Origin are one of the best known premium home-improvement brands in the UK. Specifically best known for their bifolding doors, the Origin range of products now includes sliding doors, front doors, garage doors and an excellent range of steel-inspired aluminium internal doors.
We answer some of the frequently asked questions about Origin; the company, and their products:
What Origin products are available?
Origin products now include a comprehensive range of glazing systems for property renovation, window and door replacements and new build homes or extensions. The current Origin products range includes.
OB-72 Classically styled bifold doors
OB-49 slimline bifold doors with a fantastic 110mm mullion sightline
Sliding doors come in three mullion sightline options:
OS-77 with a 77mm middle mullion
OS-44 with a 44mm middle mullion
OS-29 with a 29mm middle mullion
OS-20 Artisan ultra slim sliding door using the Cortizo system.
For aluminium residential doors, these use bifold door profiles and include
Front doors available in ten different panel styles.
Side and back doors
French door with or without side panels
Hinged Garage doors
For aluminium windows you get the choice of a unique double flush casement window design or an ultra-slim aluminium window
OW-80 flush casement windows
OW-70 slimline aluminium windows
Interior Doors
You can also buy Origin steel-inspired internal doors available as single or double doors, with matching side panels and separate screening systems. This product is called the OI-30.
Where can i view Origin products?
Origin has two substantial showrooms in High Wycombe and a showroom serving the North of England in Warrington. These exceptional showrooms are one of the best places to view the entire range of Origin bifolding doors, residential doors, windows and sliding doors. The Origin showrooms also enable you to speak directly to the Company and get a great understanding of just what makes their products and their service stand out.
Origin also works with a nationwide network of premium and standard partners. These are independent businesses selling the Origin range. Many Origin Premium Partners are chosen for their quality showrooms, expertise and professionalism, not to mention their installation experience.
To ensure you get the very best service from an Origin Dealer or partner, Origin ensures they are all highly trained and supported throughout their trading relationship.
You can use our contact form to get in touch and find out more about where to view Origin products.
Buckinghamshire Showroom
Stuart House, Castle Estate,
Coronation Road, Cressex Business Park,
High Wycombe,
Buckinghamshire,
HP12 3TA
Warrington Showroom
Taurus Park,
Europa Boulevard, Westbrook,
Warrington, Cheshire,
WA5 7ZT
How much do Origin bifolding doors cost?
The best way to get a price on Origin bifolding doors and windows is to get a price from your local Origin installer. The trade can get a price directly from Origin.
There are many factors that affect the price of Origin bifolding doors. Sizes, configuration, colour, handle and hardware options and any specific items relating to the installation. For this reason, it is always best to get an accurate quotation.
Site conditions, the location and other factors can also affect the price of Origin bifolding doors and windows.
Aluminium windows, in particular, are difficult to provide guide prices on as the number of opening lights, window mullions and transoms and windows sizes all greatly affect the price you pay. However, you can find out factors affecting how much Origin bifolding doors cost.
Contact us and we can put you in touch with an Origin supplier in your local area.
Are Origin bifolding doors a good idea?
A bifolding door is an ideal enhancement for any home, adding light, space and value.
There are more than fifty different bifold door brands on the market, but Origin bifolds deliver on quality, a choice of standard or slim sightlines, an excellent brand reputation and good service from the dealer network.
Before you decide on having a bifolding door it is worth talking to a professional home improvement company and Origin dealer.
Whilst Origin is as good as other well-designed and made bifolding doors on the market, you do get some advantages.
An industry-leading 20-year guarantee.
Some of the best colour and customisation options on the market.
Wide product availability nationwide.
Fast lead times.
Aluminium bifolding doors in a woodgrain colour and finish.
Are Origin windows and doors available supply only/to the trade
It is possible to purchase Origin bifolding doors and windows on a supply-only basis, ideal for the trade and those wanting to buy direct and arrange their own installation.
The excellent Origin guarantee may not be the same on a trade supply only basis compared with the full survey and installation service from an Origin Dealer.
Our advice to homeowners is to use the full supply and installation service to get the best experience, professional installation and guarantee.
Is the Origin bifold door low threshold weather resistant?
Origin bifolding doors have the option of a standard threshold and a low threshold.
The weather testing carried out on an Origin bifold is based upon the standard threshold that has the necessary upstands, weather seals and other design features intended to keep the door weather resistant.
The low threshold option is intended for internal applications primarily, although some people do use the low threshold for external doors in the knowledge that there is no guarantee of weather resistance.
Examples where the low threshold has been used, are where doors are sheltered, where bifold doors have a canopy above them and generally in locations where the door set is not subjected to driving rain or wind.
Most installations can be covered by using the standard threshold but recessing it lower into so that it creates less of a step-over and a more flush appearance. Contact us for more information and advice.
How good are Origin aluminium windows
They’re excellent and come highly recommended. The Origin OW-80 is unique in the market for its styling, excellent security, weather performance and energy efficiency. The customisation and personalisation options are also some of the best of any aluminium window brand. It’s downside is slightly thicker sightlines than many other brands.
The Origin OW-70 is a slimmer version but doesn’t come in as many configurations as the OW-80 or at larger sizes, but it’s an excellent slimline window for standard size openings.
For balance, it should be stressed that there is no ‘bad’ window on the market. Where they differ is who makes them, the overall supply chain and the quality of the components. So while many other windows will meet industry standards, some windows exceed them. Where windows can differ is in their aesthetics, overall sightlines, and the options available with them.
Origin windows also use top brand window hardware such as locks by the trusted brand Yale. The powder coating of Origin windows comes from premier architectural powder coaters that are one of the best in the UK.
Therefore as an overall product, the Origin aluminium window can be classed as a good window.
How energy-efficient are Origin aluminium windows?
Origin windows come in two versions for thermal efficiency. The standard Origin window uses quality 35mm polyamide thermal breaks to insulate the aluminium profile. Additionally, the thermal break features interlocking barriers to minimise airflow through the window.
Then there is the aerogel upgrade available with Origin Windows. Aerogel significantly improves the thermal performance of the Origin window by some margin.
With the latest changes to Building Regulations, we recommend you contact us for details of U-Values with Origin doors and windows as some only meet Building Regulations with higher specification glass units or triple glazing.
Regardless of insulation material, Origin aluminium windows or doors do meet current Building Regulations with the right glass specification.
What extras are available with origin windows?
Origin aluminium windows come as fixed or opening out windows. You can also create shaped windows, bay windows and a combination of windows and doors.
Aside from a big choice of colours and glass specifications such as double or triple glazing, the following optional extras are also available with Origin windows.
Colour matched handles are one of the best features of Origin windows. Few other windows offer this option.
Most windows will require sitting on a cill and Origin cills are 95mm, 155mm and 185mm. A bespoke cill pressing can also be provided by your local Origin dealer.
For those that want to use Origin fixing straps for newly built openings, these are available.
For trickle ventilators or site conditions needing a frame extension, these are available in 15mm or 35mm.
Trickle vents to meet the requirements of windows in new build homes and extensions.
Window vents can have their opening range limited with restrictor hooks – ideal for high-level windows.
Fire escape requirements are catered for with Egress stays that open to allow easy exit in the event of a fire.
A choice of black or white glazing gaskets.
A more durable marine grade finish. Please read our important article on marine grade guarantees to understand the difference between a marine grade finish and an actual marine guarantee finish.
How secure are Origin aluminium windows?
The Origin Window is certified to PAS 24. It helps to understand what this standard means.
Test samples of Origin Windows have been submitted to this security standard for independent testing. The windows passed these tests and passed without failure on the corner joints.
The hinges on Origin windows are made from ferritic stainless steel providing corrosion resistance. The hinges have undergone extensive cycle testing to test for longevity and general wear. The window hinges also have hinge guards along the hinged side of the window.
The locking system used is from the trusted Yale name with the Encloser lock model, fitted to every Origin casement opening window. This premium lock offers multiple locking points, and Origin reports have exceeded the PAS 24:2012 security standard.
Why is the OW-80 unique in its design?
We love the design of the OW-80, if you don’t mind the thicker styling. OW-80 is a unique and cleverly engineered feature of the Origin aluminium window is the inside and outside flush casement detail.
All other flush casement windows, including PVCu, have this flush detail on the outside only. This is where the opening sash sits in the frame rather than overlapping it.
The flush casement arrangement on the Origin window needs to be seen to be appreciated. Overlapping sections on other aluminium windows help keep windows weather resistant. Origin’s flush casement on both the inside and outside creates a unique looking window but also one that is weather resistant with no overlapping frames.
Clever engineering and design allow the flush casement details to sit neatly in the frame and create a contemporary aesthetic, but also a traditional one.
how much do Origin windows cost?
There is no standard or recommended retail price on Origin aluminium windows. Every window is made to order and customised to your individual requirements. We give more information about how much Origin windows cost.
Sizes, quantities, colour, glass specification, as well as installation considerations, can all affect the price.
The easiest way to get a price for your home is to contact us and we can put you in touch with one of the trained and approved Origin installers.
Do Origin products look the same as the bifolds?
A bifolding door and a window are two entirely different products and can never exactly match.
The Origin bifolding door uses different outer frames and door panel sections compared to the Origin window, which has a different suite of profiles.
If your project requires single doors and French doors, these are made with Origin’s bifold door profiles and it’s an excellent way to match your doors where your project has both door types.
Can Origin windows connect to bifold doors?
Subject to the overall design and installation itself, windows can couple to bifolding doors, and you can also create bifolding windows.
Can I colour-match Origin products to other brands?
If you are having Origin windows and aluminium sliding doors, lantern roofs, front doors or other products from other brands matching the colour should not be difficult.
The first thing to understand is that colour matching different product is not as simple as the same RAL colour. Your local Origin dealer should be able to advise you on the best way to colour-match all the various aluminium products.
If you use the same RAL number, you will get a close match but not an exact match. The only way to ensure an exact colour match is to use the same RAL reference from the same powder manufacturer. Contact us and we can provide help and advice.
The wood effect bifolding doors, entrance doors and windows offered by Origin, you will not be able to colour-match to woodstructure finishes from brands like Smart Systems.
Our understanding is that presently the only two wood-effect colours available with Origin products and are Natural Oak and Golden Oak. These colours are only available with Origin OB-72 bifolding doors and Origin OW-80 Windows.
How big can Origin windows be?
Origin OW-80 windows are available in sizes that exceed the limits of other windows on the market that rely on heavy duty vent/sash sections to create large opening windows.
Top-hung Origin windows are possible up to 1500mm wide and 1500mm high.
Side-hung Origin windows are possible at a very impressive 1000mm wide and 1800mm wide. That is virtually a door size!
Fixed windows and large gable windows can be made up to any size subject to glass sizes, site conditions, wind-loading and other considerations.
There are other factors that affect Origin products for both windows and doors such as glass weight and location, so always seek professional advice or get in touch via our contact form.
