A New Modern Classic
Ultraframe has announced a host of innovations to its popular Classic system, including a solution to remove gallows brackets on spans up to 4M, a slimline ridge and a new suite of eaves bolster bars – all available from January 2021. Not only this, but the increasingly popular Classic Aluminium option is now 30% lower priced.
Established in 1983, Classic was the industry’s original conservatory roofing system and helped to set the standard for quality in the sector, with the first ever BBA certificate for a conservatory roof system some 25 years ago. Since then, Ultraframe has continued to invest in the system and the latest innovations see Classic emerge as a modern system that is fully engineered for the large span, modern conservatory designs of 2021 and beyond.
Explaining more, Ultraframe Marketing Director, Alex Hewitt, said: “We’ve seen a growing appetite for larger glass sizes and door spans, together with slimline aluminium finishes in both conservatory and glazed extension designs. Our development team have worked hard over recent months to deliver a number of innovations to ensure that our Classic roof is fit for the future. The new system packs in the features that have made Classic so popular over the years along with the innovations that make it the ideal system for today’s modern conservatories and glazed extensions. Plus, the reduced price point on the Classic Aluminium option is sure to be welcomed!”
The new innovations for Classic 2021 are:
- Chambered Box Gutter - meaning that gallows brackets will no longer be needed for spans up to 4M.
- Bi-Fold Support Beam – a structural beam that mounts to the underside of the eaves.
- Super-Bolster – a structural beam that mounts to the inside of the eaves beam. The two profiles can be used independently to bolster the eaves or combined to further increase the spanning capability.
- Slimline Ridge - brings Classic’s looks bang up to date and is perfect for any contemporary conservatory.
- Lower prices – Classic Aluminium is the ideal roof for modern conservatories and is now 30% lower in price.
- Enhanced Structural Design Guide (eSDG) - helps customers to optimise their designs.
Explaining more about the new innovations, Alex said: “Gallows brackets are never popular with homeowners, and so the new Chambered Box Gutter – which means that gallows are only needed for spans over 4m – is sure to be popular.
Our new suite of bolstered eaves profiles has been designed for use on large conservatories to increase the spanning capabilities of the system and ensure that Classic is perfectly engineered to help create the large spans demanded by modern conservatory designs. Installers can choose from a bi-fold support beam which mounts to the underside of the eaves beam and a super bolster which mounts to the inside of the eaves beam. The two profiles can be used independently or together to increase the spanning capability even further. As well as providing incredible strength, the new suite of bolstered eaves profiles offer cost saving opportunities too - the combined bolster can span up to 5M without the need for any additional costly steels and all of the bars are only needed on the opening elevation of the eaves, offering further cost efficiencies. Couple this with the 30% lower prices on Classic Aluminium, and you can see that this is a compelling offer which makes an aspirational large span aluminium conservatory affordable to many more homeowners.”
Classic’s new slimline ridge brings the system’s looks bang up to date and is perfect for any contemporary conservatory. Available in either PVC or aluminium externally, the ultra slim ridge has a minimalist, modern look and does not feature the usual Classic radius end but has a neat lantern style ridge end instead. Available on two popular modern conservatory styles - fixed 25° Georgians and 25° double-ended Georgians - the slimline ridge is of course also available alongside the fully configurable Classic Aluminium system. It’s a perfect choice to complement the large spans of aluminium bi-folds that feature on so many of today’s modern conservatory designs. As with all Ultraframe components, the new Classic slimline ridge doesn’t just look great, it also performs exceptionally well thermally, thanks to a high-performance thermal break throughout its structure.
Alongside this host of product improvements, Ultraframe is also launching an Enhanced Structural Design Guide (eSDG) in its Udesign software. The new guide informs the customers of the maximum unsupported spanning capability of each elevation and helps them optimise their designs by choosing the right structural eaves solution for the job.
Concluding about Classic’s 2021 reincarnation, Alex said: “During lockdown, homeowners have had plenty of time to research and dream about their conservatory and home extension projects. Many of the aspirational images found on Pinterest and other inspiration hubs feature large spans of glazing and sleek aluminium good looks. We’re very excited to bring these latest innovations to our Classic system as they allow our customers to offer these Grand Designs-style projects at an affordable price point. We’re sure that this new Modern Classic version of our much-loved system will be a huge hit.”
