Conservatories, Sunrooms - Your questions Answered
Aluminium (3)

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This question answered by Tina Dunlop - Coloured PVCu has started to become more popular. At present however only a fairly small number of companies supply it. I suggest you contact the leading Trade Supplier - KOLARPLAS - who hopefully will be able to point you in the direction of a supplier local to you. You can telephone them on 01235 516703 (Didcot Oxon OX1 7PJ) They have a web site at http://www.ktechl.co.uk Coloured aluminium extrusion is available and is mainly used in Commercial Installations. It will be a little more difficult to locate coloured options for domestic use. I suggest you contact an aluminium window supplier and ask if they could supply. Most can - but I would think it's likely to be expensive.

This question answered by Tina Dunlop - About 10 - 15 years ago the "thermal clad" option - combining both aluminium and PVCu was quite popular. Today only a few companies still do it. The reasons for this are most likely both "political" and "economic" in that most Aluminium Extruders didn't particularly want to promote PVCu as an alternative (preferring to promote a thermal break option) and PVCu extruders did not particularly want to promote Aluminium. Speaking personally "thermal clad" aluminium framing would not be my preferred option. This does not mean you should not consider it - especially if you like its looks. It's a perfectly good option to consider along with PVCu, Hardwood and Aluminium. Like all the material options - it's a matter of personal choice. It might also be worth remembering that quite a number of the conservatory roofing systems use a thermal clad system for the roof rafters - i.e. Aluminium Roof Rafters - Clad in PVCu - so at least in terms of roofing it is not unusual. What really matters is finding a reputable supplier and installer who can do "justice" to whatever material is used. Your experience is quite unusual in that you have come across this product. As you say few brochures and this web site did not even mention it as an alternative. At least your question has corrected that omission on this web site. Thank You.

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Question submitted by Tibby

We are negotiating with local and national companies for the construction of a conservatory (18sq ft.) to be sited on a north wall and wish to obtain maximum year round use. We are satisfied that the salesmen are reputable but we just can't distinguish, at all times, partisan sales talk from actual fact. The major focus for concern at the moment is UPVC versus aluminium. If, as you appear to suggest in other Q&A's, UPVC is a better insulator and is cheaper why should I give any credence to quotes from companies dealing exclusively in aluminium (for domestic - not industrial purposes).

This question answered by Tina Dunlop - For sure every product has its "advantages" and "disadvantages". Certainly in the UK PVCu is usually less expensive and a better insulator. However that does not mean that Aluminium should not be a consideration - especially a "thermally-broken" version. Perhaps some of my previous replies gave the impression that aluminium was not a really serious consideration - however the point I really wanted to make was that it is much less "favoured" because its more expensive. This does not mean it is necessarily a bad alternative. Aluminium is often used in conservatory roofs (The Quantal system is all Aluminium and Ultraframe use Aluminium clad in PVCu) because it is stronger than a totally PVCu version. Additionally some people do prefer Aluminium because of its "slimmer" lines. (Others off course prefer PVCu for the opposite reason!). I suppose it could also be said that aluminium is more "durable" and harder wearing which is one of the reasons it is often preferred in commercial applications where there is more "traffic" and wear and tear.