Sheerframe fabricator Denver Contractors has completed the first phases of a 5-year contract involving the manufacture and installation of more than 2500 windows and doors for a major new homes development built using modern methods of construction (MMC) in north London.
‘Ridgemont’ is an extensive development by Countryside Properties in conjunction with Annington Homes involving 360 new homes at Mill Hill, north London which includes some social housing. All the houses and apartments at the development are contemporary in their design and innovative in their construction, using an off-site fabricated timber frame and high levels of insulation in the building envelope. Both Sheerframe window systems and Denver Contractors worked closely with the client to give the fenestration architectural appeal coupled with the structural performance.
Denver Contractors is providing the homes with high performance, anthracite grey coloured tilt and turn windows, plus a small number of casements, along with French doors and entrance doors. Key to delivering an effective fenestration solution at Ridgemont has been the way Denver Contractors has adapted its installation techniques.
The timber frame structure and an additional 140mm wall thickness due to the high levels of insulation presented a particular installation challenge. To ensure the windows and doors could be installed at the required point in the build schedule, Denver Contractors and Sheerframe systems company L.B. Plastics developed a special metal bracket system which protrudes from the structural timber frame to allow fixing to be completed.
“As forward-thinking house builders like Countryside Properties adopt new construction methods, it’s crucial that none of the performance benefits of the windows and doors are lost through incompatible fixing approaches,” says Dave Bickers, Operations Director at Denver Contractors.
“As the windows are being installed before the external skin is complete - and with the extra wall thickness - from a distance it looks like we’re fitting windows into thin air. Even so, we’ve demonstrated here at Ridgemont through the use of an innovative bracket system that the same high installation standard can be successfully achieved without additional cost or inconvenience to the developer.”
Sheerframe systems are widely used in UK housebuilding and present an effective and cost effective solution for the creation of low and zero carbon homes. All Sheerframe windows and doors are manufactured using calcium-organic stabilised, lead-free PVC and they are fully recyclable at the end of a long, low maintenance service life.
To find out more about Sheerframe call 01773 852311 or visit www.sheerframe.co.uk or Denver Contractors on 01787 479090 or visit www.denvercontractors.co.uk.
