Architect – FAQ

Welcome to our Architect FAQ page.

If you cannot find what you are looking for here contact us to discuss your query.

General:

Are your products manufactured in the UK?

Our complete range of products are manufactured in our factory in Donington, Lincolnshire. All other parts of our operation are conducted at this site.

What are your warranties?

We offer industry leading warranties and treat the long term care of our customers very seriously. If, in the unlikely event of a problem, we provide industry leading service. See warranties.

How much will a window cost?

Due to the wide range of products and options it is not possible to give a meaningful cost. For us to provide you with a cost all we require are drawings (or a photograph) or a schedule with the products you require and their dimensions. You can then provide any additional information regarding options to allow our first quote to be as accurate as possible.

Paint:

What paint colours are available?

We have a range of standard paint colours in both opaque and translucent finishes. We are also able to offer a huge range of special colours, which can be mixed to a RAL colour, BS number or colour matched to a sample.

Do you offer clear finished?

Modern coatings offer complex UV light filtering which protects both the paint system and the timber. We have a clear coat system which comes with a 2 year warranty. The exterior will require maintenance. If a clear finish is required we recommend considering having a clear coat on the inside and a pigmented coat on the outside.

Timber:

What timbers do you use?

We offer a range of timbers, with Redwood WoodHeart® being our standard for frames and window sashes and Red Grandis, European Oak, Sapele and Accoya which can be used for the entire product. See our timber guide and product details for more information.

Should I use hardwood?

If you are considering a translucent finish hardwood will offer a more natural depth of colour. We normally supply hardwood timber cills because they are the most exposed part of the window. However the WoodHeart® softwood we use is more durable than normal softwood and provides a very good substrate for our paint systems. All the timber we use will provide decades of good service.

Lead Times:

What arey our current lead times?

Our standard lead times are 6 weeks from confirmation of drawings and specification.

How long are my drawings going to take?

We aim to have drawings sent out within a week or two of receiving the order.

What should I do when I receive my drawings?

Check through them to make sure that the general style is what you are looking for, check things like ironmongery and colour options, handing of opening sashes. In addition, we send out a cover letter with specific questions that we need to understand and points that we think you may want to consider.

Terminology:

What is meant by Astragal Bars?

An astragal bar is our term for a glazing bar that is planted on to a piece of glass giving the impression of smaller pieces of glass. This is opposed to a glazing bar which does actually require smaller individual glazing units. An astragal bar gives a very good aesthetic replication of original narrow glazing bars, but it gives much better thermal performance.

What is meant by a Cill Extension?

A cill extension allows the bottom of the frame (the cill) to be extended on the outside of the window to overhang the brickwork providing a drip to stop water running down the wall. Windows are either fitted onto a separate cill (often made of stone) or require a cill extension to provide this function.

What is meant by Cill Side Extension?

A cill side extension allows the bottom of the frame (the cill) to be extended past the side of the frame. This feature is common in many buildings and allows original windows to be replaced without needing to make good any brickwork.

What is meant by Fully Finished?

Fully finished refers to the window being supplied, painted and glazed. Until recently common practice has seen timber windows and doors being supplied without glass and paint and it has been the responsibility of the builder / project manager to arrange for the windows to be painted and glazed. This practice causes a lot of problems as the work is usually done with substandard materials in substandard conditions. All of our windows are supplied as fully finished.