Self cleaning glass

Balcony Systems’ products fully exploit Isle of Man views Owners Philip and Jillian Routledge specified Balcony’s four-panel curved patio door, with two sliding panels, that forms the stunning centrepiece of the domed guest lounge at The Arches overlooking Port Erin. Either side of the curved white aluminium powder-coated doors are two further straight patio doors allowing additional access to the outside space. Measuring 5.2 metres across and maximising the 180-degree views, the curved door has double glazed units with Low E glass and a 16mm air space that achieve a 1.8W/m2K U-value. It opens onto a square terrace with a structural glazed balustrade, also supplied by Balcony Systems. This balustrading style was chosen specifically to fulfil safety requirements with low-maintenance minimum visual impact, plus the added benefit of protection from prevailing winds. The curved patio doors and balustrading elements were installed by Chris Wedgwood, Managing Director of Jurby-based Hamilton Project Management Ltd and incorporated as part of extensive remodelling to the substantial 1920s building, perched on a steep site in Tower Road. Five years of construction work included rebuilding and extending the southern elevation and roofing over what was an outdoor swimming pool.

Frameless Glass Balustrade Curved Patio Doors Curved Glass Balustrade

Following the shape of a second lower terrace next to the swimming pool are nearly 40 metres of Balcony’s curved and straight balustrading, topped with an anodised silver handrail. Above this terrace, three glass Juliet balconies supplied by Balcony Systems maintain clear views from guest rooms on two upper floors.

Having holidayed on the Isle of Man for many years, the couple moved there from the UK in 2006 having fallen in love with The Arches’ spectacular coastal location. The B&B opened for business in 2011.

Philip, from Liverpool, explained: “The incredible views inspired all the glass as the whole point was to maximise the pleasure from them. It’s unusual to have 180 degrees of such splendour – and the curved patio door from Balcony Systems really does it justice. Everyone is stunned when they see it and it adds so much to the value and enjoyment of the property.

Top quality products that are built to last.

Phil also commented on the quality of the materials:

“As the house is located near to the sea, that’s great for the views but a real challenge to the materials used to enable us to enjoy them to the full. After four or five years of installation, the finishes on our Balcony products are like new.

“The curved patio door performs well; it’s thermally-efficient, air and watertight, even during the wild weather we get sometimes. It’s so central to what we wanted to achieve. There’s no product like it and it really brings the outside in!”

Project architect John Cryer, of Marshall Cryer Architects said an initial triangular design for the lounge was adapted into a more space-efficient curve after consultation with Balcony Systems.

He said: “The curved door is a remarkable product, making the most of the space and views while turning an ordinary room into something much better. This site is so suited to this product. So many sites on the island have good views that would benefit from products like those from Balcony Systems. I would definitely use their products again.”

According to Chris Wedgwood, it’s the combination of Balcony’s three different products that work really well at The Arches. “The curved patio door undoubtedly gives the house its ‘Wow’ factor and makes the most of the views. The structural glass balustrade is a fantastic answer for uninterrupted views. They’re all good quality, well-thought out products.”

Balcony Systems is a specialist in sophisticated glass and aluminium balustrading solutions and stunning curved patio doors, supplying straight or curved external and Juliet balconies to exact client specifications.

From single balustrades to multi-apartment developments, the company works with architects, designers and specifiers to deliver the most cost-effective, stylish and durable balustrade solution.

The Arches Port Erin.

The house is a lovely and unique B & B and well worth a visit www.arches-porterin.com

Running up to the Eco Build Show next week we have a very special offer for you.

On orders placed up to 23rd March we are offering:

50% off the self-cleaning glass coating on our Glass Balustrades, Custom Glass Juliet Balconies and our Curved Glass Patio Doors.

In order to take us up on this offer all you need to do is:

1. If you don’t have a quote already, get a price or quote off the website www.Balconette.co.uk
2. Call our sales staff on 01342 410 411

Our self-cleaning glass coating is unique and is applied to both sides of the glass.

Looking forward to hearing from you

The Balcony System team

Glass Juliet Balconies now cost less than traditional steel ones!

Costing from just £178, elegant Glass Juliet balconies from Balcony Systems are one of the most affordable, durable and beautiful balustrading solutions on the market today.

Good-looking and simple to install, the low-maintenance glass and aluminium Juliet balconies are corrosion-resistant and an ideal choice for harsh coastal or city environments. Clear glass panels without unsightly clamps retain views to the outside and maximise light to the inside.

Reduced cleaning cycles

Adding an optional self-cleaning double-sided glass coating option further enhances the low-maintenance benefits by repelling rainwater, dirt or salt deposits faster to keep the balcony looking cleaner for longer. This dramatically reduces cleaning cycles and eliminates the need for use of chemical cleaning agents. An occasional wipe down with a wet cloth does the job.

28 standard models

Balcony Systems’ Juliet balcony range features 28 different standard models in sizes from 1,280mm up to 2,840mm. Handrails are available in four attractive finishes; white, silver, bronze and the shiny Royal Chrome that replicates the look of stainless steel.

Laminated or toughened glass, plus a choice of tinted shades, can also be specified. Bespoke sizes and colours can be supplied for bulk orders to suit any client specification and budget.

“Glass balconies need not be expensive, as shown with our proven system costing under £200,” says Managing Director Effi Wolff. “As there’s no need for regular painting or repairs, they also work out cheaper over their lifetimes compared to alternative balustrading materials.”

For more details on Balcony’s range of Juliette balconies, including online quotations, check out our online shop.

Contact Balcony www.balconette.co.uk on 01342 410411 or email enquiries@balconette.co.uk.

Balcony Systems is proud to launch BalcoNano® – our amazing new DIY self cleaning glass coating. Now you can transform ordinary glass into Self-Cleaning glass - it is a real breakthrough product. We have worked hard to package this and make it suitable for the industry professional as well as the end user.

The new website for the BalcoNano DIY sachets  is now live and we invite you to visit: www.BalcoNano.com

A super introductory price

We are offering Balcony Systems’ customers a super introductory price!

Only £10 for a set of 5 sachets – that’s 5 square meters worth of coating (valid until Sunday 5th Feb) – worth a try!

Go to shop: www.balconano.com/Shop.aspx

We have launched a new website focused on our BalcoNano® DIY self-cleaning glass solution – www.BalcoNano.com

The  new website is solely focused on the new BalcoNano® self-application glass coating process that transforms ordinary glass into self-cleaning glass.

The introduction of this easy-to-apply DIY sachet solution follows the huge success of our unique, patented factory-applied coating across our entire range of modern glass balconies, glass Juliet balconies and curved patio doors.

Protecting glass, keeping it new and clean

BalcoNano® works at a nano-scale level – a nanometre is one millionth of a millimetre – to form a hard, clear coating that leaves a super-smooth surface on the glass. It transforms the dirt-trapping microscopic pits, peaks and valleys of the underlying glass surface into one that is water-repellent or hydrophobic.

Water that comes in contact with the coated glass curls into droplets that quickly roll away, so any dirt, grime or deposits wash off easily to keep the glass surface looking new and cleaner for longer.

“Having achieved tremendous success and high levels of customer satisfaction with our pre-applied revolutionary coating, it was clear there was a demand from our customers, dealers and installers for an answer to protecting already-installed glass,” explains Balcony Managing Director, Effi Wolff.

“As customers started to recognise the immense benefit of our self-cleaning glass coating that dramatically reduces cleaning cycles, we rose to the challenge in creating the BalcoNano® sachets system. It meets this obvious market need for a convenient on-site application, which also works for other glass products and elements so these too can enjoy the protective advantages of the coating,” he continues.

Applied in minutes

Intensive research and effort was placed on creating a retro fit solution as we adapted our factory-applied coating so that BalcoNano® can now be applied to glass that is already installed using a two-part sachet process – a special glass cleaner and the BalcoNano® coating. Each sachet contains a pre-soaked towelette ready for immediate use.

Designed for use by the homeowner or professionals alike, the unique coating can be applied in minutes to existing glass in doors and windows, conservatories, shower enclosures and much more.

Because the coating chemistry works just as well on other silica-based products such as ceramics, porcelain, marble and stone, the sachets can be used to apply the coating to kitchen tops, sinks, ceramic tiles and many other areas.

Effi adds: “The BalcoNano® glass coating offers an eco-friendly and durable solution that literally pays for itself; both in saved cleaning frequency and time, plus in eliminating the need for use of expensive chemical cleaners.”

Positive customer feedback

Customer feedback on the BalcoNano® glass coating has been extremely positive, with many homeowners commenting on much lower maintenance needed. Bryan and Melanie Heslop from Tyne and Wear, said: “Our Juliette balcony overlooks the sea, so the self-cleaning glass means lower maintenance and less cleaning because of the salt air.”

Adrian and Catrin Hughes from West Wales, reported: “We have noticed a difference with the self-cleaning glass coating. Our Juliette balcony keeps a lot cleaner compared to the windows and we keep the countryside views.”

Brett and Helena James from Margate, Kent, said: “Despite being close to the sea, we’ve not had to clean the self-cleaning glass panels in the eight months since the balcony was installed.”

Paul and Margaret Ratcliffe from Sheffield, commented: “We specified self-cleaning coated glass as it really does work; there’s a noticeable difference compared to normal glass. It stays much cleaner as the water runs off it quickly. Being glass, the balcony lets in plenty of light and keeps the garden views.”

Peter Morley from Taunton, Somerset, reported: “The self-cleaning glass does stay very clean. In the four months since the Juliette balcony was installed, I’ve not had to clean it.”

Happy New Year!

We welcome 2012 and looking forward to a year of continued recovery for the construction industry in the UK.

We can report record sales throughout 2011 on our entire range of products; glass balustrading, Juliet balcony and curved patio doors – despite the tough economic times.

Sales volumes across our entire product range by almost 29.2% throughout last year compared to 2010 and reflected consistent growth throughout the 12 months of 2011. End of year sales were particularly strong with November 2011 orders more than double on the same month in 2010.

Since our move to larger premises at Lingfield, Surrey 15 months ago, our workforce has grown by 20% to cope with customer demand and the developing product range.

Managing Director Effi Wolff said the addition of the BalcoNano® unique self-cleaning glass coating option in mid-summer had attracted much interest and contributed to the uplift in business, especially towards the end of the year.

Similarly, the introduction of our Juliet balconies with promotional pricing from under £200, which provide a cost-effective and elegant, low-maintenance balustrading solution, had proved popular with buyers from all sectors. This helped to boost sales of Juliets by a spectacular 70% in 2011.

Effi explained: “Balcony continues to grow, showing consistent 15% year-on-year growth since 2008. We’ve had a tremendous year as more and more architects, builders and self-builders recognised the quality, versatility and affordability of Balcony’s products, as well as their ability to transform properties and add value.

“We are also starting to see the resurrection of larger projects, plus signs of confidence returning to the market; something we have not seen for three years,” he continued. “Business picked up considerably in the final quarter of 2011 and we worked right through the Christmas period in order to fulfil orders for our customers.”

As for 2012, We are predicting another buoyant year with our appearances at both Grand Design Live exhibitions (London & Birmingham) and an Ecobuild debut for our sister company, VBS, in March.

Effi added: “Alongside rising demand from builders and developers, trends show that people are still willing to invest in their homes with many choosing to improve, rather than move house. That’s why we’re experiencing a lot of interest in our products, for both newbuild projects and refurbishment schemes.”

Balcony Systems reports best-ever Grand Designs Live 2011

Balcony Systems has reported its best-ever Grand Designs Live 2011 with record levels of enquiries and increased orders from more visitors attending the October consumer home show at Birmingham’s NEC.

Refurbishment projects featured strongly in many quotations for the company’s market-leading range of beautiful glass and aluminium balustrades, affordable Juliette balconies from under £200 and spectacular curved patio doors that transform all types of properties.

“There was very strong interest in both our balustrading and Juliet balcony products, with many serious enquirers ready to go ahead,” commented Balcony Director Lesley Farrow. “Our unique self-cleaning glass coating also attracted much attention, with staff being asked to explain how the smooth surface it creates on the glass keeps the balustrading looking cleaner for longer to reduce maintenance.”

Lesley added: “Overall, it was a tremendously busy and successful three days and we are absolutely delighted with the level of enquiries to follow up, including those for future new build projects and developments.”

In order to enjoy the benefits of your self-cleaning glass coating for many years here’s what you need to know:

Initially it is important to stress to never use harsh cleaners or chemicals on your treated/coated surfaces as it may damage the coating and the underlying surface.

How does the coating work?

When viewed under a microscope, standard glass actually has a pitted surface to which water, lime scale and soap scum can latch to. This builds up with everyday weather and environmental elements. The glass will then require regular cleaning and scrubbing just to keep them clear, clean and hygienic.

Taking its inspiration from plants, our coating forms an invisible and smooth Nano (measured in nano-metres) shield. This shield prevents the collection and building up of dirt and grime.

The hydrophobic (water repelling) properties of the coating cause water to run off freely, washing away residue and dirt as it goes.

Better for the environment

This coating is truly eco-friendly. In a manner of speaking, water and rain does the cleaning for you, so it’s more hygienic and with fewer bacteria there’s NO need for harsh chemical cleaners – which is a viable way to stop this horrid chemical pollution and is kind to the environment

Similar to the way Teflon®-coated cooking pans make cleaning easier, our coating dramatically reduces the cleaning required, making it less of a burden and less frequent.

If you follow the maintenance tips below will ensure many years of satisfaction from this wonderful coating.

Care and maintenance

Cleaning method: Wet the surface and use a nylon sponge to wipe it down, rubbing in a circular motion. You should feel any ‘sticky’ places becoming smooth again. Then rinse or spray the surface with clean water, let the water drain off and wipe dry.

Maintenance and care vary substantially according to the type of application (treated surface type and location/exposure) and the abrasion which the treated material is exposed to. Abrasion means any mechanical (such as windshield wiper on an automobile) or non-mechanical force (such as wind or dust) affecting the treated product. Thus, an exterior architectural glass structure exposed to all kinds of weather conditions will require much different maintenance and care than an interior application.

While our coating does make treated surfaces water and oil repellent, stain and scratch resistant, among other properties, and lasts for a long period of time (years in most cases), maintenance time is guaranteed to be reduced, depending on the application, by as much as 50% and up to 90% AND eliminates the need for any harsh, expensive and toxic chemical cleaning sprays.

Once treated with the coating, will I still need to clean the surface?

Our coating reduces cleaning time but it does not eliminate it entirely. It is similar to the development of non-stick cooking pans. While you can cook food in uncoated pans, it is so much easier to clean if you cook with non-stick pans. While you still must maintain your glass with a coated surface, the time and effort required are significantly reduced.

Effi Wolff – Balcony’s Managing Director in a short video speaks about Balcony Systems’ innovative self-cleaning glass coating and its positive “green” side, how it reduces the use of harmful chemicals and aids the war against pollution:

Balcony’s self cleaning glass coating featured on “Refurb & renew” magazine:

The subject of self-cleaning glass in the building industry and on balconies in particular has become a most interesting topic for self builders and architects alike.

Mr. Effi Wolff, Balcony’s MD was asked to bring some like on this topic by the editor of Refurb & Renew magazine.

This article is featured on page 20 and 21 of  the March/April edition of Refurb & Renew magazine.

This can be viewed online at: http://www.wavcoms.co.uk/emags/RRmagazine/2011/RR8926_2011MAR/pageflip.html

Refurb & Renew magazine  is printed with a circulation of 10,900 and it also appears on-line and is emailed to 22,000 named on-line specifiers.