Clearview National October 2014 - Issue 155 | Page 67

AL UMINIUM

»»Architects have longrecognised that aluminium is a very stable
material that minimises expansion and
contraction with changes in the ambient
temperature.
Hugh Moss said: “This makes aluminium an
ideal choice for sliding patio doors and bi-fold
doors, where uPVC and timber tend to warp
and twist, making the doors hard to open and
close. Aluminium is inherently strong, which
also means that architects can design really big
windows and doors without having to worry
about a bulky frame to provide support.
“Not only are aluminium frames typically
narrower than uPVC or timber alternatives,
but the windows and doors can also be
made much bigger too. This maximises the
glass area and gives the best possible view.
According to our latest architects’ survey, 40%
of respondents said that big windows was the
main architectural feature that can really make
a home come to life and aluminium can help
to make that happen much more easily than
other materials.”
Robert Palmer, the managing director of
Palmer Market Research, said: “Aluminium is

out-performing other materials for bi-fold
doors by some margin – the sales of around
3,000 door sets in 2010 more than tripled
to 10,000 in 2013 and is expected to triple
again in the next five years – and these are
conservative estimates.”
There are hundreds of finishes available
for aluminium frames in all sorts of colours
– some customers even choose to have
a different colour inside and out. Modern
finishes are so robust that they require
minimal maintenance and never nee