The fact that Howarth Timber (Windows & Doors) Ltd offers a possible 85 million configurations for its timber windows illustrates the strides made by modern, factory-finished joinery.
PVCu may still dominate but modern, factory-finished and glazed timber windows and doors, with manufacturers’ guarantees, are strengthening timber’s presence.
"The market remains dominated by PVCu, with a unit share of around 70%, compared with timber’s 11% and aluminium-clad timber’s 2.5%," said Barnaby Dickens of the Wood Window Alliance (WWA).
"However, the biggest trend over the last few years has been a structural change in the timber window sector away from low-cost, site-finished windows to premium, fullyfinished high-performance windows."
The WWA also reports increasing demand for timber windows and doors, sustained partly by consumers replacing PVCu products. "Members are reporting full order books, although achieving satisfactory margins remains a challenge," said Mr Dickens.
"Sales of timber and alu-clad timber windows are expected to do better over the next five years and one of the reasons is that there are now more replacements of replacements than first-time replacements, so homeowners are increasingly experiencing the failure of PVCu units."
As part of this trend, sales of aluminiumclad timber windows have grown strongly, albeit from a low base. According to Palmer Market Research data, the installed value of the timber/alu-clad segment in the housing sector rose from around 16% in 2000 to 26% in 2012, said Mr Dickens.
This strengthening demand for timber and alu-clad windows is confirmed by companies contacted by TTJ.
"Demand for timber windows is growing, as is the demand for alu-clad, especially in the commercial sector," said Mumford & Wood managing director Frank Buckley. Now that the uncertainty of the general election result and the possibility of Labour’s mansion tax had passed, refurbishment orders were increasing, especially in southeast England.
"New build is also starting to increase but this will take a little longer to work through," said Mr Buckley.
British Woodworking Federation (BWF) chief executive Iain McIlwee said demand for timber windows and doors was "booming" and the Queen’s Speech in May included some positives for housing. The BWF wrote to the Chancellor prior to last month’s emergency Budget to explain why the plans were important to BWF members.
While the volume new build market was important, Mr McIlwee said the proposals to extend Right to Build and incentivise local authorities to support self and custom build could be hugely significant to the timber doors and windows market.
"Those customers tend to be discerning and are often very sustainability conscious, so they will favour high-quality wood products," he said.
Alan Shearer, general manager of Howarth Timber (Windows & Doors) Ltd, which mainly supplies the new build market, said orders were rising in line with the uplift in housebuilding.
"Whether timber is taking a bigger share, I’m not certain. I think we’re more matching the growth of the market," he said.
Tony Pell, senior product manager at JELDWEN, concurs. "Demand for timber remains strong but probably static in terms of overall market share," he said.
"Triple glazing and high-performance products have had a modest growth in demand. Flush sashed windows are gaining share as the number of redevelopments increases and more specifiers and developers choose them." Lomax + Wood has experienced such a growth in demand for timber windows and doors that it has doubled turnover in a year, asked suppliers to increase capacity and is looking to add another facility.
The market, said Mr McIlwee, was driven by performance and cost, and sustainability also played its part.
"We must also keep reinforcing the importance of third-party certificated products," he said. "The temptation for many contractors is to break the specification and to nudge a bit more value engineering and go for cheaper, untested products. This can be a disaster, quite literally in the case of highperformance fire door and doorsets."
Wood Window Alliance products already have a Green Guide A+ rating and Mr McIlwee said there was increasing interest in the embodied energy of windows and doors.
"We are lobbying government hard on this issue, working closely with Wood for Good and others. We want to see the new Housing Standards and Allowable Solutions support the use of genuinely sustainable products, with recognition and reward for low-energy manufacturing, and ensuring all building projects consider and publish their full carbon impact."
Aesthetics is also a big factor in consumers choosing timber.
"Customers are more conscious of appearance and style, with the media saturated with property makeover shows and dramatic inspirational dream builds," said Chris Wood, managing director of Lomax + Wood. "Of course maintenance and quality are important, and a desire to attain the most efficient thermal and acoustic performance, but the overall fenestration system and how it enhances the property is the number one factor."
Frank Buckley agrees. "Aesthetics is still the significant driver. Maintenance is still on the agenda but the advances in timber and paint technologies are effectively addressing this concern," he said.
Timber joinery’s environmental benefits and performance were big drawcards, said Mr Pell, as well as its "aspirational look and kerb appeal".
Hand-in-hand with the aesthetic appeal is fashion and a big trend at present is bi-folding joinery "Pretty much all clients now call for bi-folding windows and doors as customers open up their kitchen/dining areas which have become the main social room for families," said Mr Wood.
"Aluminium-clad windows are growing in popularity too, be it with a new build or, as we had recently, a couple restyling a mock Tudor property to bring it more in line with today’s contemporary architecture."
In response to this demand for alu-clad products, Lomax + Wood has complemented its alu-clad flush casements with alu-clad doors and open-in tilt-turn windows. Howarth revised its timber window range a few years ago as flush casements became more popular. It now offers sliding sash, traditional casement and flush casement, all made to order.
"The window has to open and close and there are only so many ways you can do that but within the configurations you can make significant changes," said Mr Shearer. JELD-WEN’s new casement window – Stormsure Energy+ – is rated A+ under the BFRC Windows Energy Rating Scheme. It also recently launched the Darwin patio range of hardwood doorsets, which can be painted or stained to complement other external joinery.
In terms of product development, energy efficiency continues to be a driving force and here glazing plays a big role.
"The energy performance of glass is constantly evolving," said Mr Shearer. "A double-glazed window today is as energy efficient as a triple-glazed window three or four years ago, and a triple-glazed has become even more energy efficient."
Howarth has also seen growth in demand for acoustic glass, especially for developments on brownfield sites which may be near busy roads, and Lomax + Wood believes this will become increasingly important.
"Acoustic ratings seem to be a key factor in many specification so I believe a lot of our R&D budget will be targeted at delivering this requirement without forcing the windows to become too cumbersome," said Mr Wood Mr Buckley agreed that the glass had the biggest effect on the overall thermal efficiency and Mumford & Wood was also incorporating developments in sealing technologies into its products.
Changes to Approved Document Q, which require all external products to comply to the security requirements of PAS 24 and take effect from October this year, are also focusing manufacturers’ minds. Many companies supplying factory-finished products already have ranges that carry Secured by Design accreditation.
"The change is being driven by the Housing Standards Review, and the recognition that security is an area where housebuilders have often had to deal with complex, overlapping or contradictory standards which add extra cost," said Mr McIlwee. "The government’s aim is to introduce a simplified and rationalised single security standard which will provide protection from burglary for all new homes."
As for future developments, Tony Pell believes that computer and wireless technology, which has become so established in many facets of our lives, will be extended to joinery. "I think we will see an increase in automation for remote control home security features, such as smart apps to open doors for the babysitter and window vents prior to your arrival home," he said.
"There will also be an increase in technology and biometric apps that let you into your home – opening and locking doors using eye scanning, for instance – and alert you when doors or windows are opened." The use of nanotechnology to enhance performance was another possibility, Mr Pell added.
Mr McIlwee believes the biggest development for the industry will be around Building Information Modelling (BIM). "Companies that adopt BIM can benefit from its streamlined approach, in which data is shared in a collaborative environment. As the industry incrementally adopts the technologies and processes, it will move from a basic CAD approach to higher levels of seamless working and data management," he said.
On Alan Shearer’s wishlist of developments is a black paint that doesn’t absorb heat. While the predominant colour for timber windows is white, Howarth offers a full range of colours off chart, including 32 shades of grey. However, the darkest on the spectrum is slate grey.
"Dark colours on timber windows should be avoided," said Mr Shearer. "The surface temperature of a black window can be 30 deg C warmer than a white window, which dries out the timber and creates hairline cracks. "If someone can come up with black pigmentation that won’t absorb heat we’d be very interested."
