Questions we are asked most

Bifolds open up almost the whole width of the opening, which is ideal if you want the room and garden to become one space in summer. Sliding doors keep larger panes and slimmer frames, so the view is better when closed, which is most of the year in Wales. Sliding doors also avoid a stack of folded panels. If the opening is wide and tall, or you want the biggest glass, choose sliding; if you want the widest clear opening, choose bifold. Our guide on bifold or sliding doors compares them in detail.

Panel width on the Smart Visofold is limited to 1200 mm, so the number of panels depends on the opening width. A 3 m opening is typically three panels; 4 m is usually four; wider openings use five, six or seven panels, often split to stack on both sides. An odd number lets one panel work as a traffic door for everyday use. We will draw the configuration on the quotation.

A rebated (weathered) threshold gives the best protection against driving rain and is the usual choice on exposed elevations. Low threshold options reduce the step for easier access, and level thresholds suit sheltered openings or where Part M level access is required. The VEKA Imagine patio door has a Part M compliant low threshold option and the Smart Visofold and Visoglide systems offer low and level options.

A lift-and-slide door raises the sash a few millimetres off its seals when you turn the handle, then slides freely; turning the handle back drops it onto the seals. It allows heavier sashes, gives the tightest weather seal when closed and lets the door be locked slightly open for ventilation. The Smart Visoglide Plus is available in inline sliding or lift-and-slide form.

Aluminium is powder coated after fabrication, so the choice is the RAL colour range in matt, satin or gloss. Anthracite Grey (RAL 7016) matt is the most popular, followed by black and lighter greys. Dual colour, with a different colour inside and out, is available. Ask for a colour sample before you decide; colours look different in daylight.

A U-value measures how quickly heat passes through a window or door: the lower the number, the better the insulation. It is expressed in W/m²K. Current Building Regulations in Wales set maximum U-values for replacement windows and doors, and the systems we fabricate all meet them. As a guide, the VEKA M70 achieves down to 1.2 W/m²K double glazed and 0.86 W/m²K triple glazed, and the Smart Visoglide Plus reaches 1.1 W/m²K with upgrade profiles. The glass unit makes the biggest difference, so tell us if heat loss is a priority.

PAS 24 is the British security standard for doors and windows. A PAS 24 product has passed physical attack tests on the frame, locks and hinges. Secured by Design is the UK police initiative that specifies PAS 24 products together with other measures for new homes. All of the window and door systems we fabricate are PAS 24 tested, and the VEKA and Smart systems are capable of meeting Secured by Design when specified with the appropriate hardware and glass.

Triple glazing lowers the U-value of the whole window and reduces noise, at extra cost and weight. It is worth considering for rooms that are hard to heat, north-facing elevations and houses near busy roads. For most South Wales homes a good A-rated double glazed unit is the sensible choice. The M70, Imagine patio door, Visofold and Visoglide systems all accept triple glazed units, so the option is open on any of our products.

Both are good materials and we make both. PVCu is the more economical choice, has excellent thermal performance from its multi-chamber frame, and suits most houses in white, colour or woodgrain. Aluminium is stronger, so it carries larger panes on slimmer frames, and it is powder coated in any RAL colour. For windows and standard patio doors most homeowners choose PVCu; for bifolding and large sliding doors aluminium is usually the better engineering choice. Our guide on PVCu or aluminium goes into more detail.

Yes. Dual colour is available on the VEKA PVCu systems (a woodgrain or colour foil outside with white inside is the usual request) and on the Smart aluminium systems, where inside and outside faces can be powder coated in different RAL colours. Tell us both colours when you ask for a quotation.

Very little is needed. Wash the frames with warm soapy water two or three times a year, keep drainage slots clear of debris, and lightly oil moving hardware once a year. Never use abrasive cleaners or solvents. Neither material needs painting or staining.

Yes. We are on Village Farm Industrial Estate in Pyle, just off Junction 37 of the M4, and homeowners and trade customers are welcome to see products and how they are made. We are open Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:30pm; please call first so someone is free to show you round.

Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:30pm. We are closed on Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays. You can send an enquiry through the website at any time and we will reply on the next working day.

Yes. For homeowners across South Wales we survey, manufacture and install our windows and doors. For trade customers we supply the finished frames for you to fit. If you are unsure which service you need, tell us about the project and we will advise.

Our factory is in Pyle, Bridgend, and we install for homeowners across Bridgend, Porthcawl, Maesteg, Port Talbot, Neath, Swansea, Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan. Trade customers can collect from the factory or ask about delivery further afield.

Yes. Quotations are free and written, and there is no obligation. We do not run sales or special offers; we give our best price first time, all year round.

Lead times depend on the product, colour and the current workload, so we quote them per order. Standard white PVCu is generally quickest; foiled colours and powder-coated aluminium take longer because of the finishing stage. Ask when you request your quotation and we will give you a realistic date.

Payment terms are set out on the quotation and depend on the size of the order and whether we are supplying only or supplying and installing. Please discuss them with us when you accept a quotation.

Email your sizes and specification to knm_ltd@outlook.com or use the quote form. For each item give the width and height in millimetres, the product and opening configuration, colour inside and out, glass specification and any hardware or cill requirements. We return a written quotation, usually with the configurations drawn so nothing is ambiguous.

For windows: width × height in mm, whether the size is the frame or the brick opening, the opening arrangement (which lights open and how), colour inside and out, glass, and cill. For doors: structural opening width × height, number of panels, which panels open and to which side viewed from outside, threshold type, colour and glass. Photographs or drawings help. Our guide on measuring and specifying covers this in full.

We do not publish a minimum order. Single frames and small jobs are welcome; ask us and we will quote.

Yes. Trade customers can order frames unglazed as well as fully glazed. Tell us which you need when you send your sizes.

The VEKA M70 is compatible with locks, hinges and handles from the major manufacturers, including MACO, Yale, DGS, Nico, Fullex and Millenco, so trade customers can usually specify the hardware they already use. On the Smart aluminium systems the hardware is part of the tested system; handle styles and colours can be chosen.

Sash horns are the small projections at the bottom corners of the upper sash on a traditional timber sliding sash window. They originally strengthened the joint when heavier glass was introduced in the Victorian period. On the VEKA Imagine vertical slider they are a decorative option in a choice of styles, including run-through horns that look like part of the frame. They are usually specified on period houses and in conservation areas.

Often, but it depends on the local planning authority and whether the property is listed. Conservation area policies vary: some accept well-detailed PVCu sash windows, others require timber. Check with your council's planning department before ordering. We can provide product details, drawings and images of the Imagine vertical slider to support an application.

Yes. Georgian bars are available on the M70 as internal astragal bars or as bars within the glass unit, and as sculptured bars on the Imagine vertical slider. Leaded and decorative glass can be specified in the sealed unit. Send a photograph of the pattern you want to match.

Building Regulations require an escape route from habitable rooms on upper floors, and in most cases that means a window with an opening of a minimum clear size. Egress (fire escape) hinges on a casement let the sash swing 90° to give the full clear opening. Tell us which windows are in bedrooms and we will specify them correctly.