Surveyor for double glazing

derrick

We had new double glazing fitted to the whole house back in July 2020 and have had various problems with them, the company have returned on 3 occasions to remedy but with not much progress and still not fixed every thing. In mid November I told them if they did not fix everything by Christmas I would take action re a neutral surveyor and legal action if problems not rectified, since then they have sent out some one from the office, (who was of no use saying they would send out their head installation manager, but he never came), only phoned me once saying to give them some time, I think 6 months is enough time.

I am going to employ an independent surveyor to look at the whole installation as I am not satisfied as to the quality of the product or the fitting but would like to ask which type do I go for?  Building, structural? And what might it cost?

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Jeepers_Creepers

No idea, but if the window company is FENSA-registered, then perhaps call them for advice?

There's also the option of your Local Authority as they should have surveyors for this; an option for DIY installations is to have the installation 'certified' by your Building Control Dept; they much surely have someone who knows what to look for?! If they can't help, asking Trading Standards for advice.

What sort of issues do you have with them?

derrick

Jeepers_Creepers said:

No idea, but if the window company is FENSA-registered, then perhaps call them for advice?

There's also the option of your Local Authority as they should have surveyors for this; an option for DIY installations is to have the installation 'certified' by your Building Control Dept; they much surely have someone who knows what to look for?! If they can't help, asking Trading Standards for advice.

What sort of issues do you have with them?

They are FENSA registered, I have contacted them and to be honest they are not much use, they said they would pass to another department for a free inspection, (twice), but no one called back.

LA, not sure  but will call them on Monday.

Trading Standards (Consumer Direct/Citizens Advice), I will call on Monday, but from previous experience they are not much use either.

 Issues are:

 Condensation on certain windows.

 Draught from kitchen door and frame.

Several opening windows "catching" when opening and closing.

 We have 2 large 5 section bow windows and one square bay window, the "welds" on the cill joints protrude excessively in my opinion and are very unsightly. One of the installation managers said this in an email:- "When the cills are welded the heat melts the plastic and fuses the cills together this creates an overweld which is cut of in the factory this is then penned in with the golden oak pens, this process as I advised is normally done in the factory, but we can and will do it on site.", but 2 different fitters said it cannot be done on site without damaging the coloured "wrap", (the frames are Golden Oak).

Jeepers_Creepers

Condensation on certain windows. Almost certainly normal and not a fault of the windows (see other thread on this topic.

Draught from kitchen door and frame. Not acceptable - poor installation (eg twisted frames, poorly adjusted hinges etc), poor draught excluder beads, frame not sealed against opening.

Several opening windows "catching" when opening and closing. Unacceptable. Poor installation - windows out of square/twisted, badly adjusted hinges, etc. Or poor construction - inaccurate (not square) frame construction.

 We have 2 large 5 section bow windows and one square bay window, the "welds" on the cill joints protrude excessively in my opinion and are very unsightly. One of the installation managers said this in an email:- "When the cills are welded the heat melts the plastic and fuses the cills together this creates an overweld which is cut of in the factory this is then penned in with the golden oak pens, this process as I advised is normally done in the factory, but we can and will do it on site.", but 2 different fitters said it cannot be done on site without damaging the coloured "wrap", (the frames are Golden Oak). Don't know. When I look at my white PVC frames, the welds are neat and tidy and are trimmed virtually flush with the surface level - barely noticeable. It's a lot harder with oak finishes. This might come down to the 'quality' of window frame chosen. I do remember one window company trying to persuade me to go with their more upmarket range as their welds were particularly neat - nigh-on invisible - and this might well be an important cosmetic factor when it comes to finishes such as 'wood'. I just don't know, tho'.

Do you know what make of frame they used? If so, look it up on-line and see what it looks like there. Even phone/email the manufacturer (eg Rehau) and ask.

If the FENSA person said they would look in to it, tho', then just keep asking them - they will.

derrick

Do you know what make of frame they used? If so, look it up on-line and see what it looks like there. Even phone/email the manufacturer (eg Rehau) and ask.

According to their website, they manufacture their own frames and DG units: -

"We manufacture all our own windows, doors and sealed units. In fact, if we were a fish & chip shop, we’d catch our own fish, grow our own potatoes and then pass the savings on to our customers. With ****** Window Co. you get a great company with a great reputation so your money and guarantee are safe."

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TELLIT01

I assume this to be the company in question https://www.directwindowco.com/about-us/

Jeepers_Creepers

derrick said:

Do you know what make of frame they used? If so, look it up on-line and see what it looks like there. Even phone/email the manufacturer (eg Rehau) and ask.

According to their website, they manufacture their own frames and DG units: -

"We manufacture all our own windows, doors and sealed units. In fact, if we were a fish & chip shop, we’d catch our own fish, grow our own potatoes and then pass the savings on to our customers. With ****** Window Co. you get a great company with a great reputation so your money and guarantee are safe."

I doubt they extrude their own frame sections. Like most 'window manufacturers', they buy in lengths of PVC section and then cut and weld them in-house.

See when the windows arrived, they would have had protective tape on them - can you recall what 'make' was on that tape?

Not that this actually helps me much! I mean, if it was Rehau, that wouldn't in itself tell me how they expect their 'oak' finished frames to be welded and finished off. I can't really see that detail on their website either.

You need someone on here with more direct knowledge of windows to help with the 'cosmetic' bit.