Replacement windows vs replacement glass

TheSockMonster

Hi

We had a company round for a quote a few weeks ago who did not replace full window frames, but just replaced the double glazed units and seals. As part of their service they chemically clean the frames and repair any locks/catches that need replacing.

We have also had quotes for the full job to be done, including frames.

Obviously there is a substantial difference in cost between the two jobs.

Our frames are probably about 15 years old, and the the companies we have had round for quotes for the windows and frames have said that it would be a very bad idea to just replace the glass as it would most likely fail again within 5 years.

Now I am not likely to take the word of a couple of double glazing salesmen who want my business, but I do accept that they may have a point.

Can anyone offer any advice and let me know if it really would be false economy to just replace the glass?

Thanks

Si

Furts

There are sealed units manufactured with ten year guarantees (such as Techniglass IIRR) and a manufacturer within a few miles of me is offering a twenty year guarantee (I do not know the small print...and suspect they may not be around in twenty years....?)

So the five year life seems a little suspect to me - unless your frames are poor quality. If so, I would suggest you need new windows.

I do know a company near me always marketing how good they are at sorting all problems everywhere like yours. My annoyance is they are offering poor quality sealed units (in my opinion!) with just a five year guarantee...but they make everybody else out is a cowboy or spiv, even those offering a ten year guarantee!

Buyer Beware comes to mind!

phill99

A DG saleman will always dumb down other quotes or suppliers. Its lesson 1 in salesman school.

I have moved into my house 23 years ago and the windows were about 2 years old when I moved in. And they are still fine. Had a couple of locks go and a hinge drop which have all been sorted.

What can go wrong with a frame?

Furts

phill99 wrote: »

A DG saleman will always dumb down other quotes or suppliers. Its lesson 1 in salesman school.

I have moved into my house 23 years ago and the windows were about 2 years old when I moved in. And they are still fine. Had a couple of locks go and a hinge drop which have all been sorted.

What can go wrong with a frame?

Provided the frames are well fixed, not distorted and capable of taking the depth of the current units then go for this. If the frames need sealant then renew it. If the frames are no good...or damaged...

The sealed units should not fail in 5 years.

I have no idea what the "sales pitch" about chemically cleaning the frames means. Washing up liquid is a chemical and this is recommended for cleaning - so check this out.

If replacing the sealed units check they are A rated and with a worthwhile guarantee.

sniggings

I may be wrong but I really can't see how changing the seals and glass, and also any locks and handles that need replacing, and also refinishing the frames could be cheaper than just replacing the whole windows.

If you get a quote of a good local firm, I think you will be surprised at how much cheaper they can be compared to the bigger companies.

BertieUK

We replace several units of our DG a few weeks ago and we are delighted.

What happened was several of the units had started to mist up and did not look very nice at all so we pondered with what was the best policy and the best value.

We have a small company in our area that does nothing but replacement units so we had them give a call to see the problem that we had and to give an estimate.

We were told that according to his opinion the DG windows looked around 20 years old because there was no kite markings on the units. The frames - locks and hinges were all in good order and were given a clean bill of health.

The Company gave us an estimate to replace all but two of the units that we had in the particular windows affected that needed replaced and gave a 10 year guarantee and we said just go ahead and a couple of weeks later the job was done.:)

thebaldwindowfitter

Furts wrote: »

Provided the frames are well fixed, not distorted and capable of taking the depth of the current units then go for this. If the frames need sealant then renew it. If the frames are no good...or damaged...

The sealed units should not fail in 5 years.

I have no idea what the "sales pitch" about chemically cleaning the frames means. Washing up liquid is a chemical and this is recommended for cleaning - so check this out.

If replacing the sealed units check they are A rated and with a worthwhile guarantee.

why waste money on "a" rated units in fifteen year old frames .its the frame construction and the unit which makes up the a rating . :rotfl::rotfl: just a waste of money normal annealed units will suffice and if they do go in 5 years if frames are still good replace again.

murphydog999

Can I ask a question on the back of this - sorry to hijack, OP.

I am presuming there are no 're-use' options for Upvc DG? We are going to replace some inherited ok-but-not-the-best-quality windows with timber frame as we are doing a refurb, and I would hate to see them just go to landfill.

silvasava

We've had our DG units in for about 20 years - nothing wrong with the frames, hinges etc just the units fogging up where they face SW. I've had just the units replaced with a local firm that's been in business for 20 years & they have a 10 year guarantee. I thought they would be expensive to replace so kept putting it off but they were very reasonable & I wish I'd had done sooner.

thebaldwindowfitter

Another point worth mentioning are these windows externally glazed because if they are i wouldnt replace the units id change the whole frame and have them internally glazed we have changed that many were people have had glass removed

BertieUK

silvasava wrote: »

We've had our DG units in for about 20 years - nothing wrong with the frames, hinges etc just the units fogging up where they face SW. I've had just the units replaced with a local firm that's been in business for 20 years & they have a 10 year guarantee. I thought they would be expensive to replace so kept putting it off but they were very reasonable & I wish I'd had done sooner.

As I reported in post No 6 above we are so delighted with the overall cost that was only a fraction of total replacement also the units that 'blew' or misted up were also in window frames facing SW and receive an awful long spell of intense sunshine.

We are pensioners and can only say thank goodness for a chance to get units like these rather than replacing the full frames and windows, especially at our time of life;)

Maybe a young couple looking far ahead would choose to have the full units replaced to add value to the reslale value, each to their own.