3m x 6m with a choice of anthracite grey or crisp white powder coated external finishes.

www.swadlincotewindows.com

Two new innovative rooflight products from Kestrel Aluminium have been designed to focus on ‘bringing light into living’

Kestrel Aluminium Systems have been designing quality architectural products that enhance living spaces since 1989 with the customer remaining at the heart of everything they do. Nearly thirty years later the Aston-based company are continuing to expand their product portfolio with the introduction of two new innovative products; a flat rooflight system and a lantern rooflight system, both designed with the end user in mind. These carefully created systems will create an airy space flooding light into every corner of a home using elegant and aesthetically pleasing designs.

The customer-centric company believes that no home is complete without a free-flowing stream of natural light to help brighten up even the darkest day. The Kestrel Aluminium Systems’ Flat Rooflight System will flood the space below with natural light all year round creating a contemporary living space complementing and adding value to any home. This innovative and practical made-to-measure rooflight is available in three different designs; Fixed, Ventilation or Egress. The system has been carefully crafted so that it stands out from the rest of the competition with our unique design; it has been designed to allow glass to be removed in the event of double-glazed unit failure. By using a removable PVC-U cassette to which the glass is bonded, it is mechanically fixed to the frame, therefore only the cassette will need replacing in the event of glass replacement.

The Fixed version is available in two options; Standard and Walk-On, whilst the Ventilation version opens up to 360mm enabling air to filter through, or if you require alternative means of egress for maintenance purposes the Egress version opens up to a 70° angle allowing access to the rooftop. This fabricator-friendly Flat Rooflight System offers dual powder-coating options as well as being built bespoke to the size of the glass required. Once installed, the secure rooflight maximises natural light providing an elegant appeal to any home, office, school or hotel whilst offering additional ventilation. Following the recent successful launch of Kestrel Aluminium Systems’ Flat Rooflight, the company are continuing to roll out their new product development portfolio, with their latest addition aimed at truly bringing light into living. The new Lantern Rooflight System is both stylish and practical, and is designed to meet the needs of the modern home using environmentally friendly materials delivering superior aesthetics.

The innovative and practical lantern rooflight has been designed to be fabricator friendly with the absence of compound mitre cuts as a result of the fixed pitches. The thermally efficient system has been created to be aesthetically pleasing with fuss-free low-line ridges and round-edged glazing bars to create a softer and more contemporary appearance. The secure lantern rooflight provides an elegant appeal to any home, orangery or extension whilst enhancing the owners’ lifestyle. The corner joints are performed with mechanical cleats with the aid of punch tooling to each of the corners of the lantern rooflight.

The jointing system makes site assembly possible meaning transportation and manual handling of the materials onto the roof become easier. Additionally, the eaves’ profiles are designed with a render stop, allowing internal finishes to be brought up to the underside of the lantern rooflight to provide a neat slick finish. The hip bars and glazing bars are supplied pre-machined to fit neatly against the eaves profiles. Only one cut is required to achieve the correct bar length before the assembly of each hip/glazing bar reducing fabrication time. Simply enjoy the warmth of the sun or gaze up at the stars at night. It’s time to open up your mind to a brighter way of living all year around. If that was not enough, due to their onsite powder-coating facility, Kestrel Aluminium Systems boast enviable lead times of only 3-5 days, yes you read that right..days not weeks! To become, or find a Kestrel Aluminium Fabricator, request a brochure or find out more about Kestrel Aluminium Systems call 0121 333 5335 or email info@kestrelalumunium.co.uk.

The post Bringing light into living with Kestrel appeared first on Windows Active Magazine.

Picture above:  (left) Tim Watkins, Managing Partner of the Award sponsors, Randall & Payne and Gary Jones (right).

Glevum, the Gloucestershire based window, door and conservatory installer has won the prestigious Business of the Year Award in the Gloucestershire Business Awards run by Trinity Mirror.

Gary Jones received the award in front of nearly 1,000 people at the Awards Dinner which was held at Cheltenham Racecourse. The Gloucestershire Business Awards is the biggest set of regional business awards in the country and the Business of the Year category is the most coveted of the awards.

Gary Jones commented:  “We are absolutely delighted to have been crowned Business of the Year. We had our best year ever last year. This was largely down to the hundreds of people who chose Glevum for their new windows, doors or conservatories. It means everything to us when people entrust us with what is a very important purchase to them.

All of this of course would not be possible without the efforts and dedication of our staff, who I would like to dedicate this award to”.

Glevum was started in Gloucester by Gary Jones in 1984, since which it has improved over 40,000 peoples’ homes. The firm hit national headlines in the 1990’s with its marketing campaign “The Class behind the Glass”, which featured Melinda Messenger and helped launch her career. The firm is no stranger to awards having previously won the UK Conservatory Company of the Year Award, New Build Conservatory Company of the Year and Gary himself picked up a Young Businessman of the Year Award.

Glevum based near Newnham on Severn, install high quality UPVC windows, doors and conservatories for homeowners in Gloucestershire and the surrounding counties. Glevum also install windows, doors and conservatories for new house builders across the country, including David Wilson, Taylor Wimpey, Persimmon and Croudace.

Picture above: Envisage, Flush Casement Window

Leading UK Fabricator Conservatory Outlet has officially launched its new flush casement window – Envisage – to its exclusive Network of retail partners.

From October 2017, the Envisage window will be manufactured within the 60,000 sq ft Wakefield based plant and is a welcome addition to Conservatory Outlet’s collection of superior home improvement products; allowing its network of retail partners to offer a stylish, modern twist on the traditional ‘timber-look’ flush frame.

The Envisage flush casement window boasts simple, clean lines, authentic proportions and with opening lights that do not stand proud of the frame; whilst also exceeding the exceptional performance, security and insulation demands of the 21st century.

The new addition is available in a range of both traditional and contemporary colours including Olive Grey (exclusive to Conservatory Outlet retail partners), and hardware to suit any style of property.

Capable of achieving a WER of A+ and U-Value of 1.2., Envisage also boasts the Conservatory Outlet “Secure It” locking system for ultimate security, which connects with the full length of the window for impenetrable strength.

Conservatory Outlet claims a continuous reel of year-on year growth, and attributes much of its success to its innovative and growing product portfolio; which enables its retail partners to source a vast assortment of products from one trusted supplier.

Managing Director at Conservatory Outlet, Michael Giscombe explains: “Heritage-look products that boast modern performance features are faring exceptionally well in the market at the moment.

“The Envisage flush casement window caters to this demand perfectly, offering a high quality flush window at an affordable price, in a range of colours and hardware styles.

“We always strive to offer our customers the most technologically advanced products on the market and we’re proud to add this latest string to our bow. Envisage is a fantastic product and I’m really pleased to be adding it to the Conservatory Outlet portfolio.”

Apeer is now offering Yale’s Conexis keyless smart door lock as an option across the full range of its composite residential doors.

Yale Conexis allows homeowners to operate a door remotely or directly without keys, unlocking and locking doors using app enabled smart phones, key cards, tags or phone tags. With all functions controlled via the Conexis app the user can send mobile ‘keys’ to family and friends, with the option to give access permanently or for a few weeks or hours if required. ‘Keys’ may be revoked instantly. Five keys are provided with the lock, with additional keys purchased via the app.

The app also allows the user to keep track of who comes and goes, sending notifications to the user’s smart phone. To unlock a door with direct access, the user simply presents their smart phone to the lock to activate the Bluetooth function, and then twists the device through 90 degrees to release the door.

The Conexis lock is said to work perfectly on Apeer doors as they have been using the Yale mantis multi point lock for over 15 years now and Conexis can be retrofitted to any Apeer door where customers would like to upgrade.

The post Apeer doors get smart appeared first on Glass & Glazing Products Magazine (GGP).