Conservatories Articles
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By Made For Trade. This month has marked a sad milestone in the Made for Trade story: we will no longer be able to quote and fabricate the Global conservatory roof system. Despite being dated, Global was somewhat of an institution here at MFT, and back when everybody knew us as Aanco, the system formed the building blocks to the...
Since its launch in late 2019, the popularity of Ultraframe’s Cuckoo online marketing system has grown hugely with its customers. Ultraframe’s marketing director Alex Hewitt explains how the system helps retailers to create professionally designed marketing materials quickly, easily and cheaply. Our approach at Ultraframe has always been to provide the best products we can to our customers, as well...
Ultraframe’s marketing director Alex Hewitt discusses how the company’s product range has evolved over the last 35 years from traditional white PVC conservatories to a range of glazed extensions, modern conservatories, and skylights. It’s over 35 years since Ultraframe was established, with our founder John Lancaster creating a conservatory roofing system that still lives on today: our Classic system. It’s...
Second time replacements, plus new build demand, are generating new growth opportunities for inline sliding doors – in PVCU as well as aluminium – argues HWL’s Mark Haley. The impact second time replacements, foils and flush casements, are having on window sales has been widely discussed. The opportunities generated by the replacement of inline sliding doors has not received anywhere...
Chris Baron, director of Prefix Systems, explains that standards must remain high if you are to succeed. Over recent years the solid, tiled and insulated roof market has ignited from a sales perspective, which has been great news for those companies involved in the roofing and conservatory markets. There’s also been considerable opportunity throughout the supply chain, and the market...
UK homeowners have spent £295 billion on renovating their homes over the past five years, with the remodelling of kitchens offering one of the biggest investment returns according to a recent survey by Post Office Money. Sabahudin Medic, operations director at Roof Maker, explores the increasing role wall abutment rooflights are playing in renovation projects and the latest innovations. With...
By Ultraframe. Kasia Benda lives in a heritage property in Oxford and had an old conservatory that wasn’t thermally efficient. As the conservatory was rarely a comfortable temperature, it was hardly ever used. “My old conservatory was outdated in terms of its thermal technology which made it practically uninhabitable,” Kasia said.“I wanted somewhere to relax and enjoy the tranquillity of...
Choice of glazing and construction material has never been so important, explains Chris Cooke of Prefix Systems. Its latest project with Steve Gill joinery showcases aluminium, timber, glass and a Warmroof hybrid construction. The days of PVCU dominating the conservatory and extended living space market are disappearing as aluminium and off-site construction techniques bring new extended living space solutions to...
The Ultraroof tiled roof system from Ultraframewas declared the consumer-preferred tiled roof during a recent independent study. The company has appointed a dedicated Ultraroofproduct manager, Mark Bowler, who explains how he supports installersas they build extensions and modernise older conservatories. My experience in this industry spans 29 years, and I have actually been involved with Ultraroof since it was first...
Glass Times editor Nathan Bushell visited Ultraframe in Clitheroe to talk about new products and market opportunities. However, the overriding theme of the day was how the company works with its customers to manage a difficult marketplace. While Ultraframe is something of a serial innovator when it comes to conservatories and the home’s extended living space, it is fair to...
The government has pledged to make permitted development rights for single storey extensions permanent. Will this deliver growth to the home improvement sector? It may appear about as clear as mud and it’s easy to miss, but in among the various consultations, ministerial statements and parliamentary questions, there is a very sizeable chink of light for home improvement companies: Permitted...
Ian Sims, MD of Double R Glass and Roofing Systems, looks at the reasons behind the increased sales across its glass, decorative and roof divisions. A successful internet entrepreneur once said “customer service shouldn’t be a department, it should be an entire company,” and that’s precisely the philosophy in place at Double R. Established in 2000, one of the things...
Ultraframe’s design and development director Andrew Thomson discusses how the trend for sleek lines and minimalism in home improvements and interiors has given rise to a growing trend for aluminium windows, doors and conservatories. Many architects and builders still have a strong bias for aluminium. This is also true of homeowners, many of whom simply don’t imagine a bifold door...
Ultraframe’s design and development director Andrew Thomson explains how apprentices and graduate trainees are a key part of the company’s innovation strategy and a successful route to tackling the widely publicised skills shortage within the wider industry. We value our staff immensely, and many have been with us for 20 years or more, meaning we have a huge bank of...
By Liniar. The summer of 2019 brings the perfect storm of variables which may make it one of the most productive and profitable summers for installers and fabricators of PVCU conservatories, orangeries and extensions. We've been fortunate enough to have some of the warmest summers on record recently, and with 52% of all summer holidays taking place as 'stay-cations' here...
On Thursday June 27, Prefix Systems will launch its new product showroom at its head office in Blackburn, Lancashire. Director Chris Cooke says that following the success of the product training facility at its head office, Prefix Systems felt the time was right to show off its products in a premium environment. We discussed the new showroom around the time...
The Ultraroof tiled roofing system has recently been re-engineered, adding a host of time-saving and configurability benefits, and it has also been declared the consumer’s preferred tiled roof during research in February 2019. Ultraframe’s design and development director Andrew Thomson explains more about the next generation Ultraroof. While our Ultraroof tiled roofing system was extremely well received when we launched...
With a number of systems companies now offering aluminium verandas, Mark Wood, managing director of Milwood Group, explains why businesses are better off working with a dedicated outdoor living specialist. It’s not hard to see why systems companies are trying to throw their hats in the ring and break into the outdoor living market. Not only are aluminium verandas and...
The search landscape is ever-changing and, as consumers become savvier online, companies must evolve their online marketing to ensure that they not only drive traffic to their website but convert that traffic into quality leads. Ultraframe’s marketing director Alex Hewitt explains what the conservatory and extension specialist is doing to not only enhance its own online marketing, but also that...
Wendland sales manager, Ash Fox, discusses the roofing system that he calls “one of the industry’s best kept secrets”. If you have been in the conservatory industry for any length of time, you will no doubt have heard of Wendland. But would you be surprised to know that not only does this long-standing roof system still exist, but Wendland customers...