Help - double glazing, how do we get a good deal?!

grannybroon

We got double glazing last September post DH retiral. Shopped around and got 5 quotes. Went for a local firm - Penicuik Double Glazing. Were really pleased with the work done but within the last 8 weeks gone into receivership. Have just received letter to say 10 year HSBC guarantee now not effective and inviting us to take a 9 year insurance policy to make good anything goes wrong at great cost! No we are not going to pay out yet again and just keep fingers crossed that we are OK for next 9 years but feel we have been burned on this one. (We also have stuff with Northern Rock so watching that one too!!!!!!)

I think at the end of the day you never have a full guarantee if companies go bust whether local or national.

GB

ronnyb_2

You say you've done up 3 houses in the last 9 years. Have you thought of installing your own windows. It isn't particularly difficult. I found that the hardest part of doing it was getting the old windows out. Admittedly I had a friend who had worked in the trade to help me at first but now I wouldn't hesitate to install my own. Save yourself a fortune. Not only that you know they've been done right.

BobProperty

ormus wrote: »

....my neighbour did the best deal around. he bought his windows from wickes and got the local fireman to fit them for 100 quid per day labour.
took him a few days.

FENSA registered was he?
Don't forget folks, building regulations apply to the fitting of new windows, without them or the FENSA certificate you will get asked questions when you come to sell the place these days.

ronnyb_2

Doesn't need to be fensa registered. I applied to the local council for a building notice, cost £60. I asked them what was required ie safety glass, trickle vents etc. Got permission to start and put the windows in. The building Inspector visited after I told them I'd completed the work and passed them OK. Received confirmation in the post a few days later. All they seemed to be interested in was whether safety glass was used in glass below a certain height (about shoulder height)

Duffers4768

Ormus,
I live in the Stockport area and would be interested to know who you used as I am looking for a quote for double glazing.

david29dpo

ronnyb wrote: »

Doesn't need to be fensa registered. I applied to the local council for a building notice, cost £60. I asked them what was required ie safety glass, trickle vents etc. Got permission to start and put the windows in. The building Inspector visited after I told them I'd completed the work and passed them OK. Received confirmation in the post a few days later. All they seemed to be interested in was whether safety glass was used in glass below a certain height (about shoulder height)

Correct. This will be fine when the house is sold.

roddydogs

Always pay the extra 10% for the "Going Bust" insurance. More Double Glazing firms go bust than anything else.
I had windows fitted by "our Price Windows" when i wanted a small adjustment i called them up only to be told that the "original" OPW had gone bust so no 10 yr Gtee would be honored. Guess what they were trading as-you guessed "our price windows"
apparantly this is competely legal i even contacted Trading Standards and they confirmed this. unbelievable, but thats the law!

floss2

We got 4 local companies in, asked each one for price of options a,b,& c and then compared prices, looked at their examples in other homes & went to the showrooms. Ended up going for the most expensive, but with a quote that was cheaper than the one DF had from the same co 10 years ago! It's a 1930's terrace with 31 windows c/w leading & stained glass bays at the front.

We've spent the last 12m wandering around Blackpool & everywhere else we go looking at windows - surprised we haven't been arrested or even challenged!

tamspin

Aha.. Ive joined the double glazing merry-go-round. So I have just had a visit from Crystal windows..probably a good product..but the whole sales patter just turns you off. yes when booking the appointment,i did get asked if my partner would be there..he wasn't and the Rep that called wasnt happy, still,after a hour or so going over his file with various technical data and awards and stuff we finally got on with the quotes..The actual cost he tells me, after consulting his price folder is £10,800k..wooo thats a lot i squeek..Ah ..but as yr spending more than 10k you get 25% discount..so we're now down to approx £7.5k..if i sign now he smiles..as it will save reps time ..I get another 10% off..ooooh..so its about £6.800k. But look he tells me...I can do you a trade deal right now..as I'm not actually a rep..i work on the commercial side..how about we call it £4.800k for the lot..(the lot being 3 windows and 2 French doors all in upvc)..Right..can I get back to you on that, maybe in a couple of days, after i talk it through with my builder, ha ha you forgot to ask if he'd be present..."NO"..oooh he's not a happy bunny.."thats the price if you agree right now"..But surely if yr doing me a bit of a deal...outside of company rules as you stated..whats with the pressure?...so he waffles on about having to keep it all under wraps..even though he offered me a pay monthly scheme for this price at £130 per month for 10 years !! I explain to him that Ive already had a quote to do the same work..in hardwood for £3.5K he turns a shade of pale green and scurrys off into the night...
So I'm getting the local boys (Everglaze )round to quote tomorro..then Everest just for a laugh !! Ill keep you posted..mean time...if anyone has recommendations for the East London area..Im all ears :T

Mojisola

After seeing an article in "Which?" about double glazing where local companies came out as so much better than national ones, we asked a local family firm to quote. The surveyor who came out guaranteed he would be in the house no longer than an hour, measured up, talked about the styles of windows, security, etc, and prepared a quote. The firm's policy is to leave the quote with you and phone about a week later to see if you want to go ahead.

We went with them. The installers are employed by the firm, not subcontracted, and they were brilliant. Good experience all round.