VENTROLLA In The Frame: Issue 05 Spring/Summer 2009

31 July 2009

Issue 05: Spring/Summer 09
• Case Studies: Focus on Ventrolla Staffs & Salop
• HIP Update
• Slimline double glazing options
• Let the sunshine in
• Ventrolla CPDs
• Painting with SRS

WELCOME to In The Frame

Welcome to our Spring/Summer issue of In The Frame, the newsletter from Ventrolla, the UK’s leading traditional timber sash and casement window renovation specialist.

In this issue you’ll find news of what’s been happening within the Ventrolla network, with particular focus on the high profile projects our Staffs and Salop office have been working on recently.

We also discuss the recent changes to HIPs, our work in conservation areas and Listed Buildings, our RIBA Approved CPD Presentations and a focus on how our Sash Removal System can aid future maintenance in both domestic and commercial properties.

I hope you enjoy reading this edition of In The Frame, and we welcome any feedback you may have.

David Greaves,
Managing Director, Ventrolla

HIP Update

Changes to the Home Information Pack (HIP) process were introduced as of 6 April 2009. From this date, a property’s HIP must be available on the first day a property is marketed for sale, and can’t be produced at a later stage when there is an interested buyer.

The 'responsible person' (usually the Estate Agent) will not be allowed to market a property unless the HIP is available. Arrangements to have a HIP compiled must commence before a property can be placed on the market. However, if there's a delay in getting certain documents, these can be added to the HIP after the property is put on the market.

HIPs were introduced to speed up the home buying and selling process and provide consumers with a faster and more cost effective service. Margaret Beckett, the Housing Minister, has acknowledged that HIPS are still not achieving what they set out to do.

While Mrs Beckett has ruled out abolishing the packs, she did insist they had some positive impact on the market and have been relatively successful, but added that she accepts they are not fulfilling their potential.

Grant Shapps, the Shadow Housing Minister, said he was "stunned" that "hard-pressed home sellers were being hit by more bureaucracy, at a time when the housing market is on its knees."

Furthermore, Estate Agents, whose businesses have been hit badly by the economic slump, have been urging the Government to review HIPs in an effort to help the struggling housing market.

An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is included within the HIP and is a means to compare properties based upon their energy efficiency through an A to G rating, similar to those on white goods.

The rating is calculated from a computer program that makes assumptions on the property before concluding with an energy rating and a list of recommendations to improve its energy efficiency.

Modern techniques such as the Ventrolla Perimeter Sealing System (VPSS), installed into an existing window achieve a 30% improvement in the Window Energy Rating (WER), without the need to double glaze or replace.

Furthermore, as the system does not alter the appearance of the building, it adds value to the property by retaining its original features.

To help aid sellers in preparing their HIP, Ventrolla provides an Energy Improvement Certificate for all work carried out, detailing which windows have been performance upgraded.

Three Cheers for Restored Brewery Building

Workers at a former brewery in Staffordshire are raising a glass to Ventrolla for helping to upgrade their building.

Eighteen sash windows at the historic Joules Brewery Ales Store in Stone were renovated by Ventrolla Staffs and Salop. 

The site dates back to the 1850s but had completely ceased activity by the mid 1970s.  It has recently been given a new lease of life as the headquarters of MG Sanders, a specialist precision engineering company which services the pharmaceutical, defence aerospace and motorsport sectors.

Ventrolla was called in during the initial planning stages of the project in order to carry out a full survey and advice on how best to approach the window renovation of the landmark building.

Its team managed the project from start to finish, which involved repair and restoration of the original window timber and full re-glazing. Ventrolla Staffs and Salop subcontracted the re-decoration of the windows to another company but still managed the job in its entirety.

Staffs and Salop’s Managing Director, Tony Dee said: “This was quite an unusual project because the windows are situated over the Trent and Mersey canal, making health and safety a critical issue.

And while the Ventrolla system enables easy decoration from inside the building, the painting of a number of low level grilles required us to hire a tug boat to gain access from the canal.

It is great to have restored these spectacular period windows to their former glory, as well as helping to improve the overall energy efficiency of the building.”

Joules Brewery began making beer in Stone in 1758 and thrived throughout the second half of the nineteenth century. 

Its canalside location enabled simple transportation of Joules ale to other parts of the country and exports to America and Europe via the docks at Liverpool and Hull.

Joules was taken over by Bass Charrington in 1970, but production ceased four years later.

Slim Pickings: Slimline Double Glazing Options

With green issues becoming more prevalent in today’s construction industry, and with increasing messages and regulations to take into consideration it is easy to get confused over the green objectives you need to achieve.

The Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) is the UK Government’s methodology for calculating the energy performance of dwellings within the Building Regulations Approved Document L1A - Conservation of fuel and power in new dwellings and Approved Document L1B - Conservation of fuel and power in existing dwellings.

The calculation is based on the energy balance, taking into account a range of factors that contribute to energy efficiency within a building including materials, insulation, ventilation, heating systems, solar gains and fuel.

The SAP scale gives a building a rating of 1 to 100, where 100 represents zero energy cost. 

Document Part L of the Building Regulations specifically deals with energy efficiency in existing buildings and, in relation to windows, gives a guideline of a whole window U-Value of 2 or lower for replacement windows or where the building project includes a change of use for the property (exceptions apply). 

However, this applies to new windows but not to window renovation and exemptions apply to period buildings. This confusion can result in unnecessary cost and the loss of the property’s character.

In recent months there has been increased interest in the advances in slim double glazing as an insert solution for existing timber windows. However, there are many factors to consider relating to slim double glazing options:
• To install the units the window’s glazing rebates would, in most cases, need to be increased, which could weaken the windows. Alternatively, new sashes would need to be made, which adds cost to the project.
• The major glazing manufacturers are not manufacturing slim double glazing units in the traditional way due to the reduced butyl seal level – in some cases 3mm or less when the standard is somewhere in the region of 12/13mm
• If the butyl seal is exposed it can be UV sensitive and can breakdown.
• If the British Standard (BS) of 6mm plus spacer bar dimensions are not achieved there is a view that the failure of the seals after a period of time is more likely
• Site lines are of a particular concern in conservation areas and listed buildings. Slim glass will have a lesser impact than a standard double glazed unit

In all cases with Conservation Areas and Listed Buildings the local Conservation Officer should be contacted for advice.

To summarise, the desire for double glazing from clients is often driven by misinformation. The benefits that can be achieved through renovation and performance upgrading will retain the buildings original features and character, without the need for double glazing inserts.

Top Marks for Ventrolla Staffs and Salop

Pupils and staff at an historic Wolverhampton school can enjoy grade A comfort in class thanks to Ventrolla.

The Staffs and Salop office carried out work at Wolverhampton Grammar School in the West Midlands during the holidays in order to avoid any disruption to lessons.

Out of the 50 sash windows earmarked for restoration, two were badly damaged and needed completely overhauling, while the rest required only minor repair work to the sills.

Mary Wilmot, Bursar at Wolverhampton Grammar School, said: “We received outstanding service from Ventrolla.  Two members of their team completed the work in just three weeks, which meant the classroom was ready for use before the start of the new school term.

The windows look as if they were brand new, but still maintain their traditional Victorian character, while the rooms are no longer cold and draughty.  We plan to get Ventrolla back in again soon to carry out some additional window repairs.”

Wolverhampton Grammar School is located on 22 acres of green field land and will shortly be celebrating its 500th anniversary. 

With a strong reputation for academic achievement and extra curricular activities, the school has more than 650 pupils, many of who go on to study at leading universities such as Oxford and Cambridge.

Open up to a fresher summer

Renovate your timber sash windows and open up to a fresher summer!

Sash windows can often be found painted or pinned shut in order to combat the draughts and rattles that come with cold weather, which means that during the summer your property can be stuffy and suffer condensation due to lack of ventilation.

Having fully operational sashes means you can open and close your windows easily– giving you the freedom to ventilate your property whenever needed.

Ventrolla carefully renovates your window to make it function properly throughout the summer months, and also draught proof it in time for winter.

We also provide window hardware, such as Sash Stops, that help to limit the height your window can be opened to for extra security, health and safety.
Case Study 3: Focus On…Ventrolla Staffs & Salop (Education Viewpoint)

Time to teach people about renovation
By Tony Dee, Managing Director, Ventrolla Staffs and Salop

While some of us have frosty memories of our own school days, the need to create a comfortable and productive learning environment in the modern day classroom is becoming ever more prevalent.

Heat loss through poorly sealed windows is a recurring problem in period buildings and schools and universities are no exception.

Affected rooms become cold and utility bills can rocket as heating systems are forced to compensate for the frequent drops in ambient temperature.

Many people feel the only solution for less energy efficient windows is to replace them with UPVC double glazing.

What they don’t realise is that the subsequent efficiency gain is unlikely to justify the expense of replacement in the first place.

Damaged or rotten timber windows can easily be renovated and draught proofed, improving their energy rating by up to 30%.

The treatment also reduces noise and rattles and improves the performance of the windows while still preserving their period looks.  Better still, renovation costs are often more cost effective than replacement.

But this debate isn’t just about reducing costs in the monetary sense.  We must also consider the longer term implications of our actions on the environment.

As a material, UPVC isn’t sustainable and is derived from oil, a non-renewable and finite resource.  It consumes high amounts of energy during its manufacture and 82% of UPVC is disposed of in landfill at the end of its natural life.

The renovation process uses 40 times less energy compared to replacement and increases the lifespan of existing window materials without compromising on performance.

These statistics cannot be ignored in cases where building maintenance or refurbishment work is required.

It has been extremely satisfying for our team to work on a number of education projects over recent months, making a difference to the quality of the working and learning environment and broadening our service offer.

Ventrolla CPDs

Ventrolla helps Continued Professional Development by spreading the word about the alternative to window replacement.

Replacing windows can result in unnecessary project complications, higher costs to the client, loss of the building’s character and a negative impact on the environment. Renovation, therefore, becomes a viable, cost effective option when managing projects within period buildings.

Approved by RIBA and worth double points, Ventrolla now offer two CPD presentations, each outlining the benefits of window renovation over replacement.

Ventrolla’s work is recognised by English Heritage and CADW, in particular our unique Perimeter Sealing System, which improves the performance of existing timber windows, without altering their appearance or charm.

Ventrolla CPD presentations available:

The Alternative to Window Replacement: Renovating and Improving Original Sliding Sash Windows
(45 minutes and 15 minutes for questions)
• Alternative to window replacement – renovation vs. replacement
• Ventrolla Perimeter Sealing, Swing Sash and Sash Removal Systems
• Demonstration of Ventrolla System on model window
 
Window Renovation and the Green Facts
(45 minutes and 15 minutes for questions)
• Window Performance (U-Values, G-Values and Air-change rates)
• Independent Testing
• Building Regulations in relation to Part L - windows and change of use
• HIPs and Energy Certificates
• Energy Consumption – Carbon footprint of renovation vs. replacement
 
For those interested in learning more about the Ventrolla System through a RIBA Approved CPD, contact us on 0800 0277 454, complete our Contact Form or email info@ventrolla.co.uk.

Painting with SRS

Ventrolla understand that the maintenance of windows within a commercial or domestic project is essential. Making maintenance easier can ensure the project is more cost effective in the long run.

Painting the renovated windows is not part of our core service, as we are not experienced painters and decorators; therefore we developed the Ventrolla Sash Removal System (SRS) to allow easy removal of both the upper and lower sashes for future maintenance, such as painting.

The SRS also helps meet the Construction Design and Management Regulations (CDM Regulations) with regard to the provision for ease of maintenance requirements and has been independently tested and proved suitable for sashes weighing up to 80 lbs (36 kg). 

The system is mounted discretely into the timber sashes and is not visible either internally or externally during the normal operation of the window, therefore the character and appearance remains unaltered.

Ventrolla provides all customers with step by step instructions to ensure correct operation of the system.

The key components are:
• Removable staff beads, which allow the bottom sash to be removed within the property
• Cord brakes that allow the sash cords to be held in position thus protecting damage to the cords and to assist reconnection
• SRS block and housing that provide a removable connection to the sash
• Removable parting beads, which allow the top sash to be removed within the property

For more information on Ventrolla’s Sash Removal System, a copy of our Painting Instructions, or any other aspect of the Ventrolla service, call us free on 0800 0277 454, complete our online Contact Form or email info@ventrolla.co.uk.

For more information and to find your nearest office, call FREEPHONE 0800 0277 454 or visit www.ventrolla.co.uk

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