FAQs

In short, nothing.

When discussing window frames and the home improvement sector, all three acronyms refer to the same product: Unplasticised Polyvinyl Chloride.

The reason for the differences and lack of standardisation is due to some linguistical differences. But they’re all the same.

A casement is the section of the window that opens and closes. Standard (often called ‘casement’) windows have a casement that sits proud of the surrounding frame.

In comparison, flush windows feature casements that sit level with the outer frame. This creates a neat and modern look, one that’s becoming more and more popular.

When put side-by-side, the differences are clear to see. Why not visit our showroom in Ayr and see for yourself?

The answer depends on what you want from your windows and your budget.

A double-glazed window has two panes of glass whilst triple-glazing has – you guessed it – three. With the additional pane of glass and accompanying air gap, triple-glazed windows are more energy efficient and retain heat better.

However, triple-glazed windows are more expensive and that is something you may need to consider.

If you’re unsure, we’d recommend speaking an RMC team member to determine which would be the most suitable for your property.

We can supply all our UPVC windows and doors in a wide range of colours and combine these with a fantastic choice of performance, decorative or obscured glass.

If you would prefer a more traditional look, we can provide windows in classic shades such as white, cream and a range of woodgrains. Or, if something contemporary is your thing, you can pick from options including a selection of statement colours such as Chartwell Green or Steel Blue.

The Window Energy Ratings (WERs) are a consumer-friendly way of showcasing how energy efficient your windows will be. It’s very similar to the rating system you’ll see on white goods and appliances.

The ratings follow a scale from A+-G, with A+ being the highest. These scores are defined by the BFRC Rating Scheme, which is also recognised within Building Regulations.

All new or replacement windows require a minimum WER of C or above. Ask an RMC team member representative for further information and they’ll be happy to talk through the performance of any of our windows.

The U-Value indicates how well your window retains internal heat. These are measured in Watts per square metre, of W/m2K. The lower the number, the better the window is at keeping the heat in.

All new or replacement windows must have a minimum U-Value of 1.6 W/m2K. If you’d like more information, please ask an RMC advisor.

Secured by Design (SBD) is the official police security initiative that looks to improve the security of builds by designing out vulnerabilities.

Our manufacturing partner, Conservatory Outlet, is a registered member of Secured by Design and many of our windows and doors meet the rigorous demands of this police-backed standard. If this is something of interest, please ask a member of our team for further details.

You’ll get multiple sets of keys as standard but if you need further sets, just let us know when you place your order.

Of course. Just mention this to us when ordering.

Secured by Design (SBD) is the official police security initiative that looks to improve the security of builds by designing out vulnerabilities.

Our manufacturing partner, Conservatory Outlet, is a registered member of Secured by Design and many of our windows and doors meet the rigorous demands of this police-backed standard.

The 3-star grade is the highest rating available, making it the safest choice on the market. The cylinder itself is tested to help prevent break-ins. It features snap-secure technology which, with its lockdown mode, prevents the barrel from being compromised and thereby keeping your home safe.

Yes. If you’d like your French doors to fold back, they can be ordered and installed with an egress hinge. Please mention this when talking through your design as this is a non-standard option.

There is no right or wrong answer to this question – it all depends on what you value. Sliding patio doors are slimmer than bi-folds and feature less frame, making for a cleaner, less obstructed view of your garden when closed.

However, bi-folding doors fold back and take up less space when open, which is great for seamless access between indoor and outdoor spaces.

The clear lines of differentiation between these three types of living spaces have blurred in recent years.

The main feature of a conservatory is glass. A traditional conservatory will have a glass roof and predominantly glass walls. However, trends have shifted and it’s possible to design a conservatory with a solid roof.

In comparison, an orangery will contain more brick and have architectural pillars that create a more luxurious feel and help with insulation. As for the roof, anything goes! An orangery can have anything and everything, including glass panels, lanterns, tiles – or even a mixture.

An extension is typically designed to replicate the existing look and feel of your home. These will largely be brick and generally finished off with a solid tiled roof, perhaps with the odd glass panel to allow more natural light into the space.

Whatever it is you’re after, we’re able to help. If you still need some guidance, speak to an RMC advisor and we’ll be happy to design something that’s uniquely yours.

This depends on your home and how you want to use the space.

If you value beautiful, unobstructed views of the outside, then a glass roof is a solid choice. Today, thanks to advancements in glass technology, we can provide a fantastic variety of solar-controlled glass that will help keep your room at a comfortable temperature all year round.

If you’re wanting a more homely feel and value your privacy, then we’d suggest a tiled roof.

However, it’s possible to go for a hybrid between the two. You could go for a solid roof and add in some full-length glass panels or a feature glass lantern – the choice is yours!

We know that the weather on the west coast of Scotland is a little unique and so we’ve chosen our suppliers and products with that in mind. All our living space products, roofs included, are designed and manufactured to be comfortable all year round.

Thankfully, gone are the days of polycarbonate roofing. Solar-controlled glazing options have made a real difference and help to regulate the temperate of your living space. If you’re especially concerned, however, then we’d recommend going for a tiled roof.

Absolutely. Come and visit our showroom where we’ll be happy to go through the different options available. We can also offer a range of flat roof membranes and, if you’d like, we can even match your property’s existing tiles.

Solar control glazing is a special type of glass that features a unique coating that works to stop excess heat from transferring into your property. We have several options available, with each one offering varying levels of light transmission, heat retention and colour.

To discuss things further, speak to an RMC representative who’ll be able to advise on what type would be best for your needs.

We will always try to match the brickwork where we can.

Before any work starts, we’ll check this with you and ensure you’re happy to move forward.

Extensions generally need some form of Building Regulations approval. We’ll help you through the entire process and work with the relevant authorities.

Extensions & Conservatories

You don’t require planning permission if the extension meets certain rules. This is called ‘permitted development’.

If your extension will have one storey, you don’t need planning permission as long as:

• it’s located at the back of the house
• it doesn’t go back further than 3 metres if it’s a terraced house, or 4 metres
• if it isn’t the height of the eaves (where the wall meets the roof) is no higher than 3 metres
• it’s not higher than 4 metres, including sloping roofs
• it doesn’t cover more floor area than your house does
• it doesn’t take up half the ‘curtilage’ – the grounds behind your home
• it isn’t within a conservation area

If you want to add a porch to a front door, back door or side door on your house,
different rules apply.

Porches

You won’t need planning permission to add a porch to a front door, back door or side door on your house as long as:

• its footprint (the total floor area it takes up) is no greater than 3 square metres
• there’s at least 2 metres between the edge of the porch and any boundary facing a road
• it isn’t taller than 3 metres
• it isn’t within a conservation area

We don’t want to give out a timescale as each project is unique. The length of each build will be different as designs and materials will vary. Please speak with a member of the team for more details.

A test dig is a preliminary dig that helps determine what the site conditions are. The results of this test enable us to be fully prepared and brief, before the start of any major building work.

A cavity tray is a type of damp-proof course that bridges the cavity in a cavity wall. It prevents moisture from permeating the inner wall by channelling it out of the external brick or blockwork.

This depends on your home and how you want to use the space.

If you value beautiful, unobstructed views of outside, then a glass roof is a solid choice. Today, thanks to advancements in glass technology, we can provide a fantastic variety of solar-controlled glass that will help keep your room at a comfortable temperature all year round.

If you’re wanting a more homely feel and value your privacy, then we’d suggest a tiled roof.

However, it’s possible to go for a hybrid between the two. You could go for a solid roof and add in some full-length glass panels or a feature glass lantern – the choice is yours!

If you are upgrading the glass to take advantage of energy-efficient glazing or panels that reflect heat better, it makes sense to replace the frames too.

Have a chat with an advisor and they’ll work with you to do so in the most cost-effective way possible.

A replacement solid or tiled roof system is prefabricated to help ensure the installation process can be completed as quickly as possible.

The roof itself is made of a lightweight and sturdy frame, insulating panels, fire-grade plasterboard, plywood and a special membrane.

A Clad over roof is sold by other companies as a cheaper option. We recommend that these be avoided as they aren’t designed to bear much weight, which is a problem when it snows.

Other problems with a Clad over roof include:

• Weight: Clad over solutions can be surprisingly cumbersome and too heavy for an existing conservatory structure. An old conservatory requires a lighter roofing system. The lightest solid roof that we can provide weighs around 31kg/m2

Tip: Always ask your installer to list the total weight of the new roof per square metre.

• Fire Safety: Clad over systems don’t meet current fire safety regulations as they aren’t fire tested as part of a wider structure. Original structures vary from building to building and so any test would have been conducted on induvial components, not the complete project. Solid roofs must be classified as either AC, AB or AA per BS476-3.

Tip: Before committing to any home improvement project that features a new roof, ask to see the fire safety certificate of the entire roof system

• Building Regulations: Clad over systems generally don’t get Building Regulation Approval due to their poor thermal performance and/or structural integrity. This is separate to planning permission, which is often not required. When replacing a roof, you have to notify Building Control (including replacing a glass or polycarbonate roof with a solid option) to check it is structurally secure

Tip: Check with Build Control that they have been informed about the impending works and keep your final Building Regulations certificate in a safe place!

All our products are designed with year-round suitability in mind. A solid roof offers a fantastic level of comfort and modern glass roofs can be specified with solar-controlled glazing to better regulate the temperature in your living space.

As always, it depends on the size and complexity of the project. However, expect to pay around £5,000 for a small conservatory roof and £12,000 for a larger one.

It normally takes a couple of days to replace an existing roof.

Planning permission is not required yet Building Regulation Control is. A property cannot be sold without this important document.

Getting Building Regulations approval means that you can be safe in the knowledge that your system has been installed correctly and has been checked by a government-accredited inspector. The inspector will check that the installation has been done correctly and the roof is both structurally safe and thermally efficient.

Having this certificate also means that if you sell the property in the future, there won’t be any issues with unauthorised or undocumented work.