Steel – choose quality and heritage for windows, doors and screens

There are many choices when looking at new or refitted windows, doors and screens for both residential and commercial buildings.

Yet the one material the specifier can be truly sure of in terms of longevity, flexibility and beauty is steel.  Each steel bespoke window and internal/external door will last more than 100 years and artisans pride themselves on superb quality in refurbishment/refitting projects. Of course, heritage, listed and conservation projects demand steel; yet the wave of popularity for steel in new and retrofit schemes continues to roll.

Steel is perfect for today’s architectural trends – narrow sight lines, slim profiles, huge glass areas and larger frames – and it’s a sustainable material.  A steel window, screen or door is not an off-the-shelf product; it is handcrafted so the choices are limitless.

“We are riding on a wave of new-found popularity in our products due to their slender lines, strong aesthetics and unique characteristics,” explains Darren Lloyd, president of the Steel Window Association (SWA – www.steel-window-association.co.uk). “A lot of private homeowners who are carrying out extensions and refurbishment projects want to use our products. They love to do the unusual. And we’re seeing architects having great faith in the product and using it instead of aluminium bi-folding doors or whatever. They’re starting to really want the steel look.”

The work of members of the SWA ranges from replica refurbishment and in-situ repair to the fabrication and installation of new, high-performance fenestration and door sets. Products are manufactured in the UK using a mainly British-based supply chain and meet all necessary building regulations.

The SWA responds to huge demand among consumers for bespoke internal glazed partitions in, for example, kitchens, showers and wine cellars. Steel screens help give excellent visibility, let in maximum light and provide solidity without being visually overpowering. A slender steel glazing bar provides strength and the greatest possible area for glass. Designers can also incorporate sliding and pocket doors or entire sliding screen sections; and door thresholds are unnecessary so the finished floor is uninterrupted.  In addition, the SWA members have passed UK fire testing regulation – BS 476 Part 22 30/0 – meaning it can offer the same design aesthetic but with fire-resistant glazing.

Members of the Steel Window Association offer a UK wide service for the repair and replacement of various types of old metal windows, doors and screens, as well as being able to manufacture new fenestration which fully meets the requirements of the Building Regulations. Choosing an SWA member to manufacture and install your steel windows and doors ensures that you are receiving the highest standard of fabrication, installation and customer service.