Deciding between window companies

Doozergirl

Furts wrote: »

I am not picking out Finesse for any reason - I have simply googled and skimmed through. Everything about the company shouts avoid, or at least it does to me. It galls me when companies dumb down to such degrees and treat potential customers as fools, idiots and lacking any knowledge. For this reason alone I would not touch Finesse with a barge pole.

I will also give you a hint - my intuition is Finesse windows are banned from all new build housing sites. So do your research, and check out the other two companies. Are they better? You decide!

Are we talking about the right people? I don't have personal experience, but they have an intact reputation in these parts. I have encountered one of the directors and he seemed lovely, although that doesn't guarantee quality. More than plenty of reviews on the Which Trusted Trader website.

Furts

Doozergirl wrote: »

Are we talking about the right people? I don't have personal experience, but they have an intact reputation in these parts. I have encountered one of the directors and he seemed lovely, although that doesn't guarantee quality. More than plenty of reviews on the Which Trusted Trader website.

Throughout the country there are window manufacturers ranging from one man in his attached garage on a housing estate (I know one of these) to medium size local manufacturers. These companies fail to meet the minimum requirements for new home building so instead they aim at consumers wanting "home improvements".

I do not have an issue with this - it is buyer beware. Because consumers do not care then they can be offered questionnable products. However I do have an issue with the moral ethos. These companies could raise their standards but instead decide that consumers are to be targeted with their products. Smoke, mirrors, flashy websites, sales crews and all the rest are used to blind consumers to the reality of the products and failures with the companies and their products.

OP has been invited around Finesse's factory but what is the point of that? If consumers are not told what to look for, and the companies withold, or obscure information, then the factory visit becomes a farce.

Finesse operate in these manners - just look at the wesite. Which means they win no accolades from me.

d0nkeyk0ng

Furts - the only things I learned from the factory visit is that it was a small group of people who had been there a long time, and that frames are made by placing profile joints together and melting the joint.

As for new builds, do you know how or where I could find information on companies that are allowed to supply to new builds? That would make it easier to track down a suitable company.

Furts

d0nkeyk0ng wrote: »

Furts - the only things I learned from the factory visit is that it was a small group of people who had been there a long time, and that frames are made by placing profile joints together and melting the joint.

As for new builds, do you know how or where I could find information on companies that are allowed to supply to new builds? That would make it easier to track down a suitable company.

The windows would need to meet NHBC Technical Standards, Windows and Doors.

d0nkeyk0ng

We had a look at the other main contender- the window centre. They use rehau profiles and supply doors and windows to new builds, schools, offices etc as well as houses. Nothing is made "in house" - it's sourced and built to spec from various suppliers in different parts of the country.

saverram

Hi ,


Have you made a decision with whom you are going with ? I am just starting to think about replacing my double glazing, and we are also based in West Midlands.


Thanks,
Saverram

d0nkeyk0ng

saverram wrote: »

Hi ,


Have you made a decision with whom you are going with ? I am just starting to think about replacing my double glazing, and we are also based in West Midlands.


Thanks,
Saverram

Not yet. We're still deciding. The sticking factor is the front door. Both finesse and window centre quoted the same for everything else. Finesse can't do anything other than a UPVC front door (and we already have a UPVC front porch). Window Centre have given a few options but they're all expensive.



Having said that, we've driven past one house with Finesse windows, and two done by the Window Centre. The Finesse one looked standard and nothing special. The Window Centre ones looked better. It's very subjective variation and something you may disagree with.

Kiran

For my 2 pence worth its about the system they are installing just as much as it is about the installer. Rehau, Duraflex etc. Also worth noting that each system may well have multiple profiles which will give you different looks and performance.