New threshold gasket
ExtrudaSeal has launched a new fit-and-forget aluminum bi-folding door threshold gasket, which uses a semi-rigid box foot to provide a secure fix, improved compression, and weather sealing.
Suitable for use with a wide range of aluminium systems, including Aluk, the new threshold gasket was developed by ExtrudaSeal’s in-house design team, in response to installer and fabricator demand.
Used as an alternative to systems companies’ gaskets in fabrication, the new ExtrudaSeal gasket is also suitable for retrofit.
Steve Cockane, ExtrudaSeal technical manager, said: “It can be very difficult to achieve a reliable fix on a bifold threshold gasket and even small misalignments or simply friction, can mean that leafs catch as they open.
“The problem is that this can mean that some gasket systems kick out, it gets worse and installers get call backs.
“We have designed an alternative threshold gasket system, using a semi-rigid PVC foot, which provides a greatly improved fix over traditional systems as an alternative in fabrication but which can also be retrofitted, eliminating call backs.”
The Window, Door and Conservatory Markets in Housing in Great Britain report by Palmer Market Research, forecasts a 36% increase in aluminium bifold door sales between 2016 and 2019 to 26,500 door sets.
Conversely the report goes as far as predicting a slight fall in PVCU bifold sales for the same period to 4,400 units, from a forecast 5,100 this year (2016). It suggests timber bifold sales will grow from 5,700 to 7,600 units.
Paul James, ExtrudaSeal’s sales director, said: “We’re seeing some significant growth forecasts for aluminium bifold doors and the opportunities are significant.
“Call-backs to realign or replace threshold gaskets are, however, clearly time consuming, regardless of how much new business you’re bringing on.
“And as well as you could be doing now, you may be setting yourself up for future cost by using a threshold gasket which is going to fail anything from a few months to years down the line.”