How plastic can help save our heritage
Posted on 05/06/2012
Willie Kerr, managing director of Roseview Windows responds to Dr. Simon Thurley's recent article damning PVC-U windows in the Financial Times .
I am sure many of you will have read the now infamous article by Dr. Simon Thurley, chief executive of the English Heritage, published in a recent online edition of the Financial Times.
His article attacks PVC-U windows on a number of fronts, questioning the material's "green credentials", aesthetics and performance and stating that consumers installing these windows were "damaging the planet".
However, the Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) and the British Plastic Federation (BPF) have both issued statements that highlight inaccuracies contained within the article and as the UK's longest established manufacturer of PVC-U vertical sliding sash windows, Roseview Windows would also like to tackle some of the points raised.
Let us begin with aesthetics. In his article, Simon Thurley states: "The most serious damage to the cultural value of historic areas, mostly town and village centres, is the installation of plastic windows (normally made from un-plasticised polyvinyl chloride or PVC-U). Despite attempts at improving the design of these windows, they are instantly recognisable because they cannot imitate historic mouldings, glazing bars and proportions."
Thurley is clearly referring to the mock PVC-U casements that poorly replicate timber and has probably never seen a premium quality sash window. The best PVC-U sash windows incorporate deep mechanical jointed bottom rails, slim putty line sightlines and authentic astragal bars and are virtually indistinguishable from timber windows. Many are available in a range of woodgrain foils, such as white woodgrain, cream woodgrain, rosewood and golden oak and some even have polished the welds, replicating the look of a wooden frame.
Thurley would no doubt be surprised to learn some PVC-U sash windows come equipped with an authentic run-through sash horn, one of the most difficult features to replicate in PVC-U. Roseview Windows, for example, invested significant capital in tooling, injection moulding products and mechanical reinforcement sections to enable us to offer this much sought-after feature on our Heritage and Charisma Rose windows, further improving the aesthetic appeal of our products.
Run-through sash horns are popular with conservation officers and the availability of the feature is one of the reasons PVC-U sash windows are increasingly being installed in sensitive conservation areas. In fact, had Simon Thurley done his homework, he would know that Roseview itself has had its premium PVC-U sash windows accepted in no less than 28 conservation areas, including the Royal Borough of Chelsea and Kensington and the Lake District National Park, to name just two.
As for PVC-U windows "damaging the planet", Thurley could not be further from the truth. Moderm PVC-U is very effective at keeping the cold out and the warmth in and significantly helps lower home owners' CO2 emissions and energy bills.
The GGF acknowledges this fact in its letter of response to Simon Thurley, stating that: "By replacing single glazed timber windows with "A" or "A+" graded PVC-U windows, you could be saving up to £325.36 a year, in addition to savings of 2.20 tonnes of Carbon (these results have been generated by the GGF's Energy Saving Calculator)".
Many PVC-U sash windows are available with an "A" window energy rating (WER) certificate, meaning home owners can turn down their heating systems without relying on thick curtains or secondary glazing to insulate their property.
It's hardly surprising that Thurley does not mention the maintenance issues surrounding wooden windows in his article. Timber windows rattle, peel and rot and owners need to take good care of them to ensure that they perform well year after year.
PVC-U windows, on the other hand, are a "fit and forget" product and do not succumb to any of the maintenance issues associated with timber. PVC-U simply needs a quick wipe with a damp cloth to remove any dirty marks, offers a lifespan of up to 35 years and can be recycled an impressive 10 times.
It is a real shame to see derogatory articles published in the mainstream media and, following the GGF's letter, we hope Simon Thurley will retract some of his statements in order to set the record straight. Whether he does or not, the publication of the article highlights how important it is for systems companies, fabricators and installers to pull together and educate consumers on the benefits of PVC-U.
Roseview recognises this need and we have recently developed a new marketing package that will help installers communicate the benefits of PVC-U sash windows to consumers. PVC-U windows are eco-friendly, low maintenance and - when manufactured correctly - offer the same aesthetic charm as timber windows. Ultimately, we want our customers to have the tools to sell these features and overcome any prejudice attitudes they may face.
