WESTCOAST SWEDISH COMPOSITE WINDOWS WERE THE PERFECT SOLUTION FOR THESE FLATS IN A GRADE II LISTED CORN MILL IN CORNWALL
Westcoast supplied Swedish high performance composite windows for the replacement of old windows in The Old Corn Mill, in Gweek, Cornwall.
The former corn mill, built circa late 1800s, was believed to have been one of the largest mills in Cornwall and was once worked by two large diameter waterwheels, one of which survives as a feature today.
Although the three storey building was converted to flats in the late 1970s, much of the former mill structure remains and it retains some of the original openings. The building was then given a Grade II listing in the early 1980s.
The Old Corn Mill is now home to six, three-bedroom flats and the owners were looking to upgrade the single-glazed wooden windows with modern, more energy efficient windows.
The project manager for the Owners Association contacted our Westcoast distributor partner for some ideas on window styles and cost, also with a clear understanding of their obligation to the Grade II listing of the building.
Originally they were considering aluminium windows, however when he visited the distributor showroom and saw Westcoast composite window samples he was won over by the sleek low maintenance aluminium exterior combined with the warm wood interior.
They were also persuaded by the TSG180 fully reversible composite window that was the closest match available on the market to their old centre pivot ones, that allowed for easy cleaning by the residents from the inside.
The Owners Association worked with the council’s Heritage officer to find a solution that satisfied both parties.
Originally the council were recommending replacing the wooden windows with like-for-like, however the Owners Association thought that the ongoing maintenance of the windows should be a key factor in the decision making process, with wooden windows requiring regular painting which is costly for such a large building with high windows.
Fortunately Westcoast were able to design their composite windows to look like direct replacements for the old wooden windows, which satisfied the Heritage officer, with the black powder-coated exterior finish offering the low maintenance solution they were seeking.
Originally the owners of the flats were planning to paint the warm wood interior of the composite windows, but when they were presented with the lacquered wood finish, they have decided it adds a pleasing aesthetic to their homes.
The project was specified with 46 TSG180 Top Hung Reversible windows, plus three TSG180 which featured FKG fixed light windows below.
The TSG180 was chosen for its versatility for multi-storey buildings where cleaning and/or reglazing can be carried out internally.
The concealed projecting reversible hinge allows the sash to be fully reversed with all the action externally, so the operation of the sash never interferes with curtains, blinds or internal fitments.
The easy glide mechanism incorporates integral safety restrictors which automatically engage when opening and when in the fully reversed cleaning position.
Concealed multipoint espagnolette locking provides superior closing tightness for weatherproofing and acoustic attenuation and offers a secure night ventilation position.
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