There’s no beating aluminium for internal glazing
Marcus Jefford, sales & marketing director at AluFoldDirect, explains why a surge in internal and external heritage doors has solidified aluminium’s lead.
One of the biggest design trends we’ve seen come to life in 2024 is the growing popularity of ‘broken plan’ living which, for AluFoldDirect, has translated to a surge in sales of heritage internal and external aluminium doors.
If you’re unfamiliar with the term ‘broken plan’ – which I was too, until the stats forced me to take notice earlier this year – it’s a concept that really gained momentum during the pandemic. Lockdown taught us the open-plan layouts that had dominated interiors for decades posed a bit of a problem when home suddenly needs to be your office, playroom, dining, entertaining and relaxation space-in-one.
While open-plan design was once seen as the ideal way to create spacious, flexible living, working and retail spaces, it now seems we want distinct but multifunctional zones that offer privacy, reduce noise, and add functionality – all while retaining the flow of natural light and a sense of connection.
This is where aluminium really comes into its own. Strength, versatility, ultra-slim sightlines and high performance make it the perfect material for architects and builders looking to create stylish, practical, and contemporary living spaces.
And the figures tell us our customers agree, with sales of AluFoldDirect aluminium internal doors rising by 15% over the last six months compared to the same period in 2023, and a 17% increase in sales of our external heritage doors.
The industrial look, with its clean lines and contemporary feel, continues to be in high demand – and no window or door does industrial better than aluminium. We’ve seen our ID30 internal and SD70 external systems transform spaces in minutes, because that’s how simple they are to install. With sleek, slim frames, starting from just 74m, they strike the perfect balance between room division, without compromising on natural light or visual connection.
As well as allowing us to create doors with narrow frames and larger glass areas, maximising the flow of light into each room, aluminium’s strength and durability mean our doors can withstand regular use without the risk of warping, corroding, or fading – something that’s crucial in busy households and commercial use properties. And for external applications, aluminium doors provide the robust security and thermal efficiency needed to cope with the UK’s varied weather conditions.
High impact, minimal time
The feedback we regularly get from customers is that our heritage doors are high impact, yet highly practical. With high-performance hardware, plus a range of threshold and glazing options to suit every style and project need, the ID30 internal and SD70 external systems also come with a 10-year guarantee.
They’re incredibly easy to install, saving valuable time on-site, and we’re of course on-hand to make that even easier. The AluFoldDirect Aluminium Installer Training Academy is an integral part of our 75,000ft2 Blackburn factory, and where we watch glazing professionals build the confidence and knowledge to take on larger, more profitable aluminium projects every day.
Aluminium’s popularity in modern residential architecture is no coincidence. Latest research shows 85% of installers are now selling it and, if you’re still in that remaining 15%, it’s a fundamental time to ask yourself why.
Sustainable solution
A necessity to meet building regulations, coupled with ever-increasing homeowner demand means sustainability has never meant more in glazing and aluminium’s eco credentials are hard to beat: infinitely recyclable without any loss of quality, repurposed time and again, reducing waste and conserving natural resources.
As we move closer to 2025 and the Future Homes Standard, it’s clear that aluminium is more than just a material of choice – it’s a symbol of where modern design is headed.
As demand grows and innovation continues, I am in no doubt that aluminium will remain at the forefront of contemporary architecture for years to come – and we’ll ensure AluFoldDirect is leading the charge.