Air Mod Contemporary and Heritage Aluminium Windows – A Video Guide

Video Transcription:

Hi, folks.

My name is Rob from Thames Valley Windows, and we’re going to talk to you today about Air Mod aluminium windows.

They are a superb frame type, made right here in the UK, just on the outskirts of London. And it’s again a fabricator that has been with us for 40 years.

We’ve been in business for 42 years as of January 2026, and the fabricators have been trading for 50 years. So, an honest, fabulous glazing company.

One of the things we like about the Air Mod aluminium windows is that there are four frame types.

And that’s really important in aluminium because it goes into different settings, with various period properties, ranging from brand new and very contemporary to literally Art Deco period properties, the Arts and Crafts movement of the Agatha Christie era, and the 1930s.

And they’re staggeringly different, but they share one thing in common, which is skinny frames.

And that’s the name of the game with aluminium windows. That’s what they’re trying to deliver as opposed to timber or uPVC.

It’s the relative depth of the frame compared to the glass. With aluminium windows, you get a lot of glass and very little frame.

So, we in the glazing trade call them skinny windows.

And let’s, without further ado, have a look at the contemporary aluminium window.

This is literally called the Air Mod Contemporary, and as you can see, it has a quite slender frame. So if this were uPVC, it would be out to here in the glass. But with aluminium, it’s a much, much skinnier frame. So there’s much more glass and much less frame.

It’s flat, fresh, uncluttered. This is about a contemporary minimalist frame. So, a perfect aluminium window to go into a new build, a modern extension, or an orangery.

But definitely one where you want little clutter in the window. The window doesn’t want to stand out. It simply wants to be made of lots of glass, and homeowners, architects, and developers prefer aluminium for that reason.

It’s powder-coated, so the treatment for the outside of windows can take any colour you like.

Most manufacturers have standards that are generally black, white, and anthracite grey, and you pay a small premium for going off-piste. Nevertheless, you can have any colour you like.

It’s quite easy to finish an aluminium window, and they’re very durable as well. On the inside, it is again very uncluttered and relatively square.

They’ve got very square glazing beads. They’re rather nice from that point of view. Either in or out, and these very flat finishes. So that’s the contemporary one.

There is another point worth noting. These steel-look windows have a 70-mil frame. Again, very similar to uPVC.

And as such, it can take a decent-sized piece of glass, and therefore its U-values are low, making it a suitable fit for the modern world and modern building regulations.

Let’s take a look at the sort of thing I suppose is the refined version of the contemporary. This is what they call the flush, the Air Mod Flush.

So they’re basically on the same pane on the outside. It’s what they call a flush window. And it occupies the same industrial niche as a contemporary window in the sense that it tends to be used in modern buildings and modern design, but it’s because it’s flush. It’s more refined and a little more elegant.

And there is a body of customers that like flush windows. You know, regardless of how you describe them, there is a demand for flush windows, and they do tend to go into the more refined buildings.

On the inside, it’s very flat and flush, with square beads that can be easily inserted and removed. Similar U values. This particular one is actually triple-glazed. And if you look, I’m not sure if you can see this, but inside, you can see two little black spacer bars. And that’s because there’s a third sheet of glass right in the centre. That’s a triple-glazed window, and it has a U-value of 1.1.

So, you don’t need to be too worried about the fact that they have metal frames. You know they’re not cold like old steel windows used to be.

Nothing like it. In fact, the aluminium industry has come to the rescue of old single-glazed steel windows.

However, the problem with single-glazed steel windows is that the frames are skinny; therefore, they offer very little resistance to heat escaping your home. And as a consequence, the condensation on them in the winter is just awful. They’re well known for it.

What’s typical about steel windows is that they have a kink in the frame, a kind of dog-leg design.

And so there’s a reasonably big market to replace them. And of course, aluminium doesn’t rust. It oxidises in the presence of oxygen.

Air Mod Aluminium windows are nothing like that. They’re a real modern contemporary, very warm and much, much more comfortable window. Anyway, so those are the two contemporary styles.

There are those period properties in conservation areas that typically want to have a more Arts and Crafts or Art Deco style window. In fact, these steel-look windows are called Heritage Windows.

And there are two variants. This one’s the flush one, and then there’s another one which isn’t flush. It has a lipped casement.

We’ve glazed this in a traditional heritage style with the third glazing bar design, which is quite typical of the period. And you’d often see French doors with the same design.

They can take trickle vents. Typically, what we do is we put a little bit of aluminium above the head, and the trickle vents go into that rather than the frames themselves.

I can’t think of another aluminium manufacturer out there that has four different frame profiles in their family. So that’s what we really like about Air Mod aluminium windows.

That, coupled with the fact that the fabricator is absolutely fabulous, very reliable, and of very high quality. Again, typical examples of their main machinery. Each bit of plant costs approximately £ 1 million. They are huge investors in people and machinery. Been doing it for nearly 50 years.

They use European-sourced components, not made in China, and not made of plasterine, so they are of exceptionally high quality, long-lasting, warm, and beautiful-looking windows.

Why Choose Thames Valley Windows

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We use only the highest-quality glazing products, ensuring that your windows and doors provide your home with both light and style.

At Thames Valley Windows, we work closely with you to bring your vision to life, consistently aiming to exceed your expectations.

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