More living enjoyment and ready for the future

946 new front doors, balcony doors and gallery doors for gallery flats in Zutphen

In the Helbergen neighborhood of Zutphen, between 2020 and 2024, over five hundred housing units owned by housing corporation Woonbedrijf ieder1 have been thoroughly maintained and made more sustainable. To improve the livability and recognizability in the neighborhood, the seven gallery flats have been given a new, fresh look. The entrances have also been refurbished and the insulation level of roofs, facades, ceilings and first floors has been greatly improved. Natural ventilation has been restored and VR central heating boilers, lighting and single and old double glazing have been replaced. In combination with 946 new front doors, balcony doors and gallery doors from Verweij Houttechniek, the homes have achieved an energy label jump to label A. With this, the homes are ready for the future and residents experience more living enjoyment.

Verweij Houttechniek designs, manufactures and installs durable windows, doors, (move-in) frames and complementary products, such as dormers, storage rooms, hsb walls and parapet panels. "We specialize in renovation projects and work mostly for renovating contractors and property maintenance companies," says Jan de Jong, account manager for the Northern Netherlands at Verweij Houttechniek. "We value sustainability and long-term relationships, of which the cooperation with Nijhuis Bouw in Zwolle is a fine example. Over the past decade or so, we have carried out various maintenance and preservation projects in Zwolle and Deventer, for example. From row houses to gallery flats, where we mainly took care of the windows and doors. The project in Zutphen is a nice addition to this."

Warm recording

Verweij Houttechniek was involved in the Trento® Renovation of Nijhuis Bouw in Zutphen at an early stage. In particular, to make an offer for the replacement of the front doors, balcony doors and gallery doors, says De Jong. "In some flats, Nijhuis Bouw also created mobility scooter areas for which we were allowed to supply the window frames. We did a hot take on site to take stock of the condition of the apartments and any challenges. What do the existing window frames look like? Are any major repairs needed? And what is the status of the lower sills? We also provided the necessary documentation and sampling for residents, helping to gain the necessary support from residents. In addition, we looked at how the doors could be transported in the project. Is internal transport via the elevators an option? Or should a solution be found outside the building? We worked out all our findings in a quotation, on the basis of which - after awarding the contract to Nijhuis Bouw - we started measuring the elements."

Fit size doors

Verweij Houttechniek measures each door separately. "We call this 'custom-made doors'," says De Jong. "This ensures that the new door fits exactly to the existing frame and guarantees a good draught seal as well as safety." The measuring is carried out by a permanent team from Verweij Houttechniek, which immediately took this opportunity to get to know the residents and their homes. For example, the willingness of residents and the accessibility of their door locations were surveyed. "We shared our findings with Nijhuis Bouw's resident consultant, who was able to anticipate these. This allowed us to get to work very quickly in the implementation phase," says De Jong. "A godsend, because quite a few doors had to be fitted per dwelling. For example, several homes had as many as three balcony doors." The work was carried out per gallery and at a high assembly rate, with two fitters assembling approximately ten doors per day. In the process, Verweij Houttechniek used a construction elevator, which kept resident inconvenience to a minimum.

BCRG-certified doors

On the inside, all doors are finished in a neutral color (RAL 9010). "For the exterior, colors were selected per phase, such as blue, brown, green and gray. The front doors are all insulated. Here, our BCRG-certified panel doors were chosen, with an insulation value well below the standard 2.0 Ud. As a result, the doors contribute significantly to the thermal insulation of the facades. In addition, we have installed fire-resistant gallery doors at a number of flats."

Verweij BetterLife

All applied doors and frames are of the product label Verweij BetterLife. These sustainable doors are characterized by high freedom in detailing and execution, increased living comfort, improved safety and a 10-year warranty. In September, Verweij Houttechniek assembled the last doors in Zutphen. A few months after completion, De Jong looks back on a beautiful project, which involved very pleasant cooperation with Nijhuis Bouw. "We will soon continue our long-standing cooperation on a beautiful follow-up project in Deventer."