Replacing Windows

bretts

Hi all

I am looking to get 2 doors and windows changed in my house, the quotes are about 5k all of them but 2 installers told me we can do 3500 for same windows but without a fensa. I just wanted to know what do we need the certificate for? I know it is something to do with building regs but if we are not planning to sell house in distant future like 10 15 years, is it still needed, when I bought the house it did not come with it.
Just trying to know is it really worth extra 1.5k which is about 30 percent cost.

Grenage

My parents just had about 10 windows (some of them are damn big windows) and two doors done for 7.5k - all regular fensa installers. Shop around a bit more.

You want a fensa certificate in case you sell in the future.

Furts

If you agree to "without a FENSA" you are giving free hand to the installers to exactly as they please. This scenario is folly because it can mean cowboys, bodgers, and all round corner cutting. You can counter this by applying for Buildings Regulations. However, to protect your interests, make this abundantly clear to the installers before engaging them. You may find they decline to do the work.

Buildings Regulations, or self certification like FENSA, is a legal requirement which rests with you. What your post is really saying is "I am tempted to break the law, because I do not want to get involved with FENSA". It is your choice, but remember laws exist for a reason.

bretts

well in that case i will ask him about getting a fensa cert on my own then or look for more quotes still.

Thanks

Furts

bretts wrote: »

well in that case i will ask him about getting a fensa cert on my own then or look for more quotes still.

Thanks

You cannot get your own FENSA - this is something only registered installers can get, and you are not the installer.

You can apply for Buildings Regulations, but make sure you have this arranged, and paid, before the windows are fitted. Then tell the installers you are watching them, and the inspector will be checking their work. Also inform them they will be paid subject to satisfactory inspections.

Chanes

We have had windows fitted without a FENSA cert by a friend and they are to spec. If we sell we will pay for the council to check them over. It has to be one of the most bizarre certificates when to standard glass and fittings are commonly available and fitting a window is usually straightforward. The fire escape regulations are common sense items too, who would trap themselves in a house! I've also seen some of the horrors stories caused by windows installers who can give you a FENSA certificate but really screw the job up.

If you want absolute peace of mind, find an installer by recommendation who can FENSA certify but be wary, being able to issue a FENSA certificate does not seem to guarantee a good job. Having FENSA is legal and better than not having it.

greenface

Chanes wrote: »

We have had windows fitted without a FENSA cert by a friend and they are to spec. If we sell we will pay for the council to check them over. It has to be one of the most bizarre certificates when to standard glass and fittings are commonly available and fitting a window is usually straightforward. The fire escape regulations are common sense items too, who would trap themselves in a house! I've also seen some of the horrors stories caused by windows installers who can give you a FENSA certificate but really screw the job up.

If you want absolute peace of mind, find an installer by recommendation who can FENSA certify but be wary, being able to issue a FENSA certificate does not seem to guarantee a good job. Having FENSA is legal and better than not having it.

this post is good . I will go into more detail tomorrow .

pollypenny

Apart from one,,which was built up from an enormous floor length window, our windows were fitted one at a time, as we could afford it, by a friend who works for a window firm.

We've just had one replace, after twenty years, and the others will be replaced when necessary.

No one has ever mentioned Fensa, although I do remember that when we changed windows in our previous house, the certificate was simply a 10 year guarantee,which didn't transfer to new owners. ( big firm in N. Wales)

malc_b

Some confusion here. In the past a window installer gave you a guarantee, typically 10yrs. Often this was backed by their trade body FENSA, just in case the installer went bust after 5yrs. Then building regs changed to conserve energy. All new windows must meet building regs for rating minimum acceptable being C. You can either pay a fee for building regs certification that the windows exceed C (if you have doing other building work it's included in the fee for those, if just windows then AFAIR my council charges £150), or you get a FENSA certified installer who self certifies and just notifies the council.

If you decide to do neither then keep proof the windows are C or above rated as if council finds out they will want to apply for retrospective permission which is 10% more than the up front fee AFAIR, and a lot easier if you have proof to hand. If you sell the house and it is picked up that the windows have no approval then you will have to pay for an indemnity (about £100 I believe, maybe more now). The is basically an insurance which pays the new own the cost of fixing the problem if the council finds out as long as the the new owner didn't do anything to tip the council off.

Doozergirl

greenface wrote: »

this post is good . I will go into more detail tomorrow .

It's not great post as building regs are upgraded *all the time*. If you wait until selling to go through the process then firstly you won't actually know if they are compliant with current regs and secondly that they almost certainly won't get sign off when you come to sell after regs are inevitably upgraded again.

Furts' posts are the most reliable on this thread.

We go building control route rather than FENSA.

greenface

Doozergirl wrote: »

It's not great post as building regs are upgraded *all the time*. If you wait until selling to go through the process then firstly you won't actually know if they are compliant with current regs and secondly that they almost certainly won't get sign off when you come to sell after regs are inevitably upgraded again.

Furts' posts are the most reliable on this thread.

We go building control route rather than FENSA.

I'm fensa regd and have been for some time . I gained my stripes a while back being inspected fitting one window that was fairly standard and never been checked since after doing hundreds +++ more windows . I fit with and without FENSA certs for different people inc myself . I fit commercial and chemical buildings . No cert needed . I fit buildings that don't require certs (timber holiday homes / static caravans ) I use the same frames glass screws silicone and care to fit all . If its worth while getting the council involved if your thinking of selling then the extra £99 (wirral)is often money saved not lost . You can fit your own frames and no cert needed . The GGF like to keep things within the own group and have tried this before from memory about 1990 started locally to me with some of the "original" members doing prison for going right against what they were trying to do then. making the smaller tradesmen lose work to larger members . It wont stop the cowboys because they can still buy from suppliers and fit for less . If the people fitting for £1500 less have a decent reputation and the frames are good and youre not planning to move then i would tell people to go for it. One of the worst companies with the worst local reputation around these parts are FENSA regd and god awful on measurements . Profile and fitting . Just my own opinion and experience .