Help needed!! Should I trust my window fitter?

Donnam155

Hello everyone!!

I need some advice. We have just bought a house that needs all the windows changing. I was recommended a window fitter by someone I met the other day. I called the window fitter to arrange for him to pop out and give us a quote. During the phone conversation he advised me that he wont be able to supply us with a Fensa certificate. He didnt really elaborate as to why but mentioned that Fensa have made it very difficult to make a living for window fitters so I assume it is either expensive or very difficult to become Fensa registered. He said it doesnt matter if we dont have a certificate unless we want to sell the house in the future, in which case we would need building control to pop out and sign off to say the windows meet the required standard. Has anyone else had any experience of dealing with a window fitter that wasnt Fensa registered? Does anyone know whether this is normal not to be Fensa registered or shall we be concerned? Any advice would be much appreciated.

Doozergirl

It's not exactly normal, but Building Control can sign off the work - however I suggest that he must include the cost of building control in his price, manages inspections and ensures that his quote specifically includes all work complying to building regulations and providing the certificate.

I have a building company. We are not registered with Fensa because building control are always involved in what we're doing so there is no point in paying twice for the same thing.

If I were just a window fitter, however, or even if we offered. Service that was 'just windows' I would be registered with the trade body. It doesn't make sense not to be. The cost is passed onto the customer. I presume that the cost must be less than continually applying for separate certs from building control. Either way, changing windows is subject to regulation - it needs to be followed.

What worries me is that he has some kind of terrible reputation with them or Certass. It's odd. At the very least it shows a shocking lack of business acumen.

Ectophile

Sounds dodgy to me. The correct procedure is to either get a FENSA (or Certass) registered installer, or to notify Building Control in advance so that they can come out and inspect the work as soon as it's done.

His suggestion will ensure that he is long gone by the time you come to sell the house, and the buyer's solicitor asks for all the certificates for building work done.

Furts

There is far more to window replacement than just getting a retrospective Building Control Certificate. Further, there are an enormous number of bad installations of windows. Your man may be involved in these.

To give some pointers: Before the windows are manufactured they need accurate measuring at the home, then accurate ordering. The correct glass needs to be supplied - safety glass if at low levels, and the appropriate energy rating on all the units that are manufactured. The appropriate level of security, locks, handles, stays, restrictors, ventilators etc all need considering, specifying and ordering.

Coming on to the fitting: the spacer blocks should be correctly located, the frame fixings should be appropriate centres, expanding foam should not be a main method of fixing, the cavity reveals and damp proof courses should be made good, the frames sealed inside and out, the cills receive solid packing etc.

With many of these items the building Control Inspector will have no idea what has been done if called out years after the event.

The upshot is pick a window replacement company with great care. Then pick the window fitters with great care, as many are sub contractors, on a price to get the job done as fast as they can get away with.

Then, when the windows are installed, do a meticulous check on everything before parting with payment.

Solsol

As someone who had windows fitted by a company who aren't FENSA registered (we had no idea what this even was when we had it done) I would say either do as has been suggested above and only employ them on the condition that they pay for someone from building control to assess it as it's being done, or find a different company.

We are selling our house and this problem has caused a lot of delays for the sake of saving a couple of hundred quid on TWO small windows.

Our new house needs all windows replacing and we will definitely make sure the fitters are FENSA registered this time around it's not worth the hassle. There are many good fitters who are registered try searching on the FENSA website for registered fitters in your area

wallbash

A lot of talk about window installers / fensa , builders have been installing windows for years. To be honest takes a lot less skill to instal a window than build a brick wall.....and yes I have done both.

Perhaps the 'fitter' in the OP is more a builder than an installer ?
As long as he comes recommended and I saw some of his previous windows, I would not dismiss hiring him.

cyclonebri1

wallbash wrote: »

A lot of talk about window installers / fensa , builders have been installing windows for years. To be honest takes a lot less skill to instal a window than build a brick wall.....and yes I have done both.

Perhaps the 'fitter' in the OP is more a builder than an installer ?
As long as he comes recommended and I saw some of his previous windows, I would not dismiss hiring him.

I subscribe to this too, ie, it ain't rocket science.

As long as the whole thing gets passed you will be fine.

Wallbash or me could install your windows without problem, and we are only simple DIYers

Go with a general builder for your repairs, if he fits windows, then let him.

societys_child

Agree with previous 2 posts.

FENSA registered doesn't always guarantee a perfect job.

A.Penny.Saved

societys_child wrote: »

Agree with previous 2 posts.

FENSA registered doesn't always guarantee a perfect job.

I agree with this and will qualify it by saying that some FENSA registered companies make very bad jobs of fitting windows........it's no guarantee of a high quality job, just that you will have less problems selling at a later date. There are companies that have been featured on Watchdog who are FENSA registered but I would not let them anywhere near to my home. A sales person from the company featured on Watchdog called at my home hoping to get me interested in some windows and I told him to go away because I would not use them. If I wanted any fitted/replaced, which I now do, I would fit them myself and ensure that the job was done well. Getting the building control certificate is not that expensive and covers all the newly fitted windows.

Reading experiences on this forum, people have had window fitters secure windows using only expanding foam because it's quickest\easiest!

wallbash

Wallbash or me could install your windows without problem, and we are only simple DIYers

And as such can also make the easiest task take hours!

Crinkmeister

wallbash wrote: »

And as such can also make the easiest task take hours!

I have established that the average DIY job always takes at least four times longer to complete than you estimated. . Unfortunately, you cannot take this into account because the new estimate will now be 4 x 4 times longer. :mad: