Double Glazing

Dave120

I am about to replace my very old double glazing units at the front of my property. Has anyone had dealings with companies that currently offer very good deals, good quality of service and installation? I am aiming to pay for the windows in one payment, thus avoiding any finance options. I am after A rated windows. I appreciate that web searches are the standard way of getting qoutes, but nothing beats word of mouth. Could anybody offer any advice or suggested companies to use. Many thanks. Any help is appreciated.

ormus

depends if you live in manchester or penzance?

MX5huggy

forget the A rating, look for the U-value the lower the better.

Dave120

Thanks for your esponse guys. I live in Portsmouth. From what I understand, just like dometic electrical products, washing machines, dishwashers, I thought the better the rating (A to G) was, the better the quality and ultimately in this case, the better the insulation. So what should I look for in the U value?

Buttwhy?

Having worked in the double glazing buisness for a while you should be aware that there is no such thing as a special offer I'm afraid. The product has a fixed maufacture cost and the trades to fit the product work on fixed rates too so the only thing that can change is the commision the manager/company/salesman/canvasser want to take home.
While everyone is entittled to earn a living I left the industry when I discovered the level of profit taken from a job e.g. £11,000 sales cost with £1100 to manufacture and £900 to fit, and even after vat an marketing the profit is vast.
The company I worked for was a mid range cost wise and average customer service but with a very good product quality as they made it themselves. I did some reasearch on other companies and for lower prices the quality of the product or the fitting and finsih was compromised but the salespersons commision was usually the same accross the board. The old lie of "I don't get commision or only 1%" is a lie.
That said the best prices will come after the salesman has failed to get you to sign up as the manager will then take up the job and the reduction is usually by removing the salesmans commision (approx 15%). End of the month is always good too as the are bonuses if the manager hits target but beaware their month end may not be the calander month end.
2 things will get people to sign on the night or in 24hr. FEAR and GREED. Fear of losing a great deal and greed of letting someone else get the discount. On no account should you sign up within a week. Make an appointment, say no and then reapproach the manager near end of the month for the best results.
Special offers are all nonsense. BOGOF they double the price, 30% off they add 42%, free TV for first 200 people they add £150 to deal to cover cost and so on.
Best advice is buy a window your happy with made to correct size direct from factory (do not use the salesperson for this as they add their commision) and get a local joiner to fit them who will give you 1years gurantee on their work. Problems rarely occur with modern windows with the exception of poor fitting so a 10year guarntee is not needed and you'll probably not be able to claim anyway. Dont let the joiner buy the windows as they'll buy dirt cheap rubbish from local builders yard.
Good luck

Buttwhy?

MX5huggy wrote: »

forget the A rating, look for the U-value the lower the better.

Your u value measures the performance of the glazed unit not in a frame while the energy rating measures the glazed unit in a frame. Both these measures are flawed as it doesnt take into account the fitting technique/quality and the ratings are ruined if you have an air vent in the frame, but trickle vents are now required under building regs.

MX5huggy

You get U Values quoted for centre pane and the whole window.

The rating (A to G) is calculated using a formula that uses the U Value (ie how much heat is lost through the window), how much air the window lets in (the gaps) and the internal gains from solar gains.

In my opinion its all designed so the same old rubbish UPVC DG can be made to look good, you won't find Scandinavian windows manufactures worrying about A to G ratings its U Value that counts in the deep of winter.

capeverde

Dave120 wrote: »

I am about to replace my very old double glazing units at the front of my property. Has anyone had dealings with companies that currently offer very good deals, good quality of service and installation? I am aiming to pay for the windows in one payment, thus avoiding any finance options. I am after A rated windows. I appreciate that web searches are the standard way of getting qoutes, but nothing beats word of mouth. Could anybody offer any advice or suggested companies to use. Many thanks. Any help is appreciated.

I used to live in fareham. Dealt with a company in waterlooville called southern sealed units. They manufacture their own Upvc windows and glass. If you ask for Nick or Dave they will give you a good trade price and arrange for someone to install them.

Unit 21
Arnside Road, Waterlooville PO7 7UP
023 9223 1251

Dave120

Thanks everyone for your responses. Your advice has been really useful, and now gives me clear guidance on what to look for and the right questions to ask. Really appreciated. Capeverde, thanks mate, I will give them a try.

Dognobs

I fitted my windows in stages, I got one from wickes VERY POOR QUALITY!!! I am thinking of ripping it out and buying a new window the rest I bought in stages from here http://www.tradewindowwarehouse.co.uk/ They are near me I have no connection with the company I went in with sizes they give you a price no haggle just the best price. The windows are top quality aswell.

Don't forget if you are planning on selling soon you will need a FENCA certificate. Makes me laugh as my frount door was fitted by a FENCA Contracter for the council (ex-council house) The whole frame fell out last year I had to re-fit it all!

knight-gkla

Make sure you look at some work they've done too, that avoids false recommendations. But here's another thing, how do you know you got what you paid for?
Installers can still fit A to C rated windows to comply with UK 2010 regs.

OK choose a reputable FENSA company.

Then a trick I learned for special eg K glass, some mornings you get condensation on the outside not inside, that ensures you've got C rated.

Then more coatings and Argon fill gives B rated, how can you tell this is delivered?

To get A rating there must be a thermal barrier in the strip between the glass. Can you tell by looking at it?