Aluminium Door & Window Manufacturers

Aluminium Door & Window Manufacturers

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Esseesse

Original Poster:

8,969 posts

207 months

Thursday 29th January 2015
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Hi everyone, just wondered if I could get some opinions on the various manufacturers of Aluminium doors and windows.

Smart Aluminium seems to be the most common and seems reasonably well regarded. This afternoon the local door man told me that they've started doing Beaufort (ALUK) rather than Smart and thinks they are better. Any thoughts on this? And is there anything that is especially good or bad? Should Smart or ALUK be more expensive? I've spoken to Anglian Windows previously who were adamant that they produce their own bespoke product. They were also adamant that theirs was the best, but then I suppose they would be.

I'm looking to have my front and back doors done soon, the windows perhaps done in the medium term depending on how I get on with what I have.

ladderino

727 posts

138 months

Saturday 31st January 2015
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We have Sapa Crown windows and doors throughout - very impressed with it. I wouldn't replace front door with the aluminium door on offer, but for rear entrance and french doors, it looks just right.

z06tim

558 posts

185 months

Saturday 31st January 2015
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I recommend Origin http://origin-global.com/aluminium-windows

We have a two panel bi-fold door and large single door that replaced french doors and they are really great quality.

I didn't know they did windows too, but i would have been surprised if they didn't.

I'm not 100% sure but i believe they make the aluminium extrusions themselves.

anonymous-user

53 months

Saturday 31st January 2015
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I had Smart Sytems windows and 2.9m high patio doors in my self build. Great product at a reasonable price and I will use them again on my next build.

homeimprovements

196 posts

174 months

Saturday 31st January 2015
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We supply and install smart aluminium door systems.
For the money they are a fabulous mid range product. Not top end but then the price reflects this but also not crap. There are a lot of systems out there that are more expensive but inferior.
Just took delivery of a 8 x 2.45 high metre set of bipods for my place today. Will post up some pics if I can round up the man power to install tomorrow

catfood12

1,410 posts

141 months

Saturday 31st January 2015
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Smart profiles are good, but the end result depends on the fabricator, as the individual companies cut the profiles and assemble the windows/doors. I've had some very good and less that good windows made from Smart. ...

anonymous-user

53 months

Saturday 31st January 2015
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catfood12 said:
Smart profiles are good, but the end result depends on the fabricator, as the individual companies cut the profiles and assemble the windows/doors. I've had some very good and less that good windows made from Smart. ...
Agreed.

catfood12

1,410 posts

141 months

Sunday 1st February 2015
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garyhun said:
Agreed.
Which is why I'm using Wareham Windows to do mine, based on your recommendation. We've been out there and have confidence in their operation. I'm afraid I can't say the same for your engineer recommendation however. Different strokes etc., I guess. However 6 weeks for a quote alone didn't inspire confidence. Perhaps it's him living opposite a pub.

You can see my crane from Loch Fyne !

RoyalVilla

22 posts

116 months

Sunday 1st February 2015
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I've recently had 2 sets of bifolds. I did look at the Smart system, but in the end I went for Schuco. They could hold bigger panels, so for my 'holes' I could have 3 instead of 4 panels (and they're triple glazed). 3.5 and 3.3 metres.
Very impressed with the schucos and they weren't much more than the Smart.
Having said that. The Smarts looked good too.

anonymous-user

53 months

Sunday 1st February 2015
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catfood12 said:
Which is why I'm using Wareham Windows to do mine, based on your recommendation. We've been out there and have confidence in their operation. I'm afraid I can't say the same for your engineer recommendation however. Different strokes etc., I guess. However 6 weeks for a quote alone didn't inspire confidence. Perhaps it's him living opposite a pub.

You can see my crane from Loch Fyne !
Sorry to hear that. He's worked with my builder for years so maybe that relationship is the difference.

Busa mav

2,556 posts

153 months

Sunday 1st February 2015
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garyhun said:
Sorry to hear that. He's worked with my builder for years so maybe that relationship is the difference.
I am struggling with the 2 engineers I use, one has done my calcs for 20 years and has become unreliable beyond belief.

Tried another who is local to me , promised it within the week and took 10 weeks !


anonymous-user

53 months

Sunday 1st February 2015
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When I went out to tender with the engineering stuff I was given 2 other names apart from my builders engineer.

I was then told, independently by others I knew unconnected with my build, not to touch those 2 with a barge pole as they were useless.

So it is definitely a bit of a minefield, it would appear.

Esseesse

Original Poster:

8,969 posts

207 months

Sunday 1st February 2015
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Thanks everyone for the replies. Any experience with Beaufort/ALUK stuff? I think (so far) I like/trust the supplier to do a good job so it comes down to how good the bits of Aluminium are. I suppose as some have mentioned it matters what the supplier creates with the extrusions more than the extrusions themselves.

Esseesse

Original Poster:

8,969 posts

207 months

Sunday 1st February 2015
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Also, does anyone have an opinion on colours or dual colours?

I was inclined to go for 7016 grey one the outside, white on the inside. The supplier did say how great it can look grey on both sides. Looking at an image on the link posted above I agree it does look great...



... however the windows in the link are mostly very large/bifolds. I'll be having conventional doors and (eventually) windows, perhaps the effect would be lost in my scenario. I have one largish sliding patio door that could also eventually be replaced (leads to the conservatory).

z06tim

558 posts

185 months

Sunday 1st February 2015
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We went 7016 anthracite grey both sides, and we're really pleased. It's the two back doors of our kitchen/diner, which we knocked through. Also, not a very large space.

We have a radiator in the same colour and a light grey floor that probably helps combine with the door colour.

Some pics below:






Esseesse

Original Poster:

8,969 posts

207 months

Monday 2nd February 2015
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Thanks for posting the pictures, really helps to see the doors in a real house. While they look good internally, I think they look better from the outside however. hmmm

Edit: I think I will go with similarly coloured/black hinges and brushed steel handles as you have.

ladderino

727 posts

138 months

Tuesday 3rd February 2015
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Depends on the colour I think. We went with Matt RAL 7038 on the outside, which looks perfect against the brick but thought it would look awful inside, hence have white on the inside.

Can they give you colour chips? We spent ages with the chips comparing colours, and also making sure that we could find matching paint. This might help show what it would actually look like inside.

anonymous-user

53 months

Tuesday 3rd February 2015
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If you are looking at the Smart stuff, look at their Sensations finish.

It's a slightly dappled/textured finish which does not mark as easily as the flat finish.

They don't do them in RAL colours. I went Vulcan (think that's the name) which is an anthracite and it looks superb.

Esseesse

Original Poster:

8,969 posts

207 months

Wednesday 4th February 2015
quotequote all
Thanks for the replies.

Yes they have colour chips, but as I'm sure you found, it's incredibly hard to visualise what the finished article will look like.

I think I've decided 7016 is too dark, and may go for 7011 (still quite a darkish grey).

Gary, I assume it's Vulcan Black you had. Can be seen here. I don't think it's Smart I will end up with, as installers who seem to be the best to me (always hard to judge, but time will tell) have just moved from Smart to Beaufort (Aluk). They seem pretty fussy on quality and assure me that the Beaufort stuff is very similar to Smart or slightly better so I'm inclined to believe them, just thought I'd gauge opinion here. Anyway they're getting a Beaufort bifold in their showroom in a few weeks so I'll be able to take a better look at it then.

catfood12

1,410 posts

141 months

Monday 23rd February 2015
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garyhun said:
Sorry to hear that. He's worked with my builder for years so maybe that relationship is the difference.
On the other hand what a great fella Jeff McD is. Couldn't be more helpful. Great design & package for the windows. Being made NOW ! FYI, you can still see my crane when you come down from the village....