Clearview National December 2014 - Issue 157 | Page 53

AL UMINIUM

The Hybrid
Appeal
According to recent
research, due to growing
consumer confidence,
low interest rates and a
burgeoning house market,
the domestic glazing
market has seen a massive
boost in the UK for
fabricators and installers.
»»But 2013 saw other
important trends come into play.
Aluminium started to make a
comeback with its share growing
from 5% to 8%. Disappointingly
though, bi-folding doors failed
to maintain the growth it saw
in previous years; rather than
increasing, the market actually fell
by 7%. Although Palmers forecast
has been downgraded since last
year, the market for bi-folds are
still seen as growing in the long
term not least because they are an

aspirational part of the growing
trend to brick built extensions.
That aside, hybrid door and
window systems continue to
enjoy success in the domestic
glazing market due to the benefits
offered to homeowners by timber
insulation, reinforced with
aluminium for extra durability.
Likewise, hybrid bi-folding
door systems have all the
insulating benefits of timber
on the inside, all the durability
benefits of aluminium on the

‘light,
spacious,
attractive,
modern’

outside, and
all of the water
proofing benefits
that you would
also expect. But
what really gives
hybrid bi-folding doors
their aspirational appeal is
their ability to create the light,
spacious, attractive, modern
appearance that homeowner’s
dream of.
As Senior Architectural goes
on to explain, hybrid systems, as

well as fulfilling
an aesthetic
brief, can also
help to reduce
the environmental
impact of the
construction process in
commercial projects. And Totali
Timber Solutions tells us that it’s
their appearance twinned with
low maintenance that appeals
to homeowners, which makes
hybrid a unique sales opportunity
for installers.

Celebrating glazing in 2014
“Overall in 2014, Nova Aluminium has seen sales up
by 5% from last year, and a massive contributor of
this growth is the commercial sector; our readymade shopfronts have experienced a 12% upturn.
“We have no doubt, with the strength of our
current order book, that 2015 is set to see
continuing growth as we entice PVCu fabricators
to experience the world of Aluminium products.”

Paul Vickery, Director – Nova Aluminium Systems Limited
Nova Aluminium Systems visit: www.nova-aluminium.com

Wishing you a merry
Christmas and a
prosperous New Year

C L E A RV I E W-U K . C O M » D E C 2014 » 53