New door, frame and windows Building Reg

Giggidy

We recently moved to a property that requires replacing the door, frame and surrounding 5 window panes. We have had several quotes from Fensa registered window companies, and the cheapest we could find is through a mate who works for Eurocell. We also know an installer who works for a Fensa registered company but can do it privately. I found out recently we need to apply for a building notice for this. So are we able to get the door fitted privately and get the FENSA certificate from Eurocell and the building reg signed off? Or does it have to be a FENSA registered fitter only? 

Sorry for the waffle not sure how to ask what I need to ask? 🙈 Basically, can it be fitted privately and still get building reg certificate if all done correctly?

Doozergirl

FENSA is a self-certification scheme.  Installers provide you with a certificate to say that their work complies with the Building Regulations. 

It is the Building Regulations you need to meet.  FENSA sits under BR, not the other way around, it just saves a lot of applications to the council and makes life easier for glaziers.  

You only need to apply for Building Control Approval and have them inspect the work.  You do not need to worry about FENSA, only about the windows and doors being compliant for your inspection.   What you then have is arguably better than a FENSA certificate.  

diystarter7

Giggidy said:

We recently moved to a property that requires replacing the door, frame and surrounding 5 window panes. We have had several quotes from Fensa registered window companies, and the cheapest we could find is through a mate who works for Eurocell. We also know an installer who works for a Fensa registered company but can do it privately. I found out recently we need to apply for a building notice for this. So are we able to get the door fitted privately and get the FENSA certificate from Eurocell and the building reg signed off? Or does it have to be a FENSA registered fitter only? 

Sorry for the waffle not sure how to ask what I need to ask? 🙈 Basically, can it be fitted privately and still get building reg certificate if all done correctly?

OP
Give FENSA a call. They are very helpful as I had to call them about 12/18 months ago.
If they say it's ok but you will need to do, a/b and c etc - so get prices.

NB: Windows and doors installed yourself, not sure what warranty you get with those. When we've had doors/windows etc done, the warranty we get is insurance backed just in case the outfit goes belly up.

Good luck.

Doozergirl

diystarter7 said:

Giggidy said:

We recently moved to a property that requires replacing the door, frame and surrounding 5 window panes. We have had several quotes from Fensa registered window companies, and the cheapest we could find is through a mate who works for Eurocell. We also know an installer who works for a Fensa registered company but can do it privately. I found out recently we need to apply for a building notice for this. So are we able to get the door fitted privately and get the FENSA certificate from Eurocell and the building reg signed off? Or does it have to be a FENSA registered fitter only? 

Sorry for the waffle not sure how to ask what I need to ask? 🙈 Basically, can it be fitted privately and still get building reg certificate if all done correctly?

OP
Give FENSA a call. They are very helpful as I had to call them about 12/18 months ago.
If they say it's ok but you will need to do, a/b and c etc - so get prices.

NB: Windows and doors installed yourself, not sure what warranty you get with those. When we've had doors/windows etc done, the warranty we get is insurance backed just in case the outfit goes belly up.

Good luck.

You only get a FENSA certificate from a FENSA registered installer.  You pay for that certificate. 

If the OP needs to speak to anyone, it's Building Control.  

FENSA is not a warranty provider, it is purely self-certification of compliance with the regulations.   Warranties again, especially insurance backed ones, are purchased and paid for by customers.  If you really wanted one, there are insurance brokers that will help you buy one for yourself, but the OP should be saving some money in the route that they are taking and they therefore provide their own guarantee in the savings they make.   

We must have fitted hundreds upon hundreds of windows and never had a call back for an issue with one.  An insurance backed warranty should be money for old rope.  

theonlywayisup

diystarter7 said:

Giggidy said:

We recently moved to a property that requires replacing the door, frame and surrounding 5 window panes. We have had several quotes from Fensa registered window companies, and the cheapest we could find is through a mate who works for Eurocell. We also know an installer who works for a Fensa registered company but can do it privately. I found out recently we need to apply for a building notice for this. So are we able to get the door fitted privately and get the FENSA certificate from Eurocell and the building reg signed off? Or does it have to be a FENSA registered fitter only? 

Sorry for the waffle not sure how to ask what I need to ask? 🙈 Basically, can it be fitted privately and still get building reg certificate if all done correctly?

OP
Give FENSA a call. They are very helpful as I had to call them about 12/18 months ago.
If they say it's ok but you will need to do, a/b and c etc - so get prices.

NB: Windows and doors installed yourself, not sure what warranty you get with those. When we've had doors/windows etc done, the warranty we get is insurance backed just in case the outfit goes belly up.

Good luck.

We have installed our own windows and doors and not a warranty or Fensa certificate in sight.  I know they have been properly installed and they were done under Building Regulations via a quick form on the Local Authority website and paying the fee. It was £219 for us (for over 5 windows/doors) it was less if 1-4 units.

Giggidy

theonlywayisup said:

diystarter7 said:

Giggidy said:

We recently moved to a property that requires replacing the door, frame and surrounding 5 window panes. We have had several quotes from Fensa registered window companies, and the cheapest we could find is through a mate who works for Eurocell. We also know an installer who works for a Fensa registered company but can do it privately. I found out recently we need to apply for a building notice for this. So are we able to get the door fitted privately and get the FENSA certificate from Eurocell and the building reg signed off? Or does it have to be a FENSA registered fitter only? 

Sorry for the waffle not sure how to ask what I need to ask? 🙈 Basically, can it be fitted privately and still get building reg certificate if all done correctly?

OP
Give FENSA a call. They are very helpful as I had to call them about 12/18 months ago.
If they say it's ok but you will need to do, a/b and c etc - so get prices.

NB: Windows and doors installed yourself, not sure what warranty you get with those. When we've had doors/windows etc done, the warranty we get is insurance backed just in case the outfit goes belly up.

Good luck.

We have installed our own windows and doors and not a warranty or Fensa certificate in sight.  I know they have been properly installed and they were done under Building Regulations via a quick form on the Local Authority website and paying the fee. It was £219 for us (for over 5 windows/doors) it was less if 1-4 units.

This was more or less what I was trying to get at, if we can get the fitter to install it in his private time, after applying for a building notice for them to check it. He does this for a living so we are fairly certain he knows about following building reg. Obviously trying to save some money here but don't want to do if it can issues with getting it signed off

casper_gutman

Yes, if it's done privately and not via a fensa registered installer then you can still get it signed off by serving notice and getting Building Control to inspect.

One potential pitfall: make sure you keep all the paperwork relating to the windows you get, as the inspector will most likely need to see proof that they comply with all the relevant requirements.

theonlywayisup

Giggidy said:

theonlywayisup said:

diystarter7 said:

Giggidy said:

We recently moved to a property that requires replacing the door, frame and surrounding 5 window panes. We have had several quotes from Fensa registered window companies, and the cheapest we could find is through a mate who works for Eurocell. We also know an installer who works for a Fensa registered company but can do it privately. I found out recently we need to apply for a building notice for this. So are we able to get the door fitted privately and get the FENSA certificate from Eurocell and the building reg signed off? Or does it have to be a FENSA registered fitter only? 

Sorry for the waffle not sure how to ask what I need to ask? 🙈 Basically, can it be fitted privately and still get building reg certificate if all done correctly?

OP
Give FENSA a call. They are very helpful as I had to call them about 12/18 months ago.
If they say it's ok but you will need to do, a/b and c etc - so get prices.

NB: Windows and doors installed yourself, not sure what warranty you get with those. When we've had doors/windows etc done, the warranty we get is insurance backed just in case the outfit goes belly up.

Good luck.

We have installed our own windows and doors and not a warranty or Fensa certificate in sight.  I know they have been properly installed and they were done under Building Regulations via a quick form on the Local Authority website and paying the fee. It was £219 for us (for over 5 windows/doors) it was less if 1-4 units.

This was more or less what I was trying to get at, if we can get the fitter to install it in his private time, after applying for a building notice for them to check it. He does this for a living so we are fairly certain he knows about following building reg. Obviously trying to save some money here but don't want to do if it can issues with getting it signed off

If you look at your LA website it will tell you the fee for such works.  Then you can establish if you would rather pay the fee for the BR and pay the installer as a private deal.  FENSA is just a way of getting BR approval. 

If I was doing it this way, I would put his contract as payable when BReg were signed off for the install. 

Doozergirl

theonlywayisup said:

Giggidy said:

theonlywayisup said:

diystarter7 said:

Giggidy said:

We recently moved to a property that requires replacing the door, frame and surrounding 5 window panes. We have had several quotes from Fensa registered window companies, and the cheapest we could find is through a mate who works for Eurocell. We also know an installer who works for a Fensa registered company but can do it privately. I found out recently we need to apply for a building notice for this. So are we able to get the door fitted privately and get the FENSA certificate from Eurocell and the building reg signed off? Or does it have to be a FENSA registered fitter only? 

Sorry for the waffle not sure how to ask what I need to ask? 🙈 Basically, can it be fitted privately and still get building reg certificate if all done correctly?

OP
Give FENSA a call. They are very helpful as I had to call them about 12/18 months ago.
If they say it's ok but you will need to do, a/b and c etc - so get prices.

NB: Windows and doors installed yourself, not sure what warranty you get with those. When we've had doors/windows etc done, the warranty we get is insurance backed just in case the outfit goes belly up.

Good luck.

We have installed our own windows and doors and not a warranty or Fensa certificate in sight.  I know they have been properly installed and they were done under Building Regulations via a quick form on the Local Authority website and paying the fee. It was £219 for us (for over 5 windows/doors) it was less if 1-4 units.

This was more or less what I was trying to get at, if we can get the fitter to install it in his private time, after applying for a building notice for them to check it. He does this for a living so we are fairly certain he knows about following building reg. Obviously trying to save some money here but don't want to do if it can issues with getting it signed off

If I was doing it this way, I would put his contract as payable when BReg were signed off for the install. 

There seems to be 2 contracts according to the OP.  One for the windows and one for the person to fit. 

No one is going to make made to measure windows and doors on a promise, and no fitter is going to wait for payment until after the windows they didn't supply have been signed off.  

That is a non-starter.  

If you don't trust people, don't hire them.   People seem to forget that their own promise of paying is only as good as the the other party's of supplying. 

theonlywayisup

Doozergirl said:

theonlywayisup said:

Giggidy said:

theonlywayisup said:

diystarter7 said:

Giggidy said:

We recently moved to a property that requires replacing the door, frame and surrounding 5 window panes. We have had several quotes from Fensa registered window companies, and the cheapest we could find is through a mate who works for Eurocell. We also know an installer who works for a Fensa registered company but can do it privately. I found out recently we need to apply for a building notice for this. So are we able to get the door fitted privately and get the FENSA certificate from Eurocell and the building reg signed off? Or does it have to be a FENSA registered fitter only? 

Sorry for the waffle not sure how to ask what I need to ask? 🙈 Basically, can it be fitted privately and still get building reg certificate if all done correctly?

OP
Give FENSA a call. They are very helpful as I had to call them about 12/18 months ago.
If they say it's ok but you will need to do, a/b and c etc - so get prices.

NB: Windows and doors installed yourself, not sure what warranty you get with those. When we've had doors/windows etc done, the warranty we get is insurance backed just in case the outfit goes belly up.

Good luck.

We have installed our own windows and doors and not a warranty or Fensa certificate in sight.  I know they have been properly installed and they were done under Building Regulations via a quick form on the Local Authority website and paying the fee. It was £219 for us (for over 5 windows/doors) it was less if 1-4 units.

This was more or less what I was trying to get at, if we can get the fitter to install it in his private time, after applying for a building notice for them to check it. He does this for a living so we are fairly certain he knows about following building reg. Obviously trying to save some money here but don't want to do if it can issues with getting it signed off

If I was doing it this way, I would put his contract as payable when BReg were signed off for the install. 

There seems to be 2 contracts according to the OP.  One for the windows and one for the person to fit. 

No one is going to make made to measure windows and doors on a promise, and no fitter is going to wait for payment until after the windows they didn't supply have been signed off.  

That is a non-starter.  

If you don't trust people, don't hire them.   People seem to forget that their own promise of paying is only as good as the the other party's of supplying. 

Not necessarily. I don't mean with-hold payment, but BRegs can be signed off to suit.  

We fitted ours over a few days (because that was all the time we had) and had arranged for BCO to come out on X date.  It could be arranged for BCO to come out as the fitter finishes, or to come back a day or two later.  So whilst I don't usually disagree with you Doozer, it is perfectly possible. 

I certainly don't condone the actions described in your last paragraph and perhaps my bad wording in the post above lead you to think this, but it is as far from the truth as could be possible.