From Offices to Housing: Cavenham Court’s Window and Door Journey

Location	Hayes, Middlesex
Installer	Midpoint Windows
Year	2024
Product	SKYFORCE Juliet Balcony

Situated near Heathrow Airport on the 10-acre Hyde Park Hayes campus, Cavenham Court boasts 113 apartments in its seven-storey structure. Yet it was not first designed with homes in mind, having previously been used as an office block. Converting the building from commercial to residential use posed unique challenges that would affect all elements of its fabric, including windows and doors.

This was the situation facing Midpoint Windows (Midpoint), a Birmingham-based installer. When the company wished to submit a tender bid for the Cavenham Court project, it needed to ensure it could supply frames and glass that would meet exacting performance standards.

Given the building’s proximity to Heathrow airport, acoustics were of particular importance, with a strict 41dBRw acoustic rating expected on all windows and doors, which also needed to achieve a minimum wind loading of 801 pascals Finally, as part of the architect’s design, many of the apartments at Cavenham Court required Juliet balconies.

Technical Assistance and Expertise

Faced with these requirements, Midpoint sought out the technical expertise of its long-term partner and supplier, REHAU. The polymer solutions manufacturer was engaged to recommend best possible window and door solutions for the project and work closely with its associated fabricators to provide Midpoint with high-performing products, as Stuart Hill, Managing Director at Midpoint Windows, explains.

“The key for us on this project was that we could provide a whole package,” he says. “While it was crucial that we provided windows and doors that met wind and weather performance ratings including coupled elements, the balcony requirements added another level of complexity.

“REHAU’s assistance was key to our success at the tendering stage, and to the completion of this project. We’ve worked with the company for years and have a good working relationship, and their support was invaluable in multiple areas, including initial calculations around acoustics and wind loads for detailed specification plans. We all worked hard to guarantee our bid was as strong as it could possibly be, right down to REHAU working closely with glass suppliers to ensure the appropriate performance levels were achieved with their frames.”

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Switching to SKYFORCE

Though the architect had originally specified steel bar balconies as part of the building’s original design, the practical benefits of REHAU’s SKYFORCE’s Juliet balcony solution led to a change in plans. Specifically, as SKYFORCE was developed to fit discreetly into modern facades such as those found at Cavenham Court, its concealed attachment system meant it did not have to be fitted to face brickwork or render detail.

By contrast, installing steel bar balconies would require drilling into the building exterior to fit handrails, increasing the risk of water ingress and unsightly discoloration over time. As SKYFORCE could alleviate this risk without additional works while also adhering to current Building Regulations, switching over to this solution was a logical move.

“SKYFORCE was the ideal product for this particular project and demonstrated REHAU’s credentials as a whole system provider,” says Steve Tonkiss, Head of Sales South at REHAU Windows. “Not only could we assist with windows and doors on this specific building, we could also provide added benefits through a Juliet balcony that could be integrated within these REHAU systems.

“Alongside reducing fitting time for Midpoint, REHAU’s status as a whole system provider meant they could procure windows, doors and balcony products from a single source. Consequently, they did not need to go out to another contractor to provide a traditional steel-barred Juliet balcony, further simplifying the project processes, as well as reducing the lead time for completion. Midpoint could instead easily offer a solution that complies with current building regulations, complements contemporary architecture, and provides Cavenham Court residents with unobstructed views.”

Completing the Project

REHAU supplied 96 SKYFORCE balconies and 600 TOTAL70 windows and doors in total over the eight weeks Midpoint were on-site at the Cavenham Court project. As all TOTAL70 frames are independently tested to achieve the highest BSI ratings for wind, water and air, Midpoint could also enjoy peace-of-mind that all apartment occupants would benefit from the frames’ A+ Window Energy Rating (WER) – the highest possible – which would help reduce the cost of heating. Similarly, its noise reduction qualities meant TOTAL70 was well-suited to block out noise from nearby Heathrow airport, while its PAS24 security accreditation provided added reassurance.

Alongside supplying balconies, windows and doors, REHAU helped optimise delivery processes and on-site installation processes in line with Midpoint’s requirements. This included providing jigs for its fabricator network so holes could be drilled into door frames and the base bracket installed ahead of their arrival on-site, where the installers would fit the glass, external plates and other finishing details. As a result, fitting time could be reduced to 15 minutes per balcony without a drop in installation quality.

Flexible Supply Chains

Additionally, REHAU’s adaptability was a major benefit for Midpoint, with the company able to utilise its expertise and established, continent-wide, supply chain to procure ancillary components for larger door frames specified in the architect’s original designs. This included supplying larger transoms and couplers alongside additional steel reinforcement for these specific systems, while also providing practical proof of the performance levels of these larger profiles.

“We hugely appreciated the flexibility REHAU brought to these works,” Stuart concludes. “Knowing we could rely on their support network for technical advice and outstanding premium quality products, was key to winning this particular project. Beyond this, we were very impressed with REHAU’s ability to provide non-standard items you wouldn’t normally see stocked at short notice.

“This may have been an issue with other suppliers, but the REHAU team were able to take it in their stride. It’s this level of support that makes them stand out and has been the backbone of our relationship with the company.

“REHAU’s combination of excellent customer service and leading premium products has been instrumental at Cavenham Court and other commercial projects we’ve undertaken with their assistance. Their technical team are quick to respond and provide solutions whatever the issue might be, and that’s something we’ve always appreciated.”

To find out more about REHAU’s SKYFORCE Juliet balcony, click here.