Not Happy with My double glazing install and supplier is not willing to rectify

neilmcl

It does look bad. It would've better if they did it something like this:

Doozergirl

stator said:

How are these done? Isn't it just plastic stuck onto glass?

The ones that look better are stuck on.  

The OPs are inside the glass unit.  

pimento

You're right, they do look terrible.  I hope you can get them to see sense.  They'd only have to replace the sealed units and not the actual frames so it shouldn't be that difficult.

robatwork

Nobody has commented about you using Safestyle, but I guess that's a lesson learned. 

Way too much PVC on those opening windows, but you should have had the small awning windows in the middle section and the casements being fully opening.  Did you specify this or did they, and do you have any sketches of it?

It would drive me crazy, personally. When you dispute I would perhaps compromise on sealed units that have no "leading"  (I'm not sure on the correct term for the white lines)

tes774952

Im overwhelmed by all of your responses thank you all

theonlywayisup said:

Was there any specification on the contract when you signed?  Safe Style isn't a company I have had personal dealings with but that's because I know I wouldn't want to have dealings with them, that doesn't help you I know.
However, whilst it is unpleasant and not 'good on the eye' you should not be getting yourself stressed or anxious about them and it hasn't ruined your home.  I wouldn't like them to look like that though.
Examine the spec on the contract.  How did you pay and how much (percentage) is still outstanding?

On the contract it shows that the bars are not symmetrical, I raised this with the salesman who told me not to worry as the surveyor will do the final design. I mentioned this to the surveyor who said that he would do so. Unfortunately this is all verbal. The designs that the surveyor showed symmetry but the thing he didn't tell me is that these are not to scale drawings (i never knew about these things). Having looked at the paperwork the terms and conditions state 
"The only purpose of the survey is to confirm the design, size and technical specifications of the windows or doors

and to make sure that we can properly install them." and all the surveyor's paperwork has my signature across them all.
Fortunately, I've only paid the minimum deposit of £100 and will not sign off the job. 
I'm also hesitant to let them come and rectify the other issues as I think they'll just wash their hands of the matter and leave me high and dry. 
P.S. Thank you for uploading my photo

ytfcmad said:

You were never going to get equal GB sight lines because of the poor window design.
You dont really need those top hung over side hung casements, overkill and far to much PVC spoiling your view.
 Take the top hung's out and you would of got what you wanted, you could of even dummy vented the centre window so even the frames all matched exactly, 
There will be nothing in your contract that will help you, nor will the GGF. You could use the fact you owe money (if you do) to lean on them  but to have gotten to this point you would of signed off the colour, design, cost etc, poor service at the point of sell by them in my opinion.

This is what I'm afraid of.  I'm not a double glazing expert and i have signed all documents requested by me. All of their literature and website with Georgian bar windows shows that they're all symmetrical https://www.safestyle-windows.co.uk/window-options/fret-windows/

Doozergirl said:

HHarry said:

I totally agree that it looks odd, but I’m not sure how they can fix it.  If you make the horizontals even on the main pane, the side windows won’t be even. Which may look better, it may not.
If you didn’t have the top openers, then you could make it work OK.

They should have advised on the window shapes from the start. You'll never get the astragals evenly spaced with an opening arrangement like that.  It was always going to be difficult with openers and non-openers on one window, but on your windows there's virtually no symmetry to work with.  

See here.  Four casements, same issue but it's not so pronounced because at least the window widths are the same and they've used dummy sashes to make the overall heights the same.  The only lack of symmetry is created by the top openers: https://pin.it/4Wf02X8

Did they draw the combination out for you, OP, before ordering?   How did you pay?  Finance? Credit card?  Can you put the onus onto a credit provider?   

I totally agree with you though.  I could not and would not live with it.   It is amateur and you won't have paid a small price through Safe Style.  😕

The surveyor did draw them out for us, but as mentioned they are not to scale and so they're misleading.

tes774952

DorsetLad said:

As an addition: I actually don't think it looks that bad. It is a bit quirky, yes, but it gives it a bit of character, in my opinion (but then I am used to the uneven windows in our old house). I suspect many passers-by would not even notice, though I do appreciate that it is not what you wanted. Maybe you might learn to live with it?

Today I cried. Even if i did learn to live with it i would always look at it and wish that they were perfect. 

Davesnave

tes774952 said:

The surveyor did draw them out for us, but as mentioned they are not to scale and so they're misleading.

  It was similar in our case and I think it's standard for DG firms that you won't get a scale drawing or anything you can rely on from them. There will be caveats about pictorial representations, and in our case, even measurements shown.

Once I realised this, exhausted face to face discussion and drew a blank with the GGF regarding arbitration, I turned to the Terms and Conditions where, thanks to sloppy accounting, I found they'd been breached.

So, I paid what I thought the work was worth to us, including a generous allowance for all the hassle and unnecessary grief we were caused. The company didn't contest this. We have a conservatory which isn't what we'd agreed to purchase, but as the years go by it's become no big deal, especially as we have other things in the house that didn't quite meet our expectations either, and our fault!

theonlywayisup

robatwork said:

Nobody has commented about you using Safestyle, but I guess that's a lesson learned. 

I did.  Subtilely

OP, you are clearly (and quite rightly unhappy)  Don't pay anything else, keep dialogue open and explain clearly (followed up in writing) to what you expect the remedy to be. 

tes774952

Having reviewed all the documents this evening. The survey documents states that "You agree to the layout of the Georgian/Astragal Bars" which has been ticked. 
I signed the document so dont think I have a leg to stand on.Davesnave said:

tes774952 said:

The surveyor did draw them out for us, but as mentioned they are not to scale and so they're misleading.

  It was similar in our case and I think it's standard for DG firms that you won't get a scale drawing or anything you can rely on from them. There will be caveats about pictorial representations, and in our case, even measurements shown.

Once I realised this, exhausted face to face discussion and drew a blank with the GGF regarding arbitration, I turned to the Terms and Conditions where, thanks to sloppy accounting, I found they'd been breached.

So, I paid what I thought the work was worth to us, including a generous allowance for all the hassle and unnecessary grief we were caused. The company didn't contest this. We have a conservatory which isn't what we'd agreed to purchase, but as the years go by it's become no big deal, especially as we have other things in the house that didn't quite meet our expectations either, and our fault!

Did you get a lawyer involved?
I am tempted to seek legal advice on what my position is?

Davesnave

tes774952 said:

Having reviewed all the documents this evening. The survey documents states that "You agree to the layout of the Georgian/Astragal Bars" which has been ticked. 
I signed the document so dont think I have a leg to stand on.Davesnave said:

tes774952 said:

The surveyor did draw them out for us, but as mentioned they are not to scale and so they're misleading.

  It was similar in our case and I think it's standard for DG firms that you won't get a scale drawing or anything you can rely on from them. There will be caveats about pictorial representations, and in our case, even measurements shown.

Once I realised this, exhausted face to face discussion and drew a blank with the GGF regarding arbitration, I turned to the Terms and Conditions where, thanks to sloppy accounting, I found they'd been breached.

So, I paid what I thought the work was worth to us, including a generous allowance for all the hassle and unnecessary grief we were caused. The company didn't contest this. We have a conservatory which isn't what we'd agreed to purchase, but as the years go by it's become no big deal, especially as we have other things in the house that didn't quite meet our expectations either, and our fault!

Did you get a lawyer involved?
I am tempted to seek legal advice on what my position is?

No. I was naive enough to think that arbitration might be possible, until this was refused as 'unsuitable' by the GGF, with no further explanation.That made me think about who funds the GGF and take a more realistic approach.

I was very sceptical of the costs in hiring a legal representation, so I had a 30minute free phone consultation with a solicitor who suggested a close examination of the T&C. This stated  any amendments to the original contract had to be put in writing. As the one which caused  the problem hadn't been recorded anywhere, I knew I had them. If details of the change had been sent to us, as we kept requesting, the problem wouldn't have arisen.

 I think their surveyor messed-up by having a major component fabricated and then realised it didn't meet our spec. Rather than  have another made at considerable expense, the firm simply forced their version of what we'd requested onto us. Well, they succeeded, but found themselves £thousands short.