The county of Dorset is rightly considered one of the most beautiful in the UK. From its fascinating Jurassic coastline to picturesque villages, quaint market towns and sweet seaside resorts, this largely rural area is a favourite for tourists and home-buyers alike.
Despite appearances to the contrary, not every property in Dorset is listed! That said, quite a number are, or lie within conservation areas. In fact, more than half of the county is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
This means that Dorset homeowners considering renovating their properties may need to think about what they can or can’t do, and how best to undertake work that is sympathetic to the age or nature of the property.
Weatherproof windows and doors
There are also the elements to consider. Dorset has a coastline almost 100 miles long, which is exposed to the often wet and windy weather blowing in from the English Channel. As anyone who lives by the sea knows, corrosion can be an ongoing problem, particularly around windows, doors and exposed metalwork such as old drainpipes.
Evidently, careful choices need to be made when renovating a property along Dorset’s coast or further inland. Here at Poole Joinery, our years of experience mean we are in a prime position to give you the best advice about windows, doors, glazed extensions and roofs. Our family-run firm prides itself on a hands-on, customer-focused approach that takes dependability and quality of workmanship as guaranteed.
In almost 30 years of business, we’ve worked on some 20,000 high-quality installations, ranging from Victorian terraced properties to quaint rural cottages, to deluxe, ultra-modern apartments. In short, when it comes to home improvement needs in Dorset, we’re the experts.
What styles of windows are most popular?
So let’s look at our double-glazed window ranges and see how they dovetail with properties in various areas around the county. Our frames are available in uPVC or aluminium, sourced from leading manufacturers and fitted with excellent security technology. They’re also highly thermally efficient, guaranteeing a warm and cosy home.
Popular modern window styles in Dorset: Casement windows
Our casement windows can be adapted to suit any property, but houses in Dorchester and Christchurch – where there are many Victorian and early 20th-century properties – are particularly appropriate for this type of window.
Casements can be made in either sculptured or chamfered frames; both allow for plenty of natural light and ventilation. With their soft lines, sculptured frames are more suitable for older properties, including Victorian semis and cottages, and to complete the aesthetic Georgian bars are available. The lines on chamfered frames are sharper, therefore more suitable for modern homes. Yes, we do also have plenty of those in Dorset! There’s also a selection of window furniture to choose from, and we can tailor the size of our casements to fit smaller and larger apertures.
Energy-efficient sash windows: ideal for coastal towns
Coastal towns like Weymouth, Poole and Bournemouth, with their many Georgian and Victorian streets, are ripe for our beautiful range of double-glazed sash windows. This window design is traditionally styled, of course, but built from up-to-the-minute uPVC that blends in perfectly with the requirements of period properties and conservation areas and provides modern levels of energy efficiency. They’ve been designed to imitate the appearance of traditional timber windows as accurately as possible, right down to the way the joints are constructed. For added authenticity, we offer a range of traditional fittings including peg stays and monkey tail handles.
Our sash windows are real ‘weather-beaters’. The high-grade uPVC is easily strong enough to repel the wild winds and heavy rain that frequently visits the Dorset coastline, especially in winter. The strength in our modern design is enduring, even after years of exposure, and they’re resistant to warping too. The finish won’t crack or peel, so there is very little chance of the salty air penetrating the frame and causing condensation or corrosion, particularly among sash windows with aluminium frames.
High-performance Residence Collection
As we venture inland, we come across the traditional towns and villages so closely associated with this beautiful part of southern England. Places like Shaftesbury, Sherbourne and Evershot are just some of the highlights of Dorset’s collection of stunning towns and villages featuring many interesting and historic buildings.
If you’re lucky enough to be renovating a property in one of these places you will naturally be drawn to our range of high-performance Residence Collection windows. These look fantastic with their clean lines and modern style, and are highly suitable for conservation areas too. We supply them in two styles; Residence 9 and Residence 7. These have been named according to the number of chambers they are fitted with, 9 and 7 respectively. These chambers trap heat, resulting in a much warmer home. As anyone who has lived in an older building knows, they may be beautiful to look at but very often they can be extremely draughty, so these types of windows are perfect for such houses.
Our Residence range is constructed according to careful 19th-century timber window guidelines. This includes a traditional flush exterior and deep window sills, giving a highly authentic appearance in keeping with the historic nature of many Dorset towns and villages. Of course, such places do attract opportunistic burglars, so the Residence range is fitted with advanced multi-point locks, reinforcing the windows at various points in their frames.
Modern meets heritage: contemporary aluminium windows
Finally, we must mention our range of aluminium window designs ideal for architectural, commercial, public, new build, retail and domestic purposes. These include casements, tilt and turn, hopper, tilt and slide, projecting, fully reversible, pivot, sliding and heavy-duty windows. With a choice of ovolo, chamfered or square profile, you have the freedom to match existing aesthetics with ease.
As the days become longer and spring is in sight, now is the time to think about property renovations. For all your window and door requirements, drop us a message or call us on 01202 661299 for more information on our products and services. Or, get a quote from us today by filling out our online form.