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AWARD WINNING FLATS REFURBISHMENT WITH PROFILE 22

Triple glazed PVC-u windows

Triple glazed PVC-u windows played their part in a major refurbishment for Merseyside-based One Vision Housing, a not-for-profit social housing provider with around 13,000 homes across Sefton, Liverpool and Wirral.

The work was for 96 units in eight blocks that make up Hornby Flats in Litherland, where the replacement windows were used alongside external wall insulation to reduce carbon emissions as well as residents’ heating costs. A mark of the success of the project, it gained a ‘Sustainable Project of the Year’ award for its re-use of existing buildings in the annual ‘Builder and Engineer Awards’.

With a total cost of £2.4million, the project received £1million of funding from REECH, (Renewables and Energy Efficiency in Community Housing) a project managed by Sefton Council and financed by the European Regional Development Fund, aimed at improving energy efficiency in some of the Liverpool City Region’s most deprived communities.

The 520 white casement windows and 120 PVC-U doors were made using the Profile 22 FS70 system by Walsall-based fabricator Select Windows, a company with extensive experience in commercial refurbishment and social work as well as a member of the Profile 22 Approved Window Contractor scheme.

This scheme offers clients access to a UK-wide network of experienced window contractors, trained in matters such as construction law and site management and fully supported by Profile 22’s own technical and specification teams. It also offers specifiers benefits such as a completely free design and specification service, where many other system suppliers and schemes would charge for such a service. Select Windows also spent some time before the work began assisting architects with the design, to accommodate features such as render insulation.

With the Hornby Flats contract, One Vision Housing had not only specified Profile 22 by name but also insisted on triple glazing, because of the need for a high standard of energy efficiency. The resulting casement windows therefore contributed significantly to the priority on heat retention for the overall refurbishment project.

The main contractor on the project was Seddon Construction. Select Windows MD Gary Wylde credited all contractors and other bodies for a level of co-operation and communication that helped the project to run as smoothly as it did, and he added: “I believe the quality of the Main Contractor and how they work with their sub- contractors is one of the main reasons for the success of the project.”

As well as Seddon Construction and REECH, One Vision Housing worked in partnership with Cost Consultants WYGTrowers and HamlinsArchitectural practice Halsall Lloyd Partnership (HLP) and was able to turn the project around within an accelerated timescale.

Commercial Home Improvement Services, Select Windows and Doors Walsall Wood

THE GATEWAY TO BROWNHILLS

Following its adoption of former Walsall Council housing stock in 2003, social housing provider (whg) Walsall Housing Group carried out a formal review identifying areas for improvement, demolition and regeneration. One such area was Brownhills High Street; the gateway to the town.

The existing buildings – a number of low-rise, concrete apartment blocks with deck access built in the 1960s, were marked for demolition in 2008/9; these formed the entrance to the High Street. Once demolished, the land gave way to a significant regeneration scheme, a statement project welcoming people to the ‘new Brownhills’.

New Windows Installation

Select Windows was appointed to deliver the new windows as part of a new build scheme, in partnership with the principal contractor, Mansell Construction Services Limited.

Phase one comprised the building of 47 two-bed apartments in High Street, funded by whg, the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) and Walsall Council. In response to local housing need the £4.2 million scheme included four properties specially designed for people with disabilities. A number of the homes were also offered for intermediate rent – where the landlord charges a rent less than the market rate. This was a first for whg.

Casement windows A rated

Over 300 new Profile 22 casement windows A rated completed the 47 apartments. Coloured Gale Grey the windows complement the striking purple façade and cream render; crucial when creating a statement development such as this.

An additional 33 homes were completed under the £3.5 million Phase Two of the regeneration programme, on High Street and Ogley Road. These included 20 two-bedroom apartments and 13 houses; four of which were available for sale (three-bedroom), with the remaining nine available under the Affordable Rent scheme; six three-bedroom and three two-bedroom houses.

A further 249 casement windows A rated were installed in the 33 homes, once again contributing to the overall performance of the build and helping to create comfortable and affordable living spaces for the residents. 11 sets of French doors, 17 balcony screens and 13 composite entrance doors were also supplied and installed.

Alan Watts, regeneration manager at whg, said: “We are committed to meeting local housing need, and providing high-quality, affordable accommodation.

“For this development we needed windows which offered a high specification in respect of reducing noise, so we chose Profile 22. The process went smoothly and installation went well on site and the project was completed on time.”

12 months on, and whg are pleased with the results, “We are coming to the end of our defects period and it is proving to be a successful development. It has been well received, which is good for whg and our customers, and we’ve had good feedback. It’s all been very positive.

“Most telling is the fact during the defect period we have had no voids, all of our residents in the Brownhills development are content and settled,” said Alan.

Gary Wylde of Select Windows said: “The pressure to use a sustainable supply chain whilst including residents throughout the works and maintaining best value is a difficult balance for social housing providers. As a local company, with the backing of Mansell Construction Services Limited and Profile 22, we have worked closely with whg to ensure all the boxes are ticked and the residents can now benefit from more energy efficient homes.”

Approved Window Contractor

Select Windows is an Approved Window Contractor of Profile 22, the UK’s leading profile manufacturer. The fabricator was selected by Mansell Construction Services Limited due to their locality, extensive social housing related experience and a commitment to quality accreditations and recycling initiatives.

Andrew Reid, Profile 22 Commercial Sales Director, concluded: “The works programme at Walsall Housing Group is an excellent example of how our approved window contractors work closely with residents and housing teams to meet specific targets. Whether it be for energy efficiency, quality, aesthetics or security, or all of the above, economically viable solutions are always delivered using sustainable supply chains from Profile 22.”

new conservatory

GRAND-SCALE PORCH REFIT IN ALEXANDER PARK

Teamwork, good communications and the application of traditional skills all came to the fore when more than 200 dated and decaying timber porches need replacing in Alexander Park in Manchester’s Moss Side.

 PVC-U Porch

PVC-U had been the natural choice for the replacement, offering greater thermal efficiency as well as significantly lower maintenance. Profile 22 was chosen as frame system, not only for its product specification but also the well-known benefits of working with its Approved Window Contractor scheme.

However, the entire project would have been a non-starter but for a little inspiration and traditional expertise, as Gary Wilde, MD of the chosen scheme member, Select Windows, explained: “At first it was thought it couldn’t be done with PVC-U because of possible problems lining up with existing roofs and gutters. But Tony Wood, one of our co-founders, with over 35 years’ industry experience, cut and re-welded the guttering to a purpose-made angle. Without his expertise, the project might never have got off the ground in the first place.”

The original porches had been part of a major redevelopment of the estate in 1994 but ongoing repair and repainting costs, as well as rotting frames and insecure doors made replacement inevitable. Initially, Profile 22 was asked to provide advice to Cselty South Manchester Housing Trust, as the two have worked closely in the past. Profile 22 got on board with CAD drawings and a specification that was put out to tender through the Approved Window Contractors network. Select Windows was chosen, via main contractor Mears Group PLC.

During the contract, every element of the chain paid tribute to every other for good communications and co-operation that led to a smooth, efficient team effort with a completely complaint-free outcome. City South Building Surveyor Nick Moulding said: “It has all run remarkably smoothly. The product and fitting teams have been excellent. My thanks to the operatives as they have fitted 202 porches and we have received no complaints at all from the residents.

“Select attended every property on time and returned immediately to any where there was a query or problem. Many residents have mentioned how good the porches look and they are pleased with the added security from the windows and doors.”

Walsall-based Select Windows, as a Profile 22 Approved Commercial Manufacturer, was able to access details of the original tender from the Profile 22’s tender portal, as it had done many times to gain work on previous occasions. In just under six months, Select installed 202 porches using Profile 22 doors and frames with 28mm double glazing.

Select has been in business 35 years and recently reached a milestone of producing 1,000 units a week. Around 55% of its work is commercial and 15% retail, with the remainder as trade supply to other installers.