Fenestration with eye-catching designs can help make a sale on homes

Carefully chosen windows can also help add profit margin to developments by creating a truly premium finish, so selecting high quality products is key. Timber has long been seen as an aspirational choice for windows and doors, but it is also widely recognised as one of the most efficient natural insulators available, so, when combined with technologically advanced glass products, it provides an excellent solution.
  

For example, windows that encompass 90% Argon Gas Fill and Low E glazing, can offer superior thermal performance while still maintaining the clean lines and streamlined aesthetics many homeowners desire.  What’s more, triple glazed options are increasingly available on the market, suitable for properties in particularly exposed locations or where maximum thermal efficiency is required.
  
Aluminium windows are also becoming more desirable as they present a very sleek and contemporary aesthetic, which can suit both commercial and residential properties. Some products on the market can deliver exceptional U-values as low as 0.6W/m2k – performing better than the Passivhaus standard of 0.8W/m2K. Furthermore, aluminium is also one of the most sustainable building materials available, as it can be recycled again and again without any loss in quality.
  
The choice of fenestration can have a huge impact on the overall look of the property and there are a wide variety of options to suit all needs. For example, housebuilders might wish to replicate the classic aesthetics of a Georgian or Victorian property and would therefore require windows to match the exterior. In this instance, specifying a product such as a sliding sash window would complement the building and finish off the required look, as well as delivering the stringent energy efficiency standards required by the Building Regulations.
  
Of course, classically styled windows can also be used to create a striking visual statement in more contemporary developments and there is a growing trend for the stylish clash of architectural elements in many new homes.
For example, the windows recently installed at a lavish multi-million pound house in Surrey, provide an exciting contrast between the traditional exterior and the ultra modern interior.
  
Located in Oxshott, Leatherhead, the newly built family home, constructed by Vedere, is approximately 8,000ft2 and comprises six bedrooms, five bathrooms, an annex and a double garage.
  
James Prichard, director of Vedere, commented:  “As with all our constructions, we aim to create bespoke, high specification, luxury homes and so we only like to use products that are of an extremely high quality. We also seek out materials that provide us with peace of mind that they will remain looking beautiful for years to come. With this in mind, we decided to install engineered timber sliding sash windows.
  

“For this property, we wanted to create a traditional, grand exterior combined with a very modern interior to provide the contrast that is very much sought after nowadays. Therefore, we chose to have glazing bars on the sliding sash windows to the front and rear of the property, as this created
a more traditional effect.
 
 “We also decided to make a feature out of the gable end of the property and so created a bank of windows using a four section peak pentagon, which were installed above French doors to create one, big glazed wall. The windows followed the contours of the roof shape and, with the combination of the glazed doors, it has allowed natural daylight to flood the inside of the house, which enhances the sense of space.”
  
When it comes to creating the kind of homely feel that really sells houses, creative fenestration is a quick-win, maximising the sense of space even in smaller properties. For large, luxury builds, high quality windows and doors that flood the space with light will help achieve the premium edge that justifies the higher price tag for this type of home. Partnering with a specialist fenestration manufacturer is one of the easiest ways to ensure housebuilders can access the best advice and guidance when it comes to creating impact through the choice of windows and doors.