B+Q/Wickes etc Double Glazing

gemandshed

Hi

Just wondering if anyone has brought there double glazing from wickes or b + q etc and had them fitted?

We are first time buyers and have just brought a property which needs rennovation, we need 9 double glazed windows and 2 doors however, we havent got alot of money spare

We have been to a few double glazing companies and the quotes vary nearly £1,000!

Do you think it would be better/cheaper to buy the windows ourselves from a DIY Store and get a window fitter in or get a company to do the whole lot?
If anyone has brought the windows from the DIY stores are they any good? I dont know anyone that has, so cant decide.

Thanks

Gemma

confuseddad_2

Hi.

Have had a quote for £ 1000 for 9 windows and 2 doors??

DIY stores do dg windows and doors in standard stock sizes, great if they are sutible but a local company will offer a measureing and fitting service. Its not that easy measureing the windows yourself. Trust me.

They would do supply only but you have to find someone to fit them and again its not always straight forward. Also you will want them approved by either a fensa company or building control, should you wish to sell your home in the future.

Can you not get a price and do them when money becomes availlable. All companys are looking for work so I am sure someone will agree to fix the price for a reasonable length of time.

chrisg1985

gemandshed wrote: »

Hi

Just wondering if anyone has brought there double glazing from wickes or b + q etc and had them fitted?

We are first time buyers and have just brought a property which needs rennovation, we need 9 double glazed windows and 2 doors however, we havent got alot of money spare

We have been to a few double glazing companies and the quotes vary nearly £1,000!

Do you think it would be better/cheaper to buy the windows ourselves from a DIY Store and get a window fitter in or get a company to do the whole lot?
If anyone has brought the windows from the DIY stores are they any good? I dont know anyone that has, so cant decide.

Thanks

Gemma

Hi Gemma,

Firstly what are the openings of your windows. Are they originally designed for sash windows or casements?

Windows from bq and wickes are poor. Windows from plastic companies are also poor substitute for timber.

If you can provide more detail I will tell you exactly what to do to save money.

gemandshed

thanks confusedad.
sorry my mistake the quotes vary by £1,000 e.g. we had one quote for £2,400 supply and fit and another for £3,500 etc.
Oh right so what problems arise if you do not have them done by a fensa co or building control?
also do you have to have building regs for double glazing or do you only have to get involved with regs if you alter the size?

gemandshed

chrisg1985 wrote: »

Hi Gemma,

Firstly what are the openings of your windows. Are they originally designed for sash windows or casements?

Windows from bq and wickes are poor. Windows from plastic companies are also poor substitute for timber.

If you can provide more detail I will tell you exactly what to do to save money.

Hi Chris

Casement windows. The property is approx 30 years old. We are after the georgian bar windows. The windows arent very big and there is 9. I can post you a picture if you like.

Thanks very much

Gemma

confuseddad_2

Hi.

Should you wish to sell the house in the near future and you have had all windows replaced then it will come up on the solicitors details and they will require some form of certificate.

We never had to apply for building regs as fensa should cover it even if you change sizes. Would check with la though.

Are you going for full georgian bar as imop that can look a bit over the top.

What about g bar in the tops of the sashs in the front of the property with sashs set at 60/40 or 50/50. Depending on styles and fire escape requiremants etc.

Without any g bar at all is going to be cheaper. Can be replaced in future when money more availlable. Not a great idea i know but a thought??

gemandshed

Thanks for your advice confusedad.

I am guessing all double glazing companies should be fensa regulated as such?
So you get a certificate once the windows have been fitted?

I think we are going for a full georgian bar however, my boyfriend did suggest having g bar at the front of the house and plain at the back (as no one really looks at the back of the house)
his parents have had this done and to be honest, i didnt even notice!

confuseddad_2

Thats a good idea with the georgian bar in the front only. Done it ourselves. All fur coat us.;)

Just check that any company is registered i think you can go to fensas website and check?

You will get a cert for any work done sent to you independantly from fensa if your job is registered with them. Also sometimes you are offerd a insurance backed gaurentee on top of the firm doing the works.

In these uncertain times its not a bad idea because if a firm closes so does there gaurentee.

If you are staying in the house then could be the best money you spend?

Inactive

chrisg1985 wrote: »

Windows from bq and wickes are poor. Windows from plastic companies are also poor substitute for timber.

Why are they " poor " ?

wallbash

Why are they " poor " ?

Because they need less maintenance, fit better :rotfl:

But there are those that like the snob value

And yes I have had both , the Hardwood sash ones in my
Victorian house looked great , but so do the modern ones in my present
property .

chrisg1985

wallbash wrote: »

Because they need less maintenance, fit better :rotfl:

But there are those that like the snob value

And yes I have had both , the Hardwood sash ones in my
Victorian house looked great , but so do the modern ones in my present
property .

What modern windows do you have that look nice?

The quality of bq and wickes windows is shocking.Not to mention down right ugly.

Gemma - By the way £2.4k for 9 windows and 2 doors is spot on for plastic. You won't do alot better than that.

WallBash - plastic tat is not maintenance free. In order to preserve the surface of a plastic window you need to clean them frequently for a start. If you buy expensive plastic mock sash windows they have spiral balances - which fail often - how do i know that? I probably get 2-3 calls a week about this - naturally I tell them to find the Plastic window company that installed them as they are never 10 years old.Plastic will not last as long as a timber window nor does it fit better. How do i know that? I suppose because I go around London restoring 100 + year old windows.You can't shoot upvc windows in to a house with movement.You can with timber. I don't know anyone who goes around restoring 15 year outdated upvc. Throw them in the ground and start again is the plastic moto - Everything this monersavingexpert site is against right? How odd this board can be.

I wish they would prosecute people for crimes against architecture.