My Basket We’re thrilled to announce that Darren Dalton Carpentry & Joinery Ltd is our September Installation of the Month winner! Nominated by our Bespoke Manager, Jordan, this stunning project truly stands out.
The transformation of this property is nothing short of impressive. After 14 months of work, including the installation of new windows and doors across the entire building, we were fortunate enough to visit the completed renovation. As a key supplier, Edge is proud to have played a role in bringing this vision to life. The homeowner couldn’t be happier, describing Darren as “an absolute legend,” and we couldn’t agree more!
It all started when Darren met our Sales Rep, Ross, who suggested the homeowners visit our Chichester showroom. There, they explored our wide range of windows and doors with the help of our Bespoke team and found the perfect styles to complement their home.
Our tour of the house.
The first thing you notice when approaching the property is the tinted glass – specifically the ‘grey anti-sun toughened glass’. Installed throughout the property, the Smarts aluminium windows and Korniche bi-fold doors reflect sunlight while offering impressive levels of privacy. The anti-sun glass blends beautifully with the anthracite grey [RAL 7016] window frames, providing a sleek and contemporary finish.
The four stunning bay windows at the front of the house create an eye-catching feature. With five tall panes of glass on each unit, paired with the tinted finish, this is a show-stopping house. The new composite front door with chrome hardware and side glass brings the whole renovation together. We love the new tiled porch as well – the pop of colour from the tiles stands out brilliantly against the anthracite front door.
Looking around the property, the two expansive bi-folds at the back of the house provide excellent views across the garden. Plus, the anti-sun glass ensures the lounge and dining room stay cool in the summer months. Additionally, the side door was replaced with a stylish anthracite grey stable door, complete with black hardware, allowing fresh air in without needing to fully open the door.
Darren’s attention to detail is evident across this beautiful home. A collection of aluminium windows has been installed across the property. Some are single units while others have three panes of glass. Notably, the office window features an integrated Italian blind, adding a touch of luxury.
One of the reasons Darren chose to partner with Edge is our reputation as a “painless aluminium supplier.” Our Bespoke team is dedicated to providing high-quality aluminium windows and doors in various styles, while our warehouse is always stocked with matching aluminium trims. We’re proud to support local builders like Darren by maintaining high stock levels—and of course, offering a free cup of coffee whenever they drop by!
Darren has completed an amazing renovation on this property, and we look forward to seeing what he does next!
Chat to us today.
If you are inspired by this renovation or need to source a window or door for your next project, then speak to our Bespoke team. We can help you find high quality, aluminium and PVC windows and doors, including bi-folds and composite front doors. Get in touch by calling 0345 021 3333 ext. 2 or by emailing [email protected].
Picture this: you’ve just started working with a new customer who wants all their windows replaced – fantastic! Now you need to help them find the perfect windows for their home. In a world full of options this decision can be overwhelming, especially for your customer. So today, we are going to look at one of the top contenders, which offers superb durability and style: aluminium windows and doors.
The Benefits of Aluminium Windows and Doors
When it comes to choosing the best in contemporary design, aluminium stands out for its combination of style and performance. Let’s dive into why aluminium windows and doors might be the ideal fit for your next project.
Strong and Lightweight.
One of the best features of aluminium is its exceptional strength-to-weight ratio; it is more durable than PVC and timber, and significantly lighter as well. This makes installation easier and faster.
Aluminium frames are also highly resistant to warping, contracting, and expanding. Unlike PVC or timber alternatives, aluminium is heat resistant, reducing the strain on the frame and ensuring its longevity.
Clean and Contemporary Design.
If your customers are looking to achieve a sleek, and modern look for their home, aluminium frames are an ideal choice. Aluminium frames are available in a range of sizes and widths, including the ever-popular slimline varieties. These slim profiles allow for reduced sightlines, so that brand new bi-fold will provide an expansive view for your customer.
Matt black and anthracite grey remain on-trend and give a sophisticated, contemporary feel to any home. Additionally, bi-folds can increase the value and appeal of a property, as it creates a seamless connection between indoors and outdoor spaces.
Endless Colour Options.
With aluminium windows and doors, the colour options are virtually limitless. The frames can be powder-coated in any RAL colour. Whether they prefer bold colours or neutral tones, your customer will be able to find the perfect shade for their home.
Powder coating not only allows for creative home design, it also add an extra layer of durability, increasing the longevity of the frame. The frame will not suffer from fading, peeling, or discolouration over time, even in harsh winter conditions.
High Thermal Efficiency
As the weather is turning colder, energy efficiency is a top priority for homeowners, and aluminium frames have risen to the occasion. Advanced thermal break technology and insulated frames ensure that heat stays inside during the colder months. Not only will this keep the homeowner’s energy bills down this winter, but will also improve the overall comfort of their home. No cold draft will come from the new aluminium frames you have installed.
Top tip: Highlight the thermal benefits of aluminium to your customers to help them save money long-term on heating their home. Plus, our Bespoke team can supply high performance glazed windows, in a range of finishes such as tinted, blue, or clear glass.
Low Maintenance Frames
Aluminium frames are incredibly low maintenance, which a huge benefit for many customers. Unlike other window materials, aluminium won’t warp, crack, or discolour as the weather changes, ensuring the frames retain their shape and performance year after year.
Your customers will appreciate the minimal upkeep, as maintenance simply involves a quick wipe down with warm soapy water. Their new windows and doors will continue to look fantastic without regular painting or repairs.
Get Matching Trims.
We know how important it is to finish a job well. Therefore, we also offer aluminium trims in a range of widths and available in 5m lengths to ensure you can complete your installation with style. Matching aluminium trims will ensure that your new window or door installation will look its best year after year and will provide all the same low maintenance benefits as the frame itself.
Final Thoughts.
When it comes to choosing windows and doors, aluminium offers an excellent combination of style, durability and energy efficiency. For builders, the ease of installation, minimal maintenance, and wide range of design and configurations makes aluminium the smart choice for most projects. For homeowners, these windows and doors provide a modern and energy efficient solution that also enhances their property’s value and appeal.
Last week, a large fire took over a block of flats in Dagenham affecting the lives of over 100 residents. Considering this, we are going to be looking at government plans for further housing development, and the desperate need for increased attention to the 2,300 private and 717 social housing properties that still have unsafe external cladding. As excitement builds for the 1.5 million new houses promised by Labour, existing structures that are unsafe, and pose a serious threat to life, should not be forgotten.
Fire in Dagenham.
Early on Monday 26th of August a fire broke out in a block of flats in Dagenham. The Spectrum building comprised of eight stories; the ground floor was commercial units, and residential flats made up the rest of the building.
The Spectrum building was in the process of having non-compliant cladding removed from it’s exterior. While the cause of the fire is not known at this time (30th August 2024), an extensive investigation into the cause and spread of the fire will be undertaken.
It is notable that the building did not comply with building standards at the time it was constructed. The fire safety of the building was a cause of concern for many residents as well as the London Fire Brigade, who issued an enforcement notice to the building management company in April 2023. This enforcement notice was related to the management companies’ failure to complete regular fire assessments, the inadequate emergency routes and exits, and the lack of maintenance of firefighting equipment within the building. While this report does not mention the external cladding specifically, written evidence submitted by the Resident’s Association demonstrates that in September 2020 an external wall survey found that the building did not meet regulatory requirements.
The Grenfell Group calls on the government to speed up building safety remediation. They argue that it is unacceptable for building safety works to be continually stalled when there is a threat to human life.
Remedial work on non-fire safety compliant external cladding.
Building have compiled a report on the UK buildings that still require urgent remedial works due to external cladding that does not meet fire safety standards.
- Of the 4630 identified housing blocks that are 11m or taller and have unsafe cladding, only 1350 have had remedial work completed.
- 949 have started remediation work.
- 2331 housing blocks have not had any remedial work started.
- Of the 2414 identified social housing blocks that are 11m or taller and have unsafe cladding, 1208 have had remedial work started or completed.
- 717 social housing blocks have not had any remedial work started.
These remedial projects, withstanding improving the welfare of resident’s lives and value of their properties, is also a big opportunity for many skilled labourers. These large-scale projects will require the expertise of Britain’s scaffolders, builders, and carpenters to ensure that the existing cladding is removed safely, and, in some cases, new fire-safe cladding is installed.
Specialist building merchants, such as Edge, can supply external cladding that is fully compliant with fire safety standards. We supply and recommend Hardie Plank cladding, a fibre cement cladding board that is non-combustible and fire safety compliant. Available in a great range of colours, and with a realistic wood finish, Hardie Plank cladding demonstrates that cladding can not only look great but also provide additional fire protection for a building.
If you would like more information on the external cladding we supply, please email [email protected] or call us on 0345 021 3333
By expediting remedial works on these 2331 private and 717 social housing blocks, private and social landlords will not only prevent further tragedies for their residents, but also provide a wealth of opportunities to work for the construction section.
Government pushes forward with new housing developments.
It was recently announced that Angela Rayner has set up an ‘accelerator team’. This team will be comprised of 15 dedicated officials who will be working to remove the blocks to existing development plans. So far, 200 sites have been identified as being stalled due to planning issues or lack of approval. These 200 sites have the potential to provide 300,000 houses.
The new ‘accelerator team’ will be working with local authorities and housebuilders to resolve the existing issues and push forward development plans. The team are also encouraging local authorities, housebuilders, and landowners to submit details of sites being blocked by significant planning issues.
The government aims to resolve the local and planning issues which are blocking large housing developments and get ‘shovels to the ground’ to begin working towards their ambitious housing targets.
Final Thoughts
It is an exciting time to be working in the housing and construction sector. There is expected to be a huge increase in the number of site developments over the coming months, therefore providing local builders and contractors with new work.
We are on hand to help our local builders by providing quality, low maintenance building products for these new projects. Our Sales Reps visit sites, chat to our customers, and ensure that they are getting discounted pricing on the items they use most. If you are looking for aluminum trims in 5m lengths, or cast-iron style guttering, we are here to help, and can even deliver next day directly to your site.
However, amongst the buzz of new sites and job contracts, there is still a huge backlog of existing buildings that require urgent remedial work. The outbreak of fire at the Spectrum building Dagenham serves as a stark reminder that the Grenfell tragedy will not be a stand-alone event if the buildings with known fire-safety concerns are ignored. Existing stock must be brought into consideration as plans for new properties are being expediated.
News sources:
Housing Today: Dagenham block of flats engulfed by fire had known safety issues since 2020.
BBC: Family fears they’ve ‘lost everything’ as firefighters control blaze in east London.
Building: Rayner sets up accelerator team of officials to boost development on 200 stalled sites.
Building: Remediation of unsafe cladding on 2300 residential buildings yet to start.