Doors & Windows

New Specification Guide

- VEKA UK is on same page as installers, fabricators and specifiers

Industry-leading PVCu systems supplier VEKA UK has launched a brand new specification guide providing manufacturers, installers and specifiers with comprehensive information on all the products within the VEKA UK portfolio.

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or a brand that is world renowned for both its heritage and its commitment to innovation, the timing of the launch is particularly apt; it coincides with the global VEKA Group’s 50th anniversary, and a cutting edge new www.veka.co.uk website.

Marketing Director Dawn Stockell explains: “Here at VEKA UK, we know our products are perfect for every project, because they are tested to all expected quality and safety accreditations - but more importantly - they must meet our own exceptionally high standards.

“Furthermore, as a customer-centric company, having the ‘perfect product’ is just one part of the service; the second part is presenting all that product information within the ideal package, and that’s exactly what we’ve done with both our new specification guide and the new VEKA website. These resources have made it even easier to specify our industry-leading PVCu systems.

“The guide is over 100 pages and contains everything you need to know about all systems and products within the VEKA, Halo and Imagine brand ranges. From in-depth technical data, technical drawings, and performance results, to information about our technical support services.

“And, for those that prefer a ‘pick and mix’ approach, individual pages can be downloaded by product through the new veka.co.uk site, so customers can effectively put together a bespoke reference guide for their most-used systems.

“The specification guide itself is a joy to read. I’m really proud of how we’ve managed to fit so much valuable content into such a clear and straightforward document. And, I

System 10 | FlushSash Casement Window

Features

Maximum sash size Side hung: 620mm (w) x 1270mm (h)

Outer frames 56mm, 72mm and 84mm outer frames

Mullions 70mm or 95mm mullions

Sash 61mm flush sash

Finishes Available in a large assortment of colours and woodgrain options from the Variations range and SPECTRAL*

Glazing beads 28mm bevelled 28mm sculptured 32mm bevelled 36mm bevelled

Ancillaries Frame extensions, cills and weathering trims Range of coupling options Range of bay pole options

Thermal performance** Achieves U-values as low as 1.3 W/m2K using double glazing Achieves U-values as low as 1.1 W/m2K using triple glazing

* SPECTRAL is only available on bevelled or flat surfaces. ** Figures can vary dependent on specification.

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believe the support that complements the spec guide is second to none. Our technical team are only a phone call or an email away and can assist with CAD design, as well as BIM, and wind load or energy calculations (to name just a few of our services), in order to help you specify the perfect system for your project.

“The new specification guide comes following the launch of SPECTRAL; the innovative ultramatt finish, unveiled at this year’s FIT Show and shortlisted for ‘Product of the Year’ at the G19 Awards. This means details can be found throughout the guide of all systems that can be specified with the new finish, as well as full details of SPECTRAL on page 14-15. This extraordinary product can be used to elevate the look and even feel of a window or door frame.

“VEKA UK systems offer immense yet intelligent choice. In developing the Variations colour range, we not only focused on getting the colour and texture of every foil just right, we also looked at how we could deliver these choices with swift lead times that work for your project. It may be a small detail - but one that means we carry the largest UK stock holding covering 4000 SKUs.

“The guide’s combination of line drawings, photographs of products in situ, test reports and results, alongside foil options, specification and sizing - with real life case studies - mean the reader has the information and the inspiration needed to perfect every project.

“Putting together such a comprehensive guide was a challenge to say the least, but one that was well worth it; this ‘specification Bible’ is the ultimate reference guide to everything VEKA. It is both exhaustive and easy to use, and I’m looking forward to hearing what customers have to say about it.”

System 10 FlushSash Casement Window

Test Results

Window type Max sash sizes (wxh) Air permeability Water tightness Resistance to wind Exposure category

Side hung reinforced 620mm x 1270mm Class 4 Class 9A A4 1600

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Home renovators: should you choose French, sliding or bi-folding doors?

Renovation can be an exciting project to undertake, but sometimes guidance is needed when it comes to choosing the right fixtures to ensure your completed renovation is perfect.

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hen it comes to choosing windows and doors, it can be a difficult task weighing up the pros and cons of each – so how do you know which to choose for your home? Here we will look at the choice between installing French, sliding or bi-folding doors in a renovation.

French doors are classic

For a timeless design that suits any home, French doors are ideal. This design allows easy access in and out of the home without taking up or requiring too much space. They’re ideal for small to medium sized openings in the home, so are perfect for smaller homes too. French doors allow for more light to enter the home than a single door, which can be opened to maximise light and heat in the warmer weather. Many people assume that French doors compromise on security, however they can be easily customisable with locking systems for maximum security, making them great for many types of homeowners.

Aesthetically, they’re also a great option as they are available in an array of materials, depending on your budget and style, from aluminium, PVCu and timber.

Consider a chic and functional sliding door

If you choose sliding doors, your indoor space will instantly feel bigger and brighter. Sliding patio doors consist of large panes of glass that allow for wonderful views to be enjoyed from inside your home as well as a fantastic breeze on a warm summer’s day when opened. Featuring clean minimalistic lines, patio doors offer both value and versatility. Just like classic French doors, they are available in both PVCu and aluminium in a range of different configurations and colours. Consider sliding patio doors from Quickslide if you’re looking for a wide garden door with a large glass area and minimalistic features to really open up your downstairs social space.

Bifolding doors can fit any size space

If you’re looking to create a seamless transition between the outside and inside, bi-folding doors are the ultimate way to transform your home because they are visually stunning, whilst still featuring the best of modern-day double glazing. The doors are versatile and made to measure to fit the aperture.

They’re also available in configurations of 2 panels to 8 panels, making them a suitable option for small, medium and large openings and great to incorporate into any size home.

Due to the weight of the glass panels, bi-folding doors are usually only available in aluminium to guarantee strength whilst also being lightweight and smooth to transition open and close. They are considered a contemporary and modern product in a classic heritage colour but can easily fit in with a more period home.

Before choosing the right doors for you to complete your renovation, ensure that you consider your house type, project type (new build or refurbishment), size of the opening and the budget that you’re working with.

Widely recognised as one of London’s most perfect villages, full of beautiful shops, prime period properties and green open spaces, Wimbledon is an idyllic location for any family. Therefore, it came as no surprise to Up Architects when they were appointed by a young family, who required more space, to deliver the full refurbishment and extension of their existing home. Kebony, a global leader in the production of sustainable modified wood, was carefully selected by the architects for the exterior cladding of the extension to create something truly beautiful without being ostentatious.

After making the decision to stay in their house, rather than moving to a bigger property in the area, or moving away from the children’s school, the family recognised their pressing need for more space. Up Architects wanted to design an extension that stood out from the run-of-the-mill extensions in the area, and started with the idea of a single large space that could be adapted to suit the family’s needs over time, incorporating dining, living, a playroom, study area, TV room and guest room into the brief. Now their hectic family life could take place in a modern, light filled open-plan living space, all with an enhanced connection to the garden. In keeping with the client’s brief, the design is simple, un-assuming and honest with two simple roof forms sitting over the main space, formed from an exposed glulam timber structure with Kebony cladding used for the exterior walls and roof. The simple geometry of the twin-hipped roofs breaks up the bulk seen from outside and defines the different spaces internally without a physical division. The timber Kebony cladding lines up across the walls and roof, with compound mitred joints, making the whole extension appear to be carved from one block of wood, with no visible gutters to compromise the sharp lines. All the timber used was sustainably sourced and the Kebony cladding is guaranteed for 30 years. Developed in Norway, Kebony’s revolutionary technology is an environmentally friendly and patented process which modifies sustainably sourced softwoods by heating the wood with furfuryl alcohol - an agricultural by-product. By polymerising the wood’s cell wall, the softwoods permanently take on the attributes of tropical hardwood including high durability, hardness and dimensional stability. This unique process also provides Kebony with its characteristic appearance, which only grows more beautiful with time.

Marty McColl, Director at Up Architects commented:

“Following our appointment for this project, it was essential that the family felt they had made the right decision in opting for an extension rather than moving house. We were able to create substantially more space, whilst ensuring the extension reflected the brief to build something that was beautiful in design without being ostentatious; we are thrilled with the final product and loved working with Kebony to transform this traditional suburban semi-detached house into a contemporary and more practical family home.”

Adrian Pye, International Sales

Director at Kebony added: “We are delighted with the growing demand for Kebony extensions, the wood is extremely versatile and can be used for both traditional and modern properties as well as detached, semi-detached or terrace houses. It is evident that Up Architects have carefully considered the brief and created the perfect living space to meet the needs of this young family and the final product is a testament to their hard work.”