Double Glazing Quandry

macman

It's a few years since I had mine done but I recall the final price we agreed was less than half of their first quote. All the national firms seem to work this way, go to a small local independent and you should get a 'real' price first time.

worried_jim

I too have been looking at double glazing and had a quote from safestyle for 6 windows for about £5k. A friend used to be a fitter and suggested I get the windows myself and he'll fit them. Just looking around Wickes sell them for £215 (this is the most expensive one I'll need and other will be cheaper)
http://www.wickes.co.uk/PVCu-Casement-Window/invt/146828
My friend reckons I can get the lot done and fitted for £1k, I know they are not sash windows but is shows the huge difference in prices. Worth thinking about.

sashman

rachbc wrote: »

No direct expereince as we have gone with renovating original windows but my next door neighbour has twice had her upv sash window broken into - the police have told her that upv sashes are much less secure than upv casement windows and even wooden sashes - I have no idea if this is true but thought I'd pass it on if security is a consideration for you.

Thats a bit unfair, ANY style of window has good products and poor products. The trouble is people dont realise that ENHANCED security isnt mandatory. Sure windows must be fit for purpose, but thats just basic level of security, BS5970 is optional (costs more) but increases the security substaintially.

Sash window manufacturers have been fitting shoddy catches for years, it wasnt until a couple of years ago, when we helped write the standard for testing sash windows, that a higher level of security could be claimed.

just posted this else where

SBD is the polices secured by design partnership (their preferred partners because these companies offer ENHANCED security (something that’s not required by law or under the buildings regs) http://www.securedbydesign.com/companies/category.aspx?category=2

Companies claim to have this but its NOT on their sash windows!!! Worth checking their site
sashman

sashman

worried_jim wrote: »

I too have been looking at double glazing and had a quote from safestyle for 6 windows for about £5k. A friend used to be a fitter and suggested I get the windows myself and he'll fit them. Just looking around Wickes sell them for £215 (this is the most expensive one I'll need and other will be cheaper)
http://www.wickes.co.uk/PVCu-Casement-Window/invt/146828
My friend reckons I can get the lot done and fitted for £1k, I know they are not sash windows but is shows the huge difference in prices. Worth thinking about.

You can still fit windows DIY, but ALL replacements need notification, ie you either get the council to come out and inspect the work or register the job through fensa or other reegistration body.

Otherwise when its time to sell you'll find the solicitor asking for certificates to say the work was done by a competent person.

sashman

worried_jim

sashman wrote: »

You can still fit windows DIY, but ALL replacements need notification, ie you either get the council to come out and inspect the work or register the job through fensa or other reegistration body.

Otherwise when its time to sell you'll find the solicitor asking for certificates to say the work was done by a competent person.

sashman

quite true, this is customers product review-
"These windows are a good quality and a fraction of the cost of supply and fit companies. If you are prepared to fit them yourself, which I found to be a very straightforward task. (note you now need FENSA or building control certification though, this is extra but still likely to be less than supply and fit company)"

also seen this advert -
http://iad.anm.co.uk/NEP/RegNorth/HTML/Direct-Windows.html
5 windows fitted £895.

sashman

worried_jim wrote: »

quite true, this is customers product review-
"These windows are a good quality and a fraction of the cost of supply and fit companies. If you are prepared to fit them yourself, which I found to be a very straightforward task. (note you now need FENSA or building control certification though, this is extra but still likely to be less than supply and fit company)"

also seen this advert -
http://iad.anm.co.uk/NEP/RegNorth/HTML/Direct-Windows.html
5 windows fitted £895.

SEEN thousands of ads just like it, if you want cheap, I'll send you them, but why is everyone ONLY interested in cheap?

Think about what they are offering, dint rush off and buy the most expensive, but please understand the reason so many DG companies go bust (and you lose any guarantee) is down to the fact they cannot afford to make windows for that price forever.

sashman

Red_Snapper

Thanks everyone - loads of food for thought, even more research required I think. I shall spend some time this afternoon looking at all the links posted.

Have done some calcs on the difference between A and B rating withan online calculator [Edit - tried to post link but it wouldn't let me - got the calculator from one of Sashman's links] and the annual savings difference is negliable c.£10. So am going to not focus on the energy rating at the moment - will see any improved rating as a bonus.

We are a handy family but I think this job may be a bit too advanced for us to do ourselves. I am happy to pay for a quality product and won't necessarily go for the cheapest. However, how much quality do I realistically need to pay for on victorian mid-terrace property? It's never going to massively enhance the value. I just want a quality product, decent guarantees, timely, hassle free installation and an impartial recommendation...Am I asking too much?

Sashman - you are obviously the man in the know - appreciate your expertise.

gratefulforhelp_2

This may be a bit late, but we have double glazed upvc sash windows, installed by everest for the previous owner.

The seals have gone after about 8 years, and the handles are not robust. The quality of the workmanship was poor in the installation (as witnessed by our surveyor) and although we have bought the guarantee, we have already found them less than helpful in honouring it.

sashman

AdrianW2 wrote: »

Sorry, I miscalculated the payback time so I deleted the post rather than confuse.

I've found some more figures that put the heat loss difference between 'A' and 'B' at roughly 5% of a single glazed window. So I suspect that works out well below the £100/year you'd need to recover the cost in 30 years.

Looking on the Housebuying Board, I think I must be the only person in the country to even bother to reading the energy performance certificate, so I wouldn't worry too much about it.

There's a user on here called "sashman" who may be able to help!

Adrian hi, the difference is more than that and a little hard to believe, but true..

Basically single glazed lost 5.8 units of heat thro the glass, double glazing was 2.8 units until 2002 when it dropped to 2.0 for England and 1.8 for Scotland.

These equate to approx an “E” on the new bfrc energy scale.

C rated products often have u values of 1.5 so that’s saving 74% of the single glazed figure.

To be A rated, products must be carbon/energy neutral, (not in the energy to produce the window but during a typical year), or put another way, A rated products gain as much free energy as they lose.

Try telling the public that a double glazing person is claiming they are 100%!! Its tough going, but these facts are correct.

Sure there’s additional expense because the glass is more expensive, but these addition saving get paid back really quickly (18 months we think) however the cost of changing the windows will take a long time to justify if heat loss is the only consideration (lower maintenance and less painting add hugely to the justification.

Hope this helps understand just how efficient new windows really are compared to standard or "early" double glazing, just a pity the chancellor doesnt recognise the steps the indurtsry has taken, and encourage homeowners to invest in this additional cost by reducing VAT to 5% like the other energy efficient products like light bulbs, cavity wall insulation etc!!

sashman

ormus

sounds about right.
dont listen to all the garbage about quality etc... yes there is some difference in quality in some cases. but there isnt 9k or 19ks worth of quality in the top price quoted.

basically a DG window is a DG window. the safestyle quote is at least somewhere in the ball park. the rest of em are in the stratosphere.

but just google safestyle and you wouldnt let them walk your dog.
any company that reduces their quote by 50% is a scam company. i wont deal with them at all. pure con merchants.