Bronze has been known to man since the beginning of the Bronze Age over 5,000 years ago. The Romans were the first to use bronze in cladding of doors and it took until the Middle Ages for bronze to be more widely used for architectural purposes. There are doors dating back to the 15th century which demonstrates the durability of this material although the majority of buildings that feature architectural bronze windows and doors and other decorative features date from the 18th and 19th century.
Over the centuries, bronze has become a prized metal, generally used on relatively small items of high value. Medals, sculptures and works of art are indicators as to the true worth of this material.
The aesthetic qualities of bronze when considered with the sustainable and enduring properties of the material are a combination that will prove to be a long term investment to your home or project.
The bronze casement windows and now extensive Bronze Department here at Vale, had a very interesting beginning. Following futile searches for a quality slim profile metal window that could be incorporated into a specifically designed glass house to stand in the grounds of an 18th Century manor house, a solution presented itself following a trip to a beautiful old castle that had bronze casement windows. A Eureka moment - it could immediately be seen that these metal windows had been in situ for centuries and were ageing beautifully. With our strong engineering background and experience in the design of extrusions the decision was made to design our own bronze casement window.
Following extensive research and development, the alloy Architectural Bronze was decided to be the best suited material from which to manufacture the windows. The term Architectural Bronze describes a metal alloy of copper, zinc and various other metals that contribute various qualities to the mix. For example, it is the high proportion of the copper constituent that imparts corrosion resistance and durability. The addition of manganese contributes tensile strength. Architectural Bronze therefore combines stability, strength and longevity with an aesthetic appeal which improves with time giving a feeling of luxury and prestige both inside and out to metal windows on any building.
It was this slim design of the metal windows that very quickly established a market opportunity as a beautiful product that could be incorporated, not only, into ancient buildings but also established and brand new builds. The first project was a Landmark Trust Property - a very quirkily designed building undergoing extensive, sympathetic renovation. Our bronze windows were chosen, not only because of the quality of the metal window construction itself, but also for the durability and longevity which would ensure the materials used in the building would perform as required.
Things have moved along rapidly since our first project and we now have a variety of metal window and door systems designed to be used in new and existing properties. We have had the pleasure and privilege over the years to work on many interesting and beautiful properties and indeed this year we have successfully completed works at the Queen’s Chapel situated behind the Savoy hotel in London.
Our windows and doors are manufactured from a high tensile Manganese Brass Alloy termed Architectural Bronze, which is an extremely attractive and durable material recognised for its pleasing colour and suitability for use in buildings. Bronze is made from natural materials which patinate and darken over time, giving each window individual character. This is a natural process that occurs due to atmospheric conditions and the tone that develops will vary depending on the amount of use and the location of the material.
Each window and doors goes through a process to give an aged finish and a protective wax is then hand applied to deter changes to this original patina.
We offer two finishes for our Bronze – Mid Bronze and Dark Bronze, depending on the colour and tone that best suits your project.
We recommend regular routine maintenance in the form of periodic washing and rewaxing to preserve the tone of the original finish.
We have a detailed Care Pack for our products and one is given at quote stage to enable an understanding of the maintenance of our casements and this is repeated at the delivery stage of all projects.
