A former window manufacturing executive has set up as the first specialist reseller-installer of British Woodworking Federation (BWF) accredited timber windows for the consumer market.
Duncan Wright left joiner George Barnsdale & Sons, where he was managing director, to establish the business – called simply Timber Windows Ltd – after spotting a gap for what he calls a ‘one-stop shop’ for wood windows.
“Over the past couple of years I had noticed that more and more of the enquiries we were receiving at Barnsdale’s were from consumers”, Mr Wright said. “But like most manufacturers we weren’t able to deal with them. In the end I decided to set up on my own to meet the demand.”
The two companies have now struck a ‘gentleman’s agreement’ giving Barnsdale sole supplier status with Timber Windows in the short term in exchange for passing on any consumer enquiries it receives.
By early August, the new firm had already handled two installations totalling £50,000.
BWF director Richard Lambert has already given his support to the venture. The federation feels the lack of a well-developed reselling market has undermined sales of timber windows compared with PVCu. Homeowners find they have to buy windows from one company, then find another builder to carry out installation.
At this stage Timber Windows is using sub-contract joiners, but Mr Wright eventually expects to employ his own full-time team.
Timber Windows (www.timberwindows.co.uk) is based in Lincolnshire, but with Barnsdale windows aimed at the top end of the market, Mr Wright expects most business to come from London and the Home Counties. And he’s clearly confident about his prospects. “At the top end of the market there is a tremendous number of properties that demand timber – and where a PVCu window would actually devalue it.”
