Improve Magazine Spring 2021 by Christina Shaw

Spring 2021

IT’S TIME TO BRING YOUR DREAMS TO LIFE

Let there be light!

Kevin McCloud shares his exclusive advice on ways to bring natural light into a building

Beautiful windows make beautiful homes The latest generation of windows & doors to transform your home

Spring 2021

Stanier Road, Porte Marsh Industrial Estate, Calne, Wiltshire SN11 9PX T 01249 816 969 • F 01249 815 234 • E deceuninck.ltd@deceuninck.com

BEAUTIFUL WINDOWS MAKE BEAUTIFUL HOMES Deceuninck is one of the world’s major PVC-U window and door systems companies and has been established for over 30 years in the UK, with production, distribution and head office in Wiltshire.

Spring 2021

Contents 8

LET THERE BE LIGHT!

Spring is in the air and with each passing day the evenings are remaining lighter for longer. With the prospect of warmer weather within our grasp NOW is the time to look at how we can bring more natural light into our homes. With the benefits of natural light becoming a focus during lockdowns, Kevin McCloud shares his exclusive advice on ways to bring light into a building.

BEAUTIFUL WINDOWS & DOORS

Choosing the right windows for your home needn’t be a stressful process. A few things to take into consideration: your taste, style of your home and when it was built. The team here, at Improve Magazine, can put you in touch with a supplier, or you can contact our window & door expert, just click straight through!

SKYLIGHTS, ROOF LANTERNS & SOLID ROOFING

Is your conservatory hard to keep cool in the summer, and too cold to use in winter? A lot of homeowners will have been desperate to make any available space usable during lockdown. Our solid roof expert, explains how you can transform your conservatory, to be used all year round.

Spring 2021

Photo: ©Naked TV / Channel 4

GARDEN ROOMS & PAT I O S

Making the most of your outdoor space can be tricky, so to help you make those tough decisions and begin creating the garden of your dreams, we’ve put together some top tips on starting your garden remodel. As with any renovation project, it’s important to plan out your ideas to make sure that everything is achievable and realistic.

SECURITY & HARDWARE

It can be daunting when thinking about purchasing new windows and doors, but it needn’t be. There are some great products around, such as flush and coloured uPVC windows and doors, and super flexible bi-folding and lift/slide doors. However, your new windows and doors must be secure as well as beautiful.

STEEL WINDOWS

A big impact of the Covid 19 Pandemic is that far more of us are now working from home. Ensure you maximise natural daylight in your home working environment – it’s good for your well-being.

BALCONIES & BALUSTRADES

92 INTERIORS

There can be no doubt that homeowners have increased their home improvements activity during the past three lockdowns. Some recent research shows that kitchen extensions are the biggest projects to be taken on this year.

102 CONSUMER ADVICE, STYLE T I P S & U S E F U L I N F O R M AT I O N

‘Did you know – the famous saying ‘It’s Daylight Robbery’ came from the Fenestration Industry? In 1696 when King William III decided to tax those with many windows in their homes people responded by bricking them up so as not to pay. This made their homes darker, hence the saying ‘daylight robbery’.

Click straight through for more interesting facts about fenestration, cladding style, retrofitting, your free brochure, an exclusive offer on blinds and installer news.

120 THE SHOWCASE

Ready to shop? Check out our round up of products. Our showcase includes bi-folding doors, solid roofing, roof lanterns, windows & doors, balustrades & balconies. Whatever your home improvement needs, we have you covered.

Click any of the contents to go straight through Spring 2021

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Christina Shaw Editorial Director

Welcome to the Spring Edition of Improve Magazine!

Improve is all about bringing you the latest products and design ideas to help create and improve your living spaces, within your home and garden. Spring is in the air and with each passing day the evenings are remaining lighter for longer. With the prospect of warmer weather within our grasp NOW is the time to look at how we can bring more natural light into our homes, combining our indoor and outdoor living spaces and taking advantage of the wonderful health benefits that natural light brings into our lives. This edition covers a plethora of ideas and inspiration for natural light and we also look at some great artificial light ideas, which help advance and retain a calm mood as the Spring evenings draw to a close. With the benefits of natural light becoming a focus during lockdowns, Kevin McCloud shares his exclusive advice on ways to bring light into a building. Making the most of your outdoor space can be tricky, so to help you make those tough decisions and begin creating the garden of your dreams, we’ve put together some top tips on starting your garden remodel. As with any renovation project, it’s important to plan out your ideas to make sure that everything is achievable and realistic. One of the best ways to start your planning is to divide your garden up into areas, allowing you to easily identify the best places to locate features and ensure you’re creating a nice flow for your space.

If you can think it, you can improve it!

Christina GET IN TOUCH

All Enquiries Christina Shaw T: 01302 278756 E: christina@improve-magazine.co.uk W: www.improve-magazine.co.uk PHOTO CREDIT: Front Cover Image - Korniche Roof Lantern The views contained herein are not necessarily those of Improve Magazine and whilst every effort is made to ensure information throughout is correct, Improve Magazine does not accept liability for errors. The views expressed by contributors and the content of letters, are not necessarily those of Improve Magazine and therefore cannot take responsibility.

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Spring 2021

Photo: © Philip Traill @traillphotography www.traillphotography.co.uk

Let There Be Light

The following section covers... • Bi-Fold Doors

• Large-Scale Sliding Doors

Spring 2021

• Roof Lanterns

• Contemporary Glazing Solutions

Bringing natural light into the home The following section of Improve Magazine covers a plethora of ideas and inspiration for natural light and we also look at some great artificial light ideas, which help advance and retain a calm mood as the Spring evenings draw to a close. With the benefits of natural light becoming a focus during lockdowns, Kevin McCloud shares his exclusive advice on ways to bring light into a building. We have a case study of a new kitchen extension which really does have the WOW factor. In this new build extension, MK Construction decided upon the Korniche Roof Lantern and the results are simply stunning! Eurocell Home share their advice on how bi-fold doors can make a world of difference in bringing light into the home and Schüco showcase their range of large-scale sliding doors along with Dutemänn, the largest fabricator of the Schüco ASS70FD bi-fold in the UK. We’ll also show you some impressive glazing solutions to create a fresh contemporary style, with Hehku’s Crittall® style bi-fold doors.

Click here to go back to contents

• Crittal® Style Bi-Fold Doors

• Natural Light Tips and Advice

• Artificial Light Ideas

Spring 2021

I L L U M I N AT I N G G R A N D D E S I G N S . . .

let there be light! With Channel 4’s Grand Designs making a welcome comeback to our screens this January, Angela Sara West chats with Kevin McCloud MBE about the inspiring new TV series, his own lighting designs for Harrods and Edinburgh Castle, top tips for a smooth build, and how best to bring daylight into the home.

Photo: ©Naked TV / Channel 4

Spring 2021

Photo: © Philip Traill @traillphotography www.traillphotography.co.uk

Spring 2021

As an authority on architecture and design, Kevin McCloud is a man on a mission to dig down to the bare bones of a place and its people. Inspiring millions to build brand-new outstanding homes, his prolific travels, words of wisdom and engaging signature style have been captured on camera at ancient sites and modern self-builds both in Britain and farflung corners of the globe. Best known for fronting Channel 4’s BAFTA award-winning series Grand Designs, which sees the much-loved presenter follow ambitious families on their large-scale design and build journeys in pursuit of their ideal home, Kevin also presents Grand Designs: House of the Year, which follows the prestigious RIBA House of the Year competition, the ‘Oscars’ of the industry. The popular presenter is also an author, penning books and articles on construction, architecture, design, decoration, lighting and colour, alongside his role as editor-at-large of Grand Designs Magazine. The Grand Designs series sees Kevin criss-crossing the country, popping up in his hard hat at building sites UK-wide as he follows the fortunes of ‘Grand Designers’ attempting to create their dream homes. “We travel all over! I spend a lot of time flinging around the country like a lunatic,” Kevin tells me. “For me, it’s memorable people that make places stand out. I love that the programme gives me the opportunity to go to amazing places, plus the privilege of spending the day looking at a fantastic view, meeting people on interesting journeys, all with something to say and share…” Although Kevin tries hard to reduce his travelling time, he has made a few other series abroad, including Kevin McCloud's Grand Tour of Europe and Escape to the Wild. “The latter was about people building in ridiculous places in the world, be it the Arctic Circle or the South Seas of the Pacific. Occasionally, for Grand Designs even, we’ll get a project on the west coast of Ireland or northern France, somewhere that we can get to relatively easily and film and we will take on those projects, but it’s all about appropriateness, isn’t it, because when you’re making television, it seems so glamorous, you know, the locations, the beauty… but to get those beautiful shots, the cameraman has had to get up at 4am or is still filming at 10 o’clock at night. It’s great fun though!” Placing people at the centre of the stories, viewers live vicariously through the triumphs and tribulations of Grand Designs’ self-builders. Kevin’s passion for architecture, history and culture shines through, as does his great sense of humour. Wooing audiences with his engaging presenting style, the philosophical presenter’s cool asides to the camera and pearls of wisdom are legendary. What does Kevin love most about making the UK’s pre-eminent TV programme on modern architecture and design? “The people,” he says. “The people I work with, my colleagues, who are all friends and I have worked with for 20-25 years, whom I miss when I don’t see them… The contributors and the architecture get involved as a part of that.” Seeing the light… Italian inspiration So, where did his amazing career begin? He tells me his experience of living on an organic farm in Tuscany as an 18year old was pivotal, opening his eyes to the world. “For me, that time was seminal,” Kevin reveals. “I had a place to study, worked on a farm, fell in love… everything happened in one year, it was great! I came from a small Bedfordshire village, with a very limited view of the world, and Italy showed me 12

Spring 2021

a world which was bigger and more beautiful and that, personally, I might be capable of a bit more.” Lighting the stage for Stephen Fry & Hugh Laurie He went on to study opera at Florence's Conservatory of Music in his 20s, before going down the design and architecture route, rather than pursue a singing career. Studying the history of art and architecture at Cambridge University, Kevin joined the famous Footlights Revue with Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie, where he “tinkered” with lighting backstage. After graduating, he worked in theatre before setting up a successful lighting design practice. Lighting up Harrods & Edinburgh Castle Before finding small-screen fame, Kevin’s own design studio saw him work on some very grand designs himself, including the ceiling of Harrods’ food halls, and lighting in the Savoy and Dorchester hotels and in Ely Cathedral and Edinburgh Castle. Having carved out a career as a product and lighting designer, he has produced ranges of lighting, furniture and tableware for high street retailers and manufacturers, along with designing for a number of high-profile building and architectural firms. “I’ve done different things, and I think the mixture, being a jack of all trades, has made me an ideal candidate for television!” Clearly cut out for the role, in 1999 he fronted the very first Grand Designs. Over two decades on, the factual series is still going strong, having grown into a global phenomenon. How does it feel to have clocked up more than 20 years fronting the successful series, and to still be on our screens today? “Scary! I celebrated a big birthday in 2019 (my 60th) and Grand Designs did too (its 20th), and who’d have thought? I thought I’d be doing something else with my life and I’m very blessed that it’s worked out for me.” Top projects The top self-build projects that he’s visited for Grand Designs? “I keep getting asked this and I tried to produce a shortlist of five or 10 and I couldn’t, so in the end I produced 20, in no particular order, and we celebrated them all at the last Grand Designs Live. They’re memorable, not just because they’re great buildings, but because they were great projects to film, because I may have made them with a director I love very much and have worked with for decades, or a cameraman with whom I’m really good friends, for example, or because the people were just fantastic or because the pub at lunch was great… that’s always an important aspect!”

KEVIN’S TOP TIPS FOR A STRESS-FREE BUILD: • Plan, plan, plan… and don’t change your mind. Because if you fail to prepare, you then prepare to fail. • Employ people who are good and see the world the way you do, whether that’s your architect or builder. • Make it smaller than you imagine, and don’t overreach, because it will cost more and be badly done as a result. It’s better to have more money than you actually need for the project. It’s an obvious piece of advice, but nobody ever listens to it… no-one ever in the history of mankind, because we’re a species of overreachers, that’s what we do for a living!

Small or gigantic grand designs? “Small grand designs… that’s what I like. The grand designs that are big on vision, but not necessarily big on square meterage.” He reveals there are more funny behind-the-scenes stories than you can shake a survey at. “Oh, dozens! Mostly not broadcastable, of course! At a previous Grand Designs Live we had a blooper room which I had nothing to do with - it was produced by my colleagues and was all at my expense!” New Grand Designs The new series of Grand Designs started this January. “As always, it follows the stories, visions and obstacles of some incredible people,” says Kevin. “The show celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2019, and I remain amazed by the awe-inspiring properties these individuals create and just how personal the finished result is to them. I get to know all our contributors well during the process - as do the viewers - and the intricate details that may initially seem random or pointless to us, suddenly make sense as the building evolves to reflect their personalities. The sense of achievement and pride they experience when the home is finished, particularly when so much personal commitment has gone into it, is, as ever, a marvel to witness…” “I think one of the main reasons people enjoy watching the show is that they become invested in our self-builders’ lives and fortunes.” And he says it’s no

Photo: ©Naked TV / Channel 4

different this series, with sites beset by all the usual obstacles, plus the added difficulties brought about by Covid. “The projects include a barn rebuilt by a young couple defying illness, and an ex-soldier adding a subterranean extension to a listed lodge… within a cemetery! We also have a risk-taking, sky-diving couple restoring a 17thcentury Cornish mill, and a builder who crafts a Dutch-influenced tile-skinned house in south Lincolnshire.” And that’s not all… “Rather excitingly, we have a couple near Bletchley defying logic to build one of the UK’s first self-heating houses.” The series kicked off with a bang of a build, with only the bravest members of the team at Simon Gill Architects taking on an unusual dilapidated lodge restoration with extension in an extremely unconventional setting. Sitting directly next to a graveyard, we watched transfixed as the neo-gothic cemetery warden’s lodge in south-west London was transformed into a superluxury 6-bed home with a subterranean space with a swimming pool, plus an ultra-modern extension, resulting in a sensational multi-million-pound build.

Photo: ©Naked TV / Channel 4

At home with Kevin McCloud Riveting stuff! So, is Kevin’s own home a ‘grand design’? “No, it’s small, simple and modest. I don’t talk about it because, I think, if there’s a myth, it would destroy the myth… and my credibility!” he says. “Like all of us, I have a piece of furniture which I’ve inherited and don’t particularly like, and something I bought from Habitat 20-30 years ago... All of our lives are full of objects which make up our autobiographies, reflecting who we are, where we’ve been, what we love and the people around us… and my home’s exactly like that. Your home is a very private place. I am really admiring of those people who put their homes on television and allow us into their lives to film their projects, because I would never do it!” Spring 2021

Photo: ©Naked TV / Channel 4

Spring 2021

Photo: ©Naked TV / Channel 4

W I T H T H E B E N E F I T S O F N AT U R A L LIGHT BECOMING A FOCUS DURING LOCKDOWNS, KEVIN SHARES HIS E X C L U S I V E A D V I C E O N W AY S T O B R I N G L I G H T I N T O A B U I L D I N G : • It sounds obvious and a bit daft, but clean your windows! The more sparkling they are, the greater the light transmissivity. Dirty windows can block and reflect a significant percentage of daylight hitting them. Even a clean, double-glazed window only transmits 80% of the light hitting it. • Use mirrors, or framed and glazed pictures, to reflect light around a room and bounce the beams. Never use concave, curved mirrors, such as shaving or make-up mirrors, which will focus beams of light into a hotspot. A friend of mine’s house burned down because sunshine accidentally caught her tabletop make-up mirror…

Photo: ©Naked TV / Channel 4

USEFUL LINKS FROM KEVIN: www.narm.org.uk/new/wp-content/ uploads/2019/02/NTD12-Daylightin-domestic-properties.pdf www.velux.com/what-we-do/ research-and-knowledge/deicbasic-book/daylight/daylight-withroof-windows-flat-roof-windowsand-modular-skylights

• Don’t become obsessive about light level, but light manipulation. I’ve used stick-on translucent film on windows to provide privacy and soften light in a south-facing dressing room. A translucent roller blind will do the same (space it away from the glass to soften the light further). A roller blind plus a sheer or

net curtain spaced a few inches from it will surprise you. The combined effect reduces the quantity of light in a room, of course, but it will also bring an astonishing ethereal quality. A white, or especially a pale grey room will seem to shimmer in this kind of light. • Supplement natural daylight with artificial lighting. Retailers such as National Lighting sell LED panels and strips that can be flush fitted to ceilings, or hidden on tall cupboards, to match daylight colour temperatures. Preferably, get hold of versions with adjustable colour temperatures - from 2,000* Kelvin (the colour of a warm white incandescent light bulb) to around 5,600* Kelvin (the bluish colour of daylight on a cloudy day, in other words ‘British Isles light’). • If you can, install a rooflight over a dark space like a stairwell. Or introduce one for a view to infinity; the birds, the clouds, the sky and the stars… A skylight can introduce up to twice the daylight into a room than an equivalent-sized vertical window. This is because the skylight will be facing the sky, not obstructions like other buildings, and because the light hitting it will often be near-perpendicular to the glass, reducing losses of light from surface reflectance and the internal refraction within the glass. • And finally, accept that with the passing of the years, you need more light to function as your retina deteriorates. Aged 50, you’ll need roughly twice as much light for tasks as when you were 20. By 70, your retinal function will have dropped to just 12% of what it was in your prime. Photo: ©Naked TV / Channel 4

Watch the new series of Grand Designs on All 4’s catch-up on-demand channel at www.channel4.com Spring 2021

The

WOW factor!

When Mr and Mrs Bevan decided to build a new kitchen extension, they would never of guessed the end result would be so stunning. In this new build extension, MK Construction decided upon the Korniche Roof Lantern.

Spring 2021

PROJECT OVERVIEW Build location: Washpool near Swindon Architect: Gordon Greenwood Name of builder/installer: MK Construction www.glazedextension.com Build details: New build kitchen extension Customer name: Mr & Mrs Bevan Customer comment: Mrs Bevan is absolutely over the moon with the new extension and kitchen and would highly recommend MK Construction Build time from start to finish: 16 weeks

The award winning Korniche transformed the space and allowed for maximum natural light to flood in. Self builders and homeowners around the UK favour the Korniche because of the well thought out design, which is engineered to perfection, plus the fact it is so easy to fit and literally transforms any space within the home. The Korniche Roof Lantern looks great – Slimmer with fine architectural lines it has less frame, delivers more light and elevation. Flat roof extensions with Korniche become a much more vibrant and open space providing an architectural feature which looks at home in any traditional setting, and was recently the winner of the Homebuilding & Renovating Award for ‘Best Rooflight Supplier 2020’.

The Lantern is easy to specify, easy to build on-site and maintenance free! The net result is a product that can be ‘Installed in minutes, glazed in seconds’ by the trade but also delivers a slim, refined lantern for the homeowner which is the strongest and one of the most thermally efficient Lanterns on the market today.

Improve Magazine asks: Why did MK Construction choose Korniche for the roof lantern? “We use Korniche a lot, it’s a fantastic roof system. We love the engineering gone into making it, its easy to fit and always delivers amazing results.” Mike MD of MK Construction

The Lantern is available in any square or rectangular size up to 6mx4m. The new Korniche Aluminium Bi-Folding Door is also available now. Download brochures or obtain a quote: www.korniche.co.uk MK Construction 01993 244188 www.glazedextension.com Spring 2021

SLIMMER

WARMER

STRONGER

EASY INSTALL

THE MULTI-AWARD WINNING KORNICHE ALUMINIUM ROOF LANTERN

A BRIGHTER CHOICE Ask your builder or specifier about Korniche today. Engineered aluminium products that deliver class leading structural and thermal performance. Uninterrupted sightlines provide unrivalled interior views.

enquiries@korniche.co.uk

www.korniche.co.uk 20

Spring 2021

‘Being voted Best Rooflight Supplier is a reflection of how well regarded Korniche Aluminium Systems is amongst its customers and the industry’ The Faster, Stronger, Warmer and Slimmer Korniche started a revolution in roof lantern design when it was launched in 2016. Since then it has been successfully installed in thousands of home extension projects throughout the UK and become the market leader.

The best looks to complement your project • Slim • Traditional • Clean Lines • Attention to Detail • The Finishing Touch

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Spring 2021

Let there be natural light 22

Spring 2021

Accessing all of the natural light available to you in your home can be tricky, depending on your property’s location and features, but there are a couple of methods which you can employ to maximise the use of the light in your home. Natural light has been proven to have a myriad of benefits for homeowners, including improving moods, creating a relaxing environment and making space appear bigger. In this article, home improvement experts Eurocell Home look at how you can let the light into your home more effectively to make better use of your space and surroundings.

Use your space wisely The first thing to consider is how you use the rooms in your home. To help maximise your usage of natural light, consider locating the most commonly used living spaces in your home to south-facing rooms. You can also look to tie in your space usage with the path of the sun; for example, positioning any morning-rooms such as a kitchen toward the east, whilst putting any evening-rooms, such as a dining room, towards the west. If you’re planning any renovations, it can also be a good idea to consider how your modifications will affect the natural light usage, and whether layout changes such as creating an open plan style between a north and south facing room can create a warmer feel for the room.

Consider your windows and bi-fold doors No matter what direction your room is facing, if you’re using small aperture windows or doors, you’re going to be restricting your usage of natural light. When planning the positioning of your windows, it’s worth considering where you can fit larger areas of glass to maximise the intake of light into your home. At Eurocell Home, we offer a wide range of bi-fold doors, which are excellent for creating large areas of glass to let the light in. Bi-Fold doors are much better at using the natural light available thanks to their large surface areas, allowing more light to flood into the room than traditional patio doors. To complement bi-fold doors, you could look to add windows that offer large areas of glass, such as the windows from Eurocell Home’s Logik range, which feature slim frames to maximise the natural light intake. Eurocell Home is Eurocell’s latest service that has been designed with homeowners in mind, allowing anyone to choose, specify and order windows, bi-folds, composite doors and more in just a few minutes.

To see the difference that Bi-Fold doors could make to your home, visit www.eurocell-home.co.uk Spring 2021

Bring in the

LIGHT

O P E N U P YO U R S PAC E A N D E N J OY T H E V I E W !

Visit us online to DESIGN A BIFOLD DOOR

www.bifoldnetwork.com See how a sliding folding door would look on your property. Choose the size, number of panels, colours and handle colour options to generate a design and receive a quote from one of our approved, local installers.

Email us to find your local installer: info@bifoldnetwork.com If you would like further help please call our friendly staff on 0114 231 3133 24

Spring 2021

outside in

THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN BUYING BI FOLDING DOORS

Imagine a bi-folding door that folds back seamlessly to reveal open space, allowing you to step into your garden and enjoy the open feeling of the living area and the great outdoors combined.

They are a contemporary update for any home that can dedicate a larger opening to accommodate the door design and size. They are a popular patio door option for modern homes due to the fact that they can extend the feeling of outdoor living and provide an uninterrupted view of the garden. It’s a great way to bring more light into your home!

Alternatively, when the temperatures rise you can open up the bi-folds wide letting the cool breeze from outside to blow in. The team at Improve Magazine can put you in touch with a number of bi-fold door suppliers. You can email us for more information: christina@improve-magazine.co.uk.

The space The dimensions and size of the room will influence the cost of the project so this is important to note beforehand ensuring that you budget for the costs. Insulation Heat in our homes plays a big part in our everyday life. Temperatures can plummet in the winter, making you want to keep all the heat that you can within the property. With bi-folding doors, the ability to keep heat in is supported by the double glazing windows which feature within the design of the doors. This will ensure that no heat escapes and more importantly that no cold wind or drafts enter into your home. Spring 2021

Spring 2021

Photography by Paul Zanre

letting the light F L O O D I N TO T H I S C O A S TA L H O M E Lynn Cruickshanks moved to Ayr on the west coast of Scotland in 2018. The house had untapped potential for beautiful sea views, but the existing windows were small and didn’t allow much light in.

Spring 2021

Lynn wanted to take advantage of the views from her new home and knew from the start that she wanted to renovate the windows using Schüco products. “I used Schüco bi-fold doors to renovate my old home and loved them, so I knew the product was really good and that I wanted to use them again”. The large Schüco ASS 70.HI sliding doors have transformed Lynn’s living room, allowing the light to stream in so she can sit back and soak in the calming sunsets. The doors are easy to operate, sliding smoothly and quietly. They also provide excellent thermal insulation and weathertightness, essential during a Scottish winter by the coast. The large-scale sliding doors also provide a great setting for entertaining and guests to the house have all complimented them: “Everybody just thinks it’s stunning. A friend, visiting for the first time said she got goosebumps looking at the amazing views!”.

home. Schüco bi-fold doors offer a level, thermally insulated floor threshold combining a smooth transition from inside to outdoors with outstanding weathertightness. The slim aluminium profiles of the bi-fold doors allow for generous views. The sleek design is paired with precision engineering that ensures the doors can be opened and closed effortlessly thanks to the smooth-running stainless steel roller system. Both sets of doors provide the perfect protection from the strong Scottish coastal winds, meaning the windows no longer rattle and Lynn gets to enjoy the blissful views, whatever the weather. When asked what it is that draws her to Schüco, Lynn recounted her experiences in her old home: “For me, their large windows and doors just allow the light to stream in whilst offering a beautiful design and mechanisms that are second to none. I honestly didn’t consider anybody else, I was really quite adamant!”.

On the ground floor the large Schüco ASS 70FD bi-fold doors have similarly unveiled the striking views from Lynn’s

For more information on Schüco and to find your local Schüco partner visit www.schueco.com/uk/, call 01908 282 111 or email mkinfobox@schueco.com.

Spring 2021

DUTEMÄNN

THE BEST BI-FOLD JUST GOT BETTER! •

NEW PANEL SIZE

1500MM WIDE x 2600MM HIGH

• SCHUCO’S LARGEST TRADE ONLY FABRICATOR • 6 STOCKED COLOURS • NATIONWIDE DELIVERY • 20 YEAR GUARANTEE

Tel 01322 771213 sales@dutemann.co.uk

www.dutemann.co.uk

Spring 2021

THE

BEST

just got better 32

Spring 2021

From its inception over a decade ago Dutemänn’s mission has been to supply quality products that stand the test of time. Supplied through its nationwide network of approved installers and renowned within the industry as the best trade supplier, Dutemänn has gone from strength to strength.

up to 1500mm wide x 2600mm high! So, you can now order a Dutemänn Schuco bifold door 4500mm wide with just 3 panels. “LESS PANELS MORE GLASS”.

From day one, the Schuco ASS70FD bifold has been an integral part of the Dutemänn offering, leading to Dutemänn becoming the largest trade supplier of this product range in the UK.

When it comes to insulation, we’ve got you covered. Keep your ‘heat in’ and the ‘cold out’ with a combination of state of the art thermally broken aluminium profiles and modern glass technology that reflects cold out and heat in. The Dutemänn Schuco bifold door can be either double or super insulated triple glazed, just speak to your approved installer for their professional advice.

The Dutemänn team has decades of industry knowledge which they have made full use of, leading to a quality that you can depend on. Unlike many, Dutemänn takes full responsibility to ensure their products not only meet, but, exceed security standards; meaning you can rest assured that not only are their doors highly functional, allowing light to fill the space, but they are also very secure. Dutemänn test to the highest security standard in the UK, PAS24-2016, so when ordering your door insist your Dutemänn approved installer has a certificate of proof to hand. As the largest fabricator of the Schuco ASS70FD bifold in the UK, this means Dutemänn are at the forefront of any upgrades, the latest of these means you can now specify each panel to be

You can personalise your doors using a choice of hundreds of RAL colours, however Dutemänn have taken time to stock the top six colours used in the UK, so you can have the BEST bifold in the BEST colour with the BEST security delivered in a time that suits YOU! Over the last decade, the Dutemänn Schuco ASS70FD has proven to be the best bifold door you can fit into your property. Dutemänn are so sure doors made to their specification will give you a life time of effortless operation, they offer a 20-year warranty on every Schuco ASS70FD they manufacture.

Your Next Step... Call Dutemänn on 01322 771 213 or email sales@dutemann.co.uk and their customer care team will put you in touch with your local approved installer. Spring 2021

LIVING

THE GLEAM!

light up your lives & homes naturally this spring! After a dark and gloomy 2020, we’re looking to the light in 2021, injecting some much-needed illumination into our interiors, and levitating our lives and homes with uplifting lighting ventures. 34

Spring 2021

Luke Thomas, Design Director of John Cullen Lighting, talks to Angela Sara West about the importance of daylight in interior design, his tips on making the most of natural light, how to avoid that feared “goldfish bowl” feeling with glass, and sheds some light on how to achieve those ‘wow factor’ lighting goals! Luke Thomas, Design Director of John Cullen Lighting

Ever wondered how to bring natural light into the home effectively? Struggling to ensure it works well with artificial lighting throughout the day? Muse no more, as Improve excels at sourcing experts to solve all of your lighting issues and advises on your itching improvement enquiries. Whatever the question, we offer enlightenment. Let the outdoors in for spring The lockdowns of 2020 taught us about the importance of natural light in our lives… We looked to the great outdoors and nature as a source of wellbeing, and for delivering that all-important vitamin D after being cooped up indoors for much of the year. Successfully bringing natural light into the home is simple… if you have a few designer tricks up your sleeve! Just as important as artificial light, daylight is a key factor for all designers, having a major impact on interior design. Since it will affect where everything is positioned, interior and lighting designers meticulously monitor how daylight enters each and every space.

artificial light, to offer varying light options throughout the day.” In a living area with expansive bi-fold or large-span doors, daylight decidedly pours in, making for a beautifully-bright and organically open scene, but a grey afternoon in London looks very different to a contrasting bright sunny morning in Barbados, and will require different lighting. And this is where a little help from above also comes in handy… “Skylights can be used to great effect to flood space with light and add definition to the shape of the building during the day,” Luke explains. LED love… Having studied Product Design at university, Luke joined John Cullen Lighting as a trainee designer in 2008, becoming the celebrated company’s Design Director in 2017. With a long-time passion for interiors and architecture, his interest in lighting sparked at an early stage, lighting his path to John Cullen, where he excels at using light creatively for its final purpose. A pioneer of lighting design, John Cullen’s world-class lighting schemes span the luxury residential and hospitality industries.

With our eyes naturally drawn to the brightest point in a room, combining different light sources can be subtly used to influence our mood. By illuminating our homes in a winning way, we can subliminally introduce levity into our lives and brighten up every day!

Luke started in lighting just before the LED revolution, and has enjoyed surveying the technology evolve and progress exponentially, to the point where it’s now possible to use LEDs without any sacrifice in quality. No longer viewed as overly colourful and bright, incorporating them in both interior and exterior lighting schemes can create an amazing ambience. What’s more, LEDs’ longlife expectancy plus miniaturisation makes it easy to conceal light sources, meaning lighting schemes can be more dramatic than ever.

Highlighting sky lighting! “Daylight is crucial to any architectural and interiors project,” says Luke Thomas, Design Director of multiaward-winning architectural lighting specialist John Cullen Lighting, a leading name in discreet lighting, designing schemes for the house and garden and state-of-the-art light fittings. “Designers carefully consider how to handle natural light alongside

Colour rendering Looking to light up some artwork? Consider the colour rendering index (CRI), a value between 1 and 100 which measures how well a light source will render colours in relation to natural daylight. Aim for 90CRI or above to create vivid, true-to-life colours to avoid a flat, dull and lifeless feel, instead shining a light on your prized possessions.

Spring 2021

The CRI assists in accurately seeing how the light source will display colours in relation to how they should be seen under a perfect light source, such as the sun. Creating texture and depth through multiple light forms and positions also adds drama to the room. A linear LED can be used as a backlight to a shelf, combined with an accent light to spotlight an object. Reflecting on life at home… To broaden its perspective, using perimeter lighting on a room’s edges and straight surfaces such as cupboards can bounce back and brighten a space. “You can create a greater sense of space and brightness in a room using artificial lighting directed towards vertical surfaces, which then reflects light back into the room,” says Luke. Layer with Light! Just like interior designers play with textures, lighting experts like to play with light, ensuring the very best features are enhanced, with dazzling results. With forethought and planning, different layers of light can create a textured effect, lending depth and interest to a space. Mixing ambient, accent and task lighting with natural light can create an incredible impression. The layering of light and flexibility are key with open-plan living spaces to strike the right balance when bringing light into the home. While it’s effectively one big room, a kitchen/ dining/living space is essentially three separate spaces, each with its own unique lighting requirements. Some common themes can tie the space together, and also consider combining ambient, task and accent lighting layers across the area, zoning the lighting in each separate space to really add that sought-after ‘wow factor’, working with the natural light flooding in through glazing, skylights or lanterns. 36

Spring 2021

Shine a spotlight on… Architectural lighting still plays a part where there’s daylight. Artificial light creates visual stimulation, accentuating specific features in the space. You can use it to brighten dark spots in shelving, highlight photos and coveted features, such as a period property’s stunning original ceiling, and add brilliance to a kitchen island, for example, where it helps to focus light for practical purposes, too. Remember that not everything needs to be lit - create a visual focus point and look carefully at where the light falls in a space, not just where the light source is located. Forming shadows can help the desirable aspects you light stand out, and uplighting can enhance architectural features such as that fantastic fireplace or decadent doorway, by providing a soft, indirect candle-light effect. Night & Day… sundown skylighting Consistency is key with colour temperatures; choosing an appropriate colour temperature, measured in Kelvins (K), is crucial, and can make for a comfortable and relaxing feel. Get it wrong, and your home could feel like the Arctic Circle! For a sophisticated look, Luke advises using warm whites, although he warns that warm whites can vary supplier-tosupplier. Basically, the higher the Kelvin number, the cooler/ bluer in colour it will be, while lower numbers emit more amber/red shades. Luke says 2700K works well in most residential interiors, and John Cullen offer pre-set options on a switchpad to achieve the optimum results when using a combination of daylight and artificial light to manage lighting options for different times of the day. “My advice would be against the use of artificial lighting that matches the colour temperature of daylight. In the evenings,

ABOUT JOHN CULLEN LIGHTING Based on the King’s Road, Chelsea, John Cullen aim to inspire everyone to understand the power of light in transforming and enhancing our environments.

this can seem very blue and cold when, in fact, a warmer, more atmospheric effect is needed. 2700 Kelvins provides a flexible balance, and is suitable for use at most times of the day,” advises the luxury lighting designer. Get an all-day-long glow! Alongside selecting the right lighting to improve the ambience of your home and creating the right atmosphere for the right time, explore the opportunities for maximising the lighting in your space to make your key pieces sparkle ‘naturally’ at night, to achieve that showstopping shine. “A good trick is to use linear lighting added to a concealed curtain track across the width of bi-fold doors, which can help to retain this ‘wall of light’ into the evening,” To dim or not to dim… Radiating inside & out After dark, Luke says skylights still have a role to play. “Once the sun sets, the wells of light become big black holes, presenting an opportunity for artificial lighting to fill the void,” he explains. “A continuous ribbon of light around the perimeter of the skylight provides architectural accent and an effect which creates contrast between night and day.”

How about perfecting that transparency between inside and outside? “A way to achieve this if you have glass bi-folding doors is to light your garden beyond. This stops your space feeling like a goldfish bowl at night as the glass reflects and, instead, draws your eye outside. Both inside and out, think about layering with light to add interest and drama to every space.” Bring the outdoors in… and out! With the world of LED lighting evolving at breakneck speed in this ever-changing high-tech age, new tech in today’s lighting schemes can magically bring both your home and outdoor space to life, and be managed meticulously to minimise environmental impacts and wildlife disturbance. By extending the lighting from interior to exterior, whatever the weather, you can achieve an astounding al-fresco ambiance outdoors from dusk-to-dawn, to be admired all year-round from the comfort of your equally-well-lit home. Our practical tips and tricks to maximise the lighting potential of your space should soon see you living the gleam, by flooding your home, and life, naturally with light, whatever the time of day!

Whether it’s a lighting design for a small space, or you’re after a spectacularly-lit scene in your swimming pool and spa area, the talented team is on hand to help, and can show you how to use lighting to achieve a sense of ultimate luxury and glamour along with the products to achieve the look. Delivering RIBA CPD programmes, the company also works with interior design schools to provide demos as well as work placements, while their illuminating website boasts a wealth of educational information. Their sensational showrooms in London and Dubai showcase amazing spaces where you can experience the significance and impact of lighting in a home in person. Light Bites with Luke John Cullens’ enlightening events include Light Bites webinars with Luke and his fellow Design Director Rebecca Crawford, all watchable on demand, along with Continuous Professional Development (CPD) webinars and RIBA-accredited CPDs on dedicated topics. For further information, visit: www.johncullenlighting.com © Angela Sara West 2020 www.angelasarawest.com

Spring 2021

WHETHER YOU ARE EXTENDING YOUR HOME OR BUILDING FROM S C R ATC H , T H E B I - FO L D N E T W O R K H A S

THE PRODUCT RANGE TO MEET YOUR NEEDS.

• Bifold Doors • Windows and Entrance Doors • Heritage Windows and Doors • Patio Doors

Spring 2021

Contact us today to find a local installer or call us for a friendly, no obligation chat. www.bifoldnetwork.com Email us to find your local installer: info@bifoldnetwork.com If you would like further help please call our friendly staff on 0114 231 3133 Spring 2021

T R A N S F O R M YO U R F O R E V E R F A M I LY H O M E W I T H C R I T TA L ® S T Y L E BI-FOLD DOORS

t h e c o n t e m p o r a r y l o o k t h a t ’s

right on trend

Spring 2021

As another lockdown lingers and we look forward to sunnier days, many of us have a new appreciation for our homes and gardens and the comfort they can bring. While we are not enjoying the space in the same way, you can still bring the outdoors in and enjoy your garden all year round while keeping the cold weather outside where it belongs. Origin Bi-fold doors create a seamless link between your home, garden, or patio area, giving you an uninterrupted view, while creating light and space – and adding value to your home. We are a Premium Partner of Origin – the UK’s leading manufacturer of aluminium doors and windows – which means we are an approved installer for every aspect of their range, including the stunning on-trend Georgian bar finish.

A S T Y L E T O S U I T E V E R Y TA S T E If you have been looking for new windows or doors recently, you will have no doubt come across a look known as Crittal®, Georgian, or Astragal bars. In fact, once you’re aware of the style, you’ll start seeing it everywhere. Classical, modern, commercial, or minimalist, whether an internal or external door, it complements any type of home. Either set inside sealed units of glass or installed on top, bars are placed depending on the look you would like to achieve – a grid being more traditional, horizontal lines more contemporary, and repeated diamonds more classical. Whichever you choose, the addition of bars changes the feel of any space, bringing a sense of security, depth, and snugness, while still welcoming vast expanses of light. We are now seeing a growing trend for Georgian bars to feature on Origin Bi-fold doors, as the style complements their slimline frames.

Spring 2021

WHY CHOOSE ORIGIN’S PREMIUM ALUMINIUM BI-FOLDS? Created bespoke, Origin Bi-folds range from 1-8 door sets, and each individual panel can be manufactured from 400mm1200mm wide and up to 3,000mm tall. Designed to operate to suit your needs, Origin’s Bi-folds ensure safety for all the family, featuring finger safe gaskets to stop little fingers from getting trapped and low thresholds to remove tripping hazards. While aluminium frames may be 67% lighter than steel, aluminium is incredibly strong, and the Origin range of Bi-fold Doors exceeds the latest security standards – so you can let the light flood in and keep unwanted visitors out.

HEHKU ON HAND If you would like advice on the best way to open up your home while complementing your unique style, our design specialists and architectural surveyors are here to advise and work closely with you through every stage of your project, so you can enjoy your home in a new way while adding value, all year round.

Spring 2021

Impressive Glazing Solutions to Create a Fresh Contemporary Style devine by design inspiration for your home Completely transform your home and bathe your living space in natural light with our stunning range of aluminium windows & doors. Hehku specialise in the design and installation of bespoke aluminium bi-folds, sliding doors, windows, roof lanterns and sky lights that are meticulously designed to provide that extra special finishing touch to your home. Based in the South East our experienced team will work with you to provide a professional service with the highest standard of customer care. Our range of quality products have been carefully selected to be competitively priced, 100% British made, offer a unique set of safety features, deliver exceptional energy efficiency, offering an industry-leading guarantee of up to 25 years. We are pleased to be able to offer a 3 to 5 week lead in time from survey to ensure your project is finished on time.

www.hehku.co.uk

enquiries@hehku.co.uk 01634 298026 Spring 2021

Beautiful Windows & Doors

A window into your world

The following section covers... • Sliding Patio Door

• Flush Sash Window

Spring 2021

• Front Door

The next generation of windows, to transform your home Choosing the right windows for your home needn’t be a stressful process. A few things to take into consideration: your taste, style of your home and when it was built (for listed properties you’ll need to check out what you are able to have installed). Here’s a brief synopsis of the types of windows available today. The team here, at Improve Magazine, can put you in touch with a supplier, or you can contact Deceuninck, our window & door expert, on the pages following this article. • Casement - Classicly styled with modern efficiency and available in a huge range of colours, from standard white, through to Chartwell Green. An ecofriendly and highly insulated choice, suitable for every home. • Flush Sash - Replicating the flush, slim sightlines of traditional timber windows and enhances all types of houses, from country cottages to modern townhouses and everything in between. • Bow & Bay - This type of window gives you a lovely focal point to your room and is also a great way to bring in more light. It’s also a space saver and looks just as lovely from the outside as it does from the inside. • Bi-folding - enhance any type of building, whether modern, contemporary or traditional. Bi-fold windows enable you to fully open one side of a room, letting the outside in. • Tilt n Turn - Tilt n turn windows open inwards to allow flexible ventilation. With a tilt n turn window you don’t have to have the window open fully to let air into your home. Opening it slightly, tilting into the room, provides the air flow required but with the additional benefit of security.

Click here to go back to contents

• Colour Combinations

• Slimline French Door

Spring 2021

BEAUTIFUL WINDOWS

make beautiful homes Rob McGlennon of style and standard setting systems company, Deceuninck UK, says the latest generation of windows and doors can transform your home.

Spring 2021

Year in year out, Britain’s most desirable homes are featured in home improvement magazines and Sunday supplements. Many featuring homes from all parts of the country, in different styles, price brackets, size and age of property. We can’t get enough of them. And one of the most striking features of these homes – what makes them look good and adds to their value - are their windows and doors. It’s an eternal truth and no mere headline: beautiful windows make beautiful homes. Homeowners have always taken great pride in their front doors too. They make a statement about the home and its owners for visitors to see. Yes, windows are functional – their job is to let light and ventilation into the home and keep warmth in, and the weather, burglars, and unwanted noise out. But such essentials do not make hearts beat faster! What delights and creates pride and passion and adds hugely to the value of a homeowner’s biggest asset are the aesthetics. Whether it’s a sleek sliding patio door to add light and open up a room, a vibrant front door to make a strong first impression or a traditionalstyle window to complement an older property, the right windows and doors

have the power to transform the home. This is equally obvious when we see the opposite. We can all recall seeing inappropriate, ugly replacement windows and doors that look wrong for a property and cut thousands off its value. That’s why the latest generation of windows and doors have generated considerable excitement in the market. This new generation ticks all the functional boxes, and more for energy efficiency, weather, and security performance and adds exceptional aesthetics with beautiful lines and colour. Deceuninck is a leading window and door systems company, supplying the profiles and components to window and door manufacturers to make products that are engineered for beautiful, high-end looks and longlasting performance. Manufacturers and installers say we’re the pioneers of ‘pretty windows’ because our products are designed to please the eye with perfect symmetry and balanced sightlines. Our Award Winning Heritage Flush Window, one of the new generation of windows that generated all the excitement, replicates the flush, slim sightlines of traditional timber windows and quickly became a best-

Spring 2021

seller. It enhances all types of houses, from country cottages to modern townhouses and everything in between. Blending seamlessly with the property aesthetic, our Flush Window has slim, balanced sightlines and sits seamlessly flush within the outer frame. It looks immediately different from the standard ‘storm’ windows which sit proud of the frame. There’s a matching Heritage Flush Door to complete the look of course because if you’ve invested in beautiful windows, you’ll want a beautiful door to match. Deceuninck’s Heritage Flush Door is a slimline French door which offers the same traditional looks with top energy efficiency and the best weather performance to keep the warmth in, and the wind and rain outside. It has a low threshold so it’s suitable for wheelchair access. Meanwhile, Slider24, is our

Spring 2021

next generation sliding patio door offering smooth handling, excellent security, and a maximum width of 5.9 metres to open up the home. 30 + 20 beautiful colour combinations Colour is the other reason for the excitement. Demand for colour has soared as more and more homeowners choose colour to revive the outside of their properties and boost their appeal. We stock all products in a choice of 30 colourways – with a further 20 colours available on short lead times - so installers can install without the frustrations of long waiting times. All products in Deceuninck’s Heritage Window Collection are available in our range of beautiful colours – from striking greys and black to soft heritage-style shades like Agate Grey, Classic Cream and English Oak.

If you’d like to learn more about the Heritage Window Collection call 01249 816 969, visit www.heritagewindowcollection.co.uk for a brochure, or find your nearest supplier at www.heritagewindowcollection.co.uk/find-a-fabricator/

Spring 2021

Skylights, Roof Lanterns and Solid Roofing

The following section covers... • Solid Roofing

• Skylights

Spring 2021

A brighter choice If you are the proud owner of a conservatory, you have probably found yourself questioning how to best use said room. Hard to keep cool in the summer, and too cold to use in winter, you will be staying out of it for large parts of the year. 2020 might have been particularly frustrating as a lot of homeowners will have been desperate to make any available space usable, either as office space, or for the children to go to comfortably whilst you are working from home. Our solid roof expert, Icotherm, explains how you can transform your conservatory, to be used all year round. We also bring you a case study all the way from America! Read how an American couple chose the UK’s Korniche Aluminium Roof Lantern.

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• Roof Lanterns

• Transforming Conservatories

Spring 2021

living the

AMERICAN

dream When Steve and Caryn Di Domenico bought their home in June 2018, in the American waterfront town of Gig Harbor, they could never of guessed the remodel would include the UK’s Korniche Roof Lantern, which turned out to be the only choice for their project.

When they bought the 3,320-squarefoot home, they already knew they would remodel it. Built in 1998, it was ready for an update, and they really wanted to maximise the beautiful views the property had to offer. They spent two months just on the planning for their renovation— and they were grateful they took the time to hire a designer, Richard Landon, and a builder, Chris Dunayski and his Gordon T. Jacob team: professionals who knew what to do and figured out how to do

it. The Di Domenicos’ dream home became reality. Major decisions were made, such as moving the kitchen, knocking down internal walls and adding in a balcony above the main floor. This is where the requirement was needed for a large span roof lantern. Due to the beautiful glass ceiling, you can lie there and look up at the Milky Way. During the day, you can look down into the main living space or out toward the water. It’s a sunny, happy place.

www.korniche.co.uk

Spring 2021

Ask

for

Icotherm

roof

when

TRANSFORMING YOUR C O N S E RVAT O R I E S The world of conservatories is being transformed by the latest innovative solution that is the “solid” roof. If you are the proud owner of a conservatory, you have probably found yourself questioning how to best use said room. Hard to keep cool in the summer, and too cold to use in winter, you will be staying out of it for large parts of the year. 2020 might have been particularly frustrating as a lot of homeowners will have been desperate to make any available space usable, either as office space, or for the children to go to comfortably whilst you are working from home. With an Icotherm roof your dreams can come true Designed and engineered specifically to replace the traditional glazed conservatory roof, the range of Icotherm roofs will allow you to transform your space into a usable room, just like any other in your house.

Spring 2021

As the first widely available timber framed solution on the market today we have refined our roof to what we believe is the best performing on the market today. All roof options are highly insulated for comfort, fully ventilated for an airy feel, and the plasterboard ceiling can be fitted with downlights. Designed with traditional timber frame using the same high-quality structural timber you will find in your house roof, Icotherm roofs are fabricated following all required structural guidelines, and are building control compliant.

Create a room that you can use all year-round

The solid roof company For conservatory roof replacements or new single storey extensions

Eco-friendly timber

Thermally efficient

Fully ventilated

Sustainably sourced timber, making for the ultimate green building solution.

The Icotherm roof helps maintain optimum temperature in the room, protecting from the summer heat and retaining warmth in winter.

Unique timber pod construction which speeds up installation and the roof is fully ventilated to prevent condensation.

To find an installer near you, email us on info@icotherm.co.uk Spring 2021

Spring 2021

Of course, we use FSC certified timber (ie sourced from sustainable / managed forest), and our insulation material is 100% recyclable. If you are looking to transform your conservatory the Icotherm roofs range would offer all the options you need. Look at the attached photos of this sumptuous gabled room. Originally a small and tired glazed conservatory, the owners opted to have the whole installation removed and replaced with this new gabled installation. Because of the outlook they

wanted to make the most of the light, and the view, so the height given by the ceiling style was perfectly fitting. Thanks to Icotherm’s unique structural design we can provide these large gable roof types without any visible form of restraints like tie bars, for a very clean feel and look. A couple of Velux windows were added, and the tiles selected were of the slate effect type. Contact us on info@icotherm.co.uk for a digital version of our brochure or to find an installer in your area.

Spring 2021

Garden Rooms & Patios

Grow a little love

The following section covers... • Garden Rooms

Spring 2021

• Self Watering Garden Planters

Outdoor living habits Making the most of your outdoor space can be tricky, so to help you make those tough decisions and begin creating the garden of your dreams, we’ve spoken to the team at Eurocell Home to get their top tips on starting your garden remodel. As with any renovation project, it’s important to plan out your ideas to make sure that everything is achievable and realistic. One of the best ways to start your planning is to divide your garden up into areas, allowing you to easily identify the best places to locate features and ensure you’re creating a nice flow for your space. With more people than ever working from home and longing to establish a healthy green oasis in their gardens or urban spaces, we’re showcasing a collection of selfwatering planters from garden4me, offering the perfect blend of functionality and stylish design. Versatile enough to enhance any living space, from the kitchen or home office, through to roof terraces or gardens, a garden4me self-watering planter is a low-maintenance growyour-own solution, indoors or outdoors. Improve Magazine has two of these planters to give away! Please enter the competition on the following pages.

• Gardening Courses

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• Patios

Spring 2021

Throughout 2020, many of us spent more time in our gardens leading to the realisation that our gardens were just as important to consider during renovation or improvement decisions as any other area of our homes.

MAKING THE M O ST O F YO U R

outdoor s p a c e 60

Spring 2021

Making the most of your outdoor space can be tricky, so to help you make those tough decisions and begin creating the garden of your dreams, we’ve spoken to the team at Eurocell Home to get their top tips on starting your garden remodel. Make a plan of action As with any renovation project, it’s important to plan out your ideas to make sure that everything is achievable and realistic. One of the best ways to start your planning is to divide your garden up into areas, allowing you to easily identify the best places to locate features and ensure you’re creating a nice flow for your space.

For example, you could look to divide your garden up with a space for relaxation where you’d locate a small sitting area and chimenea, or you could plan out a workspace where you can locate a small garden room. No matter what you decide to place into your garden, once you’ve planned out your area, be sure to plan out a scheme of work. If there are jobs which are timesensitive, such as installing foundations for a garden room, then put them toward the top of the list so you can avoid any unnecessary delays to your project. Many of the latest garden rooms, including Eurocell Home’s ‘Kyube’ range, are able to be installed in a very

Spring 2021

short time frame, with Eurocell’s range takingas little as five days from arrival on site, reducing delays in construction. Whether you’re looking for a classical timber-framed garden room, or a high-spec steel-framed building, Eurocell Home’s ‘Kyube’ range has the ideal garden room to suit the needs of both you and your timetable. Consider environmental factors It’s quite easy to get carried away when you start planning out your dream garden, deciding on beautiful furniture and plants that will make a stunning display. However, just as some styles aren’t suitable for every house, not every garden will be suitable for every item on the market.

Spring 2021

Environmental factors, such as weather and light can make a big impact on how it feels to be in your garden; for example, locating a sitting area in an open area may look nice, but it could become uncomfortable in windy conditions due to wind chill. Alternatively, placing a den or garden room far away from your house might seem like the perfect place to escape too, but you’ll need to think about other considerations such as ease of access, and building concerns such as where to place and how to install any necessary wiring for the building. Add a bit of utility Many garden redesigns fall into the trap of thinking “what will look the best?”, rather than “what will I get the most use

out of?”. Your garden can be many things, including a space for relaxation, an area for you to work out and keep fit, or even a second office – the limits are just your space and your imagination! Consider these factors in your plans to make sure you’re using your space as effectively as possible. If you do a job that allows you to work from home, consider investing in a garden room that can act as a breakout space for those long days, or a perfect hideout for those summer evenings. No matter whether you’re looking to make a small addition to your garden for an extra workspace, or a full-scale building

that can house everything from a playroom to a gym, Eurocell Home’s range of garden rooms are the perfect way to achieve your ultimate garden desires. Eurocell Home now offer a wide range of market-leading garden rooms, including both timber and steel-framed structures, all designed to add utility, glamour and value to your outdoor space. All of Eurocell Home’s ‘Kyube’ range feature a wide variety of cladding and finish options that will match your gardens style, and pre-wired external lighting for those late nights spent in your outdoor space. The steelframed set of buildings also offer full thermal insulation, making them ideal for use the whole year round.

To find out more about Eurocell Home’s range of garden rooms, please visit www.eurocell-home.co.uk. Spring 2021

SPRING TIME

garden

Let watering take care of itself with these super stylish self-watering planters! With more people than ever working from home and longing to establish a healthy green oasis in their gardens or urban spaces, this collection of planters from garden4me offers the perfect blend of functionality and stylish design. Versatile enough to enhance any living space, from the kitchen or home office, through to roof terraces or gardens, a garden4me self-watering planter is a low-maintenance grow-your-own solution, indoors or outdoors.

Spring 2021

FREE PRIZE DRAW!

Improve Magazine is delighted to team up with garden4me and offer two of our lucky readers their very own planter, in our FREE prize draw. • A truly great way to enhance your home. • Planters are available in a range of four granite effect colours and three bright colours. • 20-litre self-regulating reservoir keeps plants watered at all times. • Double walled construction keeps roots warm and speeds up healthy growth.

• Just minutes to assemble without the need for any tooling. • Frost proof, crack proof and life-time guarantee against rotting. • Perfect for growing your own herb garden right where you want it, vegetables, salad leaves, tomatoes, strawberries and many other food types.

Simply click here to enter. Winners will be selected at random and informed via email. Closing date: 15th April 2021. In addition to this fantastic prize, anyone who wishes to purchase a planter can enjoy a £25 discount, courtesy of Improve Magazine! Just quote IMPROVE when placing your order. The planters retail at £264 each.

www.garden4me.co.uk Spring 2021

a positive impact on home life

– GARDEN ROOMS Garden 4 Me owners, Chris Globe and his wife, are providing two self watering planters for the Improve Magazine free prize draw. A planter is shown in this image.

Spring 2021

Utilising our garden living space is becoming increasingly popular, so if you are currently looking at an extra room, you should consider a Garden Room.

You can create wonderful recreational spaces in your garden, without impeding on your home layout and with many homeowners challenged with space, garden buildings are a great option. Garden buildings don’t usually require planning permission and whoever you choose to install your new room, will advise you on your options, with literally a garden building to suit every home. Here, we feature a Garden Room which was built by a joiner, with the homeowner sourcing his own bi-folding doors. Of course you can buy Garden Rooms ‘off the peg’ so to speak, but if you are an avid DIY’er, you could build your own! Our featured Garden Room was built so that business owner, Chris Globe, could safely work from home, as and when

required, either necessary due to lockdown and also to avoid busy commutes. Speaking about his new build: ‘I wanted to create a functional yet peaceful space, away from our main home, for work purposes. However, it really does feel like I’m in a rural retreat when I’m locked away in the office! Our garden room is also versatile and can be quickly re-purposed to use for outside dining and entertaining friends and family.” Chris Globe, Business Owner. Whatever you use your Garden Room for, statistics show that they have a positive impact on home life, can help relieve stress, whilst also getting you out of the house, albeit just a few steps away! Complete your dream Garden Room with a flower filled patio and you are good to go!

Spring 2021

garden

H E A LT H At gardencourses.com we’ve been catching up with our members and experts to see what’s happening in the garden world right now. What are our members looking for help with and how will people use their gardens in 2021?

Time out gardens Many of us are working from home and will pop into the garden for some time out during lunch and quick breaks away from our screens. Going outside can top up our Vitamin D levels which doctors are concerned we may be low on following lockdowns and increased amounts of time at home. Gardens can play an important role in keeping us healthy. Gardens of fascination Gardens that are high in biodiversity can offer more opportunities for ‘soft fascination’. Soft fascination is the term psychologists use to describe the process of switching off and becoming engrossed in our surroundings, which can lower stress. Our experts recommend planting a wide range of plants, thus creating more opportunities to engage with the garden and with the visiting wildlife.

Gardens to produce basic, staple food crops Sometimes we grow our own food in case of disruption to the supply of our favourite fruit and veg or to cut down on our food bills. Growing basic staples even in small gardens, such as herb and salad leaf crops and quick and easy crops like spring onions, tomatoes and leafy greens can help reduce food costs. But more of us are growing our own crops because we know where our food is coming from, we can have these basics on hand without having to go shopping and it cuts down on packaging and food miles. It’s good fun too! Growing a garden from scratch With more people turning to gardening for the first time with limited budgets this could be the year we create a garden from seeds and cuttings. The satisfaction of growing our own trees, shrubs and perennials from scratch and watching our plants develop and mature is coming back, in a big way. Slow gardening The movement to grow our own garden from simple beginnings, whether it’s for food or flowers, ties in with a connection to nature that engages us with the seasons. We’re slowing down and observing the rhythm of the seasons as we watch our gardens grow.

Spring 2021

Gardens for fun Our gardens are our own canvas where we can express our individuality; through the use of striking colour themes, creating home-made pieces of art, craft and DIY construction projects, garden areas for children, pet play areas etc. Every season brings a new opportunity and whatever we choose to do it benefits our health and humour as well as that of our families and wildlife. Front gardening Not everyone has a garden but everyone can benefit from each other’s front gardens. Gardeners are finding new uses for their front gardens to raise everyone’s spirits with wildlife meadows, new tree planting, plant swaps at the gate and growing veg together. Whatever we decide to do in our front gardens we can all share this with our families and our neighbourhood.

Now is the time to plant your 2021 Summer garden with gardencourses.com. We’ve got courses on colour, cabbages and nature to help you get your garden ready for a summer at home with our launch courses on: • introducing seasonal colour • growing your own salads and vegetables • making a home for wildlife These courses are now available to help you develop your dream garden ready for Summer relaxation and enjoyment. We’ll also be launching some new courses in February to help you create the garden sanctuary you’ve always dreamed off. Sign up for news on our website to take advantage of limited time offers when they become available.

Spring 2021

Your Castle, Your Family, Your Home

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Windows & Doors Guaranteed To Keep Your Castle Safe

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Receive up to £8000 compensation if your property is broken into

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info@vbhgb.com www.qsecure.co.uk | www.vbhgb.com 01634 263300 | sales@vbhgb.com www.qsecure.co.uk Connect with us on social media @vbhgbltd @VBHGB @vbhgb 01634 263 300

Security & Hardware

New windows and doors must be secure as well as beautiful It can be daunting when thinking about purchasing new windows and doors, but it needn’t be. There are some great products around, such as flush and coloured uPVC windows and doors, and super flexible bi-folding and lift/slide doors. However, your new windows and doors must be secure as well as beautiful. Our hardware and security expert VBH explains what you need to look out for and how to choose wisely.

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The following section covers... • Security

• Hardware

• Consumer Awareness

• Aesthetics

Spring 2021

It can be daunting when thinking about purchasing new windows and doors, but it needn’t be.

Spring 2021

There are some great products around, such as flush and coloured uPVC windows and doors, and super flexible bifolding and lift/slide doors. However, your new windows and doors must be secure as well as beautiful. As a hardware expert who has been supplying top quality products to the trade since 1975, VBH can help you source windows and doors that are GUARANTEED to be secure. We recognise the need for a meaningful security guarantee for the end-user and have put together the Q-secure guarantee after having our security-related hardware tested at BSI to the latest security standards. There are three huge benefits to home owners who buy Q-secure Approved windows, doors and patio doors. 1) Only companies who use top quality uPVC and aluminium window and door systems can become Q-secure Approved. 2) Consumers can buy safe in the knowledge that all the hardware on their windows has been independently tested to the latest security standards both in the UK and in Europe. 3) In the unlikely event of a successful break in being achieved due to the failure of the hardware on a Q-secure installation, VBH will pay the customer up to £8000 in compensation.

Spring 2021

We can to do this because we have supreme confidence in how our hardware performs. Q-secure is offered by a growing network of Approved Installers and covers uPVC windows and residential doors, composite

doors, uPVC sliding patio doors, aluminium lift/slide doors, and our most popular product – aluminium bifolding doors. Only Approved Installers using our Q-secure hardware can offer the guarantee.

Spring 2021

Visit www.qsecure.co.uk to find out how your new windows and doors can give you 10 years peace of mind and to find an installer near you.

Spring 2021

Steel Windows

Make light work

The following section covers... • Small Office/Home Office

Spring 2021

• Steel Windows, Doors & Partitions

Bespoke, timeless design We all know the benefits of choosing bona-fide manufacturers and suppliers – especially when it comes to your beautiful home! But how can you be sure you are safe with your choice? After all, the internet is mindboggling and we cannot always trust reviews. A traditional and proven method still holds true today – pick a member of the relevant association and you will be there! When it comes to selecting steel windows, doors, and screens, your go-to is The Steel Window Association – www.steel-window-assocation.co.uk. You will find all you need to know there! Choosing an SWA member to manufacture and install your steel windows and doors ensures that you are receiving the highest standard of fabrication, installation and customer service. Read more from The Steel Window Association on the following pages. A big impact of the Covid 19 Pandemic is that far more of us are now working from home. Ensure you maximise natural daylight in your home working environment – it’s good for your well-being says Crittall Windows...

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• Crittall Windows

• Steel Window Association

Spring 2021

CHOOSE A MEMBER OF THE STEEL W I N D O W A S S O C I AT I O N F O R Y O U R

windows, doors and screens We all know the benefits of choosing bona-fide manufacturers and suppliers – especially when it comes to your beautiful home! But how can you be sure you are safe with your choice? After all, the internet is mind-boggling and we cannot always trust reviews.

Spring 2021

A traditional and proven method still holds true today – pick a member of the relevant association and you will be there! When it comes to selecting steel windows, doors, and screens, your go-to is The Steel Window Association – www.steel-window-assocation.co.uk. You will find all you need to know there! The appeal of steel framed doors and windows has truly stood the test of time, spanning from old country cottages and warehouses built during the Industrial Revolution, to contemporary commercial and residential properties where designers strive for a minimalist appearance. SWA members have a full understanding of the design, fabrication and installation process, and are fully versed on all technical standards. It follows that customers can have full confidence that window and door packages supplied by SWA members will deliver on energy performance, security and safety, while the strength and durability of modern hot dip galvanised steel frames guarantee a long, low maintenance working life.

Recognising the long term resilience and lasting aesthetic ‘appeal of steel’, there are also Steel Window Association member companies who specialise in the repair and maintenance, or even the full restoration of older style windows; as is often essential in conservation cases. Choosing an SWA member to manufacture and install your steel windows and doors ensures that you are receiving the highest standard of fabrication, installation and customer service. Versatility of steel The industrial style of steel windows is fashionable for your home while the strong, versatile material is ideal for external windows, double doors, internal partitions, and shower screens. External steel windows can boast interlocked steel glazing bars, if specified, which make them incredibly strong and secure. They also require less maintenance than timber framed windows and are manufactured from a slimmer frame, giving more opportunities for light to enter your home. Spring 2021

Similarly, the increasingly popular Belgium doors have interlocked steel glazing and open up the space to maximise light entering your home through a pair of side-hung hinged opening doors flanked by fixed lights. Steel is also great for internal partitions. They can act as room dividers to create a broken plan living space which gives you the privacy of separate rooms without compromising on space. The elegance of stylish steel doesn’t stop there; it can also be used in the bathroom. A steel shower screen is the ideal way to combine industrial style with contemporary design. The material is easy to clean and maintain, and increases the light entering your shower space. Weather seals can also be fitted to ensure the steel screen is fully watertight. Double glazed steel windows with 16mm Krypton filled units are ideal for historical and/or contemporary homes. They are able to reflect heat back in to the room which helps with thermal efficiency. Single glazed steel windows can still be manufactured for listed, historic and conservation buildings. Bring steel windows and doors into your kitchen Open plan kitchens are hugely popular as they allow more natural light into the space. However, there’s a lot to be said for separate spaces, so the development of broken plan kitchens arrived. Steel windows incorporate the best of both worlds with internal partitions to break up the space, as well as external windows that maximise the area for light to enter your kitchen. External steel windows can be amalgamated into kitchen extensions as a replacement for exterior walls. This is a perfect way to bring light into your home and create the illusion of a larger room, blending the indoors with the outside. Steel windows come in a range of sizes so you can have large glass panes spanning across the space of the external wall which will not obstruct your view of the garden. To convert existing open plan areas to the new trend of broken plan kitchen design, and create separate spaces, the same W20 steel profiles can be used as internal partitions bringing 80

Spring 2021

through the external design aesthetics to the internal space. This can be a small partition to separate an open pantry or utility room from the rest of the kitchen, or a large partition can take the place of an interior non-weight bearing wall. It’s the perfect solution to stylishly bring a broken plan scheme to the kitchen.

allow for double glazed windows with thermally efficient units so your kitchen can stay beautiful and warm.

Steel partitions complement various interior schemes from mid-century modern designs to Scandi-styles with black steel windows reflecting a striking contrast to pale kitchen cabinetry.

Let the light flow with stunning steel screens Broken-plan homes give the appearance of more space while still maintaining separate areas. This is often achieved through the use of internal screens. Steel windows are the perfect material for these internal screens as they are strong and sturdy, and will let plenty of natural light flow throughout your home.

Not only are steel windows incredibly stylish, the strong W20 steel sections

The trendy steel material is ideal for replacing a non-load bearing wall

between your living space and kitchen. It still provides two separate rooms but does not compromise on the natural light available. Although most popular between a living room and kitchen, any two spaces can be divided with steel screens. The internal partition can be made from steel windows and steel doors to allow design flexibility combined with practical functionality. And, as door thresholds are not necessary, your finished floor will remain intact, leaving the perfect stylish passage for light to run between the two rooms. With plenty of design options available, steel windows can be used in a number of ways throughout the home. Each structure offers solidity without being overpowering and exposes more areas of the home to sun light, reducing the amount of blue light used and allowing you to reap the benefits of natural light, such as improvement in productivity, a boost in Vitamin D, and a lower costing energy bill!

W20 profiles are the preferred choice when it comes to internal screens. The glazing bars are a mere 28mm wide leaving the biggest area possible for glass between them, opening up the most passages for natural light to enter a space. Internal steel screens are highly versatile and can include windows or doors up to a height of 2.4m. Members of the Steel Window Association offer a UK wide service for the repair and replacement of various types of old metal windows, doors and screens, as well as being able to manufacture new fenestration which fully meets the requirements of the building regulations. Choosing an SWA member to manufacture and install your steel windows and doors ensures that you are receiving the highest standard of fabrication, Installation and customer service.

For further information on the Steel Window Association, please visit www.steel-window-association.co.uk.

Spring 2021

make light work (IN ‘SOHO’) small office/home office A big impact of the Covid 19 Pandemic is that far more of us are now working from home. Ensure you maximise natural daylight in your home working environment – it’s good for your well-being says Crittall Windows…

Spring 2021

Photo: Nicola Hicks Design/Charlie Round-Turner/Lightfoot Windows (Kent)

Spring 2021

The small office/home office (SOHO) trend has been growing for some time. With the Covid-19 pandemic dramatically impacting on how - and where - we work, it looks set to be an even bigger part of modern living. Increased home working for more people will be the norm as the majority of businesses consider it to likely be a permanent feature. A survey of almost 1,000 firms by the Institute of Directors (IoD) shows that 74% plan on maintaining the increase in home working. Over half planned to reduce their long-term use of workplaces. While some companies are not likely to switch fully to home working, a smaller survey of bosses whose firms had already cut workplace use suggested 44% of them thought working from home was proving ‘more effective’. The BBC questionnaire found that 24 firms did not have any plans to return workers to the office. Other studies have revealed that nine in ten workers who worked from home during lockdown want to continue in some form and suggest most people working from home are as productive, if not more.

I N B R O A D D AY L I G H T Daylight flooding into workplaces, schools - and homes has a positive impact on our daily lives, and that’s not just a vague feeling, it’s scientifically proven. For example, the 2017 Nobel Prize for Medicine went to three American scientists working on understanding circadian rhythms – the 24-hour cycle also known as the internal body clock. Daylight suppresses the hormone inducing sleep and the ultraviolet wavelengths in natural light have a positive effect on the body’simmune system. Daylight induces wakefulness, cognitive function, productivity, general health and healing. No wonder in a 2018 survey 80% of UK office workers said daylight was important to them. That applies to the SOHO setting too.

Using natural light to define a space is a key element within a home’s design - and should be a significant consideration for your home working environment; whether it’s a home office, study, converted playroom, your bedroom, at the kitchen table or in a garden annex.

Photo: Davenport Kitchens

Spring 2021

F E E L G O O D FA C T O R

LIGHTEN UP THE INSIDE

“Evidence suggests it’s important to have a feelgood factor inside your home.Our positive well-being depends on frequent exposure to light, and daylight is the most powerful way, especially during these times of the pandemic, with more of us working from home and creating a home office or working zone,” says Russell Ager, managing director of steel window and door manufacturer Crittall Windows.

A plentiful supply of natural daylight in to and throughout a building, combined with good insulation, adequate ventilation and acoustic control all form part of an elaborate jigsaw.

“Our homes play a big part in our sense of well-being and their design; lighting and exposure to natural light through windows and doors really do impact. Steel-framed windows are ideal with their inherent strength allowing large expanses of glass, elegantly slender frames and the slimmest of profiles. Passive daylight reduces reliance on artificial lighting which in turn reduces energy consumption while ensuring their occupants benefit from being inside. “The window is the most obvious component for assisting this design outcome. Its size, positioning, frame and glazing play a key role in the ‘collection’ and ‘distribution’ of natural light through the interior. It’s time to do away withdaylight robbery!” The hallmark of a Crittall window is the slender steel frame that is so much slimmer – and therefore admits so much more light – than alternative window systems which require far larger profiles due to the basic differences in the frame material and their relative strengths. Adding bright, beautifully crafted walls of glazing and slimprofiled windows can reflect the timeless style of a period house, adeptly define spaces in a townhouse, minimalist urban loft, warehouse apartment or a self-build project. Glazing expanses within external walls give a greater sense of space and light to achieve a beneficial connection with the outdoors. When working at home a clear outdoor view of a landscape, garden, patio, trees or a park can be inspirational for that great creative idea – and good for our well-being For a new extension, combining outdoor space with an internal area under structural glazing, removing barriers so you have a level threshold, or creating a courtyard with stunning full-length glazing, are great ways to achieve impact and add value to your property.

On-trend steel interior screens and sliding doors offer open plan living witha different dimension - so you can partition areas to create contemporary ‘zones’ including your homeworking area, without impacting light or space. Crittall’s slim profile windows and Innervision internal glazed steel screens with sliding or hinged doors are designed for modern living, providing a sense of space without compromising aesthetics. Innervision’s understated beauty with clean lines, subtle detailing and excellent technical properties can transform your property. Combining style with functionality, a distinguished-looking installation makes a wonderful talking point. Slim profile steel windows and partitions give a retro-look with a contemporary twist; ideal for a home office extension with a dramatic steel-framed glazed screen forming a lightfilled area off the kitchen, or a partition from bathroom to bedroom. Advanced glazing options mean bespoke steel framed screens maximise natural illumination without compromising your security. Cosy for comfort in the cooler weather, enhanced acoustic properties keep noise at bay. Every iconic Crittall window, door and screen is tailored for each unique application, reinforced as authentic Crittall with the addition of a manufactured plaque which is factoryapplied into the web of all opening windows and doors. Crittall Windows offers a complete service from start to finish via its Crittall Specialist Partners (CSPs) - an appointed, dedicated and experienced network who offer a stress-free service from initial enquiry through to installation and aftersales. They give free, no obligation, quotes and a warranty covering windows, doors, glass and installation.

C R I T TA L L C O M M U N I T Y Crittall has launched a Crittall Community for homeowners and renovators to display their installations and bespoke use of Crittall products. A new area on its website provides an open platform for members (customers with Crittall windows, doors or internal screens installed) to share ideas and inspire each other, showcasing their installations, and reinforcing their customer journey from start to finish of their project. An annual award will be given for the ‘Crittall Home of the Year’, which will be promoted via social media. Full details are available at www.crittall-windows.co.uk.

www.crittall-windows.co.uk T: 01376 530800 | E: hq@crittall-windows.co.uk

Spring 2021

TRANS LEVEL FRAMELESS GLASS BALUSTRADE

TL 6020 1.5 kN TOP MOUNT TESTED ACCORDING TO BS6180

T +44 0161 804 9500 | F +44 0161 804 9505 sales@onlevel-uk.com | www.onlevel.com

CHESHIRE PLAINS, ENGLAND 86

Spring 2021

Balconies & Balustrades

Unrestricted views with an ‘all glass’ look Cost effective, simple to install Glass balustrading is no new thing, a broad range of solutions and fixing methods have been available for some time, so how do you cut the wheat from the chaff and choose the best solution? Our balustrade expert, On Level, talks you through everything you need to know!

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The following section covers... • Frameless Glass

• Posts

• Point Fixings

Spring 2021

cost effective, simple to install

Glass balustrading is no new thing, a broad range of solutions and fixing methods have been available for some time, so how do you cut the wheat from the chaff and choose the best solution? Firstly, establish what look you require, one of the first considerations in detailing a glass balustrade solution is whether to include posts or not, or point fixings? Ultimately this comes down to aesthetics and ensuring the best performance. Frameless glass balustrades provide unrestricted views. Post fixed balustrading creates a sturdy look, however the posts do create visual impediments in the overall view. Using point fixings is another option to create the ‘all glass’ look but the fixing substrate needs to appropriate to enable side fixing. Spring 2021

Once you have chosen your preferred type of glass balustrading system naturally you want to make sure the system is fit for purpose and from a reputable supplier. Two of the key elements for a successful glass balustrading project are ease of installation and cost effectiveness. ONLEVEL are well known for providing innovative glass hardware solutions, with their TL-6020 frameless glass balustrade profile leading the way in the UK for simple, no fuss installation. Glass is fitted into ONLEVEL’s range of ‘TL’ profiles using Flex-Fit, Flex-Fit is ONLEVEL’s innovative system for adjusting glass plates. With this system it was possible to adjust each individual glass plate up to 40 millimetres towards the perpendicular line. It provides safe alignment of glass balustrades; with just a simple sliding movement the installer is able to precisely position glass and reduce the assembly time by some 30%. – fast, effective and so simple. In addition, Flex-Fit is safer than traditional glass balustrade fixing solutions which often require you to work from both the balcony side and the void side. Flex-Fit was fully operated from the balcony side. Not only is it safer, rental costs for scaffolding or a cherry picker are eliminated! ONLEVEL’s glass balustrading solutions provide real cost savings due to installation ease and speed, furthermore with ONLEVEL you have peace of mind, knowing their products have been successfully installed on numerous projects across the UK and Germany for many years. 90

Spring 2021

Colindale Gardens, London, UK Situated in the heart of North West London is Colindale Gardens, a unique £1bn residential development in Colindale, Barnet. Once complete it will comprise of 2,900 homes, nine acres of public green space alongside a shopping plaza and school. Spanning 47 acres in total, Colindale Gardens is an ongoing regeneration scheme with a 12-year plan. The first construction phase in 2017 saw the development of Lassen House and Newington House, beautiful new residential blocks featuring ONLEVEL’s TL-6020 frameless glass balustrade profile. Each apartment features an external area with balcony that combines effortlessly with the building envelope to create a sleek, modern structure. Central to the success of the building’s exterior appeal, with its clean lines and architectural balcony framework is the frameless glass balustrading by ONLEVEL. It provides a safe and secure barrier to each balcony area whilst subtly unifying with the protruding metalwork and façade of the building. A total of 600 metres of TL-6020 frameless glass balustrading system from ONLEVEL was specified and installed in the external balcony areas of each apartment, maximising light throughout and providing unobscured views. Gary Dean, Sales Director, ONLEVEL UK, comments, “Its fair to say we have a reputation for developing innovative glass hardware solutions. Innovation is part of our character, creating easy to install innovative solutions is key, but like everything we do, there has to be balance and no matter how innovative the product, it has to be cost effective.” Redrow North London’s Colindale Gardens development received the accolade of Multi Storey Development of the Year at The Bricks 2017 Awards.

Contact us to find your nearest supplier: Tel: 0161 804 9500 | Email: info@onlevel-uk.com or Visit: www.onlevel.com Spring 2021

Interiors

Kitchen Extensions on the rise

The following section covers... • Kitchen Units

• Smart Taps

Spring 2021

W h a t ’s y o u r interior style? There can be no doubt that homeowners have increased their home improvements activity during the past three lockdowns. Some recent research shows that kitchen extensions are the biggest projects to be taken on this year. Key Findings • The kitchen was the most redecorated room of 2020 • The living room has been the room people have touched the least • “DIY” and “How-To” related searches increase over 40% during 2020 • Searches for “Paint” increased by 77% between March and April.

The full findings can be found via the My Tool Shed blog post here: https://www.mytoolshed.co.uk/blog/post/lockdown-2020-home-improvement

• Kitchen Extensions are building up to be the biggest projects this year • Research from MyToolShed revealed extending your kitchen could raise the value of your home by over £46,000

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In this section we look at some beautiful kitchen ideas and accessories.

• Chrome & Stainless Steel

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• Sustainability

• Trends

Spring 2021

Best of German excellence;

S I M P LY B L A N C O Go clever in the kitchen w i t h B L A N C O ’s S m a r t Ta p Collection and UNIT

BLANCO has entered a new era with its innovative range of kitchen Smart Taps which is geared towards highly specific uses within the kitchen; each is designed to solve an everyday problem. 94

Spring 2021

F O N TA S - S I I F I LT E R TA P Another impressive innovation in BLANCO’s Smart Tap Collection is the BLANCO FONTAS-S II Filter. An integrated BWT multi-stage filter purifies the water, reduces limescale and heavy metal content and, thus, enhances the taste. BLANCO filter systems provide three options - warm, cold and filtered cold water – in this multi-functional tap.

E V O L - S P R O H O T & F I LT E R A game changer in the exciting Smart Tap market for your modern eco-friendly, super-hygienic kitchen is BLANCO’s easy to use, 4-in-1 water-saving boiling water tap, the EVOL-S Pro Hot and Filter. It boasts the revolutionary EVOL rotary dial allowing you to set precisely the amount of filtered boiling or filtered cold water you choose. The Pro Hot and Filter 4-in1 tap joins the EVOL-S family alongside the 3-in-1 Pro Filter and the original EVOL-S Volume mixer with pull-out spray. The EVOL-S Pro Hot and Filter is a semi-professional mixer tap, in a stunning stainless PVD steel finish, which delivers standard hot and cold water with two spray options via the mixer lever on the right. The unique EVOL-S rotary control and measuring dial on the left lets you select between cold filtered or true-boiling filtered water and then set the dial to deliver the exact amount of water required; an intuitive touch control initiates the flow. The selected water is delivered through a second, safe-to-touch insulated spout, while the main flexible spout features a magnetic holder and dual spray for mixed water.

The BLANCO FONTAS-S II Filter is notable for its pull-out spout. This spout allows flexible use around the sink, making it easy to fill household appliances. It is unique to the market because of its separate nozzles and two pipes within the spout – keeping the flitered water perfectly pure from the first drop to the last. There are two separate control levers; one for cold and warm water on the right-hand side, while the control lever for filtered water is on the left-hand side. In addition, the high filtering capacity extends the usage intervals while the filter cartridges do not have to be changed as often, which in turn saves money. The multi-stage filter from BWT purifies the water from the pipe several times, getting rid of minute particles that affect the taste. The integrated activated carbon filter reduces the chlorine content, giving the water an even better taste. In addition, the high-performance ion exchanger reduces any heavy metal content which would contaminate the drinking water. Lastly, the filter significantly reduces the water hardness which means less limescale in coffee machines, kettles and other kitchen appliances, which will extend their lifespan. The BLANCO Flowmeter is built into the water pipe for the filter and measures precisely how much water is actually flowing through the filter. Depending on the hardness of the water, the Flowmeter will show the filter’s remaining capacity. If the filter needs to be changed, a signal will sound in good time.

For both the boiling filtered and cold filtered water, a pioneering five-stage filter system is used which ensures perfectly balanced, pure water. The 100⁰C water is delivered instantly, in a controlled anti-spray stream from a specification-busting Titanium 4-litre hot water tank. Titanium is more hygienic, stronger, taste-free and will not corrode with constant use – which copper and steel tanks can do. The advanced system behind the EVOL-S Pro Hot and Filter is monitored by a clever control unit that manages the plumbing connections and the technology with a built-in digital flowmeter that alerts you when the super-long-life filter needs replacing.

“The unique EVOL-S rotary control and measuring dial on the left lets you select between cold filtered or true-boiling filtered water.” Spring 2021

TA M P E R A H O T TA P

S O L E N TA - S TA P

Quite simply, the 3-in-1 TAMPERA Hot from BLANCO is all that is needed for instant, beautifully filtered, 100°C boiling water at the twist of a child-safe lever; from an ultra-safe, super-hygienic and taste-free, 4-litre titanium boiler. Featuring an insulated spout, the TAMPERA Hot offers all the benefits in terms of time, energy and space of a hot tap; with no need for optional extras. BLANCO has developed this ingenious tap to beat similar specification competitors in terms of price and quality, providing absolute peace of mind. In short, the TAMPERA Hot delivers cold, warm and instant boiling water from a single mixer tap which oozes engineering quality.

BLANCO has redefined sensor technology to make life in the kitchen easier. The SOLENTA-S tap has a manual or handsfree Start-Stop mode. With a near field sensor detection located in the hose arm, unwanted activation is prevented.

The high-pressure boiler is made of titanium, not copper or stainless steel like many competitors, making the TAMPERA Hot system more hygienic and ensuring the water is tastefree. The strong, top-grade titanium is corrosion-resistant and able to withstand the high pressures of a constant 105°C internal temperature so that all bacteria and germs are thoroughly eliminated before water is poured. In addition, the quality of the water going in is maintained with a high-quality BWT five-stage filtration system that is fitted as standard. This purification process improves the water quality while protecting the performance of the whole system. The filter removes particles, heavy metals, and impurities that affect the taste of the water while reducing limescale, balancing the mineral content and softening the water before entering the boiler. The system also includes a fool-proof digital Flowmeter which is a simple digital interface that displays the filter usage and audibly alerts the user when it is time to change the cartridge and also when the batteries need to be changed. Safety-wise, the rotary control knob with a child-safe lock button must be pressed whilst simultaneously turning the knob to activate the flow of boiling water. The knob springs back to the off position as soon as it is released so the flow stops straight away and the controlled jet is channelled through an aerator reduces spray. Once registered, the TAMPERA Hot comes with a two-year guarantee and has a customer service, installation and aftersales team for absolute reassurance.

Spring 2021

Utilising a professional design, the stainless steel product is elevated with a precise magnetic spray holder for user accessibility. Designed for convenience, the SOLENTA-S is available with the lever on either the left or right side making it a perfect match for user’s preferences. The SOLENTA-S is available in Chrome and Stainless finish UltraResist® which is not only easy to clean but is also stain and wear resistant.

“Utilising a professional design, the stainless steel product is elevated with a precise magnetic spray holder for user accessibility. Designed for convenience, the SOLENTA-S is available with the lever on either the left or right side making it a perfect match for user’s preferences.”

B L A N C O U N I T, D R I N K , P R E P, C L E A N As well as the ever-growing Smart Tap portfolio, 2020 saw a new launch from BLANCO – the UNIT – making kitchen life easier every day. BLANCO has turned the busiest area of your kitchen into a feature-rich, creative kitchen hub. Combining sinks, taps, in-cabinet waste and organisation systems and creating innovative and flexible solutions for modern kitchen life. Everything you need to work quickly and cleanly in the kitchen is all in one place with the BLANCO UNIT – www.blanco.co.uk/blancounit - which creates a spacesaving, timesaving, creative hub in the heart of your home. Sinks, taps and bins are the most frequently used items in our kitchens yet are often not given the consideration during the planning and design phase that they deserve. The BLANCO UNIT combines premium kitchen products in flexible packs that let you choose a mix to suit your style and lifestyle.

Water plays an essential role in everyone’s kitchen life; from drink and food preparation to washing, hygiene and cleaning. The BLANCO UNIT offers you the choice of feature-packed Smart Taps, ultra-safe true-boiling water taps, and stunning semi-professional or classic mixer taps in a variety of finishes. You can select a sink or bowl from a huge range of designs, styles, materials, colours and installation options and then add ingenious accessories so that everything above your work surface becomes a multifunctional sink area that works beautifully, is easier to use and keep clean, and simply looks great. What about that ‘no-mans-land’ under your sink? BLANCO has it sorted. By adding in-cabinet storage, organisational products, waste management systems and food waste disposal units, you declutter and make intelligent use of a space that can otherwise be a bit of a dumping-ground.

For further information on BLANCO, please call 01923 635 200 or visit www.blanco.co.uk.

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Caring for the planet

with Keller Kitchens

Spring 2021

Sustainability and the protection of our planet’s resources continue to grab headlines in all your favourite media. We have all grown increasingly aware of how to make changes on an individual basis through avoiding single-use plastic, using reusable coffee cups and bamboo toothbrushes; and the next step is to be able to confidently choose brands and businesses that incorporate environmentally-friendly solutions into their strategies too. Keller Kitchens, the high-quality Dutch manufacturer which has consistently designed and manufactured unique and luxurious kitchens, has also been at the forefront of environmentally-friendly developments. 2021 heralds Keller’s fifth year as a Carbon Neutral kitchen manufacturer. As such, the progressive company has implemented a completely carbon neutral production process since early 2017, and 2021 is set to see further developments. One example of Keller’s sustainability policy is the generation of electricity with solar panels; recently, after installing new roofing and insulation, additional new solar panels were installed on the new factory roof taking the total to 8000. Others include converting waste into heat, biomass installation, “greening” the car fleet to all electric and environmentally-friendly

packaging in terms of materials and processes. Essentially, a new Keller kitchen won’t add any additional carbon dioxide into the atmosphere at all. This achievement is an impressive reflection of the eco-friendly ethos right at the heart of the Keller brand and demonstrates the ability to combine high quality, aesthetic kitchen design with care for the planet. Keller believes in the “circular kitchen” and implements sustainability into every aspect of the kitchen lifecycle. This starts with using responsiblysourced raw materials both from an environmental and ethical standpoint. The end stage of the circular approach has just as much eco-friendly foresight; Keller facilitates dismantling and recycling old kitchens at the end of their usage period so that materials don’t end up in landfill unnecessarily. Keller compensates the emission that remains by having trees planted and contributing to wind energy projects. This all-encompassing achievement establishes Keller as a pioneering manufacturer in the move towards sustainability solutions.

Spring 2021

CHOICE AND FLEXIBILITY IS KEY FOR KELLER One of the many benefits of specifying and designing a kitchen from Keller is the vast choice and flexibility within the portfolios. With a pedigree spanning 85 years, the company knows that individuality in the kitchen design is just as important as quality. This is why Keller prioritises both to create reliable, durable and beautiful kitchen schemes.

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EMBRACING THE S O P H I S T I C AT E D AND STYLISH M AT T B L A C K TREND When it comes to truly beautiful kitchen design, Keller Kitchens consistently delivers high quality and aesthetically striking options. This includes embracing new trends; one which is striding ahead is the matt black finish which adds instant sophistication to your kitchen. In classic Keller fashion, full flexibility and a huge array of choices are available from colour and finish to furniture and handles. This versatile approach makes it easy to strike the balance between trend and individuality. Keller Kitchens makes it possible to incorporate the matt black trend in the best way to suit your space. Paired with concrete-look surfaces, metal handles and metal look doors make perfect partners in a matt black theme. This combination instantly creates a striking industrial style finish. A sink and tap in gun metal is a sleek and modern touch that further adds to an industrial atmosphere. For a real showstopping kitchen scheme, Keller Kitchens impressive array of lighting options can be utilised to add striking points of contrast amongst a dark colour palette. Pairing matt black cabinets with open frame shelving and strip lighting creates a bold focal point. The addition of a glass cabinet with hidden LED lighting, will also add a unique twist to the paredback appeal of an industrial influenced space.

For further information, please visit www.kellerkitchens.com.

Keller Kitchens uses the globallyrecognised Natural Colour System (NCS) and has kitchen designs that are available in 1,950 NCS hues with numerous different finishes. These can then be lacquered in silk gloss, high gloss and structured lacquer giving virtually unlimited design possibilities. A matt lacquer finish in the 1,950 NCS colours has also been launched. Keller Kitchens manufactures all products in its own factory to ensure that the quality of materials and parts are of the highest standard. Spring 2021

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Consumer Advice, Style Tips & Useful Information

The following section covers... • Interesting Fenestration Facts 102

• Career Opportunities

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• Energy Ratings

• Cladding Style Tips

Careers, exclusive offer & your free sash windows brochure ‘Did you know – the famous saying ‘It’s Daylight Robbery’ came from the Fenestration Industry? In 1696 when King William III decided to tax those with many windows in their homes people responded by bricking them up so as not to pay. This made their homes darker, hence the saying ‘daylight robbery’. The GQA (Glass Qualifications Association) shares some interesting facts about fenestration. BFRC (British Fenestration Ratings Council) is the UK’s most trusted ratings council, with the most widely used rating system for energy performance in window and doors. Our instantly recognisable rainbow ratings, like the ones you see on fridges and freezers, can now help you prove the energy performance of your windows and doors. Read their advice on energy ratings. Are you fed up with the way the front of your house looks? We have some fantastic before and after images, using cladding to transform a home. Ever heard of Retrofitting? Read our article which explains how Retrofit’s model is playing its part in the UK’s green agenda.

Click here to go back to contents

• Retrofitting

• Retail Installation News

• Order your Free Brochure

• Exclusive Offer on Blinds

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Many homeowners today may be unaware of the high levels of training and certification that are now part of the landscape when it comes to the manufacture and installation of windows and doors.

G Q A Q U A L I F I C AT I O N S R E A C H E S

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Long gone are the days when the industry worked to self-set standards. Today’s Fenestration industry is governed by stringent building regulations to which those manufacturing and installing windows and doors must adhere, and most companies are investing widely in their staff, ensuring they have the right skills to do their work to the highest standards. For those carrying out key roles such as installation, there is the opportunity for them to be independently certified to demonstrate that they are qualified to carry out their role.

The result is not only peace of mind for homeowners, but an on-going rise in standards in the industry, which benefits all parties. Playing a key role in driving up these standards is GQA Qualifications, the fenestration industry’s leading awarding and qualifications writing body. 2021 sees the start of their 20th year of operation.

“Question – do you know what fenestration is? Fenestration is the placing of apertures in buildings to provide light, shelter and security taken up for centuries by builders, and a process dating back to the earliest examples of construction such as castles and other historic buildings”. Spring 2021

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ETHOS The ethos of GQA is that working towards qualifications and encouraging learning opportunities are vitally important if the fenestration industry is to continue to improve and to set the highest standards, and to make it appealing as an industry to young people looking for a career after education to help address the skills gap that has been prevalent in the construction industry for so long. GQA is a major advocate of vocational training and qualifications for the industry, and in the 20 years since it began operating has grown the network of approved centres delivering its qualifications from an initial 15 to over 200, and now employs 21 staff in total from an initial starting point of just seven.

“In the last 20 years GQA has issued a staggering 142,00 qualifications.” It is a sign of the progress made by the industry, that at its outset, GQA offered just 11 qualifications. Today it offers 238 and over the past 20 years, they have issued a staggering 142,000 qualification certificates.

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Commenting on the milestones achieved, Mick Clayton, Chief Executive Officer of GQA says: “As we enter our 20th operational year, I am very proud of what GQA has achieved and how it has grown. It is clear that the appetite for learning has never been greater amongst the tradespeople in our industry and despite the challenges of the pandemic I see significant growth in this during 2021. For GQA, as a leading awarding body, it is something we are delighted to see, and it is fantastic that desire for self-improvement is leading people to think more about formal achievement in the form of qualifications or taking accredited courses.”

“We are committed to seeing our industry hone the skills of its tradespeople so that homeowners can always be confident of receiving the best qualify workmanship and service, and to making our industry a genuine career choice for youngsters leaving the education sector”.

The Gherkin in London is one of the most modern buildings in the world, and has fenestration as one of its key components

PA R E N T S ’ V I E W O F F E N E S T R AT I O N INDUSTRY AS OFFSPRING’S CAREER CHOICE Among many partnerships it is involved in GQA is a major supporter of the Building Our Skills – Making Fenestration a Career of Choice campaign to attract new entrants to the market. On the subject of making fenestration a career of choice, homeowners may be very interested to learn of the results of a YouGov survey commissioned by GQA into the attitudes of over 1,000 parents with schoolage children concerning university attendance and vocational training. The survey results revealed that over 60% of respondents agreed that for decades we have been recruiting too many young people onto university courses that do nothing to improve their life chances or help with their career goals. In addition, over 75% agreed that vocational training, careers and/or vocational qualifications could be beneficial to young people as an alternative career path to going to university. Heartening for GQA was the survey’s revelation regarding how the fenestration industry is perceived by the parents questioned. Over half of respondents were not averse to their children one day entering this industry. It is to be hoped that year on year more and more parents will encourage their children down this route when they are of employable age. The government’s recent white paper on its commitment to greater funding for vocational training reinforced the view held by those that responded that there is clearly need for a different approach in the future, and organisations like GQA are in the perfect position to help to bring this to fruition.

For more information about careers in the industry, and vocational training opportunities email: sayhello@buildingourskills.co.uk www.buildingourskills.co.uk www.gqaqualifications.com

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PROVEN

performance

Energy efficiency is invisible, always has been, always will be. So if you can’t see the performance of your windows and doors why would you take the time to think about it? But the truth is, energy efficiency and noise reduction has never been more important. A new generation, who are rightly aware of their carbon footprint, are becoming homeowners for the first time. BFRC (British Fenestration Ratings Council) is the UK’s most trusted ratings council, with the most widely used rating system for energy performance in window and doors. Our instantly recognisable rainbow ratings, like the ones you see on fridges and freezers, can now help you prove the energy performance of your windows and doors. The government have announced ambitious plans to reach a netzero emissions target by 2050 and energy efficient windows and doors can have a major impact on the carbon footprint of your household whilst saving you money on your energy bills at the same time.

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This is why here at BFRC we’ve been working harder than ever to ensure our energy ratings labels on windows and doors have

become an essential part of any conversation you have when looking to replace them. Giving you peace of mind that you’re having an A rated (or better!) product installed becomes invaluable, reassuring and money saving. It’s a conversation that should be encouraged and we would always recommend you ask about a product’s energy ratings and acoustic performance when speaking to an installation company. Of course it’s tempting to shop around for the lowest price, but if you can see the scientific proof behind why a product is so highly rated alongside the alternatives then it becomes a simple decision. When you factor in the long term benefits the product has on the environment, let alone the savings on your energy bills, it’s a win win scenario.

TOP TIP Windows and doors with an energy rating of 0 or higher (A to A++) are considered to be energy positive. Current building regulations require that all newly installed windows must meet the requirements of a C rating. However, only when a window is ‘A rated’ or higher does it become energy neutral. Anything less than an ‘A’ and the window will still lose more heat than it lets in from the outside, meaning your energy bills will be higher. To understand more about how BFRC energy ratings labels work you can watch our video here. Alternatively, the homeowner page on the BFRC website will provide you with all the information you need.

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Freefoam Building Products manufacture a wide range of low maintenance, long lasting cladding products. And to help you get cladding installed on your home have created a fantastic website called mycladding.com. Created to de-mystify all aspects of exterior cladding the site illustrates the choices available and puts you in touch with a local, expert installer - homeowners can feel confident that they are in safe hands.

GLAD TO

CLAD

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IDEAL FOR ANY HOME IMPROVEMENT PROJECT PVC Cladding is incredibly versatile. • Create a feature wall on a new home extension. • Give your home a makeover and replace old style flat white pvc cladding with attractive embossed cladding. • Replace hanging tiles with cladding. • Replace tired and cracked render with new pvc cladding. • Clad your garden room or summer house. • Makes a low maintenance strong material for home offices.

training. We would recommend you get it done professionally BUT tracking down a reliable and trustworthy installer can be a daunting. Use mycladding and simply fill in your details online and Freefoam will put you in touch with a local tradesperson who is familiar with the product range and give you a FREE no obligation quote for fitting.

LOW MAINTENANCE Everyone is short of time, with demands from family and work ever increasing, time at weekends is precious. Home Improvement jobs are way down the list! PVC cladding needs minimal maintenance. Just an occasional wipe down with a cloth and it looks as good as new.

• Ideal to replace wood on barns and sheds.

C U T H E AT I N G C O S T S

E V E R Y S T E P O F T H E W AY

Fitting exterior wall cladding can provide the ideal solution to insulate your home. Install a layer of insulation behind the cladding to cut heating costs. Designed for use on all types of materials including brick, block, masonry and concrete, when fitted with standard insulation materials the BRE (British Research Institute) Green Guide gives PVC cladding an A+ rating. This means that choosing cladding not only improves the appearance of your property but gives you extra insulation and the chance to save money.

Mycladding.com helps you make the right choice for your home. Familiarise yourself with the different cladding styles and options, browse photos to get inspiration and ideas then simply get a quote from a local reliable installer. Our team will support you from your initial enquiry, to final fitting.

COLOUR CONFIDENT Whilst we’re all familiar with the standard white pvc cladding there is now a fantastic range of colours and finishes to choose from. With many homeowners now choosing contemporary black or grey window frames you can now match your cladding to these other external features. Try out your colour choice with the ‘cladding visualiser’

RELIABLE LOCAL I N S TA L L E R S Installing cladding is not an easy job to do yourself. It can be needs a level of skill that comes through experience and

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RETROFIT

revolution Climate change has always been a priority for RetrofitWorks’ Director, Russell Smith. He founded the not-forprofit on the basis of providing an easily-adopted model for improving the UK’s housing stock through environmentally friendly repairs, maintenance and improvements.

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Russell tells us about how this model is now playing its part in the UK’s green agenda.

When we first embarked on this journey, “retrofit” was a word only known to those directly involved in the industry. Since the launch of the Green Homes Grant, it is understood by many more and as the UK (and indeed the world) makes strides towards addressing climate change, it’s becoming part of everyday vocabulary. When you look at the facts you understand the importance of addressing the energy efficiency of UK housing: our homes use around 35% of all the energy on the grid and emit around 20% of the carbon dioxide emissions that contribute to climate change. The Green Homes Grant is the government’s first bid at meeting the enormous task of upgrading of over a million buildings a year through retrofit, as part of their Net Zero Carbon By 2050 pledge. While it is good news that the scheme has been extended by 12 months (now running to 31st March 2022) and a further £1m has been added, it’s still not enough. There is growing frustration that the deadline is too short to make an impact, and that there is a lack of approved installers to complete the work. The other issue is around quality: many new ‘Green Homes’ companies were created in the weeks following the initial announcement, but most with no prior experience of retrofit or even home renovation. RetrofitWorks has been lobbying about the importance of skills and quality for a long time, but we seem to be turning a corner. As with the term retrofit becoming more widely recognised, we are beginning to address the enormity of the work required to meet the zero carbon promise. Skills On 12th November, the newly created Government-led Green Jobs Taskforce met for the first time with the objective to create 2million green jobs by 2030, to aid the UK’s transition to net zero carbon. Co-representing the construction sector, RetrofitWorks is part of that taskforce. Together, the taskforce will set the direction for the job market as we transition to a high-skill, low carbon economy and housing is an important part of the agenda. Consider in addition to the 20% contribution our homes make to carbon dioxide emissions, more than 80% of those existing homes will still be standing and occupied in 2050. This equates to 27million homes that need upgrading. RetrofitWorks has already calculated 35,000 Retrofit Coordinators are needed to oversee the delivery of these improvements: just one example of the opportunity we have to create diverse and good quality green jobs.

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Quality Quality plays an essential role in delivering the environmentally friendly repairs, maintenance and improvement works that are required to make the UK’s homes fit for purpose. RetrofitWorks is a Trustmark scheme and is founded on the promise of A Plan for Every Home, bringing together the best in green building practice. While the Green Home Grant doesn’t demand it – an oversight in our opinion – RetrofitWorks work exclusively with Retrofit Coordinators who can offer impartial advice and ensure that works are being done well. Using a Retrofit Coordinator to outline the work a property needs to make it carbon neutral has hugely pragmatic implications. For example, if a bathroom fitter is invited into a home that needs internal wall insulation to make it net zero, they could carry out this work at the same time. This holistic approach is now being recognised by government as an important step forward. The plans are ambitious and there is a long way to go to get them implemented. If minimum energy standards across all housing are to be introduced as part of a UK National Refurbishment Strategy, these are all important processes which need to be considered, and it is encouraging for us that they are on the green agenda.

“Using a Retrofit Coordinator to outline the work a property needs to make it carbon neutral has hugely pragmatic implications. For example, if a bathroom fitter is invited into a home that needs internal wall insulation to make it net zero, they could carry out this work at the same time.”

Find out more, visit: https://retrofitworks.co.uk/

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FENSA INTRODUCES

exclusive homeowner discounts

T H A N K S T O PA R T N E R S H I P W I T H H I L L A R Y S As a homeowner you can now reap the rewards of having your windows and doors fitted by a FENSA Approved Installer, thanks to a 10% discount on all madeto-measure blinds, curtains and shutters from the UK’s leading made-to-measure window furnishings company, Hillarys

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The discount on thousands of products from Hillarys is exclusive to FENSA installations in 2021 and is yet another great reason to use an Approved Installer to carry out your project. Established in 1971, Hillarys has built an enviable reputation over the last 50 years or so, not just for the quality of its products but also offering expert guidance from its network of knowledgeable local advisors. The company’s in-home

About FENSA www.fensa.org.uk FENSA is a government-authorised and UKAS-accredited competent person scheme monitoring building regulation compliance for the installation of replacement windows and doors in England and Wales. Its mission is to improve window and door replacements across the UK, by professionalising installers and protecting homeowners. When homeowners choose a FENSA Approved Installer, they receive a FENSA certificate when the work is complete: all the proof they need of a job done right. This certifies the work complies with building regulations, is energy efficient, registered with the local council and verifies that every FENSA Approved Installer’s guarantee is backed by insurance.

measuring and fitting service gives customers confidence that they’ll get the product that’s right for their style and budget, fitted to perfection. As such, the partnership with FENSA represents a perfect synergy of brand and product offering, as Chris Beedel, FENSA’s Director of Membership, explained: “The link between the brands is clear to see and we’re delighted to be partnering with such a reputable and forward-thinking organisation as Hillarys. “We’re always looking at ways we can improve homeowner’s experience of using a FENSA Approved Installer and now they have a further incentive thanks to the discounts available to them on Hillarys outstanding range of products.”

Chris McKay, Hillarys Head of Brand Engagement, added: “In 2021, we’ll have been delivering our made-tomeasure window furnishings service to local communities for 50 years and we’re delighted to celebrate that milestone by teaming up with FENSA. “Like FENSA, we pride ourselves on providing quality, in-home service to customers and helping them transform their home. Working with such a recognised brand will give us a great opportunity to engage with customers who are looking to add the finishing touches to their replacement windows.”

About Hillarys www.hillarys.co.uk In 1971, Tony Hillary began making blinds in his garage in Nottingham. It truly was a one man operation, with Tony doing everything from the advertising and marketing to the manufacturing and fitting. Nearly 50 years later, Hillarys is the UK’s market leader in made-to-measure window dressings, manufacturing and selling a huge range of blinds, curtains, shutters and awnings in the UK and Republic of Ireland. This is done through the Hillarys’ brand offering – the original in-home sales and installation service that covers everything from measuring up to installation. Hillarys employs over 1,200 people over three sites, two in Nottingham and one in Washington Tyne & Wear and has a network of over 900 self-employed Advisors who provide an in-home service, selling and installing core and specialist products.

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REQUEST YOUR FREE BROCHURE HERE

beautiful sash windows The Sash Window Collection, new retail brochure, has a stunning lifestyle feel, with high quality images throughout that show exactly why the Mercury sash window is a popular choice. The photography is supported with information to help homeowners choose the windows that are right for you, including a choice of standard or mechanical jointed options, colours, security and energy efficiency. The demand for sash windows has grown dramatically over the last few years as the windows are suitable for all housing styles. The focus on images in the new brochure reinforces the importance of the lifestyle element in choosing The Sash Window Collection windows.

time to research replacement windows and are looking for feature-rich products more than ever. What was once considered the default product for heritage style projects only, has now become the product of choice for high-end properties and modern homes alike.

Following the 2020 lockdown, there has been a considerable upturn in demand for sash windows. Consumers have had

To request a copy of the brochure please click here.

Want a local installer near you? Please call 01452 383344 or email: sales@mercuryglazing.co.uk 118

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Record-breaking £15m sales period for Clearview Home Improvements A Preston-based retail installation business has recorded its best ever sevenmonth period, with sales rocketing past £15m between June and December. Clearview Home Improvements tapped into major spikes in demand for contemporary extensions, conservatories, orangeries, windows and doors to hit a 67% increase over the same period in 2019 - success that was driven by a proactive sales and marketing campaign and virtual sales appointments. The company, which is part of the Conservatory Outlet Group, also saw two members of its sales team enjoy recordbreaking figures in 2020, with both registering over £2m of annual sales. “It’s without a doubt the most successful period I’ve experienced since joining Clearview in 2011,” explained Gary Oakes, Sales Director at Clearview Home Improvements.

“Achieving such a sustained period of success, during a time of genuine uncertainty, is testament to the hard work and pragmatism of the entire team. Nobody knew how the market was going to react after the first lockdown was announced, but we were confident in our ability to provide our customers with a first-class service and deliver exceptional value, irrespective of the fact that we couldn’t carry out home visits.

with customers from across the region. This really paid off.”

He continued: “Our team spotted the change in consumer attitudes to spending more on home improvements during lockdown and were quick to maintain a proactive, multi-channel marketing approach that focused on generating virtual sales appointments

Riding the crest of the wave throughout the remainder of 2020, the firm maintained strong enquiry levels over the months that followed and were able to average over £2m in monthly sales up to the end of December.

Whilst many businesses adopted a more conservative approach and ground to a halt, Clearview was able to generate enquiries in excess of 75% higher than its year-on-year totals throughout the first lockdown, with its ‘Stay-at-Home Sale’ campaign delivering a ready-made order book ahead of its return once the restrictions were lifted.

Greg Kane, CEO of Conservatory Outlet Group, continued: “The last twelve months have certainly been challenging, but the hard work of everyone from across the business has ensured the Clearview brand has come out the other side stronger than ever! From lead generation, lead appointing and showroom demonstrations, to sales presentations, sales leadership and everything in-between, this has been a magnificent success and I’m incredibly proud of everyone involved. “We’ll now be working just as hard to deliver an exceptional service throughout our operations teams and continue to build on our successes. 2021 is showing no signs of slowing down from a sales perspective and we look forward to celebrating similar achievements this time next year.”

For further information, please visit www.clearviewhome.co.uk or follow Clearview Home Improvements on Facebook Spring 2021

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SHOWCASE SKYLIGHTS & ROOF LANTERNS

A BRIGHTER CHOICE THE MULTI-AWARD WINNING

ALUMINIUM LANTERN

www.korniche.co.uk improve_mag_ad_190x120.indd 1

CONSERVATORIES & ORANGERIES

Create a room that you can use all year-round

BI-FOLD DOORS

08/02/2021 08:39

Bring Bring in in the the

LIGHT LIGHT

The solid roof company For conservatory roof replacements or new single storey extensions

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Eco-friendly timber

Thermally efficient

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The Icotherm roof helps maintain optimum temperature in the room, protecting from the summer heat and retaining warmth in winter.

Unique timber pod construction which speeds up installation and the roof is fully ventilated to prevent condensation.

To find an installer near you, email us on info@icotherm.co.uk

w wus w online . b i f otolDESIGN dnetw o r k . cDOOR om Visit A BIFOLD See how a sliding folding door would look w ww.bifoldnetwork.com on your property. Choose the size, number Seepanels, how acolours slidingand folding door would look of handle colour options on generate your property. Choose size, anumber to a design andthe receive quote of panels, and handlelocal colour options from one colours of our approved, installers. to generate a design and receive a quote from one of our approved, local installers.

Email us to find your local installer: info@bifoldnetwork.com If you would further helplocal please call ourinfo@bifoldnetwork.com friendly staff on 0114 231 3133 Emaillike us to find your installer: If you would like further help please call our friendly staff on 0114 231 3133

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To advertise here please call 01302 278756 or email christina@improve-magazine.co.uk WINDOWS & DOORS

BEAUTIFUL WINDOWS MAKE BEAUTIFUL HOMES Stanier Road, Porte Marsh Industrial Estate, Calne, Wiltshire SN11 9PX T 01249 816 969 • F 01249 815 234 • E deceuninck.ltd@deceuninck.com

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BI-FOLD DOORS

Deceuninck is one of the world’s major PVC-U window and door systems companies and has been established for over 30 years in the UK, with production, distribution and head office in Wiltshire.

BALUSTRADES & BALCONIES

12/08/2020 14:59

TRANS LEVEL FRAMELESS GLASS BALUSTRADE

TL 6020 1.5 kN TOP MOUNT TESTED ACCORDING TO BS6180

Impressive Glazing Solutions to Create a Fresh Contemporary Style

T +44 0161 804 9500 | F +44 0161 804 9505 sales@onlevel-uk.com | www.onlevel.com

devine by design inspiration for your home Completely transform your home and bathe your living space in natural light with our stunning range of aluminium windows & doors. Hehku specialise in the design and installation of bespoke aluminium bi-folds, sliding doors, windows, roof lanterns and sky lights that are meticulously designed to provide that extra special finishing touch to your home. Based in the South East our experienced team will work with you to provide a professional service with the highest standard of customer care. Our range of quality products have been carefully selected to be competitively priced, 100% British made, offer a unique set of safety features, deliver exceptional energy efficiency, offering an industry-leading guarantee of up to 25 years. We are pleased to be able to offer a 3 to 5 week lead in time from survey to ensure your project is finished on time.

www.hehku.co.uk

enquiries@hehku.co.uk 01634 298026

CHESHIRE PLAINS, ENGLAND

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TRANS LEVEL FRAMELESS GLASS BALUSTRADE

TL 6020 1.5 kN TOP MOUNT TESTED ACCORDING TO BS6180

T +44 0161 804 9500 | F +44 0161 804 9505 sales@onlevel-uk.com | www.onlevel.com

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Improve Magazine Spring 2021

Articles inside

Improve Magazine Spring 2021

make light work