The radical Lumi frameless window system from Apeer has been one of the runaway successes of the decade – and now its successor, the retrofit-friendly Lumi2 has begun to cause as much of a stir, even after its debut installation. But as the installer explained, its retrofit proposition is only half the story of its popularity.
Dublin-based Harvest Energy was the first to put in the new system and immediately won another order on the strength of it, with a third signed up soon after and a few more homeowners already showing an interest.
Lumi2 was designed with retrofit in mind – with its slimmer, 70mm outerframe depth and 28mm double glazing – but, as Harvest owner Jason Peters explained, that is only one of two major benefits the system has for retailers:
“Of course, it opens up a whole new market for Lumi,” he said, “But it also gives an extra, mid-range price point for anyone thinking about Lumi.
“The systems look pretty much the same when they’re installed but the price difference gives a big strategic advantage. Lumi gives us something no one else can offer and Lumi2 lets us offer the same look priced between PVC-U and the original Lumi.
“It also gives us something we can work down to where we have quoted for the original Lumi, especially in commercial and new-build pitches; that is very valuable.”
He concluded: “By the way things are going, we are looking to Lumi making up 20% of our business by next year.”
Apeer MD Asa McGillian said that with Lumi2 working out around a third less than the original, the potential for cost saving – including combining both systems in a single installation – is proving to be an added draw for many installers:
“The core purpose of evolving the Lumi system into Lumi2 was to make it more compatible with domestic retrofit. But the feedback we are getting from installers who have looked at the system tells us, just as Harvest has discovered, that the strategic benefit of a lower cost alternative will be significant.
“Also because the two have the same external appearance, they can be used in combination, for example with the additional soundproofing of the original at the front of a house, then Lumi2 at the back.”
Lumi2 has a number of additional benefits, especially for retrofit, such as arched frames, trickle vents and baypoles.
The original Lumi was unveiled at Grand Designs London in 2015. Since then the system has been extended with the addition of patio and entrance doors.
