The wraps have finally been taken off Raum properly and the industry now has a chance to get a good look around at Raum and it’s four new products it promises to “push the boundaries of style and performance”. Here’s the stuff we need to know about this new, high-end range of aluminium door products from Dekko Window Systems.
Slick website
First, allow me to get my nerdy-ness out of the way first and talk about the Raum website.
It is very well put together, with the craftsmen in this case being the team at Purplex:
The imagery is stunning, on all pages. They have done a very good job of building up the high-end atmosphere around the site through their use of imagery. The colour scheme fits in perfectly with products based around aluminium and high-end products. And of course the website works well on smartphones and tablets, a key component to any successful website. It’s also very easy to navigate around the site. There aren’t too many pages within the whole website, but there doesn’t need to be, and all the important information and images are efficiently presented on the pages.
Right, that’s enough geekery about the website, on to the stuff that matter, the products!
Product options
There are four main product ranges within the Raum suite; Terassi, Terassi+, Gleiten and Schommel. Within each of these four main products, there are a variety of options, so lets break them all down.
Terassi – patio door
Features:
- Variety of configurations and low threshold option
- Large sliding panels with uninterrupted, panoramic views
- U-values of 2.3W/m2K achievable
- High levels of air and water tightness
- High security locking offering resistance to burglary
- Maximum weight up to 300kg per door leaf and maximum height of 2.7m
- Available in any RAL colour including dual-colour finishes
- Terassi 130 aluminium patio doors in white, grey and black on stock, ready to be delivered
Features:
- Variety of configurations with low threshold option
- Additional 25mm frame depth strengthens profile, increasing maximum weight per door leaf to 400kg over the Terassi130 system
- Flush floor integration
- Optional automatic opening
- Suitable for low-energy buildings – U-values of 1.07W/m2K achievable
- Maximum height 3m
- Available in any RAL colour including dual-colour finishes
The door is designed to maximise entrance space over standard 2 pane patio doors, with multiple large sliding panels gliding effortlessly to completely open up a space and offer great views to outside.
Along with offering spectacular aesthetics, Terassi 133 is a high performance patio door solution. The multi-chambered PVCu frame provides increased thermal insulation and weatherproofing, a multi-point lock provides high levels of security, and despite the larger panels, the door is engineered to operate easily and smoothly, year after year.
Features:
- Large openings of up to 6 metres can be achieved
- Excellent weather performance
- Multi-chambered system gives the appearance of aluminium with the energy efficiency of modern PVCu
- Multi-point locking as standard for increased security
- Complementary range of hardware completes the look
- Excellent weather performance
- Contemporary range of colour options available
Terassi+ – wide span
Despite the minimal sightlines, Räum Terassi+ doors can carry the weight of a large glass pane up to 500kg, allowing for impressive wide-span designs of 4 moveable panes up to 3.5m high to be created. Terassi+ doors can span entire walls of a property, and it’s even possible to connect two doors to open at a corner.
Features:
- 147mm frame depth and vent depth of 44mm
- Maximum of four moveable panels and maximum height of 3.5m
- Opening designs include duo rail, 3-rail and central closing
- Automatic locking as standard with fully automated option available – Open and close doors at the push of a button
- Locking plate and the alignment of the door panels on-site ensures a perfect installation and years of reliable service
- Double or triple glazing options – Can achieve U-values as low as 1.0W/m2K
- Anti-burglar system – Locking mechanism is behind the wall at the top of the door, making it difficult to tamper with
- Outerframe is concealed behind the surrounding wall, making wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling glass surfaces achievable
Gleiten – bifold door
Räum’s Gleiten bifolding doors can be configured in left, right and split openings, with a traffic door option available for easy access to outside without having to fully slide open the door. The system is easy to install; adjustable jambs and an innovative adjustable side profile means it’s possible to fit the complete door on-site, quickly and easily.
Features:
- 38 possible configurations across 4 different threshold options
- Wide-span designs achievable up to 2.5 high and 7m wide
- PAS 24 Secured by Design accredited
- Glazing thickness between 12mm and 55mm can be accommodated including triple glazing
- Thermal insulation of 1.8W/m2K
- Superior air, win and water resistance up to 600pa
- Available in any RAL colour including dual colour options
- White, black and grey bifolds are available from stock and can be supplied quickly to the whole of the UK
- Smooth functionality; high-spec steel rollers means door can be opened and closed in seconds
Like the Gleiten 68, Räum Gleiten 77 aluminium bifolding doors are available in a choice of four thresholds: High performance, Medium Performance, Low Threshold and Flat Bottom Solution. Each one provides varying levels of air, water and wind resistance, with the Low Threshold and Flat Bottom options offering easy access and convenience for high levels of traffic.
Features:
- 38 possible configurations across 4 different threshold options
- Wide-span designs achievable up to 3 high and 7m wide
- PAS 24 Secured by Design accredited
- Glazing thickness between 12mm and 55mm can be accommodated including triple glazing
- Thermal insulation of 1.8W/m2K
- Superior air, win and water resistance up to 600pa
- Available in any RAL colour including dual colour options
- White, black and grey bifolds are available from stock and can be supplied quickly to the whole of the UK
- Smooth functionality; high-spec steel rollers means door can be opened and closed in seconds
Schommel – slide & swing doors
Available in traditional chamfered or contemporary rounded profile, Schommel slide and swing doors blend in with a range of property styles and can be coloured in an aluminium-look finish for a modern appearance or woodgrain finishes for a low-maintenance alternative to traditional timber doors.
Features:
- Patented Magnaline™ technology – Doors glide effortlessly to open
- Door height up to 2200mm
- Chamfered profile options
- No hinges and low gaskets for smooth frames and slim sightlines
- No unsightly hardware – only the hardware on the traffic door is visible and panels operate independently so you don’t see any connecting hardware
- High security top-to-bottom concealed locking
- Range of opening options for the end-user and when closed the door offers excellent thermal insulation and protection against the elements
- Available in aluminium-look colour options or a choice of 9 woodgrain finishes
Clearly four very good product ranges within the Raum suite. But I think the biggest surprise of all is the inclusion of some PVCu options. Most will have expected this to be an all-aluminium affair. However I think this is a smart move from Raum makers Dekko.
Firstly from a price perspective. PVCu should in theory be a slightly cheaper option than their aluminium counterparts. By having a PVCu option in the Terassi and Schommel ranges, it allows Dekko to sell the Raum brand, with all it’s bells and whistles, to those who may not be able to stretch to aluminium prices.
Secondly, and as hard as this might be for the die hard aluminium fans, some people just prefer PVCu. By including some PVCu varieties, Dekko are ensuring that lovers of both materials have options they can look at.
Sign of the times
The Raum range itself is yet another new brand aimed at the higher end of the market. No cheap and cheerful products here. And it is yet another sign of where the UK window and door market is heading. It’s heading there quickly.
From memory, I can’t remember a recent product launch that wasn’t aimed at the high end of the market. This is a reflection on the industry and where it thinks the future is. But is also an indication that home owners and the general public are looking for better quality options when it comes to windows and doors.
I haven’t seen the products in person, or had them in my hand yet. However, if the images and text are to be taken at face value, this should be another high quality addition to the aluminium sector and should prove a new and successful string to the Dekko Window Systems bow.
Find out more about Raum here
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The leaking solidood has started as the cooler weather started . Water leaking from condensation between the inside and outer seal. Do solidoor care? Probably not