CAB Reports on the Continued Rise in Use of Aluminium in Building

Since the early 1960’s aluminium framed ‘shopfront’ doors have been used extensively in shopping centres, public buildings and offices. Initially, anodised in silver, bronze or black, these doors were easy to construct with cleats which were bolted or welded together offering high strength, high traffic doors. So robust was their initial design that little has changed in their overall design during the last sixty years. Now available with concealed overhead closers and thermal breaks, we still specify these systems where high traffic is expected through a manually operated door.

Residential doors from the same period were made from timber in a wide range of designs which is possible with such a flexible material. Timber doors require regular maintenance and repainting to offer a lifetime of service. Twenty or so years ago we began to see composite doors copy traditional timber designs and offer high thermal insulation, low maintenance doors coupled with PVC frames. These have continued to improve over the years and are fitted on many new and existing residential properties.

Aluminium framed windows and doors have made a significant comeback over the last couple of decades with the majority of PVC systems companies now offering aluminium residential systems alongside PVC. Aluminium systems today are now seen by the wider public as a premium choice for homeowners over the basic choice of PVC for windows and doors. Timber framed windows and doors are rarely specified today unless there is a conservation requirement.

Aluminium framed residential doors are nothing new, they have been used in the home improvement industry for decades, often being supplied in pre-machined kits for assembly, but premium modern aluminium panel doors are now beginning to adorn properties across the UK, breaking away from the traditional timber style composite doors and breaking with the past.

These modern, stylish aluminium doors compliment aluminium framed windows and can be provided in both standard and bespoke designs. With high insulation cores for the door panel and high performance thermal breaks for the aluminium framing, high thermal performance of the overall door designs can be achieved alongside low air permeability and using the latest hardware systems available, offer excellent levels of security. With a very wide choice of powder coating colours or the option of anodising, an aluminium panel door can be as unique as the property owner.

Whilst these modern designs of aluminium front doors are growing in popularity in the UK over the old traditional timber designs, they have been used on the continent for many years. European systems companies have been supplying doors to these bespoke modern designs and as a result, are very well engineered and with minimal maintenance, will last much longer than a timber or PVC framed composited door. Many UK based aluminium systems companies have taken these European designs and now offer further enhancements on the design to suit the UK market.

Hardware plays a big part in any door design and with some of the new innovations in hinge and locking systems, further enhances the aluminium door options. Some of these advancements in hardware design were on display at the recent FIT Show in Birmingham.

One of the main options required by homeowners is the appearance and feel of the hardware on operating the door. Solid metal construction gives the door a well engineered, quality feel and offers the ability to specify stainless steel or solid aluminium pull handles in a a wide range of designs and styles. Together with various aluminium threshold options offers access for wheelchairs whilst maintaining acceptable levels of weather performance.

Aluminium tooling, needed to produce the extruded profiles, is cost effective and quick to produce, as a result, new profiles to accept new options such as hardware can be accommodated quickly into new product designs. Utilising the very best of UK aluminium engineering excellence, as provided by member of CAB, expect to see further innovation in residential aluminium main entrance doors in the near future.

Should you wish to learn more about the use of aluminium, please contact CAB directly, or why not consider joining the Association and be recognised as being involved in supporting your Industry and helping too shape its future. More information on our website at c-a-b.org.uk