Eurocell Modus is the ideal timber alternative for exposed location in Bath

Modus PVC-U windows from Eurocell were specified as an alternative to timber on a prime, exposed location near the UNESCO World heritage site.

The Ensleigh estate, consisting of 136 homes, is being developed by Bloor Homes along with another major housebuilder on a former MoD site dating from WW2 that overlooks the Georgian city.

The designs required matching fascias and soffits that fitted beneath considerable eaves. Timber windows would require expensive maintenance because of the scaffolding required to paint them and wouldn’t look great for long at the top of the steep hill of the exposed site.

However, the Modus windows look like timber due to the foil and is available in heritage type colours that fit in with period environments like Bath. The PVC-U alternatives not only have kerb-appeal, according to Paul Baker, Region Managing Director for Bloor Homes South West, but are also maintenance-free.

The windows were selected in Hazy Grey also used in Agate Grey on an adjacent development from the other housebuilder.

Paul explains that the quality of Eurocell fabricators and installers is also almost as important a factor as the quality of the window itself. In this case Bloor was supplied by A & B Glass (South West) of Tewkesbury while the neighbouring builder dealt with Leicester-based Unique Windows.

The Modus system comes with a 12-year guarantee and is available in nine solid and woodgrain-effect colours, all of which are available with white internal finishes to create a light and airy living environment.

The range is BBA certified to function satisfactory for more than 35 years and has a U-value of 1.2 W/m2 using 4/20/4 mm sealed double-glazed units. The thermal performance is a result of the 75mm six-chamber profile system used in the modus that enables the range to achieve a U-value as low as 0.7 by installing triple-glazed units.

This led to Modus becoming one of the very first systems to achieve the BRFC Window Energy Rating (WER) of A++. This is awarded to windows with an energy index value equal to or greater than +20; and Modus A++ designs include casement, reversible and tilt and turn.

The range of doors consists of 50% of post-consumer recycled PVC-U as standard, this range of doors and windows has a smaller carbon footprint than products made or recycled outside of the UK. Eurocell achieves this by employing dual material extrusion technology that layers post-consumer recycled and ‘virgin’ material simultaneously, so the recycled material is concentrated in the central core of the profiles where it cannot be seen once the door or window is installed.

You can download free Modus BIM models from the Eurocell website.