A window of opportunity: Exploring Ashfen Windows and Doors

Born from a passion for excellence, Ashfen Windows and Doors brings together the finest craftsmanship with an ethos of personal, attentive customer service. Founded by partners Nat and Nick in 2021, this Derby-based company has quickly earned a reputation for combining premium products with top-quality customer experiences.

We spoke to Nat, who told us: “In the construction industry there’s a tendency to either get a fantastic product with substandard customer service, or the exact opposite. Nick and I have always had exacting standards, so we were determined to provide people with both.

The pair’s journey into manufacturing began with a unique opportunity: acquiring the machinery of a longstanding local firm, Midland Glass. “Nick has always been an accomplished builder and business owner and having worked in both the social and prison services, I know how to manage people, so we felt well prepared to start a new venture together. When Midland glass happened to tell us they were ending the manufacturing side of their business… Well, we bought all of their PVC manufacturing machinery, got ourselves a unit just off of Ascot Drive and the rest is history.”

Specialising in bespoke windows and doors that blend beauty with modern performance, Ashfen uphold a commitment to exceptional quality. Whether recreating an authentic timber look with mechanically jointed windows and doors for a heritage home or delivering sleek aluminium aesthetics with advanced PVC technology, Ashfen guarantee both excellent craftmanship and premium materials: “Quality is as paramount to us as our customer service, that’s why we offer Aluplast profiles, Planitherm glazing, Origin aluminium and more.”

Ashfen take the time to fully understand the unique character of each property, approaching every project holistically and adding value, not just financially, but in long-term comfort, security, and curb appeal. They take pride in offering clear, property-specific advice, rather than promoting unnecessary upgrades: “We’re very honest with our clients, if we don’t think you need a product, we tell you. Transparency is an especially important part of our ethos.”

Nat exemplified that approach when asked about the benefits of triple glazing: “There are a lot of manufacturers that say you have to have triple glazing because it’s the best you can get, and it is fantastic, but it’s a piece in a puzzle. For customers with an already efficient home, it’s truly an amazing investment, but for some its performance might be limited. The difference between double glazing and triple glazing is negligible when the rest of your house isn’t insulated properly, you have to ascertain if the cost of uplifting to it is going to be worthwhile in terms of what you would reap back.”

Clients are carefully and honestly guided through each step of their project, ensuring that every decision is tailored to their individual needs and homes. “When you become our customer, even if that is just coming to us with queries or looking for a quote, we’re nurturing and caring: happy to hold your hand throughout the process. We will always go out on a limb to help and double check things with our clients.”

Ashfen allow for a huge amount of personalisation: “Bespoke projects are our speciality; the options are endless. We do a lot of dual foil work, which allows different finishes to be applied to the insides and outsides of your windows and doors: maximising customisation.” Utilising Aludec and Woodec, two premium foils varieties, Ashfen can replicate wood and aluminium almost perfectly: upgrading the thermal efficiency of your windows and doors whilst maintaining the aesthetics and removing the need for maintenance.

Always pushing for innovation in the industry, Ashfen have recently partnered with Aluplast and RegaLead to manufacture a brand-new product: a PVC engineered door that was showcased at the 2025 Fit Show – a major exhibition for windows and doors. Nat told us: “As a relatively new business, we’re really proud to have been chosen by two such prestigious companies to manufacture new doors that really fill a gap in the market.

“Currently, composite doors have to be ordered in predetermined ‘slab’ sizes, unfortunately, for clients who live in heritage properties – where door sizes tend to be much more unique – this means that they’re often not suitable. The other option on the market is plastic doors, which have traditionally been white, quite functional and just a bit rubbish. The new PVC engineered doors are a fantastic option for those who need a bespoke size and don’t want that functional white plastic, they really prove that PVC doors can be luxurious, beautiful products.”

Ashfen’s size is their strength. Remaining a close-knit business means clients enjoy a genuinely personal experience, dealing directly with the owners, not faceless departments: “We know the service we appreciate as customers, that is what we’re here to provide, that care can get lost in larger cooperations.” From initial enquiry to aftercare, Nat and Nick are on hand, nurturing each project with a level of care that shows. “People like dealing with us, recommending us to their friends and family. That makes me really proud.”

With a flair for the bespoke and a passion for beautiful, enduring design, Ashfen Windows and Doors offer more than just products and customer service, they deliver craftsmanship you can live with, and pride you can see, every time you look out of your windows.

Find out more at ashfenwindowsanddoors.co.uk.