Inverness firm Cairngorm Windows is celebrating a move into a new market after winning a contract worth more than £100,000 for work at North Highland College UHI in Dornoch.
The job of fitting 95 timber sash and case windows and doors will be completed by December in the historic former Burghfield House Hotel, where Lord Northcliffe used to spend his summers.
An additional final phase is at an advanced stage of negotiation, Cairngorm said yesterday.
The firm, which has traditionally manufactured pvc windows, said it had seen a gap in the market for high specification timber windows.
Four new installers have been hired and trained up as a result.
Managing director David Dowling said: “There are places where pvc windows are not permitted in the refurbishment of older properties, and we have researched and entered this specialised market.
“The North Highland College UHI award was won in competitive bidding after an independent surveyor reported the need for the windows to be replaced in this listed building.
“We submitted samples to ensure our timber windows would match the original design, and that the quality of insulation and modern double-glazing seals would solve the problem of cold and draughty old rooms.”
Mr Dowling said there was scope to do many more timber window projects, with talks already taking place with a nursing home in Strathspey and inquiries coming in from other parts of Scotland.
He added: “This underlines that the gap in the market we identified and set out to serve is quite significant, which is very encouraging.
“We are projecting £250,000 from timber windows in the first 12 months.”
Cairngorm, which turns over £10million a year and employs more than 100 people in Inverness and Thurso, is also recruiting more installers for pvc windows in the new private residential homes market, where clients include Springfield Homes, Tulloch Homes and Scotframe.