WINDOWS
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SPECTUS ELITE 70 WINDOWS SPECIFIED FOR EXCEPTIONAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING SCHEME 483 Spectus Elite 70 windows were specified and installed in the development of 47 affordable homes built into the fabric of Edinburgh's historic Edmonstone walled garden. The historic Edmonstone walled garden is the site of an ambitious £5 million housing development, which includes 47 affordable homes. The development project has 16 cottage flats and 31 houses made up of one, two and three-bedroom properties. The design respects the existing wall and has seen the historic structure become an integral part of the fabric of the new homes. With such a sensitive and renowned structure, the choice of contractors was critical. The window contractor selected for the project was Spectus Approved Window Contractor Walker Profiles Ltd, a leading manufacturer, supplier and installer based in Motherwell. The 483 windows were manufacture from the Elite 70 system from Spectus Window Systems. As a complete product system, Elite 70 had all the credentials required, not least because it could
deliver the reversible, tilt and turn and casement windows the project required and maintain a streamlined, seamless appearance throughout. The windows were manufactured in Anthracite Grey on White, to create an aluminium-like appearance on the exterior with an understated neutral interior. Elite 70 is a formidable 70mm five chamber system for fully enclosed aluminium and/or steel reinforcement and it meets the requirements of BS EN 12608. In addition, it meets security requirements to PAS24:2016, which was critical because the development was designed to meet the Secured by Design accreditation. The national police initiative encourages developers to create housing projects with security in mind, using landscaping that promotes natural surveillance, as well as high-performance windows and doors to help prevent break-ins.
building contractor to ensure the existing wall apertures were cut to fit the windows precisely. The new development has secured the future of the historic wall and it will remain for years to come as a nod towards the site’s rich history. The quality of the development has already attracted attention because it
won Police Scotland’s Secured by Design Gold Award. David MacGregor, Business Development Manager at Walker Profiles, comments: “This was a superb project to be involved in and we enjoyed being part of a sympathetic restoration of such a historic property.” Tel: 0808 178 3370 - www.spectus.co.uk
As with every heritage project, there were additional complications to factor in. The key challenge was to ensure the windows fitted perfectly into the historic wall structure. To achieve this, the Walker Profiles’ team worked closely with the
SPECTUS FLUSH CASEMENT WINDOWS REVAMP A 16TH CENTURY BUILDING Spectus flush casement windows have been used in a 16th century building near Chelmsford, Essex. The Pig and Whistle has a long history as a public house but got converted in 2013 to a popular local restaurant. The replacement windows were undertaken by local domestic installation company, Chignal Windows Ltd who are based near Chelmsford. Kevin Lovett, Managing Director of Chignal Windows, said: “The Spectus flush casement windows were chosen to replace the property’s ageing timber frames. The heritage importance of this building was fundamental and the windows needed to sympathetically reflect the style and aesthetics of the originals. I knew the Spectus flush casement was the perfect choice for this high-profile job as the windows would enhance the character of the building and offer modern day thermal efficiency too.” All windows at the front of The Pig and Whistle needed to be replaced and where fitted with white flush casements with Georgian bar
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detailing and monkey-tail handles. Due to the build of the original window aperture, the windows had to be fitted from the outside. Kevin explains: “The original windows had
been screw-fixed into large timber fronts within the aperture. As such, we needed to reverse the lugs on the windows and fit from the outside to ensure a perfect, clean fit was achieved.”
The flush casement windows were manufactured by Chignal Windows’ fabrication partner and longstanding Spectus fabricator, Universal Trade Frames. Universal Trade Frames manufactured the flush casement windows using specially designed hardware that gives the added benefit of a night vent facility and the option of a French casement opening. Karla Greenhalgh, Area Sales Manager at Universal Trade Frames, said: “The flush casement window is a popular window choice and enhances both heritage and new build properties. We were delighted to have worked with Chignal Windows on this heritage project and the finished result is superb.” Chignal Windows is a domestic business formed in 2019 by Kevin Lovett. Kevin has been fitting Spectus windows since 1984 into the commercial sector via his installation business, Seaxe Contract Services Ltd. In setting up his new retail business Kevin’s objective was to offer a range of high-quality products with an exacting service promise and no pushy hard sell. And in delivering a stunning heritage project like The Pig and Whistle, Kevin has achieved exactly what he set out to do. Tel: 0808 178 3370 www.spectus.co.uk
October 2020 | www.glassnews.co.uk
