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

RossA

Hi,

All window frames which have an accredited energy rating should be registered with the BRFC (I'm sure there is a register on their website) and have an energy rating certificate like the one on their website.

In my experience I know that you can get a steel reinforced window/door with a rating of A+4 however it had a warm edge spacer bar and Pilkington Energicare glass (soft coat).

Hard coats are an old system and less efficient. I find it very hard to believe that you can get an A rated window with hard coated glass.

The steel reinforcement gives the window a huge increase in strength in turn makes them more secure and long lasting. Think about the handles and hinges as well as the fixings to the house. Screws through and into PVC will never give as lost a lasting hold as metal. The steel also reduced the expansion and contraction due to heat in the PVC which can cause doors and large windows to warp. I've seen doors which can not be opened due to warping.

The steel reinforcement can also reduce the size of the frames and in turn increase the size of the glass (which is what windows and French doors are all about).

In my option Argon is a no brainer. It will lower the Uvalve dramatically. If it leaks out then you have a problem with the double glazed seals which would cause condensation between the pains and you would have the same problem if you had no argon to start with.

In reality the energy loss between an A rated and B rated window is very small. The units are kWh/m2/year so if you compared a A+10 window to a B-10 you would lose 20kWh/m2/year.
If you are replacing about 2m2 of glass (about the size of a big french door) that would be 40kWh which would cost you less than £5 a year in gas heating.

Personally I think you should get a fully steel reinforced frame with argon filled double glazed units if you can. I wouldn't worry to much about the energy rating as I is really just a sales tool and try and get the lowest Uvalue.

Security may be important to you so look for a 'secure by design' accredited door as old/cheap French doors can be popped open in seconds.

Decide what is important to you and choose a company you trust. With larger companies you normally only speak to the sales department which rarely reflect the customer service of the company.

Try and find if the company has any local previous customers so that you can go and look at their windows and doors in situ.

Sorry for going on a bit. I hope this helps you.

Ross

Owen_Clark

Another vote for using a local firm, ideally one that manufacters and sells, I have done three houses so far using the same local firm and they have always been excellent an appreciate my business and done exactly what I've asked for much lower prices than any of the nationals. Always check out someone that has had their windows/doors done by the firm if you can and check out what the fitters where like.

n_s_simpson

Researching I don't believe that EnergiKare is anything to do with the coating since you can have then on the "Pilkington K" or "Pilkington K Glass S" - one has hard and the other soft coating.

Still, I'm moving away from the big boys because I'm not getting useful answers regarding their materials.

chopps

If it's an outward opening door with exposed hinges (= security weak spot) they should also fit some anti jemmy (anti-lift ?) hook pins on the door edge which fit into recesses on the frame's hinge side.
You can have the best glass sealed units and best frames but if the installer messes it up such as not putting wedges under the glass to raise slightly then a few years later you will have condensation problems occurring once the silica gel crystals (drying agent) becomes saturated from sitting in water collected internally in the frame profile.
So ideally choose a locally recommended company with many years of experience who can show you some of their older trouble-free installations.

n_s_simpson

This company has been in touch and has offered a good price on a frame and glass that sound like great quality:
http://www.doncasterupvcwindows.co.uk/

Any others I should try in our around Manchester?

n_s_simpson

I don't understand why SafeStyle don't use a soft coating so I'm not using them. Everest are too expensive.

Malburn I'm not sure of. Any thoughts?