New looks for windows

Whatever style you’re looking for your home, choose the best design and material to restore or update it sympathetically.

ABOVE (left-right): Make the most of surrounding views with a Velux CABRIO roof balcony in a loft conversion; Quickslide produces perfect period-style uPVC windows in five finishes such as white (pictured) and light oak.

Period-style uPVC

Unplasticized polyvinyl chloride (or uPVC) is strong, energy-efficient and needs little or no maintenance. Quickslide’s range of authentic-looking vertical sliding sash windows combine this easy-care option with period style. Fitted with 24mm Pilkington K glass as standard, all sashes have a standard energy rating of C, although there is an option to increase this to an A rating. The durable, long-lasting frames are available in five standard finishes – white, cream, light oak, rosewood and white woodgrain, plus a flexible dual finish (white interior and woodgrain exterior). A bespoke colour-coating service is available on request. All sashes slide and tilt for easy cleaning and sash lock and tilt latch buttons are fitted as standard. Quickslide’s windows are made-to-measure, with prices starting from £167 for a basic white (H)1,000x (W)600mm sash, excluding installation.

Easy-clean option

Everest’s uPVC reversible windows couldn’t be easier to clean – you simply swing them around on their hinges and clean the outside surface from inside your home. Their low-maintenance uPVC construction means the frames only need an occasional wipe with a damp cloth and they come with a 10-year guarantee on materials and workmanship. The fully sealed, double glazed units carry an energy rating of band A as standard and have an energy-efficient U-value of 1.4W/m²K. Prices for a reversible window start from £700, including installation.

ABOVE: No ladder required – just rotate Everest’s reversible windows to clean them safely indoors.

Instant balcony

If you’re considering a loft conversion then you’re probably thinking about roof windows, so why not make the most of the view with a clever balcony design? Planning permission isn’t usually required. Velux’s CABRIO Roof Balcony fits flush to your roofline, just like a regular roof window, but opens up in seconds to create an instant balcony. The balcony comes with safety glazing as standard, along with a toughened outer pane and a laminated inner pane. The CABRIO has an energy-efficient U-value of 1.6W/m²K and the low-maintenance composite frame features a high-quality natural pine interior with a clear lacquered finish. Top-hung sections rotate 180º for easy cleaning, while a special clean coating on the outer pane ensures the glazing remains cleaner for longer. The CABRIO can be used as an emergency exit and prices start from £2,112 for a (H)2,520x (W)940cm window, excluding installation.

Classic casement

Most properties built after 1920 are likely to be fitted with side-hung and top-opening casement windows. A traditional timber bay casement from The Sash Window Workshop is crafted from accoya timber, a sustainably sourced softwood that matches the durability, stability and beauty of tropical hardwood. It features low-e (low-emissivity) double glazing and, like all the company’s windows, carries an energy efficiency rating of band A. Offering a full design, manufacture and installation service, a retro fitting sash window costs £750, including installation. The company also offers a refurbishment service, from £350 per window.

ABOVE (left-right): Although Velfac’s impressive floor-to-ceiling picture windows use plenty of glass for a light, airy feel, you can opt for tinted glass to reduce glare in summer; ClearSpan’s inner glass reflects heat back into the home, making it the perfect energy-efficient choice for a modern property.

Contemporary finish

Low-maintenance aluminium is the perfect choice for a modern property as its innate strength allows for larger expanses of glazing, while the thin frame helps create a sleek contemporary finish. Featuring a polyester powder-coated finish that requires nothing more than a wipe down, ClearSpan’s slimline aluminium windows feature 43mm glazing bars, accommodate apertures of up to 2,100mm and can be designed to go round corners. The argon-filled glazed units have a U-value of 1.6W/m2K and an energy rating of band A, thanks to an extra-wide thermal break, which separates the inner and outer faces of the aluminium to eliminate cold spots. The internal glass also features a low-e (low-emissivity) coating that reflects heat back into the room, while the outer low-iron glass improves solar heat gain. Frames can be finished in a wide range of RAL colours and configurations include fixed, side and top-hung. Prices for a double height (H)4.5x(W)1.5m (inclusive of door area) plus (H)4.5x(W)1m window configuration costs around £13,000, including installation.

Floor-to-ceiling style

Make the most of a stunning view with modern floor-to-ceiling picture windows complete with top-opening sections. Velfac’s composite windows are constructed using virtually maintenancefree powder-coated aluminium on the exterior and natural or painted wood on the interior. A 54mm profile means fewer wood and aluminium components are used in the frame, allowing up to 15 per cent more light. Despite all the glass, the addition of argon-filled, low-energy double glazed units means a U-value as low as 0.99W/m2K is achievable, while tinted glass is also available to reduce glare. All the windows are tailor-made to meet your exact requirements in terms of style and size and come with a comprehensive 12-year guarantee. The Velfac 200 floor-to-ceiling window measures (H)2,400x(W)1,200mm and costs £750, excluding installation – though Velfac has a network of approved joiners located throughout the UK.

ABOVE: This bay window was commissioned to replicate the original Edwardian window and cost £4,500 – it was made by The Sash Window Workshop from eco-friendly accoya wood.

FEATURE PAULA WOODS
All prices and stockists correct at time of publishing
Featured in the August 2011 issue of Real Homes