What are the key trends in glass and glazing 2023?

2023 has been a rollercoaster ride for the glass and glazing industry. A rise in material prices combined with increasing inflation has meant a slowdown in some areas such as house building and commercial installations. The domestic glazing sector, however, has shown resilience, with many homeowners looking to boost their home’s thermal performance and modernize their homes with replacement windows and doors.

There are certain areas of the glass and glazing industry that have proven popular across all sectors. As we head towards 2024 and beyond, what are the key glass and glazing trends so far in 2023? Let’s take a closer look.

Improving thermal performance

Over the last year, household and business bills have skyrocketed. With increasing costs coupled with a national drive to reduce carbon emissions to meet the government’s carbon neutral initiative, many people are looking for the best ways to improve the thermal performance of their homes and businesses.

One of the best ways to do this is by installing modern energy efficient glazing. Interest in A+ rated glazing has greatly increased in 2023 as has a desire for replacing double with triple glazing. Some experts predict that by 2030, most replacement window projects and new-build property developments will use triple glazed windows in order to meet the enhanced thermal performance standards.

Window trickle vents

In June 2022, building regulations part F was changed to improve the standard of ventilation required in a building. Since the regulation change, all new and replacement windows installed in properties located in England must meet the new standards for ventilation.

There are several ways to achieve the new standards. Mechanical ventilation is common in commercial properties, especially those used for cooking or industrial purposes. In residential properties, trickle vents are a far more cost-effective and simpler method of achieving the new standards.

A trickle vent is a small moveable vent usually located at the top of a window frame. It allows a constant flow of air in and out of a room and is designed to reduce the build up of interior condensation and to create a healthier interior environment. Most glazing installers and window fabricators now offer trickle vents as a standard option in all new windows.

Smart locks

Smart locking systems have been around for several years. Companies such as Kubu have engineered a locking system that can be connected to your Smart phone to provide status updates on your home security when you are away from your property.

Smart locks are an increasingly popular addition to many new door installations in both residential and commercial properties across the UK. They offer a range of features from security alerts and status updates to integration with Alexa and Siri and the option to add friends and family onto your system user list.

Customisation

So far in 2023, there has been an increase in demand for customised glazing products. Homeowners in particular are looking for new ways to create a unique appearance to their property. A great way for them to do this is by installing bespoke windows and doors.

As the demand for customised glazing products increases, the popularity of aluminium windows and doors continues to rise. Aluminium is the perfect material for making customised windows and doors. It can be fabricated into almost any shape and size and its inherent strength makes it capable of supporting larger panes of glass, perfect for use in sliding patio doors.

Aluminium windows and doors can also be finished in almost any colour imaginable. Using a process called powder coating, they are sprayed with a durable powder paint finish that once set provides outstanding weather resistance and an extremely low maintenance exterior.

Aluminium is also a highly sustainable material. It can be melted down and re-formed without losing any of its natural qualities making aluminium window frames 100% recyclable at the end of their life.

Protect your glazing installations with The CPA

Whether you’re a glazing installer involved in providing the latest in glazing innovations or a homeowner looking to bring your property in line with modern standards, working with The CPA is an excellent idea.

For glazing installers, we provide a range of financial products and services to protect you in case of any unforeseen circumstances. As a CPA member, you also join a nationwide database of trusted installers, helping you to secure new work and build a loyal customer base.

As a homeowner, choosing a CPA member for your next home improvement project will give you peace of mind that your investment is fully protected. From deposit protection to insurance backed guarantees, working with a CPA member is an excellent decision.

If you’d like to find out more about The CPA and our range of services for traders and homeowners, get in touch today. You can call us on 01462 850 064 to speak to one of our friendly and knowledgeable team. Alternatively, you can use our online contact form to send us a message and we’ll get back to you as quickly as possible.