Case Studies

K2 Aluminium Systems, an installer of the Glazerite UK Group recently completed a redevelopment project in Halifax for Leeds Beckett University Business Centre.  The project consisted of 125 windows as part of the larger multi-million-pound transformation programme on the old weaving mill located on Horton Street in Halifax.  The architectural aluminium specialist installed VEKA’s M70 frames in grey, which were manufactured by Glazerite’s Bolton Division. Sales Manager for Glazerite, Pete Smith, explains: “The Matrix 70 system, characterised by its 5 chambers and clean chamfered lines, provides a modern, energy efficient solution that looks equally at home when used for new build projects or refurbishment projects such as this one. The required styles looked complex in design but were easy to manufacture thanks to our state-of-the-art multi-headed welding and cleaning facilities.  “K2 needed a quick turnaround to fulfil their tight fitting schedule, installing a floor per week to meet the completion deadline, and our nationwide coverage meant we could deliver as and when required.  “The frames themselves were matched to the original timber window style to keep in touch with its period façade, and this project is another great example of thermally efficient, modern materials being used to allow a historic building to live on for many years to come.”  As part of its partnership with Calderdale Council, Leeds Beckett University is launching a new initiative to drive growth amongst early-stage and growing businesses. The University Business Centre will be based at Piece Mill in Halifax, next to historic Piece Hall, and will re-open later this year.  Piece Mill is an impressive converted mill providing open plan, affordable office and meeting space plus a range of business support in the centre of Halifax. The centre is part of a network of Leeds Beckett University Business Centres that have been operating for more than 15 years. Over 200 businesses across the region are currently located in Leeds Beckett’s private, shared and co-working spaces which to date have supported over 800 businesses to accelerate their growth. Support from Leeds Beckett has been proven to almost double business sustainability, with a 95% business survival rate in the first year of trading. To find out more please visit www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/university-business-centre. The Glazerite UK Group is one of VEKA’s leading trade fabricators in the UK and a long-standing Network VEKA and Independent Network member. It offers a fully nationwide service based on manufacturing units in Northants, Peterborough and Greater Manchester. South Wales and the West of England are served through the South West distribution hub in Bristol. 

When the specification for a new-build special school called for a colour coding of windows with unusual bespoke reveals and cills, the solution came in a combination of PVC-U windows set in made-to-order aluminium surrounds.  Birkenhead-based K2 Aluminium Systems Ltd, despite its name, is also an established PVC-U installer, so it was ideally placed to come up with the solution based on pressed aluminium cills and exterior reveals around VEKA frames from the Glazerite UK Group. Palmerston School, Liverpool, is a special school for pupils aged 11 to 19 with multiple learning difficulties, and is now housed in the new-built premises replacing an original building nearby. The windows are colour coded in red, blue ywllo and green to help pupils to navigate around the school and to identify different areas. The work, for main contractor Kier Construction, entailed 55 windows, each with four top-openers, in RAL 7012 Basalt Grey foil on white. The aluminium elements were pressed and powder coated to order for K2 and also included an upright panel between each frame and cill to allow additonal ventilation space beneath the lower openers. Also in the contract were five glazed doors fabricated in Schueco aluminium.  The bespoke elements required careful planning and drawing, as K2 commercial manager Liam Bird explained: "It was quite an ususual specification but one where our background in both PVC-U and aluminiun paid dividends. Working with Glazerite on the PVC-U fabrication and with our own experience of aluminium, we were able to complete the work to specification and without problems and the result speaks for itself." The Glazerite UK Group is VEKA's largest trade fabricator in the UK and a long-standing member of the Independent Network and its predecessor Network VEKA. It offers a fully nationwide service based on manufacturing units in Northants, Peterborough and Greater Manchester as well as its South West distribution hub in Bristol serving South Wales and The West of England.

The landmark appearance of an 85-year-old Merseyside grammar school has been retained for future generations, thanks to the close replication of more than 200 unique and distinctive timber windows in the VEKA M70 system from Glazerite UK Group and local installer K2 Aluminium Systems Ltd. The windows were very much a part of the character of the 1930s-built Wirral Grammar School for Boys and the look of the replacements was an essential factor but the specification also brought another major benefit, as K2 Commercial Manager Liam Bird explained: “Some classrooms had a problem with both solar gain and glare, so a blue tint was specified for the glass. The difference was immediately noticeable; the rooms no longer overheat and the natural light is more subdued, so the use of monitors and whiteboards is much more comfortable." “Also, of course, with the significantly improved thermal performance of the windows, the rooms will be more temperate in the cold weather as well as in hot sun.” As the installer’s name suggests, it could have offered an aluminium alternative but the sightlines of the original timber made PVC-U a better visual match as well as the other factors such as cost and heat retention. The contract was secured via architect/surveyor Arcadis in co-operation with of the VEKA UK Group, which also provided technical support such as specification, drawings and wind calculations. The Glazerite UK Group is VEKA’s largest trade fabricator in the UK and a long-standing Network VEKA member. It offers a fully nationwide service based on manufacturing units in Northants, Peterborough and Greater Manchester as well as its South West distribution hub in Bristol serving South Wales and The West of England.

Specialist barn and farm buildings renovator Cheshire Barns Homes is committed to using traditional materials in keeping with the projects they typically undertake... but it seems Halo FlushSash has turned their head.  The developer has a strong commitment to producing homes using traditional farm buildings that are energy efficient, a philosophy that is underpinned by the company's founder and director, Rhys Nevett, who has a vision to restore buildings with heritage to create sustainable luxury and a desire for absolute perfection.  The traditional style of the properties they renovate must be considered against the requirements of the Building Regulations and desire of the new owners for modern comfort and performance, a balance that can be difficult to achieve. But for one recent project undertaken by Cheshire Barn Homes such potential conflicts were resolved when the firm chose Halo FlushSash PVC-U windows, for a semi-detached property located in a rural location.  Nottingham-based Fearns of Carlton were chosen by the developer to supply eight Halo FlushSash windows produced in Basalt Grey on white, after being impressed with the authentic appearance of the frames combined with the exceptional performance. The colour was selected from a range of 29 foils available on this highly popular traditionally styled window, with the frames manufactured by Glazerite UK Group at the company's Peterborough factory. Rhys Nevett of Cheshire Barns Homes is committed to maintaining the traditional appearance of the properties he renovates and was impressed with the Halo FlushSash windows chosen for this project: "We are usually committed to genuine timber windows but when we saw the Halo window and learned of the energy efficiency that they brought to the project, we had no hesitation in specifying them. They provide an impressive authentic appearance that is in keeping with this project." For the window supplier Fearns of Carlton Jak Fearn said:  "Many of the projects I work on are with timber sash windows as they are listed buildings. Fortunately as this project wasn't listed so it gave the developer and us the opportunity to specify the Halo FlushSash. It not only looks great but offers an "A" rating which is fantastic for a traditional property." Chris Thompson of Glazerite was delighted: "There is northing I love more than to get a timber window installer onto PVC-U. We have also had a number of installations approved and passed by building control in covservation and listed buildings so even if a property is in such an area the installation of windows manufactured in modern materials should not be ruled out."  

Glazerite UK Group Limited customer, Thistle Windows and Conservatories, has supplied three unusual curved windows as part of a large scale period property renovation in Aberdeen, for local installer and long-standing customer, Fitzbuild. Andy Cadman, Sales Director at Thistle Windows explains: “The granite-built property had its original timber windows which were around 100 years old and the homeowners wanted to replace them with new, more efficient windows. Keen to replicate the original heritage look, which included three curved frames in the upstairs front bedroom, the homeowners contacted Dave Fitzpatrick from Fitzbuild, having seen the quality of his workmanship at a nearby property. Dave has been a regular customer of our trade division for many years and has experience in fitting this type of window before, and was aware of the installation requirements.” The complete project included around 40 windows as well as residential doors, all finished in white. The specialist blending of the VEKA system and glass units for the curved frames were handled by Glazerite’s Bolton Division, who arranged for the finished products to be shipped to Aberdeen. Group Director Jason Thompson commented: “We always strive to achieve our customers’ requirements, and work with them every step of the way to get the detail right. This installation was a specialist job, where all the glass and units had to be bent, and the finished result is very in keeping with the area and the age of the property; it looks fantastic.” “Glazerite are always ready to take on the challenge of a project which comes with a more complex list of client requirements, and this one was no exception. With a wide ranging product portfolio across 7 profile systems, those projects that may often seem difficult to others can be easily accommodated by the Glazerite team,” Jason added. Award-winning Thistle Windows and Conservatories is Aberdeen’s leading home improvement specialist and has been buying VEKA frames from Glazerite since 2013. Visit www.thistlewindows.com or call 01224 706555 for more information.

Today’s customers know what they want – and the winners will be the installers who can provide it. So says The Glazerite UK Group Ltd in response to the latest installer partner to benefit from the addition of the Halo Flush Sash system. Mark Russell of Northampton-based MG Window Systems explained: “The customers were looking specifically for a flush sash to replace the existing timber ones in the home. They began by looking online, found our site, we quoted and we got the job. Until taking the Halo Flush Sash from Glazerite, we had been able to imitate a flush window by putting dummy sashes between the real ones but that would not have been enough to win us this job. “The customers had first looked at another, much more expensive flush system. They were perfectly happy to go with our Halo product because of the cost saving it gave them but we know they would not even have looked at a dummy system.” Glazerite already offered one of the most extensive ranges of window and door systems of any trade fabricator but added the Halo systems, including the acclaimed flush sash, when it acquired Peterborough-based City Beads Ltd early last year. Group Director Jason Thompson said: “MG are one of our numerous trade partners that are making good use of it. The tables have turned for many homeowners and rather than finding a company and letting them sell whatever systems they have available, many know exactly what they want and look for a trusted installer who can provide it. “The flush sash window is in the ascendancy at the moment and the Halo system is an ideal choice. MG is only one of our trade partners to be making good use of it.” The benefits didn’t end with the one job, as Mark explained: “The neighbours liked what they saw and we are already quoting for two more houses nearby.”

PVC-U specialist and Glazerite UK Group Ltd customer, Ecologic Windows is going from strength to strength since setting up in 2014, with a number of stunning Residence 9 installations under its belt. The Worcestershire-based company was set up by Fred Doodey, who boasts a wealth of industry experience, and as Glazerite’s Group Director Jason Thompson explains, has delivered some stunning projects this year: “With the number of installations completed, Fred has now managed to get Ecologic Windows ranking on the R9 installer website, with the ‘over 20 installations’ badge displayed on their profile, something which can make them stand out against the other companies listed. It is a great achievement and they should be very proud.” As Fred explains, “40% of Ecologic Windows’ work comes from the website Checkatrade.com, and we are also very proud to be approved by the Worcestershire Trading Standards via the checkatrade website. Additionally we have recently been invited to join ‘Which’ as a trusted trader, and are in the process of getting everything confirmed. Customer recommendations also account for 40% of our work, and the remaining 20% comes from R9 installations. “Residence 9 is very high-end, and a lot of the installations we do are for substantial properties, where the owners are looking for something special, with attention paid to the small details. One recent project included 9 windows and 2 French Doors to the rear of the property, and 17 windows and an entrance door to the front, all in Cotswold Biscuit. Completed in three phases, the homeowners were really impressed with the finished result. “We do have a small showroom with R9 products on display, but you only need to walk around Crowle and you’ll see examples of our work everywhere, as we have completed a total of 31 installations on properties in the village! Nine of these are R9 installations and the rest are VEKA products, including Solidor doors.” Buying his VEKA frames from Glazerite since the beginning, Fred believes that they have the best profile on the market, and the service to match: “I work well with Glazerite as not only do they offer a great range of products, but they also offer fantastic support packages, including Maco Secure Plus and Edgetech 20 Year Guarantees, which give me the edge when competing for new projects. We have won projects in the past when our quote wasn’t the lowest, but the customer could be confident that we would give them the finest result. Our success is down to offering the best possible products at competitive prices, backed up with industry-leading guarantees on the installation and product.” For more information or to contact Ecologic Windows call 01905 676333 or visit www.ecologicwindows.co.uk or to contact The Glazerite UK Group Limited visit www.glazeritewindows.co.uk or call 01933 443222.

A property on a new-build development was subject to an attempted break-in recently, following an installation of 12 VEKA windows, a six pane bi-folding door and Matrix 70 residential door, supplied by trade fabricator The Glazerite UK Group Ltd and installed by GFT Frames Ltd. Glazerite’s Group Director Jason Thompson explains: “The failed burglars first attempted to enter the home by removing the handles on the bi-folding door, but were faced with the market-leading Ultion Cylinder and, unsurprisingly, failed to gain entry. Ultion Cylinders activate an attack lock into the central cam the moment it detects forced entry, and are approved and recommended by Secured By Design (SBD), the official UK Police flagship scheme. “Having been defeated by the Ultion Cylinder on the bi-folding door, the intruders then moved onto the Matrix 70 residential door, targeting the 6.8mm laminated glass and aluminium reinforced panel and once again were defeated. A final attempt to force entry was made through the locking jamb of the door, and the MACO C-TS top hat hook lock, which is our standard lock on all doors, did its job and kept them out. “Glazerite offers an extensive range of products, all covered by SBD to offer a complete security solution, unlike other fabricators where only certain items are covered. This attempted break-in only highlights the benefits of paying a small premium for SBD products to give peace of mind. In this instance there is peace of mind for the homeowner, who has only been in the property for six months, and also peace of mind for the neighbours who are fortunate enough to have the same VEKA products manufactured by Glazerite and installed by GFT Frames Ltd protecting their homes.” Ian Jones, Director at GFT Frames Ltd added: “We can often get pre-occupied with the aesthetic benefits of replacing windows and doors, and forget about the safety and security features. However with VEKA windows fabricated by Glazerite, the security features are incorporated during the design and development stage, so we have confidence when promoting these products as some of the best on the market, and displaying the SBD logo.” For more information or to contact GFT Frames Ltd call 01202 722220 or visit www.gftframesltd.co.uk or to contact The Glazerite UK Group Limited visit www.glazeritewindows.co.uk or call 01933 443222.

Liverpool-based Picton Glass and Joinery completed an impressive renovation project recently in one of the city’s key conservation areas. A total of 48 windows were installed on the Parkfield Road building, which is home to 9 apartments in the Sefton Park area, and the project took around 3 months to complete. Frank Hare, owner of the Glazerite UK Group customer, was approached by a long-standing customer to supply and install the windows, and together they worked with the city’s conversation department to satisfy specific planning requirements, which included providing sample windows and technical information for prior approval. “The installation included a selection of products to the front of the property, including Residence 9 Flush Casements and VEKA Vertical Sliding windows, with VEKA FS70 Casements to the sides and rear of the building. The original timber architraves were retained inside to keep the authentic period appearance, and all were finished in a white foil, and the property owner is really pleased with the finished results.” Glazerite’s Group Director Jason Thompson commented: “Looking around at the surrounding properties that still retain original windows it is very in keeping with the heritage style, but with greatly improved security and thermal efficiencies, and Frank’s customer will have much less upkeep over the years to come.” Picton Glass was set up by Frank in 1969, and the family-owned firm has been buying from Glazerite for five years: “We believe that VEKA is one of the best profiles out there and as a small company that largely goes off recommendation, we believe in only using the best products to retain our quality reputation. Glazerite not only offers a fantastic product, but also a great support package, which we have made use of with marketing support such as flyers and brochures for local promotions.” For more information or to contact Glazerite call 01933 443 222 or visit www.glazeritewindows.co.uk.

It’s too easy in this business for installers and fabricators to fall into a rut and offer pretty much the same old styles and colours as everyone else. However, the rewards are there for anyone taking the trouble to offer something different as the award-winning Glazerite installer Prestige Glazing Services can gladly testify. “A customer came in looking for something different to replace his cream coloured windows,” said Peter Fossey, domestic sales manager at Bedford-based Prestige, “We showed him the VEKA Variations colour range and he fell for the ‘Siena’ foil immediately.” Siena is not a common colour in the UK, despite being very much in demand around Europe and beyond. But that was no problem for Prestige as the dark, smoky grain not only features in the VEKA Variations portfolio but has been available from Glazerite Windows Ltd since the range was launched. Glazerite was also there to support Prestige in closing the sale, as Peter explained: “We had never done anything in this colour before so had nothing to show him but the swatch card but Glazerite came across with some bigger sample material to show the customer.” Glazerite Director Jason Thompson added: “Prestige is a multiple Network VEKA award winner for customer service so we wanted to do our best to help it to live up to that reputation. “We have not only offered the entire Variations range from day one, we also offer it on every one of our PVC-U products including Vertical Sliders, patio, French and. bi-fold doors, to ensure all our installers can make the very most of the growing demand for foils and colours. “The Siena job for Prestige is an ideal example of what can be achieved by offering a broad choice or products and we are happy that we were able to support Prestige in this way.”

A large bespoke private house in rural Cheshire has not only proven the ideal showpiece for the VEKA PVC-U vertical slider but has also demonstrated how the classical styling of the VS, including many heritage authenticity features, can be just as much at home in a new-build setting. Based on the unusual combination of cream foil out/white foil in, the house uses both straight and arched frames, with astragal bars as well as deep bottom rail and run-through horns for maximum authenticity. The result is a look which accentuates rather than contrasts the classical but uncluttered lines of the property. Oldham-based D&M Windows, a VEKA Approved Installer with extensive experience of large and prestigious installations, was chosen by main contractor H Cumberbirch & Son to install 66 windows and French doors fabricated by The Glazerite UK Group Ltd, the UK’s largest VEKA trade fabricator, with the cream/white foil as a special order. “This was a no-compromise contract right from the beginning,” said D&M Managing Director Mark Hoolickin. “The client expected the best of everything and, with the help of the VEKA system and Glazerite, we were able to deliver it, from product specification to the design and look of the finished product and of course the finishing touches that make this VS so authentic looking.” Glazerite’s Peter Smith added: “This was an unusual choice of foil combinations but dual foil is becoming more and more in demand and we are happy to supply any combination across our entire range of door and window styles. “This was just one aspect of the exact design and appearance that the client wanted and, as ever, D&M was able to meet all his expectations and we were more than happy to be on hand to help wherever needed.”

Many years ago, a fledgling trade fabricator called Glazerite began to grow, firstly by giving its small customers the kind of service that others only gave to their big accounts. But then, and more uniquely, it went on growing by remaining loyal to those same small customers even after the much bigger ones started to sign up. Now, as a result, some of those small customers are doing very big things, still with the support of what is now The Glazerite UK Group Ltd, and there could be no better example than Aylesbury-based Goldseal Conservatories Limited. Comprising only Gary Copp with son Rhys and their friend Adam as fitters, the company has a portfolio of some very enviable installations worth as much as £60,000 per household, with no salespeople, no advertising and no promotions – and business has never been better. Gary explained: “Glazerite has built itself by working with small companies like us that need to keep a level of service and trust in everything we do. That is very important to us and has been a big part in our getting to where we are today.” Trust is a very big part of that support, he added: “If I ring and say a frame has arrived damaged, they will take my word and get a replacement out to me straight away, not wait until they see the return, so I can get the job done. It was not so at the beginning, he continued. Having been in the industry most of his working life, he took the big step of setting up on his own ten years ago when he grew frustrated at working for other people but at first it did not work out too well: “We just weren’t getting the support we needed from our first supplier. Then after a couple of years, we moved over to Glazerite and straight away wished we’d done it sooner!” Goldseal’s customer profile of both high value properties and many traditional village locations fits in ideally with Glazerite’s product range, so the Residence9 flush sash is much in demand as well as the mainstay of the acclaimed VEKA FS70 and its online gallery at www.goldseal.org.uk shows just a few of the installations in its impressive portfolio. The Glazerite UK Group is VEKA’s largest trade fabricator in the UK and a long-standing Network VEKA member. It offers a fully nationwide service based on manufacturing units in Northants, Peterborough and Greater Manchester as well as its South West distribution hub in Bristol serving South Wales and The West of England.