Sheerline

When contractors Waller Associates contacted fabricators Swan Doors & Windows Ltd (Swan) about a project to replace the existing windows and doors at a traditional grammar school in Kent, Swan knew exactly who to recommend for the job. Sheerline had the ideal solution to transform the look of Borden Grammar School’s building with its Prestige range of aluminium windows and doors, without compromising on safety or thermal efficiency. Challenges and ObjectivesThe aim of this project was to replace the existing sliding sash windows throughout the school. At 20 years old, there were safety concerns as the springs controlling the movement of the sash windows had begun to fail, meaning a window could fall at any time if it was open. In addition, the windows and doors were not as thermally efficient as modern options.As the project was due to start and be completed over the summer holidays, it was important that everything was manufactured to the correct specification and delivered on time, so the overall project deadlines were adhered to. Another consideration was the style and colour of window frames, which had to be in keeping with the character of the school and match the other buildings.Sheerline offers two choices for customers as standard, which are Part L Compliant. The Classic range, which offers slim, ultra-secure aluminium windows in 12 colours, and the Prestige range, which offers innovative, high-performance aluminium windows. After a period of consultation, the school chose a different style of window instead of replacing like for like. They opted for the Prestige aluminium window frames in Gloss White for their contemporary Georgian style glazing.Key features of the Prestige range include a patented corner assembly method to save time and reduce waste, which ultimately saves money. It also enhances the frame corners to eliminate problems with misalignment. The frames offer exceptional thermal performance as they have a U-value as low as 0.9W/(m2K) with triple glazing or 1.3W/(m2K) double glazed.How Sheerline helpedBoth Waller Associates and Swan regularly carry out works for schools, commercial, and public buildings, but they didn’t have much experience of working with Sheerline, which gave the team an opportunity to showcase their quality easy-to-install products. Sheerline was selected to support the project because of the overall quality of its product and the availability.As Sheerline manufacturers and paints everything in-house, as well as having its own fleet of delivery vehicles, the team met the tight project deadlines. In addition, to streamline the project, Sheerline provided on-site technical support for Swan’s first few jobs to ensure all operatives were trained appropriately and that the product was fabricated correctly. This help was invaluable to Swan and expedited the installation process. Sheerline aims to support all customers, whether they are home or business owners, contractors, or fabricators.ResultsWith input from Wallers Associates, Swan, and Sheerline, the overall result has enhanced the look of the building to give it a brighter contemporary feel. In addition, changing to 50/50 top opening sash windows means they are easier to operate and improve the safety of the windows. The thermal efficiency has drastically improved, which is key when organisations and individuals alike are becoming more energy conscious.The fabricators at Swan particularly appreciated the quality of the profiles and the feel of the windows in operation – they required little to no adjustment and worked straight away. The school was very pleased with the windows and how they have transformed the look of the building.

The primary aim of the project was to transform the appearance of the property by creating a softer, more traditional look. They wanted super slim sightlines, flushwindows (the profile of the sash sits flat so there are no protruding areas) and different colours for the exterior and interior. Due to the style and character of the property, They knew that a dark colour frame, such as anthracite grey, although an extremely popular colour choice, could have been overwhelming. Instead opting for Agate Grey - one of Sheerlines stocked colours.The thermal efficiency of the new windows and doors means they will also save money on their energy bills both now and in the future.The family’s expectations have been exceeded throughout the project because of the features and quality Sheerline offers as standard. This includes high-performance U-values, exceptional thermal efficiency thanks to Sheerline’sproprietary Thermlock® technology, and the fact Sheerline’sproducts prioritise style without compromising on security or sustainability.

A collaboration between one of Derby’s oldest charities, the Liversage Trust, Matthew Montague Architects, and Sheerline highlights how to sympathetically renovate a property in a conservation area with heritage-style windows and doors that offer contemporary benefits.Project objectives:The primary aim of the project was to transform a redundant building on Alice Street, turning it into a purpose-built headquarters for the charity. The intention was to not only provide a viable work space, but to enhance the Trust’s portfolio, securing its future. Another key element was the overall look and style of the building. As the unused site was built in the 1930s with an industrial aesthetic, and is within a conservation area, it was key that the new offices kept the heritage look associated with the buildings’ historic background.While historical preservation was an important aspect, it was also key to integrate sustainable materials. This not only reflects contemporary design trends and improved building regulations but will also ensure the offices are as energy efficient as possible.The specifics:Matthew Montague Architects secured planning permission to transform the building, but they needed to find a reliable window and door manufacturer that could adhere to the exacting requirements of the project while also coming within the project budget.Sheerline was selected because the products suited the age and style of the building and met the requirements set out by the Conservation Officer (they specified the heritage style windows and doors must be in keeping with the area).In addition, Sheerline’s products offered exceptional value for money, particularly when considering the features and benefits of the products included as standard. Another key advantage was the range of frame profiles and design options available.Sheerline’s solution:Every product installed was chosen from Sheerline’s Classic range because of the ultra slim sightlines that maximise natural light within a building without compromising on thermal efficiency because of Sheerline’s proprietary Thermlock® technology.To add to the character aesthetics, the team opted to add 25mm Georgian bars to the windows. In total, one Classic Heritage Door and 23 Classic windows were installed in Jet Black (RAL 9005), which was one of Sheerline’s most popular colours in 2024. Sheerline expects the combination of black heritage-style products to remain hugely popular this year. Partly because of the demand for internal partitions and upgraded external doors, and also because of social media and the availability of beautiful, inspirational installation images. The result:Collaboration is key for many of the projects Sheerline supports, and this project was no different. Thanks to the efforts of everyone involved, the premises on Alice Street have been transformed into a beautiful, usable, working space for the charity.The building has retained its character while meeting the conservation area requirements due to Sheerline’s stylish yet practical Classic range. The use of sustainable materials will also ensure the longevity of the building for years to come.As an agile supplier, Sheerline was able to turnaround the order quickly, which contributed to the project being delivered ahead of schedule and in budget. This meant the Trust could continue to focus on supporting families and individuals around Derby.

Waller Services (Wallers) was awarded the contract of work with Swale Council after taking part in a competitive tender process.They knew Sheerline was the ideal partner because of the specifications of the project, which is why they recommended them.There were several objectives that had to be met as part of this collaborative project. The window replacement works were primarily required to improve the thermal efficiency of the building as part of the council’s Thermal Upgrade Scheme, which is designed to reduce the council’s carbon footprint.This will enable the council to minimise its’ impact on climate change. The plan includes everything from upgrading the windows and doors at the council’s main building to upgrading all the lights to LED bulbs, using renewal energy, and eliminating single-use plastics.They requested a robust and proven aluminium system to replace what they already had, as aside from thermal efficiency, the aluminium windows were original.As a result, part of the remit was to enhance the overall look of the building by using modern windows in a contemporary colour.The prestige range was chosen for this project as it is easy to fabricate and install because of Sheerlines patented corner assembly method.This timesaving approach enables the windows to be made on one bench, reducing wastage, and eliminating issues with frames misalignment. This combination of factors makes the prestige range ideal for large-scale commercial projects.Thermal efficiency was a key specification of this project because the windows were original to the building, which was completed in the 1970’s, so they where only single glazed. Sheerline’s Prestige range offers U-values as low as 1.3W/(m2 K) when double glazed, contributing to an A+ WER (Window Energy Rating)