Are all double glazing frames the same (french doors)?

n_s_simpson

Hi All

I've had SafeStyle UK in and they've told me that their French doors are A-rated frames and Windows (hard coating on glass - Pilkington K). I've not been able to find out just how good their frames are (sales rep tried talking gibberish to me). Quote was £820.

I then had Everest out and they were mega expensive. However, they have steel running right the way through their frames. They didn't mention the frame rating but said their glass was A+10 rated (a soft coating on the glass - brand unknown). Quote was £3000+.

I then had Malbern out who quoted £940. They said that their windows are A-rated but their frames are only C-rated because of the steel reinforcement. They said that you can't get A-rated frames with steel reinforcement. Is that true?

Also, SafeStyle don't do the soft coating on the glass, such as Pilkington K glass S. Another firm quoted me £1,050 for Ultra N soft coated glass. I didn't check what the frames were.

What type of French doors should I be looking for?

It's a minefield.

Thanks

Nick

keystone

One you can get from a local company without all the marketing bulldust, buzzwords, conspiratorial phonecalls to the manager, general nonsense and occupying your front room for three hours.

Cheers

n_s_simpson

Yeah, had all that :-)

Now just doing own research and need to know what technically are the best frames. Steel is my gut but is it true that you can't get a rated ones?

n_s_simpson

Is this the best place to ask this sort of question or should I be posting somewhere else?

I just need to know whether a local firm is correct when they say that there's no such thing as an A-rated steel reinforced frame.

Therefore SafeStyle are using purely PVC with a honeycomb internal shapes to strengthen it.

What should I go for?

Thanks

Nick

slipthru

I was under the impression that hard coat pilkington k glass is C rated not A rated. It's soft coated that is A rated.

n_s_simpson

SafeStyle told me that Pilkington K hard coated is A-rated.

Everest told me that their soft coating (brand unknown) is A-rated+10KW or something like that???

Apparently the coating is the thing that absorbs heat from outside sunlight and has nothing to do with how it insulates against heat loss.

I'm just totally lost with it all.

The local double-glazing bloke quoted me £1050 for French doors with Planitherm Ultra N Glass (soft coated) and steel reinforced frames.

He said that the glass is A-rated but overall the French doors are C-rated because the steel reinforcement reduces insulation efficiency. He said that you either have very strong French doors or well-insulated weak doors. He said that you can't have both. I just wondered if that was true.

Thanks

Nick

londonlydia

Just because I was interested in the thread, and the science behind it, I had a quick google for you, but I'm not a double glazing expert!

Plikington K states that they have A-rated coatings on their website, which are the new ones...maybe this is a new thing so maybe why some sales people still think they cant?

Also, regarding the safestyle frames, did you see this:

http://www.safestyle-windows.co.uk/faq/entry/Are-your-frames-steel-reinforced-23/

Theoretically, metal is a very good thermal conductor (hence why pans etc are made out of it), so I cans ee why it would reduce the efficiency rating...but I suppose it comes down to how much there is of it and what they have around it...

n_s_simpson

Hiya, yes I did see that and I think it's SafeStyle being very clever with the wording "where required". I've even phoned them up and still can't get clear answers.

Everest showed me a cross-section of the main frame has it's got a thick z-fold piece of solid steel running right the way through their french door frames. I'm going to phone them later and ask for clarification on whether their french door frames are a-rated.

50Twuncle

I don't want to complicate matters further - but what about argon filling ?
We had it as standard with our windows fitted 9 months ago (a local firm - with a good reputation - £5000 for 9 windows and a front door) - but I am still uncertain about its benefits !!

n_s_simpson

Sorry I should have said, all these windows had Argon filling

50Twuncle

n_s_simpson wrote: »

Sorry I should have said, all these windows had Argon filling

Yes - but does Argon really make a difference and how do we know that Argon is used ?
I mean - a slight leak and .......