Rio a result for Paddys Row

GL Glazing has partnered with Rehau for a residential installation project at a heritage property in the village of Lea Marston, Warwickshire.

Situated in a cluster of cottages called Paddys Row, the property’s owner wanted to replace the old timber windows as the frames had become worn out, impacting the home’s thermal performance.

With the owners unsure about what replacement windows to choose, they contacted Birmingham-based GL Glazing in early 2022 for their recommendation. Their requirements were clear – a frame and profile that would be in keeping with the cottage’s original design and character, while providing excellent thermal efficiency and security.

“Though homeowners expect security and energy efficiency as standard, there were multiple factors that marked out the Paddys Row project as more complex than most,” explained Gary Lynch, managing director at GL Glazing. “For example, the cottage had an unusual layout, including several different-sized window recesses across the ground and first floors. There were also 12 windows to be replaced in total, with some facing the road, so we also needed to ensure good acoustic performance too.”

GL Glazing recommended Rehau’s Rio flush fit system for its clean lines, jointing options and availability in a variety of colours for an authentic-looking finish.

On GL Glazing’s advice, the cottage owners chose pearl grey frames with welded joints, to provide a modern, understated look that complements adjacent Paddys Row properties. Alongside this, the specified frames enjoyed a certified ‘A’ Windows Energy Rating, achieving 1.3 W/m2K.

According to Rehau, the Rio frames also have the highest BSI weather performance ratings for wind, air and water, and offer a high level of security, meeting requirements for PAS24.

Furthermore, given the cottage’s location near a busy through-road, the addition of 28mm and 34mm glass panels also greatly reduced the noise created by passing traffic. As acoustic glass also has the added benefit of being stronger than standard double glazing, GL Glazing was able to provide further assurances with improved security.

“The Paddys Row project was more involved than typical domestic installations we usually carry out,” said Gary. “The frames needed to be designed with various recess sizes in mind, and specified and installed in a short period.

“This is because the owners were still living in the cottage throughout the refit, so it was vital we chose frames that would be quick, simple and non-invasive to install. The Rio, therefore, stood out as an excellent frame to use for this project, and so it proved – it only took us two days and 16 hours to install the new frames once the recesses were measured and the parts were cut.”

Though the fitting process itself was straightforward, the cottage’s age also meant that GL Glazing had to manage some unusual dimensions, as Gary explained: “The team had to work with some non-standard window sizes, and some of the older windows had deeper sills too, meaning everything had to be measured and installed more meticulously than your typical refit.

“As Rio frames are also reinforced, we had to be very careful with the cottage’s existing brickwork, making sure any drilling maintained structural integrity and didn’t damage the façade. It’s difficult to say if an aluminium equivalent would be as cooperative in a building of similar age, so given the energy-efficiency requirements, PVC-U was a natural choice.”

Taking the project’s unique challenges into account, the work was completed on time and to budget.

“The cottage’s traditional and historic look was very important to the homeowners, so we’re glad we were able to maintain that look while upgrading their windows,” Gary concluded. “To hear that not only they are pleased with the frames, but their neighbours are too, is therefore a great bonus.

“Thanks to the Rio frames, this project was carried out seamlessly, even with the need to adapt windows to fit non-standard openings. I definitely wouldn’t hesitate to contact Rehau again for an installation with similar requirements.”