Double Glazing Advice

Oscar

We have decided that it is high time we change our windows. Today we visited what we consider two reputable double glazing companies. Both quotes were within £300 of each other. What left us confused was one salesman STRONGLY advised us against 'Reversible' windows...the up and over ones.. but recomended the 'Tilt and Turn'. He said that the 'reversible' ones only had one seal and that the mechanism is exposed to the eliments and as we stay beside the sea they could corrode!

The other salesman recommended the 'Reversible' windows but said at the end of the day it is the customers choice!!!.

The 'reversible' ones seemed like they would be more flush and the second companies 'reversible' ones definately looked more substantial than the first!

As this is a large and costly exercise it would be nice to get some independant advice.

Further are there any web sites on which people air their views and experiences of Double Glazing companies?

Pink.

Hi Oscar,

I'm sorry I can't help with recommendations but here are some older threads that may give you some ideas of what to look for when choosing a company, although as far as I can see none of them mention reversible windows.

Safestyle are they any good

uPVC doors

Double Glazing - Anglian Windows ?

k glass

Help,double glazing advice.

Buying Double Glazing - Advice needed !

Double glazing

Rex_Mundi

LOL.........It's funny to see how some salesmen try it on.

I worked in the glass trade for over 20 years, and I can say honestly that tilt and turn are FAR more reknowned for going wrong and giving problems than normal openers. They can be so troublesome that I know some companies wont even consider doing repair work on them.

If 'normal' UPVC windows have a problem with the friction stay hinges. It is quite a simple job to replace them. When tilt and turn windows go wrong, they can be a complete nightmare. The opening mechanism is FAR more complicated.

I would definately recommend you don't choose the tilt and turns.

waster_2

I have had PVCu tilt and turn windows for over 15 years. They have never given any problems. Additionally, they offer a much greater level of security than “normal” reversible windows.

One thing to watch is how companies refer to the composition of the windows. UPVC is a term that has not been used for about 10 years now. The correct term is PVCu. If a company still insists on using the term UPVC be wary that they are not probably aware of what they are talking about or doing. It would be a bit like an electrician still talking about the red, black and green wires in your 13A plug!!! Would you trust someone like that?

Windows vary enormously in quality and more importantly on how they are installed. Most of the big companies use sub-contractors to install, so at the end of the day even if your neighbour had a good installation you may get a poor one from the same company if you get different sub-contract installers. Often a smaller local company who have directly employed labour and rely upon reputation will give a better service. However, in all cases ask to see examples of their insatllations and carefully look at the build and quality of the actual windows that they would supply and install if you proceeded with them. And make sure that you do get the same quality of window installed as was shown. If not, do not sign your acceptance of them on completion.

Rex_Mundi

If a company still insists on using the term UPVC be wary that they are not probably aware of what they are talking about or doing.

I've seen this twaddle before. I still use the term UPVC because that is what it was called when I started in the glass trade. I was calling it that for at least 15 or more years before they decided on a name change. In this respect, I'm a bit old fashioned. It's exactly the same reason I still call Cif Jif, and still think of a Snickers as a Marathon (does that mean I can't be trusted with the shopping?). To try to trash my approx 25 years experience in the glass trade because I still use the old word for a product is idiotic.

I've pointed out the pitfalls of tilt and turn windows, because I have seen the problems they cause when they go wrong. I am basing my advice on my many years experience, not on the fact that 'I've got them and they haven't gone wrong for me'. They are reknowned in the glass trade for giving problems, and can be extremely difficult to repair if they go wrong. I know this because I've seen it for myself. The tilt and turn mechanism is a far more complcated device than normal windows. This in turn gives far more things that could go wrong.

alanobrien

Rex_Mundi wrote:

I've seen this twaddle before. I still use the term UPVC because that is what it was called when I started in the glass trade.

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: LOL

Yes indeed, and they all mean exactly the same thing anyway. I suspect an industry smoke screen and dodgy sales people are responsible for the different terms.

Terms currently in use around the industry to describe the same thing are;

PVCu, uPVC, PVC-U, and PVCU.

In case anyone's as dull as me and is interested the "U"
stands for "unplasticised", which just to confuse matters further is sometimes referred to as Vinyl in the USA.

So there you go, your new windows are actually recycled 45's or in my case 78's

Oscar

Rex_Mundi wrote:

LOL.........It's funny to see how some salesmen try it on.

I worked in the glass trade for over 20 years, and I can say honestly that tilt and turn are FAR more reknowned for going wrong and giving problems than normal openers. They can be so troublesome that I know some companies wont even consider doing repair work on them.

If 'normal' UPVC windows have a problem with the friction stay hinges. It is quite a simple job to replace them. When tilt and turn windows go wrong, they can be a complete nightmare. The opening mechanism is FAR more complicated.

I would definately recommend you don't choose the tilt and turns.

Thanks for this, the salesman who was recommending and pushing the 'Tilt and Turns' was actually telling the exact opposite in that most problems came from the 'Reversible'. I have had a quick scout of the internet and it seems that few glazing firms actually offer the reversible. This could be down to the fact that the 'Reversible' are the more expensive.The company that we are thinking of going with have been in buisness for many years and do in general have a good reputation. However I am well aware that it also depends on how well they are fitted. The other 'plus' point with the 'Reversible' is that there are three choices of how far they can open the 'Tilt and Turn' on the other hand are either open or closed.

Thanks again though to all who contributed. It is good to get independant advice when the topic can be such a mine hole!

rizla01

Companies often slag off the product that they don't sell and it's common practice in the Dg field.

I would never buy from a salesman that slags off the opposition. It's most unprofessional and totally unneccesary.

A decent salesman would explain why they consider theirs to be the best but also give a balanced PROFESSIONAL opinion of the worth of both products and help you to decide.

Obviously he would like you to buy his product.

Try to find a Co that does both but remember Mr Mundi has nothing to gain in offering his expertise.

I wasn't involved in the problems that many systems cause.

I was the one doing the selling!

Oscar

rizla01 wrote:

Companies often slag off the product that they don't sell and it's common practice in the Dg field.

I would never buy from a salesman that slags off the opposition. It's most unprofessional and totally unneccesary.

A decent salesman would explain why they consider theirs to be the best but also give a balanced PROFESSIONAL opinion of the worth of both products and help you to decide.

Obviously he would like you to buy his product.

Try to find a Co that does both but remember Mr Mundi has nothing to gain in offering his expertise.

I wasn't involved in the problems that many systems cause.

I was the one doing the selling!

Thanks again I think we are going to go with the second company...and yes the first salesman did slag off some of the opposition and advised us against going to one other particular firm but did speak positively of the firm that we are going to go with(he apparently worked with them for years!)