Conservatory, Orangery, Window and Door Specifications

We generally construct all our Conservatories, Orangeries, Windows and Doors from Sapele, a West African high density heavyweight durable hardwood, more commonly used to produce veneers for internal doors due to its pleasing grain patterns. We can also manufacture from other hardwoods such as Oak or Chestnut to blend in with existing building features.

All timber used is moulded from solid pieces with the exception of internal window boards which are manufactured from veneered boards to guard against distortion.

• All cills and eaves rails are jointed and bolted at all intersections.
• All roof components are cut, jointed and designed specifically for the roof being produced - no standard components are used in any area of the roof.
• Frames, doors and sashes are manufactured using the Atrium patented jointing system which ensures that all timber end grain is sealed internally within the joint thereby avoiding moisture absorption and the possible distortion of components which is common with more conventional jointing.
• All adjoining components are designed to interlock in a manner which creates a building design with a greater structural integrity than almost any other currently available.
• Buildings with a wide free span will usually be fitted with an aesthetically designed tie bar system for the purpose of avoiding building "spread" under roof load caused by exceptional falls of snow etc

Our products are normally supplied pre-sprayed with two coats of microporous alkyd acrylic translucent or pigmented finish. The building is sprayed at extremely high pressure (3000lb/sq. in) with a microporous plastic form of coating. The effect of this is to produce an extremely high quality finish with minimal maintenance requirements. Internally no maintenance should ever be required. Externally, one brightening coat (cosmetic purposes only) may be applied every five years or so. For further technical details on the finish please refer to our supplier, Teknos website.

Roof:

We use toughened double glazed units for roof glazing which has a superior performance and greater clarity.

• Our glass roof system will be fitted with 24mm toughened sealed units as standard (the optimum size for purposes of insulation) with the option of Low-e glass for further enhanced insulation, bronze anti sun for its anti glare properties and Solar Gain reflection and Self cleaning options are used where required..
• All roof glazing is fitted within a high compression EPDM rubber seal mechanically fixed in to the roof spars, ridge, fascia etc and designed specifically for the purpose.
• The roof glazing will commonly be capped with either aluminium maintenance free roof caps from the Exitex range or moulded timber roof caps for enhanced aesthetic appearance.

Face glazing

• Glazing to all windows will be with 24mm Low- e, Argon filled sealed units (unless for Listed building purposes windows are of flush sash design when 16mm units can be used) conventionally manufactured using a bronze spacer to match the finished item.
• All doors will be glazed with 16mm toughened glass sealed units.
• All glass used will be to a minimum standard of BS6206 Class A (internally and externally).
• All sealed units will be glazed directly into frames, doors etc. using low modulus neutral cure construction silicone to ensure that the building is totally impervious to water ingress through the glazing rebates, to minimise any possibility of sealed unit breakdown and to ensure that all face glazing forms a security barrier to any unwelcome visitors.
• All sealed units usually carry a minimum of five years guarantee from the manufacturer

• All sealed units form a security barrier as already stated.
• The friction hinges fitted to the windows are rated "heavy duty" and lock as the window is closed. This will deter any entry from the hinge side of any sash.
• All door hinges similarly interlock when closed ensuring the door may not be removed when locked by cutting out the hinge pin and opening the door from the hinge side. All hinges are fully adjustable in all planes.
• Windows are closed and locked with the use of a mushroom cam espagnolette which is fitted into the edge of the window and is therefore not accessible in any way from either inside or outside when the window is closed. The mushroom headed cams interlock with the keeps in either fully closed or night vent position and, in their closed position, the window handle automatically locks to ensure that the window cannot be opened without destruction.
• All window and door handles are solid cast and plated and therefore extremely strong and will obviously further deter unwelcome visitors.
• The first opening door is locked with the use of a cremone multi point lock which is effectively a high security three point mortice lock (22mm throw) fitted to the full height of the door. The locking barrel is a separate part and is designed with security in mind.
• The second opening door is fitted with slide bolts fitted to the inner edge of the door, only accessible when the first door is opened.

• All opening apertures are fitted with dual hardness fin style seals to ensure that there can be no draught, leak or other inconvenience.
• All face glazing and roof glazing has been dealt with previously insofar as it is fitted into frames or onto roof spars.
• The timber structure is fitted down to the base brickwork or stone work and to the host building in a manner which ensures that all gaps are sealed against the weather initially with a damp proof course to the baseworks and further sealed against the elements with either an acrylic or silicone based seal between all timberwork and cement based structure.
• All junctions between roof glazing and house wall are double sealed against the weather initially with the use of an adhesive bitumastic based membrane and finally with a lead flashing (either stepped or straight according to site conditions).

• All window and door furniture is commonly supplied in a non tarnish brass finish and is of the very highest quality available, bearing in mind the constraints of our own self imposed, high security standards.
• All frames, roof spar caps etc may, as an option be pre-moulded to a design of the customers choice (eg, ovolo, scotia, chamfer, lambs tongue etc.).
• The finial of the building will commonly be lathe turned out of solid timber to produce a substantial and worthwhile addition which makes a great deal of difference to the building's ultimate appearance.
• The cresting is substantial but relatively delicate in design (open fleur de lys) therefore this must be produced from aluminium since timber would not have the inherent strength in this design.

As you may know the building regulations in respect of replacement windows and doors were recently tightened. The effect is to ensure that all such items meet a certain standard of insulation. When windows are fitted they must be registered with an appropriate body to prove compliance. We must in addition prove to you and to the building regulations department that we have complied with this requirement. Such proof needs to have been the product of an independent assessment.

When we install replacement windows or doors, we will issue you with a report that sets out the minimum standard of performance of our products. Please keep this certificate with the product guarantee. Without this you may experience problems should you sell the house in the future.

From July 2013 onwards it will be unlawful to install any window or door set which does not carry a CE declaration of performance. When registering your new windows or doors for the purpose of building regulations conformity, the CE standard will be similarly recorded.

Window & Door Specification

• Construction material - We only manufacture from Hardwood. With a painted surface we prefer to use Sapele which is a hard, heavy imported hardwood commonly used for high quality joinery purposes both internally and externally,
• Moulding - We manufacture bespoke joinery so are able to reproduce any moulding style or indeed create a new moulding style should you wish. We will suggest a moulding to match the period and style of the house.
• Finish - We commonly pre-spray all items internally and externally with a high quality long lasting microporous finish in any colour you wish. You should expect no conventional maintenance routines to be involved though a small amount of touching up and refurbishment to the lower beads and cills in particular would be required over a period of 8 to 12 years. No internal redecoration should be anticipated at any stage.
• Furniture/ironmongery - Again we can supply and ftt any style and finish you choose. A full discussion of the merits of any particular type is worthwhile - they all have both advantages and limitations.
• Weatherseals - We commonly fit a dual hardness weatherseal which achieves 100% weatherproofing though different seals may be used to achieve different results e.g. ease of closing, longevity and improved appearance.
• Sealed units - We commonly use a 24mm sealed unit made of Planitherm Total soft coat low emissivity inner pane, float outer pane with a warmedge spacer and a 90% argon gas filling. This specification will produce a U value of 1.2.
• Installation - Installation includes all timber parts of the window including outer frame, cill, arched over panel etc and the fitting of the same to a standard which leaves nothing for the householder to complete. The only exception to this is that should there be some loose plaster on the inner reveals which we would naturally re-plaster then we would expect the customer to paint this at their leisure.
• Guarantee - All our products carry a lifetime guarantee. This is limited in two ways only. The guarantee is qualified if the products have been misused or treated negligently. Our guarantee of the glass sealed units is underwritten by the manufacturer for a period of 10 years and our guarantee is limited in time accordingly.
• FENSA - We are a FENSA approved company and therefore any relevant installation will automatically be recorded and registered. You should note that without such a formal registration any subsequent sale of the property will be difficult without considerable extra expense.
• CE Marking - From July 2013 onwards it will be unlawful to install any window or door set which does not carry a CE declaration of performance. When registering your new windows or doors for the purpose of building regulations conformity, the CE standard will be similarly recorded.

Click here to view Atrium's BFRC & CE Certification