More choice… more options… more value!

Brackenwood is delighted to announce the re-opening of its conservatory showroom concession located within its head office in Kimbell Road, Basingstoke.

In partnership with conservatory furniture specialists 2furnish, the new display area boasts the latest, eye-catching designs in both classic and modern styles. And each design is also available in a choice of 32 luxurious fabrics - so you can be sure you’ll find the right conservatory furniture to match your conservatory.

Five great reasons to choose 2furnish conservatory furniture:

• Strength
  All the furniture comes in a range of materials including cane, wicker and rattan. Apart from its inherent good looks, each has excellent qualities that include strength and resilience to everyday use.
• Quality
  The cane, rattan and wicker used within the sofas, chairs and tables is of the highest grade. It is carefully selected and harvested in south east Asia, an area renowned for the quality of its natural resources.
• Comfort
  Many of the soft furnishings in the furniture is crafted from luxurious fabrics and filled with British Vita ‘Reflex’ Foam and fibre-fill to provide outstanding levels of comfort.
• Safety
  For your safety, all cushions and fabrics are manufactured to exceptionally high standards and meet British Fire Safety Standards. All table tops are made from toughened glass to British Safety Standards.
• Sustainability
  Choosing a natural, raw material invariably means a potential for impact on the environment. The cane, rattan and wicker used for the conservatory furniture within Brackenwood is carefully selected and harvested from sustainable sources so you can be certain that the furniture has been produced ethically.

And if that wasn’t reason enough, 2furnish also promise the following:

• - 7-day home trial
• - No deposit required
• - Money back guarantee
• - Free fabric samples.

So why not come along and see for yourself the full range of furniture at the Brackenwood conservatory village?

There are also 2furnish representatives on site* during normal opening hours which is open to the public 7 days a week:

• Monday - Friday: 9.00am - 5.00pm
• Saturday - Sunday: 10.00am - 4.00pm

For more details on Brackenwood’s range of conservatory furniture, please contact us or telephone 01256 843 988.

*2furnish staff are currently only present on Saturday and Sunday.

Brackenwood did not miss a trick with the huge success of their open day held at their Basingstoke showroom on Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th of March. The king of the green baize, Dennis Taylor, charmed visitors with his combination of trick shots; humour and top-class snooker, which proved to be a fun- filled family day out for local residents.

Brackenwood designed and manufactured for Dennis Taylor his very own tailor made double-glazed UPVC fames. Dennis commented,

I was impressed, they were the largest frames I have ever seen.

He continued by commenting on the event,

I thoroughly enjoyed myself, it was a smashing event and if I was to come out of retirement and needed my glasses re-glazed, I would call upon Brackenwood.

Remembered most for his 1985 Embassy World Championship victory against Steve Davis, he took on a new opponent, the local Basingstoke snooker champion Martin Charlton. Martin has a wealth of snooker experience winning the UK Royal British Legion singles and pairs competitions and has represented Basingstoke and the South West at National and local level.

An entertaining match proved that Dennis still had the skill and style as he went on to beat Martin 4-0, achieving both a break of 70 and 80. When asked how Martin felt about the contest against Dennis, he commented,

I will settle for runner up when playing against a true gentleman and legend like Dennis Taylor. It helps to cushion the blow!

Dennis’ interaction with the local residents revealed a surprise opponent from his past that he had not seen in over forty years. David Burgess approached Dennis commenting,

You may not remember me, but we share the same birthday and a room once.

To Dennis’s amazement, David was his opponent when wining his first billiard match back in 1968.

Brackenwood’s showroom was transformed to host their very own, ‘Red Hot’, Big Break competition. Contestants of all ages and ability had to pot as many balls as they could in two minutes to make their big break. Local Basingstoke resident Roger Prebble, stole the competition by potting nine balls within two minutes winning a personalised signed snooker cue from Dennis Taylor.

Whilst the event provided a display of great frames played by snooker champions, it gave visitors the opportunity to view Breackenwoods’s exclusive window frames with their extensive colour matching service. Also on display were Pilkington’s innovative self-cleaning glass and a comprehensive range of windows and conservatories.

David Medcraft, Brackenwood’s Managing Director commented on the day,

Like Dennis Taylor, Brackenwood has one of the most recognisable faces of success within the window and conservatory industry. We wanted to demonstrate that we can design and manufacture frames for any individual requirements, whilst providing an entertaining day, for all the family.

If you would like more information about any individual frames, doors or conservatories, please call Brackenwood on 0800 253545 or alternatively visit our website at Brackenwood.

You will find us at Brackenwood House, Kimbell Road, in Basingstoke (just opposite B&Q).

This is your cue to visit Brackenwood Window and Conservatories, who are proud to welcome the king of the green baize, one of the most recognised faces within snooker, Dennis Taylor, who will be making his first break at Brackenwoods showroom on Saturday the 29th of March 2008.

Dennis Taylor has won 11 titles in his career and will be remembered most for his 1985 Embassy World Champion victory when a record 18.5 million people tuned into watch his memorable final with Steve Davis. Brackenwood are inviting you to tune into their very own unforgettable match where this world-class champion takes on top Basingstoke local amateur Martin Charlton. Martin has a wealth of snooker experience winning the UK Royal British Legion singles and pairs competitions and has represented Basingstoke and the South West at National and local level. The match promises to be one not to miss.

Best known for his Taylor made, over-sized glasses and large frames, Dennis would like to personally fill in your frames by signing your new window contract. All you need to do is bring down your window measurements and we will ensure you are not left feeling cold and snookered come next winter.

Residents across Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire will have the opportunity to view his spectacular exhibition of trick shots, humour and top-class snooker. Enter the Big Break knock out competition, where the winner will win a signed snooker cue from Dennis Taylor himself.

Fresh food and drinks will be available on the day and the chance to leisurely browse the extensive range of windows and conservatories Brackenwood have to offer. There may only be eight coloured balls on offer on the snooker table, but rest assure that Brackenwood has an innovative range of colour frames to suit any individual requirements.

David Medcraft, Managing Director of Brackenwood welcomes local families to the event commenting,

Like Dennis Taylor, Brackenwood has one of the most recognisable faces of success within the window and conservatory industry. We guarantee you and your family the maximum break, providing expert advice and guidance combined with quality entertainment.

Brackenwood’s comprehensive showroom will provide visitors with the chance to view their wide selection of doors, windows and conservatories. Brackenwood offers a variety of glazing options including energy efficient and self-cleaning windows that are individually designed and crafted to suite the desires of your home.

For more information please call Brackenwood on 0800 253545 or alternatively visit the Brackenood Windows website You will find us at Brackenwood House, Kimbell Road, in Basingstoke (just opposite B&Q).

As Home Information Packs become the norm, the performance of your home, especially when selling, has never been more important.

In fact, as of May 1st, as part of the Governments drive to make all new homes carbon neutral by 2016, all new homes will receive an energy rating.

New builds will be ranked according to the Code for Sustainable Homes, which measures nine categories and the most energy-efficient homes will receive the full six stars. New homes that are not assessed against the code will automatically receive nil.

Speaking at the Eco Build 2008 conference, housing minister Caroline Flint said the ratings would give buyers valuable information about their homes, allowing them to make an informed choice and take action to reduce carbon emissions.

We need to tackle climate change by improving how green and energy-efficient our homes are. New build housing will play an important part in this, and we are already committed to all new housing being zero carbon from 2016. These measures are essential in tackling climate change.

By requiring a rating for all new homes against the Code for Sustainable Homes in the run-up to 2016, we are making the standards that different homes reach more transparent and are creating an important incentive for housebuilders to provide greener, more sustainable homes.”

In years to come, as new builds come up for re-sell, making your own home energy efficient has never been so important, especially if you ever look to sell your home.

Great tips on improving the energy efficiency of your home include the following about windows:

Around 20% of the heat lost from an average home is through the windows. Consider double glazing your windows or secondary double-glazing if you live in a period property. Double-glazing cuts heat loss through windows by 50% and could significantly reduce your heating bill.

If you would like more details about our energy efficient UPVC windows, please visit our website.

Innovation in glass manufacturing is not something you may automatically think about, but over the years we have seen a number of new products that have improved the quality of products, the same as any industry. One such innovation we are introducing in Spring 2008 at Brackenwood is a new product called Pilkington energiKare™.

Pilkington energiKare is different to standard double glazing, working to provide two massive benefits. The glazing not only reduces the amount of heat lost through your windows, it also allows more heat (energy) from the sun in through the window.

This effect, known as solar gain, comes from the sun -so it’s free of charge. And, with more emphasis being put on energy efficient homes, Pilkington energiKare can achieve the EST’s Energy Saving Recommended status.

The benefits for installing Pilkington energiKare glass in your windows are:

• improves the energy efficiency of your home.
• reduces the amount of energy you use.
• saves you money on your heating bills.
• is part of the Energy Saving Recommended scheme.
• is more effective than single or standard double glazing.
• is the only product that offers you the reassurance of Pilkington quality and that has the endorsement of the Energy Saving Trust.

It’s also gaining recognition in the industry and has been recognised by the Construction Products Association in Construction Products Innovation and Achievement (CPIA) 2007.

Visit our website for more information about our range of quality double-glazed windows.

The well-publicised slowdown of UK house prices is putting greater pressure on Basingstoke residents looking to sell their homes to address the needs and desires of buyers. This is compounded by the fact that although at £275,000 the average house price in the area is £45,000 more than the national average, it is significantly cheaper than neighbouring Berkshire and Surrey, which both appear in the top 10 most expensive areas in the country.

A survey by estate agency group Spicerhaart suggests that one of the top three most sought-after features in a potential home is natural light - something that is even more acute as we reach the shortest daylight hours in December. Insulation is a key issue for wintertime, but the need to conserve heat and energy needn’t be at the expense of better use of natural lighting.

Brackenwood Windows and Conservatories are keen to highlight that double-glazed windows and conservatories can make the most of the precious winter sunshine, adding brightness and warmth to your home without increasing heating bills and the negative affects on the environment.

Innovations such as Pilkington Activ™ self-cleaning glass, as well as the obvious benefits of double-glazing, make it easier and more practical than ever before to add greater natural light to homes. A conservatory is an excellent focal point for family and friends to get together, to enjoy the benefits of winter sunshine without the cold temperatures. Natural light also makes living space appear larger, a real bonus at Christmas with extra guests visiting.

It’s not just the glass that can brighten up a home, as Brackenwood’s Managing Director David Medcraft explains:

Old, drab and tatty window frames and doors can really age a property, making it look unwelcoming and unloved. A fresh set of windows and doors can transform the look of a house, both inside and out and the benefits to energy saving and heat retention are well publicised. We offer a wide range of styles and designs and can also match specific colours (for frames and doors, from thousands of possible shades) to perfectly compliment the décor of the house both inside and out.

The window cleaner is a popular figure in the British psyche, immortalised by George Formby’s famous song and in a more risqué fashion by Robin Askwith’s ‘Confessions of a Window Cleaner’ film. But in an age of monumental technological progress the dependable services of the window cleaner have a new rival – self-cleaning glass.

At Brackenwood, we have been so impressed with the Pilkington Activ™ self-cleaning glass we supply to customers, that we fitted our entire showroom in Kimbell Road (opposite B&Q) with it.

Developed by internationally recognised glass experts Pilkington, Activ™ is the world’s first self-cleaning glass to utilise a microscopic coating which uses the elements of the weather to remove dirt. The first stage uses a ‘photocatalytic’ process whereby the coating reacts with daylight to break down organic dirt. The second stage is ‘hydrophilic’ – rainwater hitting the glass spreads evenly (instead of forming droplets) and removes the loosened dirt when it drains off, without leaving streaks.

There is a strong safety aspect to the use of self-cleaning windows. According to HSE statistics, Hampshire had the highest number of injuries from falls in the UK in 2004/2005, with 249 people suffering injuries at work following a fall. Self-cleaning windows are a particular benefit in hard-to-reach, largely inaccessible areas (where cleaning can be time-consuming and expensive, but which are ideal as a light source - such as skylights for example). Human intervention is rarely required, so the likelihood of potential accidents is reduced. Another benefit is that the chances of potentially environmentally damaging cleaning chemicals escaping into the local water and sewage systems are significantly reduced.

Self-cleaning glass promises significant benefits for all uses, as Brackenwood’s Managing Director David Medcraft explains: “The health and safety benefits are obvious, but also the work and effort involved with reaching and cleaning windows safely can be considerable, even with a small building. Self-cleaning glass can bring real cost savings to homeowners and the windows are constantly cleaning any debris from themselves, rather than having to wait for manual cleaning, so in ground dirt is unable to settle. The coating also makes it quick and easy to wash off dirt if the weather is dry and unable to remove it naturally.”

Brackenwood’s Kimbell Road site has relatively difficult access from a window cleaners’ point of view (partially due to parking access on the ground level and sloping ground). Because of these challenges the building has particularly benefited from using Activ™ glass due to the high percentage window space used in its design.

On the 15th of November as part of Enterprise Week (12th-16th November 2007), Brackenwood Windows and Conservatories opened their doors to 30 students from the Cranbourne Business and Enterprise College - for an inspiring entrepreneurial afternoon.

The inspirational event comprised of a series of exciting talks from some of Basingstoke’s leading entrepreneurs followed by a workshop during which the students actively invented their own business idea.

The students then pitched their ideas to the Dragon’s Den style panel and the Judge, Mr David Medcraft - the founder & Managing Director of Brackenwood Windows. The event was such a success that similar ones will be run in the future involving more students, schools, charities and local businesses.

Running between 1 p.m. - 4 p.m, the Enterprise Week afternoon kicked off with an unbeatable line up of speakers including David Medcraft, Brackenwood’s Managing Director, Liz Jackson, Managing Director of Great Guns Marketing (a telemarketing company) and Jane Stewart, the Marketing Manager from Basingstoke shopping center Festival Place. (more…)

Enterprise Week is an annual week of events and activities running from the 12th-16th of November 2007. Taking place across the country, businesses, charities, schools and colleges will be holding events and activities in celebration of enterprise in all its forms. Last year’s Enterprise Week saw over 448,000 people taking part in 3,184 events nationwide – 44% more than the previous year. Over 300 of these events took place in the South East and this year aims to be even bigger.

The South East of England Development Agency (SEEDA) co-ordinates all activity across the South East, encouraging backing for the campaign from public, private and academic partners throughout the region as well as managing all Enterprise Week activity. There are already lots of young people involved in entrepreneurial activities in the South East.

Brackenwood are spearheading the week by holding two events to celebrate enterprise. Managing Director David Medcraft will be holding a talk with students from Cranbourne Business and Enterprise College regarding how he set up his company using a mere £10, 000 loan.

Brackenwood’s second event will be an entrepreneurial workshop, held at their Basingstoke show room to inspire local students to realise their entrepreneurial dreams. They will be opening their showroom for an afternoon during enterprise week and are inviting entrepreneurs from across the South East, especially Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire to come and talk to local students.

Managing Director David Medcraft enthused,

This is a fantastic opportunity for all businesses in the area to give something back to the community and to share their business acumen. We are holding two events this year in celebration of our 20th anniversary and welcome any other local businesses to get involved.

Government and local authorities are pressuring homeowners to take climate change seriously by taking action to reduce household carbon emissions. A surprisingly simple method of reducing your carbon footprint, for a relatively small cost is by ensuring your windows are energy efficient.

Domestic housing is the leading CO² generator, accounting for a whopping 30 per cent of total carbon emissions. Heat loss from buildings as a result of poor insulation is a major contributor to household CO² emissions and can be dealt with easily. The major sources of heat loss are the fenestration products within the property, such as the windows and doors.

Local window installers Brackenwood Windows, who strongly support the Government carbon reduction initiatives, explain that the problem can be dealt with easily. Brackenwood’s Managing Director David Medcraft commented,

“Installing energy efficient windows is an important investment. Not only will they substantially lower your energy ratings, fuel bills and carbon footprint but also they will greatly improve your sales prospects. Buyers today are energy-savvy and are aware that a home’s energy rating affects the saleability of the house”.

The Government have put in place energy efficiency measures to ensure those buying and selling homes are carbon conscious. For example, since the 1st of August this year, the sale of every home with four or more bedrooms requires a new Home Information Pack (HIP) and is subject to HIP regulations.

When buying a new property the important part of HIPs is the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). An EPC measures how energy efficient a property is as a building, allowing potential buyers to compare them to one another. The certificate provides the homeowner with an energy efficiency rating taking into account carbon emissions. It is ranked along a scale ranging from A to G. A is highly efficient and G is very inefficient.

HIPs packs and regulations will soon become obligatory, applying to all homes. It therefore essential that the homeowner acts now to improve their household energy rating, this way they save the planet and their pocket.

Innovations in the industry has advanced measurement of a window’s total performance using Window Energy Ratings, a scheme set up by the British Fenestration Rating Council (BFRC). The Window Energy Rating scheme helps consumers to make a more informed decision when buying windows allowing homeowners to the opportunity to improve their household energy efficiency.

Local company based in Basingstoke, Brackenwood, stock the latest range of energy efficient windows and boast an extensive range of styles to suit all budgets. All the windows are BFRC accredited and thermally efficient enabling homeowners across Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire to be energy efficient.

In celebration of over 20 years of quality service, David Medcraft invites local homeowners to view their their comprehensive showroom in Basingstoke. David enthused,

“Come and ask our experts to view our fantastic range and don’t forget to enter our prize draw to win a luxury case of champagne”.

For more information about energy efficient window and doors come and visit us at Brackenwood House, Kimbell Road, in Basingstoke or call 0800 253545, alternatively visit the website www.brackenwood.com.