curved glass doors

Balcony Systems celebrated another successful Grand Designs Live 2013 at London’s Excel by presenting the winners of its annual Photo Competition, Rob and Jane Hollingworth, with their top £1,000 cash prize.

Curved balcony wins the competition >> The couple, from Silverdale, Lancashire, received their prize from Managing Director Effi Wolff on Balcony’s stand, having impressed the judges with their stylish shot of a curved balcony enjoying splendid views to the sea. Their 20-metre long curved balustrading, above a ground-floor lounge, features Balcony’s proprietary Royal Chrome anodised handrail and BalcoNano® self-cleaning glass coating on the panels, which dramatically reduces cleaning cycles. The Hollingworths, who built their four-bedroomed contemporary home overlooking Morecambe Bay on the site of a former 1920s property, said: “We’re delighted with our curved balcony and winning such a marvellous prize in Balcony’s Photo Competition. It looks brilliant, was easy to install and keeps our wonderful views while withstanding the worst of our coastal weather. Visitors always admire it and having the most exquisite view out to the sea does help!

Balcony competition winners Competition winner – Curved balcony from Silverdale, Lancashire

Rob added: “We fell in love with the Balcony Systems’ product when we saw it on their website and ordered our balcony at Grand Designs Live two years ago. Their service was excellent too; everything arrived on time, including the two Juliet balconies we ordered for the bedrooms.”

Choosing a winner was difficult

Commenting on the photo competition entries, Effi said: “Choosing a winner from so many fabulous photos was difficult, however we felt Rob and Jane’s stunning entry really captured the elegance of the balustrade in its rural setting. We were impressed by the amazing response and great variety of pictures we received from our customers all over the UK. We’d like to say a very big thank you to all our entrants who put a lot of thought, effort and high standards of creativity into their photos. Many photos showed customers enjoying their balconies and making the most of the uninterrupted views provided by our clear glass system that uses minimal posts and no clamps. From al fresco dining to family groups with their pets, everyone joined in the fun of making the most of their outdoor spaces, whatever the weather!” Runners up Worthy runners up were David Partington of Nether Alderley enjoying a family picnic; Phil Routledge with a stunning shot of the view through his curved patio doors on the Isle of Man and Ken McNeil for his photo of a peaceful garden balustrade in Newcastle-under-Lyme. Also commended were Jonathan Battle with his ‘patriotic’ picture of Union Jacks draped over his extensive Worcestershire balcony, along with Joanne Tarrant of Castle Donington and Alison Field of Berkswell for injecting a touch of humour into their first-floor Juliet balcony photos with kids in fancy dress and a clever basketball throw respectively. For more details, contact Balcony www.balconette.co.uk on 01342 410411 or email enquiries@balconette.co.uk.

Curved Glass – Isle of Man runner up Nether Alderley balustrade runner up Newcastle-under-Lyme balcony runner up Worcestershire balcony

Curved balcony wins Balcony Systems’ Photo Competition. An amazing response and great variety of balustrading pictures we received from all over the UK.

Animals, humour, picnics and even patriotism were among the many creative subjects submitted by homeowners in Balcony Systems’ 2012 Photo Competition. But it was a stylish shot of a curved balcony with splendid views that clinched Rob and Jane Hollingworth the top £1,000 cash prize.

Competition Winner – Curved balcony from Silverdale, Lancashire

Curved balustrade from Silverdale The couple, from Silverdale, Lancashire will receive their prize from Managing Director Effi Wolff on Balcony Systems’ stand at London’s Grand Designs Live in May. Their 20-metre long curved balustrading, above a ground-floor lounge, features Balcony’s proprietary Royal Chrome anodised handrail and BalcoNano® self-cleaning glass coating on the panels, which dramatically reduces cleaning cycles.

Creative shots

Worthy runners up were David Partington of Nether Alderley enjoying a seafood picnic with good company, chilled champagne and an equally chilled-out dog; Phil Routledge with a stunning shot of the view through his curved patio doors on the Isle of Man and Ken McNeil for his photo of a peaceful garden balustrade in Newcastle-under-Lyme. Also commended were Jonathan Battle with his ‘patriotic’ picture of Union Jacks draped over his extensive Worcestershire balcony, along with Joanne Tarrant of Castle Donington and Alison Field of Berkswell for injecting a touch of humour into their first-floor Juliet balcony photos with kids in fancy dress and a clever basketball throw respectively. Well done to you. Commenting on the photo competition entries, Effi said: “Choosing a winner from so many fabulous photos was difficult, however we felt Rob and Jane’s stunning entry really captured the elegance of the balustrade in its rural setting.“ Making the most of the outdoor spaces We were impressed by the amazing response and great variety of pictures we received from our customers all over the UK. We’d like to say a very big thank you to all our entrants who put a lot of thought and effort into their photos. “The high standards of creativity that were clearly evident in the photographs, made judging a difficult, but hugely enjoyable process. “Many of the photos showed customers enjoying their balconies and making the most of the uninterrupted views provided by our clear glass system that uses minimal posts and no clamps. From al fresco dining to family groups with their pets – and we particularly liked the animals – everyone joined in the fun of making the most of their outdoor spaces, whatever the weather!” The winners – delighted with their balcony As for the winners, whose self-built home overlooks Morecambe Bay, they said: “We’re delighted with our balcony – and with the news that it has won such a marvellous prize in Balcony’s Photo Competition. Our curved balcony looks brilliant and is so admired by visitors; it also helps that we have the most exquisite view out to the sea.“ We fell in love with the Balcony Systems’ product when we saw it on their website and ordered our balcony at Grand Designs Live two years ago. Having installed it ourselves, we are very happy with Balcony’s product that keeps our wonderful views. Their service was excellent too; everything arrived on time, including the two Juliet balconies we ordered for the bedrooms.” Three years ago, the couple completed their four-bedroomed contemporary home on the site of a former 1920s property, whose last two remaining two-metre high walls are incorporated into the new building. “Our house could be regarded as an ‘extension’ although it’s 99% new. We’d lived in older buildings, so with this project we wanted a completely modern, open-plan style of living – complemented, of course, with our lovely balcony,” added Rob, who established his company Paul Homes Ltd in 1968. A further press release will follow after the presentation, so watch this space! For more details, contact Balcony www.balconette.co.uk on 01342 410411 or email enquiries@balconette.co.uk.

Nether Alderley balustrade runner up Curved Glass – Isle of Man runner up Newcastle-under-Lyme balcony runner up Worcestershire balcony Inner staircase balustrade Juliette – Castle Donington

Backyard balcony

Juliet balcony – Berkswell

Picnic on the balcony

Stunning views from Balcony Systems’ curved sliding patio doors at Gara Rock resort.

Panoramic ocean views are dished up every day for diners at this new South Devon restaurant – thanks to a show-stopping curved sliding patio door from Balcony Systems.

Doors and panels design

The balustrading and curved door specialist met the architect’s specification with a nine-panel door, incorporating two sliding panels, spanning well over half the building’s circular sea-facing elevation. Measuring nearly 15 metres in width with a blue powder-coated finish, the door opens onto an outdoor dining terrace at the Gara Rock Restaurant, part of an exclusive coastal resort complex built by Coast Group near Salcombe. Directly below, a second eight metre-wide curved patio door with two sliding panels, also supplied by Balcony, offers similar spectacular sea views for guests using the indoor swimming pool and spa facilities.

180 degree view

Diana Hunt, who runs the restaurant with Ian Dent, said: “The wonderful curved glass wall and doors frame an almost 180 degree view of the south Devon coastline.  We are able to open the curved glass doors back to the point where they almost seem to disappear. They are incredibly smooth, but heavy enough to dissuade children from playing too enthusiastically with them!”

Bringing the outdoor in Suitable for virtually any commercial or residential property, Balcony’s curved patio doors add the ‘wow’ factor with a versatility that allows for a variety of sliding or fixed configurations within almost limitless creative scope for designers and architects. Wide openings can be achieved to seamlessly connect interior and outdoor spaces. Adding extra fixed curved panels allows for longer glazed runs, further enhancing views, light and the feeling of space to any interior.

Visual statement of the building

Simon Baldwin, Director of Aminghurst Ltd, Gara Rock’s owners, commented: “Both doors are quite stunning, creating a distinctive visual statement and making the most of impressive vistas from the building. “The doors enable guests to enjoy the beautiful views in comfort, whatever the weather, while also providing practical and easy access to the terraces by the restaurant and pool.”

Installation

Installation of both doors went smoothly, according to Gara Rock Site Manager Tim Jones, who added: “The general consensus from everyone who sees them is that they look spectacular and really make the most of this unique cliff top location.”

For more details, contact Balcony www.balconette.co.uk on 01342 410411 or email enquiries@balconette.co.uk.

Balcony’s curved patio doors were a key feature in an award-winning spectacular new build project in Lacock, Wiltshire. The high–spec timber-framed stone finish property, worth £1.5 million is on top of a hill, benefiting from amazing views that go on for miles. The aim was to build a traditional stone cottage with natural slate roof at the front and large futuristic curved glass bays at the rear, to take advantage of the 180° panoramic views over the Wiltshire countryside. Curved patio doors were installed to one whole side of the house, top to bottom leading off the living room/kitchen and snug on the ground floor and the master and second bedrooms on the first floor. Curved Juliette balconies, with Royal Chrome anodised aluminium handrails, were installed on the first floor so the patio doors could be opened and views enjoyed in safety. The minimal hand rail, with glass reaching from top to bottom and no clamps between panes means there is nothing to distract the eye. The result is breathtaking.

Balcony joy

It’s not just high spec projects that benefit from our products. Specialist Joinery Company Timberland Windows, Doors and Conservatories installed five Juliette Balconies for a barn conversion near Launceston in Cornwall. The Juliette balconies were installed on French doors on the first floor of the barn and were chosen to give the stone barn a modern, clean look. And Homeowner Dave Cant is enjoying his new balcony with our stylish balustrade installed by a local installer. Mr Cant extended his detached four bedroom property in Aberdeen to create a large open plan living area. The single storey extension was built with a flat, decked roof leading off from the bedrooms and an elegant balustrade installed around the decking area. Installing the balustrade meant Mr Cant could step out in safety and enjoy his nearby river and countryside views.

Our balustrades and balconies exclude intrusive clamps in between the panes of class, leaving a clear expanse of glass from handrail to floor. Our wide range of Juliette balconies now also come with a self cleaning glass coating as standard on both sides of the glass, and is an optional extra for our balustrades.

Proof is in the pudding

Jersey based Pallot Windows Ltd has added around £250,000 to its turnover since becoming a Balcony Systems dealer. Director Paul Bourke explains: “A key benefit of Balcony’s products is that they are straightforward to install, add value to the property and customers like the design – the glass to glass corners, lack of intrusive uprights and clamps, and minimal handrails make it an ideal choice for homeowners wanting to make the most of Jersey’s spectacular views – and so the products are easy to sell.”

Pallot Windows’ recently installed 165 linear metres of balustrade at a new build apartment complex in St Helier. The design called for both Balcony’s curved and straight balustrades with round handrails.

The Window Store, part of the Epwin Group, is the latest to join Balcony’s dealer network following an enquiry for a Juliette balcony. Enquiries continue to come through and the trade supplier has now added Balcony’s Juliettes to its range and marketing material, and

displayed it in some of its showrooms.

To get into this new growth sector visit www.balconette.co.uk or call Lesley Woodcraft on 01342 410411.

The beautiful Greek island of Paxos is home to Chris James. The island is lush and green with a very Italian feel. When Chris decided to re-build an old windmill which stood in the grounds of his villa he wanted to keep its traditional look and feel. The windmill, which will be used as a guest cottage, has one bedroom and bathroom on the ground floor and a living room on the first floor to make the most of the sea views. The windmill is creating a lot of interest locally so Chris knew he had to get everything right.

He found Balcony Systems Ltd on the internet and was immediately won over by their stunning curved glass patio doors and placed an order. The three-panel curved patio door measuring 4.5 metres wide will be installed in the first floor living room so guests can enjoy the spectacular sea view .

Chris James says: “I found Balcony very helpful and professional. I had the doors delivered to a UK address and then shipped to Paxos. The doors will be a stunning addition to the building. They will give the impression of one large window and will certainly give the windmill the ‘wow’ factor.”

Stunning curved patio doors supplied and installed by Balcony Systems transform the appearance and enhance all-year round use of a swimming pool extension at a Hertfordshire home.

Adding tremendous space and light, the doors have three sliding panels that allow Margaret and Andy Demetriou of Broxbourne to ‘bring the outside in’ during hot summer days. Panoramic views to the garden can be enjoyed when taking a dip or relaxing – whatever the weather.

Curved glass was an essential part of the specification and the couple’s decision was firmly sealed after seeing another Balcony curved patio door installation at apartments in East Sussex.

“The curved doors are wonderful; they’re so much prettier than conventional options and the smaller frame profiles leave more glass area to enhance the view. Everyone who sees them

is stunned by how beautiful they look,” says Margaret. “Once you’ve seen them, you don’t want flat glass!”

Working with their builder, Balcony’s team completed the installation process smoothly and on time. The couple have since hosted visits from several potential purchasers of curved patio doors.

Balcony Systems’ curved patio doors are part of an award winning project. A recent timber frame construction completed by property developer Princeton Homes has won Best Individual Dwelling in the West of England Local Authority Building Control (LABC) Excellence Awards. The award ceremony took place in Bristol at the Royal Marriott Hotel on 9^th July. The judges were impressed by the high standard of design, construction and workmanship of the build, which is based in Lacock, Wiltshire.

Balcony’s curved patio doors are a key feature

Managing Director of Princeton Homes, Andy Turner says: “We are extremely pleased with this award. The brief was to build a high spec, modern property that made the most of the spectacular 180° views over the Wiltshire countryside. So installing curved patio doors to one whole side of the house, top to bottom, seemed the answer. The finished design, which combines traditional building methods with the latest energy saving techniques such as solar panels and air-source heat pumps, makes for an amazing looking property.”

Effi Wolff, Managing Director of Balcony Systems Ltd, outlines the challenge of installing high-tech curved glass doors into a home within the constraints of Conservation Area planning.

Delivering the ‘wow’ factor

The brief for housebuilder Princeton Homes was to build a high–spec timber-framed stone finish detached home using the latest eco-friendly technology and materials. The property, which is located in a conservation area, overlooks National Trust land in the picture-postcard village of Lacock, Wiltshire. Situated on top of a hill, it is visible for miles. The build had to be acceptable to planners while making the most of spectacular views and delivering the ‘wow’ factor to the client.

The solution: to build a traditional stone cottage with natural slate roof at the front and large futuristic curved glass bays at the rear, to take advantage of the 180° views over the Wiltshire countryside.

Mastering the challenge

Andrew Turner, Managing Director of Princeton Homes, turned initially to the internet and put his requirements to eight companies. Balcony Systems Ltd was the only company to respond, presumably because of the complexity of Andrew’s design. I was confident that working together we could master the challenge.

Once planning permission was granted for the concept design we sat down together to work out the exact specification. The design called for curved glass doors in the living room/kitchen and snug, with matching doors and Juliette balconies above in the master and second bedrooms. We agreed on two curved 10 metre and two curved 5.8 metre VisioGlide 100 glass doors, with two Juliette balconies for the bedrooms, all using our own Royal Chrome anodised aluminium handrails. The doors are 28mm double-glazed toughened Low-E glass, with a high weather rating (essential in this exposed location), and energy efficient in keeping with the eco-friendly ethos of the project. The living room/kitchen door has six curved panels, four sliding and two fixed, while each of the others has two sliding and two fixed curved panels. The master bedroom has a 2.74m curved Juliette balcony and the second bedroom a 2.00m Juliette, so the doors can be opened safely. Balcony’s system means there are no vertical posts or intrusive clamps in the Juliette balconies, leaving a clear expanse of glass from handrail to floor so there is nothing to interrupt the view. Although they are unobtrusive they have a permitted load factor of 0.74 kN/m uniformly distributed on the handrail and use 10mm clear toughened glass.

This project represented a leap of faith for everyone – Andrew hadn’t built anything like this design before and this certainly wasn’t an everyday design for Balcony either. A standard feature of Balcony products is their ease of installation – many homeowners have successfully ‘done it themselves’ – but this project was not so straightforward.

Bringing curved glass doors together with a squared roof

One of the main challenges was to fit the curved bays into the square slate roof. Our sister company VBS Ltd, installation specialists, working closely with the timber frame company and the roofers, had the necessary steelwork cut and fitted into the wooden frame. The roofers brought together the curves of the glass doors with the square traditional slate roof and the result is stunning.

The result: the curved glass doors allow uninterrupted panoramic views from the house for miles ahead. Curved Juliette balconies fitted on the first floor mean that the glass doors in the bedrooms can be opened and the views enjoyed in safety. The minimal hand rail, with glass reaching from top to bottom and no clamps between panes mean there is nothing to distract the eye. The overall effect is one of light and space and integration into the landscape. Careful planning and co-operation between the contractors and Balcony meant the project came in within budget and on schedule. The property is valued at around £1.5 million.

Effi Wolff, Managing Director of Balcony Systems Ltd, says curved patio doors, balustrades and Juliette balconies transform properties. They’re the next big selling opportunity for installers.

For most of its history the window market has been driven by need, the need to replace rotting, rattling, draughty, often unsightly windows. But once most of the windows that could be replaced had been replaced with more modern windows that did the job and better, the focus has been on wants rather than needs. No one is going to replace existing windows that perform unless what they are offered is a whole lot better in a more enticing way.

But this is part of a much bigger change in the market, and part of a long term shift. With the focus firmly on the sort of improvements that people desire and dream about, a whole new generation of desirable products has emerged. Energy saving and security are still vitally important, but they don’t get the pulse racing in quite the same the way a great conservatory, or a bi-folding door will do.

Selling products that people dream about and drool over is very different from selling products that satisfy a basic need. And it’s a lot more fun talking about people’s dreams than ticking the utility boxes of need. This change has given the market, or those installers who have jumped at the opportunity, another lease of life and a means to increase sales and margins.

Satisfy the ‘want’, win sales

Real growth potential is in products that homeowners want because they can see the possibility of transforming their property, and releasing the value within. For example, conservatories add living space and value to the home with the potential to change homeowners’ lives by adding a dining room, a study or a playroom for the kids for example. The real benefit of course is in being able to entertain more and properly, in being able to work at home or keep the kids happy and safe without impinging on the rest of the family. Bi-fold doors are an emerging niche market that expands the potential of conservatories and transforms ordinary rooms into living spaces with an edge, creating both the look and the lifestyle that homeowners want.

That’s what we see people doing with our balustrades, curved glass doors and Juliette balconies. They transform ordinary houses into buildings with a ‘wow’ factor. At a time where most companies have to pedal faster just to stay in the same spot, Balcony is growing fast. Why? Because homeowners, architects and developers can see what our products have done to both new and existing properties and they want to transform their properties too. Our Juliette balconies, for example, give homeowners the opportunity to install a patio or French door above the ground floor to flood their rooms with light and create an unimpeded view from the home in complete safety. Either curved or straight, they come with a minimal hand rail for a modern look. Available in seven standard sizes from stock and competitively priced, our Juliette balconies are an attractive and popular choice for consumers wishing to make their home stand out and create a different ambience in their home.

But why stop there? Installing balustrades around the home, in the home or even in the garden to enclose a paved patio or decking area, adds a really high-end, classy look to a building inside and out. Custom made to suit the style and size of property and available in a curved, straight or stepped design, balustrades add character and fantastic style to homes. And with our systems there are no clamps between each pane of glass to distract the eye, and the glass reaches top to bottom to give a neater and clearer view.

Selling the ‘Wow’ factor

If balustrades add class, then curved patio doors take it to another level. Balcony is the UK’s leading supplier of curved patio doors and homeowners, builders, installers and architects say our stunning range is breathtaking. Most just say they give properties the ‘wow’ factor. Curved patio doors add space to a room because of the outward curve and they create real kerb appeal. More than that though, they transform a building. Most products, however attractive, simply add to what’s there. Curved patio doors transform a property because they are the first thing people notice and they extend its capabilities.

Each of our products expands the potential of a home, and adds considerable value to what installers can sell to homeowners. They transform new and existing buildings and instil a touch of magic to houses and apartments so they stand out with a unique style and look. Our complete range is easy and straight forward to install and comes with a 10 year guarantee. The material is anodised aluminium as opposed to stainless steal so it is harder wearing, durable and doesn’t corrode – a key consideration in coastal areas or marine environments.

Our products are a hit with homeowners and a hit with installers, and we’re expanding nationwide and looking for new dealers and registered installers. So, if you are looking for your next big sales opportunity, think ‘wants’, have a look at the possibilities at www.balconette.co.uk or give us a call on 01342 410 411.

Balcony have recently supplied and installed 4 sets of curved sliding doors overlooking the National Trust village of Lacock.

The interesting fact about these doors is that balcony was required to make rails which were over 10 meters in length in one unit so as to maintain a continuous frame around the opening. This required some modification of the standard door system but the results are marvellous.

The curved doors replaced a facetted system originally designed. The curves complement the property and have allowed larger spans of glass than any facetted option could have allowed.

The curved doors were RAL powder coated and the curved glass used was 28mm Low-E double glazing with safety glass on both sides.

Also incorporated into the first floor doors were two sets of curved Juliet Balconies to protect the users from a fall when the doors are open.