doors, windows & glazing
A strong investment
Quality windows and doors must provide not only safety, but also comfort and adequate thermal performance. Andrew Reid of Profile 22 explores the solutions.
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ocial landlords can get caught up in a perfect storm when looking to carry out maintenance work on a budget. Government rent cuts, housebuilding targets and various changes and caps to revenue and
benefits all have a direct impact on spending. This in turn adds to the challenges asset managers need to overcome when planning improvements to their housing stock, on small or large-scale refurbishment projects. When specifying building materials for use in social housing
projects, there are unique factors that come into play for each housing association depending on their individual needs, such as cost, performance and aesthetics. Because of their low cost and flexible application, investing in PVC-U windows and doors presents a vital opportunity for housing managers to future-proof their stock. Managers are then able to recoup the whole-life cost, and contribute towards improving living conditions for tenants by combating fuel poverty.
Facts and myths
A number of myths exist around the use of PVC-U in windows and doors, especially when compared with timber or aluminium variants. Though PVC-U is cheaper than timber and aluminium, it is a common misconception that it’s of a lower quality. In fact, PVC-U is a highly- engineered, cost-effective building material that performs incredibly well on thermal, weather, acoustic, aesthetic and cost level – all imperatives for landlords. It has stellar thermal insulation properties in windows, and U values as
low as 0.8 can be achieved when combined with the most energy-efficient glazing options. This is as well as Window Energy Ratings of WER D or C, which meet current building regulations, all the way to WER A++. If security is a major concern for a housing association, windows and doors made from PVC-U profiles can be manufactured to Secured by Design standard – a police-backed standard aimed at crime prevention – for added assurance. Aesthetically, the idea that PVC-U doesn’t look as good as timber and aluminium is no longer so widely accepted. Manufacturers have a foiling technology available to ensure that windows and doors fabricated from PVC-U can now be made to exact requirements, in a wide range of colours. Certain technological advancements such as flush casements, that give cleaner, more modern-looking lines, mean PVC-U is as forward-thinking in terms of design as alternative materials, and at a fraction of the cost.
“PVC-U windows and doors can be made to exact requirements and in a wide range of colours”
www.housingmmonline.co.uk | HMM January 2017 | 35
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