One of the most significant trends of the last 18 months has been the increase in demand for higher value products.

Thanks to a surplus of savings, consumers have had the money to really push the boat out on their home improvements, and installers have reported a marked increase in sales of premium windows and doors, including flush, heritage style solutions and colour, as a result.

Deceuninck, which has invested heavily in its capacity to deliver on increasing demand for foils, commissioned a detailed independent report last year that revealed the key purchasing decisions for homeowners considering new windows – with 75% of those polled saying that colour was right at the top of the list.

The Calne based system company also revealed that colour now accounts for as much as 60% of its sales.

This week, a new report by Tommy Trinder provides even more insight into the uplift in sales of colour. Analysis of over 88,000 quotes for PVC-U casements from installers using Tommy Trinder’s Framepoint app, reveals that 42% include a specification for a foiled finish.

Tommy Trinder’s data also shows that flush windows continued to rise in popularity last year (a style of window that is almost always optioned with a colour) and of those, 47% were quoted with mechanical joints.

As for the most popular colour? Anthracite grey remains a firm favourite – although according to Tommy Trinder’s CEO, Chris Brunsdon, Basalt grey will be this season’s must have hue!