Welcome to Planet South Lakes Blog

When rely enormously on our heating systems during the winter time, particularly when we are hit by a severe cold spell. It is almost a relief when summer comes round as it should mean that you can turn off your heater for a few months of the year. But, the weather being as temperamental as it is means that we cannot always do that, however it should not mean that you again have to rely on your heater to keep the home at a comfortable temperature.

You could instead look into having Carnforth windows, double glazing in Barrow in Furness or sash windows in Cumbria installed. This is because they will make use of both the heat and light of the sun and transfer t into your home so that you benefit from a lighter and warmer environment at no extra cost. You will also be producing renewable energy as during the summer we tend to profit from long days, so do not be surprised if you end up relying on your windows to provide you with the heat you need from when you first get up in the morning until the time you go to bed.

The manufacturing of windows has changed in days gone by as the majority of new windows are put together using uPVC. The main difference is that uPVC is a material that does not require any sort of painting, meaning you do not have to get the paintbrushes out every few months. They are also extremely tough so if the weather takes a turn for the worse, they can be relied upon to protect your home.

Make sure when installing new windows that you have them installed in those rooms where you will be spending the most amount of time on a regular basis.

When considering any type of home improvement in Cumbria and the South Lakes area it is very important that you get a trusted and reputable installer to carry out the work. Should you have never had new windows installed before then you have landed at the right place as we have been providing the very best in double glazing in the region for many years and have developed a name for ourselves as the best such supplier around.

Whenever our installers install windows in Carnforth, energy efficient double glazing in Barrow in Furness or traditional sash windows in Cumbria, we do so in a courteous and polite manner, making sure we cause as little disruption at your home while the work is taking place. Not that we will be there that long, as whether it is a conservatory, new windows or new doors that you have installed, we will have them fitted in the shortest time possible without compromising on the quality.

You may be wondering why we do not have prices stated n our website? This is because we prefer to assess the work that needs to be carried out first before providing any quotes. If we were to provide you with a quote from the very start and then have to up the installation cost further down the line, then it could lead to disappointment. We refuse to mislead our customers unlike some other less considerate suppliers. We will also allocate you a service co-ordinator who will be on hand during the time the work is being done should you have any questions or apprehensions.

Ask people in your area who have used our services and see what they made of it. We can be pretty confident that they will only have good things to say. Call us free on 0800 612 2255 and we hope you will be our next satisfied customer.

Planet South Lakes are pleased to announce the availability of ‘A’ rated double glazed window units throughout the Lancaster, Morecambe, Barrow-in-Furness and Kendal areas. Planet’s ‘A’ rated windows offer a far higher energy efficiency rating than standard double glazed units and Pilkington K glass.

Many homeowners are unaware that double glazed windows have an energy efficiency rating much the same as refrigerators, washing machines and other domestic appliances. The energy efficiency is rated on a scale of A to G, A being highly energy efficient and G being the least efficient. Products which are rated C or above can also display the Energy Saving Recommended blue label.

Bearing in mind current energy and environmental concerns, homeowners are keen to do their bit for the environment, and having an energy efficiency rating for the products they purchase helps them decide which product not only suits their needs, but is environmentally friendly too.

When it comes to determining the energy efficiency rating of Double Glazing windows, there are several factors to consider, such as the area of the glass, the type of profile used for the frames, the thickness of the profile, whether or not it’s insulated and also the air leakage through trickle vents if fitted.

Due to the fact the area of glass is far larger than the frame area, thermal improvements to the glass goes a long way to improving the energy efficiency of not only your windows, but your home as a whole. With this in mind, the choice of which double glazed units you choose for your home is paramount in achieving a high energy efficiency rating.

Unlike the popular ‘Pilkington K’ glass, Planet’s ‘A’ rated Double Glazing units use magnetron coated Low E glass on the inner pane, which is highly effective in reflecting heat back into the room. The outer pane goes through a special process which removes the iron from the glass to create a product known as ‘white glass’.

All glass contains minerals and iron as a result of the standard manufacturing process; it’s these impurities which give glass its green tinge. However, Planet’s ‘A’ rated double glazing goes through a special process which removes the iron to produce a clearer ‘white’ glass, ideal for those with panoramic views of the South Lakes and Morecambe Bay.

A clearer double glazed unit with even better heat retaining qualities than Pilkington K glass sound like the ideal product, but it doesn’t stop there! Planet’s ‘A’ rated double glazing is also filled with Argon gas as opposed to dry air in the cavity between each pane. These argon gas filled units are more than twice as efficient as a standard unit, and 30% more efficient than Pilkington K glass.

We’ve also done away with the old aluminium spacer which separates each pane and replaced it with a polymer alternative. This is 950 times less conductive than aluminium and further adds to the unrivaled efficiency of this product. This unique polymer spacer also drastically cuts down on condensation which can be a problem with many cheaper options.

A spokesman from Planet South Lakes commented:
“We aim to offer homeowners throughout the south lakes and Morecambe bay areas the best double glazing products available. Planet’s ‘A’ rated double glazed unit far surpasses other products on both energy efficiency and durability.”

For further information on Planet’s ‘A’ Rated Double Glazing, uPVC Doors, Conservatories and Orangeries visit www.planetsouthlakes.com or freephone 0800 612 2255.

Here at Conservatory Outlet we are very proud of the standard of our products.

This is no different when it comes to our range of uPVC Windows – Our windows are extremely secure, including options of extra locks and many different design options available.

In addition to this we have just added new colours to our fantastic range of windows. We now have Black uPVC Windows, as you can see in the picture below, these offer a great alternative to the traditional white or cream. They definitely have the ability to help define the aesthetics of a property.

Other new colours are available as well, these are woodgrain white, green, rustic cherry, gray and cream.

For more information please look on our website, call us, or if you’re interested about seeing our products in person, visit a showroom.

Today, more than ever, we are concerned about the amount of energy we are using in our homes. Job cuts, money worries and our impact on the environment are all major factors in the way we utilise and expend energy at home. Investing in energy saving uPVC windows and doors can provide a long lasting way of helping ensure that heat does not escape from our dwellings.

As an additional benefit, choosing a uPVC window that has an energy rating of C or above means that they actually help to utilise the solar energy coming into our homes, helping to heat up our homes. Choosing uPVC windows and doors that carry the C rating or above help to ensure that money is saved long term as it is a well documented fact that depending on our window set up there is a large scope for heat loss to occur.

But uPVC windows and doors cost loads of money I hear you cry! Now this is not necessarily the case. Anyone wanting double-glazing in the Morecambe Bay area can take advantage of some fantastic deals with amazing 30% savings. This combined with a £99.00 deposit and nothing to pay until 2010 (interest free), what more could you want.

Planet South Lakes have a superb range of uPVC windows and doors that are rated ‘C’ or above and also have some that carry the coveted ‘A’ rating. What this means for anyone living in or around Barrow and Lancaster is that they can have brand new windows and doors that will be guaranteed to be much more energy efficient than what is already there.

Getting your hands on these fabulous energy saving windows and doors has never been easier. With three easy ways to arrange a quotation you will not be stuck for a way to get in contact. For the computer savvy out there, why not visit the website www.planetsouthlakes.com. Alternatively, why not pick up the phone and call 0800 612 2255 to speak to an extremely friendly advisor or lastly, call in to the showroom and experience that personal touch.

The City of Lancaster has a long and rich history from its origins as a Roman garrison, the site of which is now home to Lancaster Castle which overlooks the city from its high vantage point close to the River Lune. The city takes its name from both the Roman garrison and the river.

The city’s original name of Loncastre was recorded in the Doomsday Book in 1086. Lon = lune, the French word meaning moon and caster = from the Latin word for camp or base.  So for lovers of Space 1999, Lancaster means Moon Base. How cool is that!

Many buildings in the city centre and St. Georges Quay date from the 18^th Century when Lancaster was one of the busiest ports in the UK. The city’s maritime heyday was short lived, however its Georgian buildings still remain, most of which are listed, especially those which fall within Lancaster’s Castle Conservation Area.

Owners of listed buildings have an obligation to repair and maintain them in such a manner that is sympathetic to their architectural period. This means those wanting to install new double glazed windows in Lancaster may not have the same choice of uPVC window frames as those who reside in more modern dwellings.

This can prove problematic as some double glazing suppliers and fitters in the Lancaster area have a very limited choice of frames which may not reflect the Georgian aesthetic. However the good news is here at Planet South Lakes we have a comprehensive range of double glazed windows and frames. Many of which are perfectly suited to Lancaster’s numerous Georgian buildings.

Council planning committees, Lancaster’s included, are keen to retain the cultural look of the city’s historic buildings, so if your property still has its original windows and you want to replace them with new energy saving double glazed windows, you may have to replace them like for like.

Again this is not a problem at Planet South Lakes as we have both leaded windows, Georgian Bar windows and uPVC frames in the traditional ‘sash’ style which gives you all the benefits of modern double glazed windows, yet retains the period aesthetic of historic cities such as Lancaster.

Planet South Lakes, one of the foremost providers of double glazing windows, PVC doors, conservatories and orangeries in the Lancaster, Morecambe and Barrow-in-Furness areas, are proud to announce their full range of products and services that will lead them from strength to strength for the rest of the year. With a combination of outstanding customer service, solid guarantees and bespoke design they are confident they have something to offer every homeowner in the North West.

PVC Conservatories
Planet South Lakes offer a completely bespoke design service, based on a variety of styles, which takes you right from the initial consultation in the Kendal showroom and includes all the building works, joinery and plumbing.  They will even provide an installation co-ordinator to make sure every stage of the construction goes smoothly.

Orangeries
Being the forerunner to the modern conservatory, often with a glazed roof, Orangeries prove to be a spacious and airy, yet cosy addition to any modern house, constructed with stone that will suit the style of the property itself.  A must for anyone wanting to add some old world panache, yet remain completely modern at the same time.

PVC Windows
Security is the order of the day with all the PVC windows that Planet South Lakes install.  As a member of FENSA, they take great pride in making sure all the windows they fit have the latest security features combined with an emphasis on ease of use.  Not only do they achieve this but their consultants will also make sure that from all the different varieties of windows  you choose, they will fit perfectly with the character of the building as well.

PVC Doors
Choose from a traditional PVC door to something more in line with safety and security like a stable door or residential PVC Rockdoor.  One thing you can be sure of is to get a door that is longer lasting, elegant and in a range of styles that will suit every taste and budget.  With a modern PVC construction you will never have to worry about them rotting, fading or the need to paint them ever again.

French Doors and Patio Doors
Offering an easy way to access the garden, patio or courtyard, French doors and patio doors are an old favourite and a great addition to any modern home.  Not only can they help to increase the value of your house, as will any Planet South Lakes product, they provide an invaluable cooling effect and improve air flow during the hot summer months.

Rooflines
Not a feature that readily springs to the mind of a homeowner, as a tidy roof line is something rarely noticed, yet a rotting, leaking, paint peeling one will always be spotted and reflected on by a visitor after they leave.  As the saying goes ‘you never get a second chance to make a first impression’ by having a PVC roofline fitted not only are you modernising your home but you are saving yourself the trouble of a lot of difficult ongoing maintenance.

Porches
For anyone wishing to add some extra space to the front of their property as well as some added elegance and style, a Planet South Lakes designer will work hand in hand with the homeowner to pick the best option for a front porch, as of course they do with any of their products.

A Planet South Lakes Spokesperson had this to add last week;
‘We are trying to achieve a situation where the homeowner has so much choice that we can  design a system that is truly bespoke and ticks all the right boxes to fit in perfectly with their desires and budget’

For more details about Planet South Lakes full range of products and services, to get a free online quotation or to book a free consultation then please visit www.planetsouthlakes.com, call free phone 0800 612 2255 or visit their Kendal Showroom.

It would be an obvious point to make that having new uPVC doors and uPVC windows fitted would provide several benefits to your house as a whole. The addition of these new features would undoubtedly increase the value of your home and the good news is that they do not have to detract from the external styling of the property either. In fact, by adding something like a porch, conservatory or orangery you not only compliment the building but also add more room and in many cases a touch of elegance to your house.

Energy efficiency is also another good reason for having new uPVC windows or uPVC doors fitted. This measure helps to save the environment by reducing your carbon footprint but it can also save money in your pocket by reducing energy bills.

The one overriding feature that I believe is the most significant point to take into consideration, though, is the added security features that modern uPVC doors or uPVC windows have to offer.  Not only do you benefit from the most modern and sturdy of materials but the equipment is likely to be fitted with good locks and bolts and even something as seemingly insignificant as internal beading can prove to be a useful addition to security.

Here we will look at some of the more significant features that modern uPVC doors and uPVC windows have to offer.

Internal Beading
At the end of the day a double glazed window is not designed to survive a sustained attack. After all, the emergency services need to gain quick access into your home if need be, but the idea of having modern windows fitted would be to deter the opportunist thief.  Older double glazed windows had the beading fitted on the outside of the glass, meaning that a potential burglar could pop out the plastic seal around the frame with a screwdriver and literally remove the entire unit.

Nowadays internal beading is fitted pretty much as standard which takes away this option.  If somebody wanted to break into your house with modern uPVC windows fitted they would literally have to smash the glass thus creating a lot of noise and bringing the attention of the neighbours to the fact that something was wrong.

Fire Safety
Having new uPVC windows fitted opens up the opportunity to make the house safer in the incidence of fire as well as improving the security of the property.  If you use a company that offers a bespoke design service you can make sure that they run through all the features and benefits of fitting windows within certain areas of the property that would allow for a quick escape during the rare instance of a fire in the home.  By having new windows fitted you are not only benefiting from all the points above, but it could also be the difference between life and death for you and your family.

Modern Locks and Bolts
Older doors in particular only have one lock that clicks into the frame at the middle of the door, making it easier for an intruder to force his way into the property.  The newest doors however have things such as multiple locking points, barrel locks with an anti drill design and anti-lift pins and hinge protectors, literally designed to prevent a would be burglar from lifting doors (especially in the case of an older conservatory or sliding patio door) right off their hinges.  These many added security features of modern uPVC windows and uPVC doors have evolved over the last 20-30 years of trial and error.

A process of developing technologies that would beat the ever increasing ingenuity of the burglar has led to the development of ever more secure locks and bolts to be added.  A burglar tends to be opportunistic and will deliberately seek out a soft target.  The best way to send out a message to them is to have new windows and doors fitted so they do not even give your property a second glance after noticing how the fittings look rock solid from the outside.

To explore your options the best step forward would be to book a session with a company that offers a bespoke design service.  There are a few good companies out there that offer this and not only will you be able be able to come up with a plan that suites the style of your building, takes into such external factors like a risk assessment of your property to determine the weak points but will also take into consideration your budget.

The real benefits of Planet’s ‘A’ Rated Windows

Choose Planet’s NEW ‘A’ Rated Double Glazed Windows – we guarantee you won’t be disappointed!

A NEW action plan designed to boost the economy of Cumbria will be presented to keynote speaker Lord Mandelson and delegates at the Cumbria Economic Summit 2009 on Friday (February 20).

The Cumbria Sub Regional Action Plan contains 20 priority regeneration projects that will either progress or be completed over the next three years, and in the long term could create more than 11,000 new jobs.

The Action Plan, along with the Cumbria Economic Strategy, has been produced by economic development agency Cumbria Vision and partner organisations in the public and private sector to set a clear direction for the County’s economic renaissance.

The documents will be presented to Lord Mandelson, Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, and around 250 delegates from public sector organisations and local, national and international businesses who will gather at Sellafield Visitor Centre for the summit. The Cumbria Economic Summit 2009 is being staged by Cumbria Vision and the Northwest Regional Development Agency to showcase achievements to date and outline plans for the future.

Roger Liddle, Chair of Cumbria Vision, said: “This is a tough time for business in Cumbria: there’s no hiding place from the impact of the most severe global recession since the Second World War. However, as a County we can weather storm better than many other places by concentrating our efforts on our unique strengths: using our skills in energy and nuclear to help the nation meet the looming challenges of energy security and climate change; and raising the quality of “Destination Cumbria” as a place to live, work, visit and invest.

“Our Action Plan focuses our efforts on projects that will advance those aims. From now on we need focus, drive and action. We need to take the emphasis away from strategy and plough ahead with delivery on the ground.”

The Sub Regional Action Plan aims to improve the economic performance by building on Cumbria’s two unique strengths – energy and “destination” – but recognises their full potential will only be realised with support from other sectors. These include education, skills and research; business, enterprise, and employment; investment in infrastructure and the rural economy.

Major regeneration projects contained within the Action Plan include the development of Carlisle Airport; Penrith New Squares; a new hospital for West Cumbria; nuclear new build at Sellafield; improvements around Lake Windermere; The Waterfront Barrow-in-Furness residential and business development; and the new K Village premises in Kendal. This year will see the Energus skills and training facility open to students, a key project contained in the £2 billion Britain’s Energy Coast™ Masterplan for West Cumbria; while work will be completed on the Waterfront Business Park, part of the £200 million The Waterfront Barrow-in-Furness development.

These regeneration projects for Cumbria will feature in a series of video showcases and presentations from high profile speakers focusing on those industry sectors of most importance to Cumbria’s economy. Speakers joining Lord Mandelson this year include Dr Ian Hudson, Sellafield Programme Manager, Nuclear Decommissioning Authority; George Beveridge, Deputy Managing Director, Sellafield Ltd; Duncan Burt, Customer Services Manager – Transmission Commercial, National Grid; Simon Berry, Chairman and Managing Director of English Lakes Hotels Ltd; Beverley Blevans, Contact Centre Manager (Lillyhall) Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs; Dr Eunice Simmons, Dean of Science & Natural Resources, University of Cumbria; Cllr Tim Knowles, portfolio holder for Economy, Cumbria County Council; Andrew Tinkler, Chief Executive, Stobart Group; and Alistair Wannop, Dairy farmer and owner of Eden Golf Course.

There will also be speeches from Roger Liddle, Richard Greenwood, Chief Executive of Cumbria Vision, and Professor John Fyfe, international specialist in creating partnerships. Broadcaster Fiona Armstrong will compere the summit.

The Cumbria Economic Summit will also be an opportunity to hear about the main issues that are likely to be addressed by the Regional Strategy – the region’s first single integrated strategy which will bring together spatial, economic, social and environmental strategies to build a new long term vision for the prosperity of the North West region. It is currently being developed by the NWDA and 4NW, the Regional Leaders Forum, together with assistance from the Regional Strategy Advisory Group, which comprises of members of the public and representatives from the private, voluntary and community sectors.

Bryan Gray, Chairman of the Northwest Regional Development Agency, said: “While the economic downturn means Cumbria faces new challenges, these significant changes also present new opportunities. With unique strengths in energy and nuclear, Cumbria is in a strong position to continue to succeed in the global market. It’s clear that all of our partners in Cumbria have a shared vision and are determined to work together to ensure that the priorities we have identified become a reality.”

Cumbria Vision was established by the Northwest Regional Development Agency in 2005 to galvanise the public and private sector in Cumbria and create a single direction to the County’s significant regeneration agenda, which spans both urban and rural concerns.

Since then Cumbria Vision has helped to establish the University of Cumbria; completed the £40 million Rural Regeneration Cumbria programme to tackle the effects of the 2001 Foot & Mouth Disease outbreak, and progressed the Britain’s Energy Coast™ Masterplan –a £2 billion package of regeneration projects that build on West Cumbria’s nuclear expertise to create a hub for renewable energy production to serve both local communities and the UK. Other projects which have received substantial support include plans by Stobart Air Ltd to revamp Carlisle Airport, and ambitious proposals to bring a prestigious leisure and commercial development to Derwent Forest, near Cockermouth – one of the largest brownfield sites available for development in the UK.

Source: Westmorland Gazette – www.thewestmorlandgazette.co.uk