When David Proctor of dPArchitects NW required a roof window that could significantly reduce noise and provide low U-values, he opted for Dakea’s Ultima roof window.
Owner of dPArchitects NW Ltd., David Proctor has over 20 years of experience in architecture and specialises in extensions to residential properties. As such, he required products that met his exacting standards when developing the loft conversion on his own home in Chester.
Seeking high quality products for the build, David attended UK Construction Week at the NEC in Birmingham in October 2018. There, he met with Greg Beers, Account Manager – Housebuilder GBI at Dakea, a brand that has over 75 years’ experience in the manufacturing of roof windows and associated accessories.
David said,
“I was immediately impressed by the sound reduction technology. The design of the conversion meant that the windows would be facing the street, which gets a considerable amount of traffic. I wanted to make sure we weren’t disturbed by the noise during the night.”
Dakea’s Ultima incorporates Noise Block Technology which consists of several elements designed to work together to lessen noise. On the outside of the window there is an advanced, anti-noise flashing system with noise-absorbing material as well as a six-millimetre thick hardened outer pane – one point five times thicker than the average. Combined with two, three-millimetre thick panes of glass with two layers of noise reducing film, rain and external noise is 50% less audible than standard windows on the market.
David also required windows with good U-values, to allow for good heat insulation and energy efficiency. Dakea’s Ultima has an excellent U-value of 1.2 W/m2K – resulting in superior heat insulation which ensures a comfortable indoor temperature all year round.
This is due to Dakea’s Comfort Glass technology – a unique glazing construction that consists of a double-pane unit filled with Krypton gas which, when used instead of the industry standard Argon, improves thermal performance by up to 46%. There is also a transparent metallic coating on the inside of the glass that reflects heat back into the room.
Project manager George Johansen from Korten Construction oversaw the roofing element of the conversion.
“Dakea’s technical team was always on hand to discuss the product and offer installation advice. We’ve seen the final product installed into the conversion, and it looks absolutely fantastic.”
Since installation, David has tested the windows and has noticed the sound reduction capabilities, he concluded:
“I’m extremely impressed with the product all around. The windows not only look great, they are an excellent specification for a cost-effective price. The Ultima lets in plenty of natural light whilst maintaining privacy, which was a big factor for me as the dressing room and en-suite face the street.”
“In addition to the Ultima’s impressive features, the customer service I received from Dakea was second to none. Christopher Phillips, the Area Sales Manager for Dakea, came out to site a few times to ensure the windows were installed correctly and to my specification. Any installation challenges encountered were handled so quickly, and it’s a level of care and dedication that goes above and beyond the standard.”
For more information on Dakea, please visit www.dakea.com.