A what double-glazed window thread
Discussion
I've got a 1st floor flat in the South East (Hertfordshire) & I need to replace all the windows with double glazed one's. I underdstand that they should be able to fit them from the inside & am really just looking for average quality & not too expensive. I was just wondering if anyone knew of any companies that were particularly good / bad ?
Actus Reus said:
Don't use Anglian. Robbing b
ds. I think 'Crystal Windows' quoted me once, and came on a recommendation - price seemed fair. But haggle. REALLY haggle.
I'd second Crystal but as he said haggle really hard. Came down from £11k to £2.5k by....well not doing anything really, they kept phoning with a lower quote!ds. I think 'Crystal Windows' quoted me once, and came on a recommendation - price seemed fair. But haggle. REALLY haggle.I was once recommended a guy in Stortford called 'Adam' who has just set up his own firm - 01279 658335 is his number (not sure if I'm allowed to post that here - Mods, please delete and OP feel free to PM me if you want it). Dunno if he's even still going - I moved and so never used him, but saw his work, and it was good. Apparently he was lowest quote by far.
duckers26 said:
Actus Reus said:
Don't use Anglian. Robbing bds. I think 'Crystal Windows' quoted me once, and came on a recommendation - price seemed fair. But haggle. REALLY haggle.
I'd second Crystal but as he said haggle really hard. Came down from £11k to £2.5k by....well not doing anything really, they kept phoning with a lower quote!ds. I think 'Crystal Windows' quoted me once, and came on a recommendation - price seemed fair. But haggle. REALLY haggle.Had the whole house including doors done around 5 years ago and not had a single problem. Their fitters were first class as well (although buy a bumper box of teabags as I've never seen anyone drink more!!)
Avoid their finance (if needed) as they are expensive and be prepared to haggle - HARD.
My advice is don't bother with the big companies. Get a quote from a local firm. They should only quote you once with their best price. None of this "your house can become a show house". Or we can get our sister company to give you a different quote or come down in price 10 times without even saying anything. If you do use one of the big companies they will continue to ring for a long time afterwards.
blueg33 said:
This is the BESty advice you have had on the subject
I can only echo what others have said above - don't go with one of the big 'national' brands. I got two or three quotes from the 'household names' and they were between £8k and £12k!!! for my one bedroom flat (with all the associated nonsense/pressure of trying to get you to 'sign up now', cheaper on finance etc, 'ours out the best windows because of XYZ').
Ended up going for a local company that I found through searching on Google maps. Very decent guys, fully FENSA http://www.fensa.co.uk/ certified and insured. Did an excellent job for under £3k.
Another thing to note, all the 'nationals' wanted to quote me for scaffolding to go up outside to my third floor flat- a nightmare obviously. Local guys were in and out in a day without any mention of scaffolding!
Ended up going for a local company that I found through searching on Google maps. Very decent guys, fully FENSA http://www.fensa.co.uk/ certified and insured. Did an excellent job for under £3k.
Another thing to note, all the 'nationals' wanted to quote me for scaffolding to go up outside to my third floor flat- a nightmare obviously. Local guys were in and out in a day without any mention of scaffolding!
Choppers said:
I underdstand that they should be able to fit them from the inside & am really just looking for average quality & not too expensive.
With regards to 'average quality', consider 'B' rated windows. The big national guys will insist that you need A ratings, because "they're the best", however in practice there is very little difference in insulation between A and B rated windows, particularly compared to 'regular' windows.So say a regular window retains 15% of heat, a B rated might retain 80% and an A rated 83%. I've made those numbers up, but you get the idea. The windows themselves will look physically identical for A or B.
Point being, the 'B' rated windows are significantly cheaper than A rated (about 20% in my case from memory), and in reality not much different in function.
Definately go with a local company.
I got recommended a trade place. They only made windows, but would give you the name of a fitter they trusted (to be paid seperately)
The quoted me over the phone from my measurements, were half the cost of everyone else, without the normal sales crap.
The fitter came around to quote for fitting, and while he was there he took the proper measurements. He quoted £45 per window to fit (two of the windows were 8ftx4ft!)
When they were ready the fitter collected them and fitted them in a day. He even cleaned up some debris where I've removed old tile sills, and took the old windows away. I ended up giving him £50 per window as I was so happy with the service.
13 years later and no issues
I got recommended a trade place. They only made windows, but would give you the name of a fitter they trusted (to be paid seperately)
The quoted me over the phone from my measurements, were half the cost of everyone else, without the normal sales crap.
The fitter came around to quote for fitting, and while he was there he took the proper measurements. He quoted £45 per window to fit (two of the windows were 8ftx4ft!)
When they were ready the fitter collected them and fitted them in a day. He even cleaned up some debris where I've removed old tile sills, and took the old windows away. I ended up giving him £50 per window as I was so happy with the service.
13 years later and no issues
wurumal said:
With regards to 'average quality', consider 'B' rated windows.
Energy ratings have nothing to do with the quality of the window. The cheapest crappiest window available can be had as an 'A' rated, whilst the most beautifully crafted premium window ever can be had as a 'C' rated. Generally, budget, mid-range and premium quality windows can all be had as either an A, B or C rated.wurumal said:
The big national guys will insist that you need A ratings, because "they're the best",
It's the best energy rating for sure, as for whether it's the best window, see above. IMO the Nationals mis sell an energy rating as an indication of quality, it's not. EG, the energy rating of a new Phantom is horrendous, compared to that of a new Kia. So which car is the better quality? The 'A' rated Kia or the 'G' rated Phantom?wurumal said:
however in practice there is very little difference in insulation between A and B rated
This is true. The A rating is achieved by solar gain, through the use of low iron glass. If you have south facing windows, in the summer the solar gain element of an A rated window might be positively unwelcome, and that consideration may well outweigh the benefit of the solar gain in winter.
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