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Cube Glass, the fast-growing Scottish glass and aluminium specialist installer, has won another six-figure order, this time for Park’s Motor Group and its prestigious new McLaren dealership in Leeds.

As part of a substantial project, it will supply aluminium curtain walling at a purpose-built, 12,000 square feet showroom at Aire Valley Drive, featuring the latest McLaren brand identity.

Cube Glass will cover 370 sq metres with a special product from the German-based global giant Schueco Group, the industry leader in window, door and façade technology and service.

The new contract for a top-end client is the latest in a string of successes for Cube Glass, which focuses on curtain walling, doors, windows, glass roofing systems and shop fronts as well as bullet, bomb and blast-resistant glass. It is set to secure record sales this year of around £2.75m.

Gary Thorn, Cube Glass founder and Managing Director, said: “We have carried out work for Park’s Motor Group in the past, but this is a particularly exciting project at its fantastic new space in Leeds, which is only the eighth McLaren retail partner in the UK.

“Park’s is a leading name in the luxury car market. The work, which will be carried out by APP Construction, takes us into new areas and expands our portfolio as well as continuing our association with some very prestigious brands.”

Cube Glass currently has 14 direct employees and 12 sub-contractors and expects this number to increase in the new year. Around 80 per cent of the company’s sales are made to major companies including Hilton Hotels, the Ministry of Defence, Morris and Spottiswood and Clark Contracts.

This story originally appeared at SCN, Glass Global and BDC.

Scottish specialist glass and aluminium installer Cube Glass has won another substantial contract in the petrochemical industry which is likely to speed its entry into new sectors and increase it product range.

In a highly technical project, it supplied and fitted blast resistant windows, framings and doors to a prestigious new-build development for Versalis, the Italian chemical producer at Grangemouth, Scotland’s only oil refinery.

As part of the regulations surrounding safety at the complex facility, buildings situated within 50 metres of the fence line are required to have blast protection.

Cube Glass was instructed by Maxi Construction, one of the country’s top principal contractors, on the £65,000 project for Versalis, which produces synthetic elastomers and lattices for the automotive industry.

The Cumbernauld-based company sourced its blast resistant products from the German-based global giant Schueco Group, which is the industry leader in window, door and façade technology and service.

Gary Thorn, Cube Glass founder and Managing Director, said: “This was a new kind of project for us and we had to attend a Schueco course and be examined in order to be SABRE (Schueco Approved Blast/Bullet Resistance Expert) approved.

“We used AWS90XR blast resistant tilt before turn windows that were rated EXV(25), which is the equivalent of an exploding vehicle 25 metres away. We also used the ADS90XR blast resistant doors again rated to EXV(25).

“The glass on both these items was procured through Vetrotech, with whom Schueco do their testing, allowing us to provide a fully approved and certified window. We also used Senior SPW600e windows on the opposite elevation from side requiring blast resistance.”

The new contract for a top-end client is the latest in a string of successes for Cube Glass, which focuses on curtain walling, doors, windows, glass roofing systems and shop fronts as well as bullet, bomb and blast-resistant glass. It is set to secure record sales this year of around £2.75m.

Cube Glass currently has 14 direct employees and 12 sub-contractors and expects this number to increase in the new year. Around 80 per cent of the company’s sales are made to major companies including Hilton Hotels, the Ministry of Defence, Morris and Spottiswood and Clark Contracts.

This story originally appeared at Insider.

Natural lighting is an important subject for homeowners. There are some solid scientific benefits of natural lighting like higher productivity and improved mood but let’s be honest – a naturally lit room looks amazing.

Skylights are a great way to increase your home’s natural lighting. But which ones are right for you? Read this short guide and find out.

Types of Skylights

There are a few types of skylights to consider. Bear in mind that there are many different types of each. For example, fixed skylights include pyramid and walk-on skylights.

Fixed

Fixed rooflights are the most popular choice. These rooflights are fixed, meaning they do not open. Taking away the need to be opened makes these rooflights practice for high ceilings.

Choose these for rooms with high ceilings.

Avoid if you need to use your skylight for ventilation.

Tubular

Tubular rooflights are similar to fixed roof lights. This is a smaller, less obtrusive, circular rooflight.

Choose these if you are looking to have a rooflight in a tight space.

Avoid if you need a load of light. Tubular rooflights tend to be smaller in size than other options, although larger sizes are available.

Vented (opening)

Unlike fixed rooflights, vented rooflights open outwards to offer ventilation. These usually have to be placed on a pitched roof to be practical.

Choose ventilation is a deciding factor.

Avoid these if they are going on a ceiling with that is out of reach.

Types of Materials

Skylights’ frames are usually made of aluminium or plastic. Both have their pros and cons.

Aluminium is much more durable than plastic and is 100% recycled. However plastic is much cheaper and is a good option for some.

There is a lot to consider when purchasing skylights. If you would like to discuss a specific project or would like more advice on choosing the skylight that is right for you please get in touch with Cube Glass.

Bifold doors are often associated with conservatories. Conservatory’s design naturally offers thieves a good view of the room’s valuables and as such are sometimes more commonly broken into. This leads many people to think, unfairly, that bifold doors are less secure. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

Bifold doors are harder to break into than French or sliding doors.

Due to bifold doors’ design, the inline tracking systems can make it very difficult for an intruder to lift the door out of the frame. To remove the door from this mechanism a thieve would have to remove a concealed gear alongside lock pins made from hardened steel. Thieves would need some pretty hefty equipment to break through these.

An additional security feature offered in many bifold doors is a multi-point locking system. Multipoint locking systems are simply locking systems with more than one locks. This makes bifold doors automatically more secure than most other doors as single-point systems can be kicked in easily.

Additional Security Features

Different security features can be added to bifold doors to increase your home or commercial property’s protection.

Additional locks can be added on to the multi-point system. This can include a drop-bolt or deadbolt. The more locks you have the more secure your bifold door will be.

Security screens can also be added for additional security. This helps mask your interior from prying eyes whilst keeping good visibility.

Alarms can be fitted link any door for additional security.

Childproofing features such as child locks can be added to make your door safer and secure. Zip-tie locks work well for small children. For older children, a top mounting child lock can be ideal.

Finally, make sure you invest in double glazing. It would be a shame to invest all of this time and effort into securing your bifold door to have your security exposed by thin, insecure single glazing that can easily be smashed.