As consumers look for something different, solid colour and woodgrain surfaced window profiles, doors and facades are a key area for growth within the UK fenestration industry.
Many window systems companies report that sales of foiled components now account for approximately 30% to even 50% of their output. While traditional products continue to sell well, a younger audience is emerging with different tastes, influenced by a rise in popular building television programmes, highly publicised ‘house & home’ exhibitions and modern architecture that uses colour to create pleasant and varied environments. This has led to a growth in the use of solid colour exterior foils of 36% in the UK laminated profiles market during the past three years.
As colour has become more established, (Renolit offers nearly 60 different colours in its global exterior stock range and many more on a make-to-order basis), a wide choice is now the norm. Increasingly, it is the surface which has become as important as the colour or design itself to the overall finished effect. Demand is now focussed on more authentic textures to enhance the overall finished effect by adding style, design and feeling.
This is a trend that is expected to continue.
The exterior market is following the shift already seen in kitchen and furniture markets towards smooth, matt and ‘realistic’ textures.
Some years ago, Renolit was the first to introduce an exterior film with a smooth architectural finish, followed by Smooth 2 with improved scratch and mark resistance. Where colour is the primary driver, this mid-gloss product provides the ideal cover.
The new highly desirable low gloss Ulti-Matt finish was introduced at FIT Show 2017 and developed in response to customer demand to complement the existing Smooth 2 offer. It works especially well with popular darker colours such as anthracite grey and the much anticipated ‘real black’ which received an enthusiastic welcome. This new finish is ideally suited to contemporary window styles and has already been taken up by a number of leading UK system companies.
It is not just architectural surfaces that are evolving, there is also an increasing demand for premium wood finishes, such as Renolit’s Elegant ash, which is ideally suited to traditional and heritage installations, to replicate the look of painted wood in a range of colours.
Evolving further, the natural look and authentic feel of Renolit’s VLF will really impress. It is possibly the most realistic woodgrain finish on the market.
