Specifiers, Planners, Conservation Officers

We agree "plastic double glazing" has damaged the UK's housing stock!

The Oxford English dictionary defines "specialist" as, "one that produces something to the exclusion of all other", that's us! We only make sash windows, so when claims are made from so called specialists, first ask the question," Is it all they make?"

All too often window installers, double glazing companies, have had little or no interest in the aesthetics of homes in which their windows are fitted.

Over the years you've probably seen hundreds of properties fitted with inappropriate windows.

PVCu tends to have larger sight lines than aluminum; steel or timber however the major issue is one of Inappropriate Designs. In a desire to cut costs, installers often leave the existing box frame in-situ, replacing just the broken or rotten sashes.

Worse still, in an effort to fit windows quickly, they'll fit casements, top hung styles on the outside front skin of brickwork, reducing daylight and ventilation, and reducing the chance of escape in an emergency, besides ruining the properties looks and reducing its value.

We cannot control how windows are fitted.

Sure we have guidelines. We'd like to think our preferred installers would tend to fit more sash windows than the average installation company, however its becoming necessary to insist installers to demonstrate exactly how they intend to install windows, and check they intend using windows that are appropriate.

We've found working with authorities, taking time to listen to their issues, has paid dividends. As a result we've redesigned just about every component on the window.

Truthfully when conservation officers and planners take time to investigate the latest products, they're bowled over with what's now available, things like wood white foil (not shiny white plastic), continuous horns (not plastic bolt on extras), real feel 3 dimensional plant on Georgian bars that actually create shadow lines (not artificial 2 dimensional canes between the glass).

As specialists, we're able to produce just about any feature you care to mention, but as each window is bespoke, build to meet your precise requirements, it's vital the full specification is communicated.

Again we've produced a buyers guide to assist the selection process, along with our glossary of terms. When the ODPM says your windows," so closely resemble timber originals even at close quarters" then you just know you are getting it right.

All our products are BBA approved, manufactured to ISO quality standards. We're also the only UK VS manufacturer who's achieved a Green C Rated, Energy Efficient window. We're currently having our products tested with the authorities and expect to obtain Secured by Design very shortly.

But you really shouldn't take our word for it, we were delighted to obtain an entirely unscripted recommendation from Mark Brinkley author of The House Builders Bible, click here to read his article for yourself.

We've been exhibiting at Glassex for the past 15 years, Interbuild since 1995, we won the industry awards last year for Customer Care and Energy Efficiency, and were runners up with Fabricator of the year.

We'd be delighted to discuss sash windows with you in detail, so you can see for yourself at first hand, just how far masterframe sash windows have come.