Aluminium Bi-fold doors are a similar cost to an aluminium sliding door of the same size.

There are benefits and disadvantages with each; Bi-folds offer better weather performance, ability to open the whole opening, but they can also be obtrusive breaking up the view when there are multiple doors. Sliding doors offer a clearer panoramic view, with the potential for huge glass panes. Doors that can be opened and left slightly open or fully open and don’t blow in the wind, But the opening size is more restricted, with a redu

The lower the U value the more insulating. Typically windows in replacement need to achieve a U value of 1.8W/m2k, new build requirements are more complicated but are often required to achieve 1.40W/m2k.

PVCu offers excellent U values generally around 1.50W/m2k on standard frames, double glazed. This can be improved further with triple glazing to offer U values of 1.10W/m2k or even better with some specialist glass products. Section size and reinforcement requirements will affect the performance. Aluminium systems subject to system will generally require triple glazing to achieve a U value below 1.6W/m2k, typically Triple glazed aluminium windows can achieve insulation values  to 1.12W/m2k or with some specialist systems below.

The main concerns are; corrosion, weather resistance, size limitations for wind loadings. Consider door openings in the wind; Open out offers the weather resistance, but when opened will be like a sail in the wind. Sliding patio doors have a reduced weather resistance due to their inherent design, but offer practical safe operation in the wind

PVCu is one of the most resilient products for marine location, much better than powder coated aluminium.  PVCu windows also offer excellent thermal and weather ratings, but you must consider hardware and also size limitations.

Aluminium can offer strength, with an ability to manufacture larger frames and openings, subject to profile supplier.

Sliding aluminium doors can offer improved weather performance over many PVCu sliding door systems.

Marine locations are not ideal for metal framed windows such as aluminium. Generally the closer to the shoreline you get, the more limited any paint warranty will be.  The protective paint finishes offers some protection, anodised will offer an improved resilience. There are also specialist coatings that can also be regularly applied to assist.

This is a battle of strength over bulk, obviously the stronger the material the thinner the material can be, therefore metal profiles such as aluminium generally can offer thinner sections than PVCu. There are some limiting factors, such as;

• The glazing rebate and locating hardware onto the system, so that to install these the material again must be of a certain size.
• Size of window or opening section, as wind loading's and weight limits will demand an increased strength, therefore size.

PVCu offers excellent thermal values, low maintenance, ideal for marine locations, Excellent weather performance, all at a economic cost. There are also a range of profile shapes and coloured foils to select from.

Aluminium offers strength, size, range of colours, good weather performance. On some system’s it can also offer excellent thermal properties.

To improve the sound insulation, firstly look at the glass options, using different glass thickness’s in combination in a double or even triple glazed sealed unit. Include thicker glass and acoustic laminates as the best options. Introducing more draught seals into the frame can also assist. Also the fixing method of the frame being insulated from the wall by foam, will all help to break up and distort the sound wave.

Timber comes in many forms, normally the denser the timber the longer it’s lifespan, softwood can have different treatments which can extend its natural life to that of much denser hardwoods. Especially timber treatments such as used in Accoya and Trycoya these timbers often have surpassed 25 year post testing in the ground.

We can supply standard sizes but on more bespoke work we can achieve very large single or multi panes roof lights.

Locks must meet a PAS24 standard for insurance purposes and for building regulations on new properties

If well maintained windows will last for 50 years+

U values are a measure of heat loss from one side to the other on a product. The lower the U value the better insulated the product is. Note; on windows there is a whole window and a glass centre pane U value calculation. Always give Consideration to the glass specification used on any stated whole window U value and that the glass spec matches that quoted or specified.

U value’s should not be confused with window energy ratings WER’s.