In A Heritage Hurry

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Once only a few fabricators catered for the heritage window market. Now more and more are hurrying to buy quality profile systems to capitalise on an ‘in-demand’ market, says Deceuninck’s MD Rob McGlennon.

Heritage windows have long been considered a niche offering; a less-popular high-end option that window companies run alongside a standard (often high volume) offering.

“To even describe the heritage window market as ‘niche’ suggests that it is out of reach for many widow fabricators and installers,” McGlennon told The Installer. “But in truth, the hard work undertaken by our fabricator customers has helped redefine the expectations of homeowners when they come to replace their windows.”

McGlennon points to the increased investment in specialist machinery that can provide a near-invisible weld on both the sash and outerframe, elevating the appearance of the window beyond a typical PVC-U finish.

“Creating a true heritage flush window means removing legacy PVC-U characteristics and using machinery like the Graf Synergy has put more fabricators and their customers into this higher bracket of work,” says McGlennon.

“Plus, we have customers choosing to go for a completely mechanical finish, where machinery is only used to cut and prep the profile before the windows are manufactured by hand, creating an authentic heritage look – especially with a flush sash. In fact, sales of our flush products now account for more than 40% of all Deceuninck products sold.”

 

Testing

Deceuninck launched its Heritage Flush Sash window in 2016. It combines subtle balanced aesthetics, replicating traditional timber windows with advanced thermal performance achieving WER of as high as A++ and U-values as low as 0.90W/m2K. Airtightness is Class 4, water tightness Class E900 and wind resistance AE2400.

PAS24 tested and Part Q approved, the Flush Sash can be fully welded or mechanically jointed and comes with a night vent facility, Georgian bar option and choice of traditional ironmongery.

 

Open out

Deceuninck added a dedicated open-out flush door sash alongside its flush window offer at the end of 2019. Fully suited with its Heritage 2800 system, it achieves U-values as low as 1.0W/m2K and DER A rating.

It is also PAS24 approved and can be welded or mechanically jointed, achieving Class 4 600 Pa air permeability, Class E1050 Pa water gtightness (full frame) and Class A3 1200 Pa wind resistance.

Featuring a dedicated reinforcement, there’s also no requirement to glass bond units, simplifying handling in manufacture.

 

Colour

However,it is Deceuninck’s colour offer that is winning sales in many quarters, according  to McGlennon, with new customers putting a secure supply of coloured profile at the top of their ‘must have’ list when choosing suppliers.

Deceuninck offers 30+ colourways in stock and 20 additional colours in just 15 working days.

McGlennon says: “One customer has recently dedicated part of their operation to hand-built mechanically jointed windows and has reported that up to 90% of products sold require a coloured foil.

“Homeowners are already sold on heritage windows, even if their properties are reasonably modern. Installers who aren’t geared up to be selling windows with heritage features could be missing out on significant opportunities, especially as the high-volume work has dipped since the start of the year.

“But it is colour that is driving the conversation. We already know from our own research that homeowners prefer coloured windows when presented with a choice. Feedback from our installer customers suggests that it is the option of colour that is defining the heritage market.”

 

Pictures: Rob McGlennon says sales of flush products now account for more than 40% of all Deceuninck products sold. The company offers 30+ colourways in stock and 20 additional colours in just 15 working days.

www.deceuninck.co.uk

Article written by Cathryn Ellis
10th August 2023

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