A major extension to a large detached property in Weybridge, Surrey has made elegant use of W20 steel windows and doors to create a series of tall screens, opening up views of the verdant garden while flooding the stylish new kitchen and dining room with light.
The project has been carried out for the owners by local specialist company, Kantec Bespoke; with Steel Window Association member company, Govette Windows designing, fabricating and installing the fenestration package. Concept Eight was the lead architect on this project.
The architect designed single storey extension wraps around the full width of the building's rear elevation, with a 2.4 metre long, L-shaped window creating a stunning corner feature. There are also two sets of double doors, with side panels and fixed lights above forming the two main 3430mm tall screens; where the line of the steel mullions emphasise the height of the fenestration.
All of the W20 sections are hot dip galvanised and polyester powder coated in RAL 1035, Pearl Beige, while the 16mm double glazed units are Krypton filled and contain low iron glass with warm edge spacer bars to offer high thermal performance. Steel doors and windows also provide peace of mind in terms of their rugged resistance to forced entry and long term durability against the elements.
Govette Windows' contribution to the project also includes a stylish internal sliding door screen, separating the kitchen from a dayroom/lounge. Again, fabricated from W20 profiles and glazed with 6.4mm laminated glass, the doors use a Henderson mechanism that is also suitable for ceiling mounting and ‘pocket' applications. Special blanking off plates developed by the SWA cap the profiles for a neater appearance, with the meeting stiles also including a draught strip.
Commenting on the choice of steel frames, the owner of the property, (Sarah Stirrett), said: "This was something I'd always wanted to do, because I think steel framed windows just have that timeless, industrial appearance and would really suit the style of our old Edwardian house. This is a really modern addition to the house - almost like a 180 degrees extension across and around the side, rather than the typical ‘box on the back', and the large area of glazing really suits it.
"Govette Windows were fantastic to deal throughout: from reassuring me over thermal performance of steel systems at the beginning, to dealing with the couple of little queries I had at the end. Overall, it's been a lovely job throughout."
The members of the Steel Window Association can offer clients across the country a full spectrum of services from maintenance and repair through to ‘replica refurbishment' for heritage situations, and new-build packages featuring the W20, W40, W50 and other framing options.