Putting colours in the frame

Meg Thomas, product manager at Rehau Windows, explores how the industry is continuing to adapt to ongoing demand by offering individualised frames and a greater number of foil options.

A study conducted in May from AMA Research has shown that the UK home improvement market grew by 6% in 2021, underlining what has undoubtedly been a boom time for installers and fabricators.

The same report also identified that repair, maintenance and improvement in the private sector made up a growing portion of residential construction activity, with 43% overall. Appealing to younger demographics that may rely more on professional supply and fitting services has been recognised as a key factor behind this growth and presents further opportunities for the industry.

Specifically, with these homeowners able to easily access interior design influencers on platforms such as Instagram and Pinterest, it is vital that window professionals recognise the vast range of window finishes available to their customers. By doing so, they can better stand out in a crowded market and further service this level of increased demand.

Ensuring supply

It is clear there are new opportunities available for industry professionals, and installers and fabricators should adapt to take them. However, the pressure is not only on fenestration professionals – it is also key that suppliers can offer the tools that allow them to do so. By building further lamination lines on UK shores, these providers can ensure adequate resources to meet homeowner needs.

Rehau, for example, has recently bolstered its UK manufacturing capacity with an investment in a fourth lamination line at its Blaenau Ffestiniog factory to meet this growing market demand for coloured frames. Fully commissioned in early 2022, the new installation will help the organisation further cut lead times for installers and fabricators, and therefore generate new business.

Colour choices

Ensuring consistent supply within UK borders is only half the equation. Alongside this, a full spectrum of colour options must be available to appeal to increasingly design-conscious households.

Yet historically, a major challenge for PVC-U frames was that they were only available in white and a small range of foils, which was unappealing to consumers attracted to wood and aluminium’s more stylish look. This is no longer the case – PVC-U windows are now available in a range of on-trend colours to match consumer needs.

Shades of grey, for example, have grown in popularity in the past decade, with the foil often requested for a modern look previously only possible with expensive aluminium windows. As such, Rehau’s Slate Grey and Anthracite Grey foils have remained among the company’s most popular options as they offer a seamless interior appearance, especially when combined with the grey base profile from the manufacturer’s leading Rio flush fit window range.

Wood alternatives

Alongside sales of grey foil windows increasing, natural wooden frames will always remain in-demand – especially for period properties that are being redeveloped. Traditional timber windows give properties prestige, and consumers historically chose timber frames for the quality finish they add to the exterior of the building.

Thanks to technological advances, installers can now easily recommend PVC-U products such as the Rehau Rio flush fit window as a realistic timber alternative. Rosewood and Golden Oak endure as popular foil choices for fabrication of Rehau products using the Total70 profile as they replicate the appearance of a variety of wood finishes to match any style of property.

The Rio flush fit’s Turner Oak finish, for instance, offers an authentic wood feel and fully mechanically jointed option, meaning consumers no longer need to choose high-maintenance timber frames for period properties.

With the home improvement market continuing to boom and the internet offering inspiration, high-quality PVC-U with coloured foils has become a well-established option for homeowners looking at frames. Fenestration professionals, who are able to tap into this trend and source materials from manufacturers with bolstered supply infrastructure, will find themselves in the best possible position to continue the sector’s upward trajectory.