Former Cowbridge chapel home renovation with REHAU Rio Flush Fit Windows

Location	Cowbridge, South Wales
Fabricator	GRM Windows
Year	2023
Product	Rio Flush Fit Windows

A quaint chapel-turned-home in the market town of Cowbridge, South Wales, is now sporting REHAU’s energy efficient Rio Flush Fit windows, following bespoke fabrication from GRM Windows.

Situated in the Vale of Glamorgan and just 12 miles West of Cardiff, Cowbridge is characterised by its defensive walls and medieval look, and is home to many period stone-construction buildings, one such building is a former chapel that has since been turned into a home.

Keen on keeping as much of its look and historic appearance, the owner of the chapel-come-home had retained its distinct tall arched timber windows since purchase. However, being single-glazed, the 14 windows around the property were losing a lot of heat and not offering good thermal performance or energy efficiency. Upgrading to double glazed timber windows was not an option for the building given the unique dimensions of the window openings and the costs involved.

To solve the challenge, one of the longest established window fabricators in South Wales, GRM Windows stepped in. Founded in 1979, the fabricator has been exclusively manufacturing REHAU’s windows for over 25 years.

Richard Gambling, Managing Director at GRM Windows offered up an innovative solution to the owner following a bespoke design, specification and testing phase, all 14 windows were replaced with REHAU’s Rio Flush Fit windows, finished in a ‘Pearl Grey’ grain foil in a fully welded system.

Speaking on the project, Richard said: “This chapel at Cowbridge was one of the most interesting and challenging projects we have had in our long history. There were many considerations we had to account for including the energy performance, security, aesthetics and unique dimensions of each window.

“We overcame all the hurdles thanks to REHAU’s Rio Flush Fit system, as well as the support and help we had from REHAU during the design phase. Without REHAU and their brilliant profiles, this project would not have worked.”

To meet the design needs, all windows were foiled and then delivered to GRM Windows factory to be manufactured into the unique arched style with the use of a specialist welding firm.

Additionally, the casement windows all achieved the highest BSI weathertightness ratings for wind, air and water, BSI KM 13358 - BS EN 12608 (BS7412), with U-values between 1.4 – 1.6 W/M²K.

Steve Tonkiss, Head of Sales South for REHAU’s Windows Division, supported Richard throughout the project. On the success of the project, Steve said: “When Richard approached us to look into this lovely period property at Cowbridge, we were absolutely delighted. It is not often that we get the chance to make a difference to these historic buildings, but we were able to meet Richard’s client’s brief exactly with the Rio Flush Fit system.

“With the new windows, the owner can now benefit from better heat retention and spend less on energy, to lock the heat in the building. Not only that, but they are also virtually maintenance-free, preserving the building’s fantastic exterior, while being safe and secure too.”

For more about REHAU’s Rio Flush Fit windows, click here.