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The Double Glazing and
Conservatory Industry
explained
The term
double glazing
refers to windows and
doors that are fitted
with a sealed unit,
comprising two panes of
glass with a bar (known
as a spacer bar) around
the edge. The edge is
then sealed with a
special sealant to
prevent air and moisture
entering the sealed unit, and
desiccant is
incorporated within the
unit to absorb any
moisture present at the
time of sealing. The
full name of this sealed
unit is known as a
hermetically sealed
insulation glass unit
(or IGU for short). Triple
glazing simply adds
another pane of glass
and spacer bar to the
process. Insight Data
has a specialist
database of
IGU manufacturers.
Although the first
double glazed units
where experimented with
in the 1950's, it was
the early 1980's that
the double glazing
industry took off.
Windows had until that
time been manufactured
in steel (eg Crittall
windows) or timber.
Companies such as
Stormseal, Thermostore,
Anglian Windows, Everest
Double Glazing, Zenith
and Staybrite emerged as
national suppliers of
aluminium windows and
doors fitted
with sealed
units.
The late 1980's and
early 90's saw the rise
of upvc (or PVC-U)
windows and doors. PVC-U
frames are manufactured
from a thermoplastic
polymer known as
unplasticized Polyvinyl
chloride, a rigid and
cost-effective plastic
ideal for building
materials.
Systems Companies
Both aluminium and PVC-U
windows and doors are
are manufactured from a
series of profiles
(typically 5 or 6 metres
in length) that are cut
and crimpled/welded
together, such as the
outer frame, sash,
transom and beads.
Together the profiles
make up one complete
system, and the
companies who design and
manufacture them are
known as extrusion or
systems companies. There
are around 25 main PVC-U
and aluminium extrusion
companies who supply the
UK market.
The systems companies
supply businesses who
manufacture the windows
and doors, known as
fabricators.
Fabricators can range in
size to those
manufacturing just a few
frames per week, to
several thousand per
week (often referred to
as super fabricators).
Window and Door
Fabricators
Fabricators manufacture
the finished
window/door, cutting and
assembling the profiles
together and adding
hardware (locks, hinges,
handles) along with
weatherseals and
gaskets.
In the UK there are
around 4,600 window and
door fabricators, of
which some 2,000
fabricate PVC-U, 800
aluminium and the rest
are joiners/timber
window/door
manufacturers.
Some companies
manufacture more than
one material type.
Insight Data has a
specialist database of
window/door fabricators
Fabricators have several
routes to market. They
can supply and fit
directly to the
homeowner
(retail/domestic
market), such as Anglian
or Everest, or they may
supply the new-build
market (house builders)
or the commercial and
public sector (local
authorities/social
housing, offices/shops,
schools/hospitals etc).
Architects will often
specify a particular
window system or window
specification when
designing a commercial
project. For those
interested in the
commercial sector,
Insight has a specialist
architects database
Many fabricators also
supply the trade - ie,
builders, double glazing
firms or home
improvement companies
who do not manufacture
but prefer to focus on
sales and installation.
Window and Door
Installers
There are over 12,500
specialist double
glazing and home
improvement companies
who fit windows and
doors in the UK,
primarily in the
domestic sector
(homeowners). Most of
these companies (about
11,000) do not
manufacture, and will
buy their products from
a fabricator. Installers
are often loyal to a
particular window system
brand, and can vary in
size considerably (from
those installing under
25 frames per week to
those installing well
over 250 per week).
Insight Data has a
specialist database of
window/door installers
Many local builders will
also install windows and
doors, often as part of
a refurbishment or
extension, or while
installing a new
kitchen, bathroom or
during renovation work.
There is a growing trend
for local builders to
promote double glazing
as part of their
service, rather than
simply as part of a
refurb/extension.
Insight Data has a
specialist database of
local builders,
which can be segmented
to target those in the
home improvement sector.
Conservatories
A conservatory consists
of three primary
elements. The base
(or building work,
including dwarf wall if
required), the window
and door frames, and the
conservatory roof.
Conservatory roofs are a
specialist engineered
product designed to
withstand the elements
and support the weight
of the glazing material.
The glazing can be
polycarbonate or glass,
or sometimes a
conservatory will have a
solid roof (such as
slate or tile). The
structure of the
conservatory walls
(windows/doors) clearly
needs to be structurally
strong enough to support
and secure the
conservatory roof above
it.
Similar to windows and
doors, the roof is
manufactured from a
series of profiles and
components, and glazing
material (such as
glass). Due to the
structural requirements
of a conservatory roof,
the material tends to be
aluminium or aluminium
clad with PVC-U.
Other than timber and
low-budget DIY roofing
products there are a
number of specialist
conservatory roof
systems, including
Synseal Global,
Ultraframe, K2, Eurocell
Pinnacle and Quantal,
who manufacture the
roofs themselves and
also supply a network of
around 450 conservatory
roof fabricators.
Insight has a database
of
conservatory roof
fabricators.
A variation of the
conservatory is the
orangery and this is
growing in popularity.
There are some 9,000
companies who install
conservatories, most of
which buy-in their roofs
from a roof fabricator.
Insight has a database
of
conservatory installers.
Roofline
Many double glazing and
home improvement
companies have
diversified into the
roofline market
competing with builders
and roofing contractors
for the installation of
fascias, soffits,
guttering, and cladding.
Some of the major
extruders of PVC-U and
PVC-UE (foamed filled)
include Kestrel/Celuform,
GAP (Homeline), Freefoam
and Swish. There are now
over 5,000 companies who
install roofline
products, and Insight
has a database of
roofline installers
Emerging Trends
There are a number of
trends that Insight Data
are monitoring,
including the growth of
composite windows
(consisting of a
combination of
aluminium/timber,
aluminium/PVC-U, etc).
Some product
developments in the home
improvement/window
industry are listed
below.
VS Windows
Vertical sliding sash
windows (also known as
box sash windows) were a
traditional timber
product using weights
and pulleys to enable
the window to slide up
and down. Advances
in PVC-U and aluminium
has resulted in this
product growing in
popularity in these
materials as an
alternative to outward
opening casement windows
and continental-Europe
style inward opening
tilt and turn windows.
Details of VS
fabricators and
installers are contained
within the
Insight
databases
Bi-folding doors
Folding and sliding
doors are a rapidly
growing market and are
now often chosen as an
alternative to patio
doors and french/double
doors. They enable
larger openings within
homes and conservatories
and consist of several
(typically between 3 and
7) frames hinged
together that fold back
against each other in a
concertina style.
Details are within the
Insight databases
Composite Doors
A composite door
consists of a slab which
is similar in appearance
to a traditional timber
door. The slab is
constructed of a
combination of materials
typically a
thermoplastic, GRP or
steel skin bonded to an
engineered timber frame
"skeleton". The slab is
typically filled with
high density foam
(although it can also be
solid) and the edge of
the door slab is usually
a PVC-U/GRP or similar
frame to prevent
moisture penetration.
The slab is cut to size,
fitted with the relevant
glass if applicable, and
fitted into a door frame
along with hardware
(locks, handles etc).
Until recently composite
doors where manufactured
by a small number of
specialist fabricators,
but this market is
growing rapidly
particularly as an
alternative to
traditional PVC-U panel
doors, and a growing
number of PVC-U window
and door fabricators are
now manufacturing
composite doors.
Information on composite
door fabricators and
installers is contained
within the
Insight databases
Helping you target the
right prospects
If you wish to target
any of the markets or
companies within the
window, door,
conservatory or building
Industry, Insight Data
has the in-depth industry
knowledge to help you.
Our range of prospect
databases are the most
accurate, relevant and
up-to-date available and
you can also take
advantage of our
marketing services
for direct mail, email
marketing, telesales and
design/print.
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