PVC or Aluminium?

If you’ve been browsing the internet in search of those new stylish windows and doors for your home, there’s no doubt you’ve seen the multitude of options available in both style and material. Deciding between either PVC or Aluminium can be a tough choice, so we’ve put together some pointers to help you best understand your options.

PVC Windows and Doors

Efficiency

The multi chambered frames of a PVCu window are fantastic for insulating your home, keeping you both warmer and reducing your energy bills during those cold winter days. PVCu windows can be a slightly better thermal insulator that its Aluminium counterpart.

Maintenance

PVCu Windows are known to be extremely easy to maintain and clean, just a simple wipe with a cloth with warm soapy water can do wonders for its appearance.

Installation

PVCu is much more lightweight than Aluminium, which makes for slightly easier installation when fitting double or triple glazed windows.

Design

We have multiple colour options and finishes available for all our PVCu Windows, from authentic and characterful woodgrain finishes, to modern statement and subtle colours. These allow you to control the design and appearance of your home without compromising any of the benefits of PVCu. With the option of different colours inside and out and different frame and sash colour combinations, we’ve got the perfect PVCu windows for your home.

Longevity

It’s no secret that PVCu has a long life span, not only will they last for up to 20 years they will not lose their original colouring during this time if well maintained. As well as our PVCu windows being guaranteed for 10 years for any maintenance issues, it’s worth knowing that colour fading of your windows is covered, too. Peace of mind built in.

Cost

If you’re working on a tight budget, PVCu is a cheaper option than its luxurious Aluminium alternative.

Aluminium Windows and Doors

Environmentally Friendly

Aluminium is more eco-friendy than PVCu due to the simple recycling process, which not only requires a fraction of the energy but creates a high-quality finish making them indefinitely recyclable.

Strength

Aluminium is stronger than PVCu, this means they can have a sophisticated slimmer frame allowing larger expanses of glass due to the overall strength of the frames. This not only makes Aluminium a popular choice for large scale commercial properties, but a common option for those wanting to add that extra touch of elegance to their homes.

Longevity

Much like PVCu. Powder coated aluminium has an extremely long-life span and can also last up to 20 years.

Manufacturing

We are very proud to manufacture our own aluminium windows and doors at our factory in Exmouth, Devon. We manufacture using smarts systems, allowing you to have the confidence that you’re choosing the very best aluminium products available on the market. Our Aluminium fabricators accept nothing but excellence and any defects during manufacturing can be corrected instantly. Designed, manufactured and installed by Team MPS.

Design Options

Aluminium windows have far more design options than PVCu. We have an extensive range of Aluminium colour alternatives and finishes which can be adapted to suit any style home. We can match our Aluminium range to any RAL colour. Available in gloss, matte and satin finishes with the option of adding a textured detail to really stand out from the crowd.

In conclusion, both PVCu and Aluminium have their benefits depending on your window requirements. If you have any further questions regarding your windows and doors please contact our friendly and experienced team, who are sure to point you in the right direction. Please also feel free to visit our state-of-the-art showroom where you can see both of our market leading options first-hand.

Installation of the Month

Our installation of the month belongs to the new site – Rockfish Exeter Quays. This newbuild commercial property is in the heart of Exeter at the historic Quay. As well as replacing windows and doors in residential properties all over Devon, we design, manufacture and install for commercial properties, too! Rockfish currently has five successful sites already in Devon.

This sixth site is sure to be popular in the beautiful setting of Exeter Quay, which, is one of the most historically unique places you could spend an evening. Rockfish is a great addition to Exeter’s array of luxury pubs and restaurants and boasts marine-grade aluminium and large glass panels giving it a modern appearance. The large glass panels maximise the views of the Exeter Quay from within the restaurant.

With modern appearance and design, the building maximises exposure with its seamless sliding doors on the quayside of the building and excels in safety and energy efficiency ratings. The 5-star fish restaurant which is set to open in March 2019.

To find out how you can get exclusive offers and an invite to the launch party, visit their website here: https://www.therockfish.co.uk/restaurants/exeter/

Whether it’s the culture, nightlife, food & drink, shopping, sport or the family-friendly atmosphere, there are so many reasons for you to love Exeter.

Designing Your Ideal Conservatory

It’s common knowledge that all conservatories come at a cost, however when the perfect conservatory is designed it gives back so much more, in both extra living space and value to your property. Whether you’re looking at extending your home, looking to build a new living or office space, or simply exploring your options, we have put together some top tips on visioning your ideal conservatory based on the existing style of your home.

Modern Properties

Most modern homes can pull off almost any style conservatory due to its flexible architecture.

It’s very common to see glass extensions on modern properties because the way they fill the new living space with natural light through large single panes of glass, with the glass normally being supported by frame brickwork beautifully complementing the PVC and/or Aluminium finish.

This style is perfect for seamlessly integrating your new conservatory with the rest of your property, making it not only an extension, but part of your home.

Small Properties

A great way of adding living space to a smaller property is of course a conservatory, however not all designs complement a smaller home due to typically smaller gardens and outdoor living space. Both rectangular and square shaped conservatories are ideal for small homes with alcoves or protrusions as they fit perfectly with the shape of the house creating a more balanced appearance.

A domed roof is always an excellent option for creating vertical space without taking up too much outdoor area. Classic conservatories come in all shapes and materials, and what you lack in living space, you can make up with thoughtful design which will complement your home.

Period Properties

Designing the perfect conservatory for a period property requires a lot more thought. This is because period homes tend to hold on to original architectural features, which would make more modern PVCu conservatory designs look out of place.

This being said, an orangery offers an excellent go between, boasting a modern feel whilst maintaining a period like design.

Tiled roof extensions are also a fantastic option for extending your period property, you just need to ensure you match all existing brickwork and materials to create a seamless design that works throughout your home.

Warm in the Winter, Cool in the Summer

Making Your Home Warmer

Did you know that your windows and doors account for an estimated 25% of total energy loss in your home? This is why it’s crucial that your new MPS Windows, doors or conservatories not only look great, but also deliver optimum levels of energy efficiency.

Whether you’re thinking about buying new double or triple glazed windows or doors, you need to be armed with the right knowledge on how they will perform, as although many windows and doors look similar, they actually vary in levels of performance.

Window Energy Ratings provide a useful traffic light system which measures performance, this includes it’s effectiveness at keeping droughts out, the warmth that it adds to your home through “Solar Gain”, and how effective it is at preventing heat loss in your property.

What Makes Your Windows and Doors Energy Efficient?

Glass

It goes without saying that glass is the most important factor when it comes to the energy efficiency of your windows and doors. Our glass sealed units are manufactured with the latest innovative technology. We also use warm-edge spacer bars which are used to separate the sheets of glass to create space between the cold air on the outside and the warm air on the inside, this cavity is then filled with argon gas which creates an invisible and high performing layer of insulation keeping your home warm and of course your energy bills lower, even in typical British weather!

Our frames have an internal multi chamber honeycomb system creating a sequence of thermal barriers between the cold outside air, and the warm air inside.

PVCu and Composite Doors

Although it’s the most important, it’s not only the glass stealing the show when it comes to energy efficiency. The same principles apply with our PVCu Panels and Composite Doors which use a super high density polyurethane foam core in the leaf which provides excellent performing insulation. This maximises the thermal efficiency of your composite door by up to 20% when compared to a traditional timber front door.

Our roof glass and solid roof options also have the latest energy saving technology which guarantee the lowest possible u-values and highest solar reflections. All this with one common goal in mind, keeping you warm in the winter, and cool in the summer.

The MPS range of windows offers all you would expect from a quality system – greater comfort, better insulation, minimal maintenance, aesthetically pleasing appearance and enhanced security. In short, the MPS product range offers you peace of mind but even more it represents a sound investment in your property or project. Whatever your taste or style of home, we can offer distinctive window designs to suit. Our unique style of windows are available in a choice of finishes and colours externally and internally.

Conservatory Styles

What are the different Conservatory styles?

As mentioned in our previous blog “Choosing your Conservatory”, the style of your conservatory is a decision that requires careful consideration. Not only do you need to choose a style which complements your existing architecture, but one that’s also suited to how you plan on using your new living space. Style of conservatories have been evolving over the years, with several glass roof options which help keep your new living area cool in the summer, and warm in the winter.

Georgian Conservatories

The Georgian style conservatory is perfect for laying out furniture and other décor due to its square and/or rectangular shape, this allows you to make the most of your new living area with minimal space being wasted. A Georgian style conservatory is known for filling the room with as much bright natural lighting as possible due to its high sloping roof, providing an uplifting and spacious living area.

Georgian conservatories were originally adopted by affluent home owners on period properties, however with the world of conservatories evolving, they are now more affordable and adaptable to many different styles of home.

Victorian Conservatories

The Victorian style conservatory is without doubt the most popular as it seamlessly fits the style of most homes, whether it’s an older period property or newly built. A typical Victorian Conservatory has a steep pitched roof with a bay front which are now commonly built to last with uPVC and Aluminium options. It’s distinguishing architectural feature is sure to add a stylish new living space to your home.

Gable-End Conservatories

A Gable-end conservatory can really add a sophisticated look to your home, being inspired by the original Georgian style conservatory, however the front of the roof doesn’t slope back to the centre, instead the front of the conservatory is upright, thus creating a “Gable-end”.

Gable-end conservatories tend to be square or rectangular making them perfect for an extra living room area, as minimal space is wasted when planning your furniture layout. The Gable-end roof allows natural sunlight to fill your living space whilst the height of the conservatory gives a spacious feel to the room. They have a stylish front elevation with windows that extend all the way to the apex, giving them a strong and impressive look perfect for period properties.

Lean-to Conservatories

The Lean-to styled conservatory is the simplest of all designs. With its clean lines giving you a contemporary look, which is perfect for modern day properties. Lean-to conservatories are ideal if you prefer simple, understated lines of a Mediterranean sunroom.

You can get both a traditional or contemporary styled Lean-to conservatory which makes them adaptable to current architectures, they are also perfect for properties with restricted space under the eaves, or houses which are too difficult to fit a conservatory. The angled pitch of the roof can either have a steep or shallow pitch, meaning certain obstacles can be overcome.

T Shaped Conservatories

T shaped conservatories work best on large properties, its T-shape is a combination of a Victorian, Georgian or Gable-end style conservatory, it’s T-shape style allows you to create two separate living areas within one room. The centre of the conservatory projects into the garden, which gives the illusion of bringing the outside into your home whilst maintaining a warming porch like affect. This style can be beautifully complimented with panoramic sliding or French doors.

It’s not just one of the most celebrated and beautiful conservatories available, but also adaptable to almost all types of properties due to it’s bespoke design capabilities.

P Shaped Conservatories

The infamous P-shaped conservatory is a truly grand design, of which is perfect for large detached properties due to its combination of Victorian styles and Lean-to mechanics which can be both 3 or 5 faceted.

These conservatories create an adaptable style as it can extend in multiple directions, this makes it perfect to use for two separate living spaces. The longer part of the P shape is commonly used as a dining area, with the secondary rounded living space being used as a smaller sitting area or children’s play room.

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Choosing your Conservatory

Whether you are looking for extra living space, a way to enjoy the sun all year round, or to simply add value to your property, either way a beautifully designed conservatory will be an extraordinary addition to your home.

So how do you choose the right conservatory for you? The main points to keep in mind when considering a new conservatory are:

– It’s main role within your home
– Your existing home aesthetics
– Style of Conservatory
– Cost of the Conservatory

What’s your main purpose for a Conservatory?

This is an important question to answer early on, as many factors such as design and style of conservatory will be dependent on what plans you have for your new living space. For example, if you wanted a large new warm living area, you would opt for an Orangery, Victorian or T-Shaped Conservatory. On the other hand, if you were looking for a smaller space to use your washing machine or dryer etc then a smaller lean-to style conservatory would be more appropriate.

Kitchen and Dining room conservatories are growing in popularity with home owners, as they give a warming and relaxing atmosphere to dine and socialise with natural lighting, making them perfect for family occasions.

Conservatory Styles

Traditional conservatories such as Victorian and Edwardian tend to appeal more to complementing older properties, due to the timeless design and visual compatibility.

Contemporary and Traditional are the two styles of conservatories. Contemporary conservatories tend to adopt a bespoke design, giving a modern look. However, this doesn’t mean a contemporary conservatory design can’t complement a period property with the use of a well-designed and complementing structure.

Cost of Conservatory

Investing in a new conservatory is an important decision for any homeowner and it’s worth keeping in mind your budget before searching for the new living space of your dreams. As previously mentioned, conservatories come in all shapes, sizes and materials. Prices vary due to the high chance of bespoke design needed for your new conservatory to seamlessly fit with your property’s design and structure.

We have a dedicated conservatory specialist team in Devon who are on hand to take you through different conservatory options that best fit your home.