Stunning heritage installation
By Sunny Attlas, managing director, Chigwell Window Centre.
Industrial, Art-Deco or steel look windows and doors are becoming the latest trending home renovation product with orders for these products increasing every month for both residential and commercial properties and are expected to increase in popularity over the next few years.
It’s quite appropriate that Chigwell Window Centre has become a leading manufacture and installer of this style of product because these doors and windows were the work of Essex ironmonger, Francis Henry Crittall, who developed them way back in 1884 – the industrial revolution, hence the industrial style. They were first manufactured for use in the UK in 1889!
We recently had the pleasure of working on a project in Romford, Essex, (pictured) manufacturing and installing a set of steel-look patio doors for a new extension on a detached house, creating a show-stopping feature that spans an impressive 9m.
To achieve the classic steel look of these patio doors we used our premium aluminium Heritage system. This configuration consists of French doors on each side of the opening, with two large 2.5m wide picture windows in between. It also featured 38mm transoms throughout, to deliver clean, consistent sight-lines.
The result is a striking architectural feature that offers expansive views, superb functionality, and an authentic industrial-chic style.
By choosing Heritage doors, homeowners can enjoy the traditional appearance of steel while benefiting from the modern advantages of aluminium. The finishing touch is the near-frameless roof-light in the flat roof extension, bringing even more light into the room from above.
The key features of the steel look patio doors that the homeowners really liked were the authentic styling with the performance of modern aluminium. The Heritage system is designed to replicate slim steel frames, replicating the slim, elegant sightlines of steel but with less maintenance and greater longevity.
Each door is also fitted with triple toughened safety glass featuring a soft-coat low-emissivity coating, warm edge spacer bars, and argon gas fill. This glazing substantially reduces heat transfer, which will keep the home comfortable while potentially lowering energy bills.
The French doors on each side include multipoint locking, robust lever handles, internal glazing and safety glass, ensuring an extra layer of protection for the home.
We powder coat the frames, matching the hinges, backplates, and handles for a cohesive finish. In this project, the colour-matched cill completes the look, while trickle vents in the head allow the installation to meet current building regulations.
The new extension really highlighted the stunning beauty of our Heritage doors. The French doors are positioned on each end for easy access, while the windows create a wall of glass. From inside, the homeowners can enjoy uninterrupted garden views and plenty of natural light. On the outside, this steel look patio door arrangement delivers a statement-worthy facade.
As a finishing touch, we fitted black, classically styled handles with a matching backplate – a nod to traditional steel doors that aligns beautifully with the property’s aesthetic. Yet beneath the vintage appeal lie all the benefits of cutting-edge aluminium engineering.
Chigwell Window Centre is one of the few companies that both manufactures and installs our own products, ensuring customers receive the highest standard of quality, reliability, and expert support. We maintain full oversight of the production process which means we can guarantee the performance and longevity of every product that leaves our factories.
Because we don’t rely on external suppliers, we can pass the cost savings directly onto our customers. Our in-house approach allows for efficient scheduling and quicker completion and our skilled installation teams handle everything from measuring up to final fitting, so each new door performs flawlessly.
