Set in a picturesque Cotswold village, the Victorian cottage Glen and Rachel Wardrop had bought needed extensive renovation inside and out.
When it came to the windows, the couple turned to Steel Window Association member, the Cotswold Casement Company, to manufacture and install replacements that would be in keeping with the stone building.
The previous single glazed metal windows had probably been installed in the 1980s and were poorly maintained while the sub-frames were rotten. Glen initially considered wooden windows but, when he saw the size of the profiles, he felt they were too bulky for the relatively narrow window openings and would have spoilt the look of the cottage while also reducing the daylight inside.
In comparison, the slender frames of steel windows provided the subtle look the couple were seeking and suited the distinctive Cotswold style of the cottage, as well as the wider village setting, while allowing in maximum daylight. The Cotswold Casement Company was recommended by one of the contractors working on the cottage. A surveyor from the company measured each window opening and produced working drawings; each of the eight windows was then manufactured in the factory to the exact specification required using standard W30 sections.
W30 steel windows are designed for energy efficiency, security and aesthetic appeal. They offer the slimmest steel options currently on the market to comply to all current Part L building regulations. For domestic applications, the W30 system is C-rated by the BFRC and, if required, a B-rated window can be offered. A comprehensive range of handles and stays is available and multi-locking functions can be added if required.
To provide long term durability, the frames were hot-dip galvanized and factory finished with a high quality polyester powder coat applied in RAL colour 7032, pebble grey. The windows were then fitted with 18mm leaded double-glazed units to maximum their energy efficiency.
Glen Wardrop comments: "The Cotswold Casement Company is local and I'd been impressed by other examples of their work. They did a great job on our cottage and we've been very pleased with them and the look of the steel windows."
