Apeer’s managing director, Asa McGillian, argues that high quality entrance doors still have a vital role to play in the new build sector, despite the missed opportunity from the Future Homes Standard.
It’s been six months since the Future Homes Standard consultation effectively downgraded the opportunity for the industry to take advantage of more energy efficient windows and doors into the new build sector.
As an industry, we had had been anticipating a greater shift towards triple glazing and a requirement for products that could deliver enhanced U values that were on a par with Passivhaus standards.
And while this would have applied only to new homes at first, the long-term potential for home improvement sales was clear – something that’s illustrated by the current uptake in demand for more energy efficient windows and doors.
However, even if it feels like our industry has been overlooked for ‘whole house’ energy efficiency considerations that focus more on heating, insulation and solar PV, as we continue to move towards Net Zero, I believe that entrance doors in particular still have a significant part to play in the latest New Home Energy Model.
That’s because an entrance door is the focal point of a building, it’s the first thing that we see when approaching a property and it’s the first thing that we interact with when we enter.
These days, an entrance door can speak volumes about a home, and this is why we have seen such an increase in the different styles and colours that are available, as well as a huge amount of R&D into hardware and door furniture. Consumers want to personalise their properties and an entrance door is one of the best ways to do just that.
Because of this, I strongly believe that they shouldn’t be included as part of – what is in effect – an energy efficiency cost saving exercise.
In fact, I think new build specifiers should consider spending more on higher quality, visible energy saving products – ones that can dramatically boost the kerb appeal of a property – and make savings on other elements of the building, such as insulation, as long as the whole house is still able to meet the required standards.
The current default U value for new build entrance doors is 1.6, but why settle for such mediocre performance? At Apeer, we have 62 doors that meet a 1.0 U value or better, and that’s because we have always engineered in the absolute best performance as standard for our products.
That includes our exclusive Residence Door Collection by Apeer, that can achieve U values from as low as 0.51 W/m2k with its solid door options. It’s a range that has been designed to appeal to more affluent buyers, successfully combining outstanding performance with the high-end aesthetics.
Our Kärben Hybrid Aluminium Entrance Door Collection, which we believe is the first resi door to incorporate carbon fibre in its construction, is another example of how we’ve combined market leading energy efficiency with strength and style.
Utilising our popular, contemporary Silka aluminium finish, the Kärben range can deliver U values as low as 1.1 W/m2k.
These are just two examples of our more premium offerings but such is our commitment to design and engineering excellence, we have high performing options across the board, including 60 x 44mm doors, 20 x 120mm doors and 16 x aluminium hybrid products.
The bottom line is that when it comes to specifying an entrance door, there is no good reason to settle for the bare minimum.
A high-quality entrance door will play a vital role in achieving the desired energy efficiency standards for a property, but it can also do so much more than just that. It can greatly enhance the overall façade, present a significant opportunity for added value and become an exciting focal point for prospective home buyers.
At Apeer we’ve worked hard to establish our brand in the retail sector, but we also have extensive experience supplying into new build – for anyone looking to maximise on opportunities in this market, feel free to get in touch.
ISSUE: DOOR SUPPLEMENT JUNE 2024
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