New UPVC windows

Newuser0

Hi everyone, 

I’m after a little advice. I’m planning on getting 4 windows replaced in my home, they’re not big measuring at 1000mm tall and 360mm wide and sit just over 800mm off the floor. 

I’ve had two quotes:

Veka Matrix 70 with Pilkington A Glass

or
Kommerling 70 with toughened glass 

I’m not sure if I need toughened glass as my windows start over 800mm off the floor but just going off what was said by the fitter.

Is the Kommerling window much better than the Veka? Should I go for toughened glass rather than the Pilkington ? 

I’m wanting to know what combination would be best as there’s only £100 between the two quotes so rather go for whichever profile and glass would be best in keeping my house warm. 

Appreciate any help I can get. Thank you in advance.

FreeBear

To be honest, the quality of the installation matters more than the windows. A top notch window, badly installed will perform worse than a cheap one well fitted.

Depending on the age of the house, a lintel may be needed to support the outer leaf of brickwork - Has either quote mentioned this ?

Will they make good the internal decoration around the reveals, or is that going to be left to you to sort out ?

Newuser0

Thank you for your response FreeBear. 

I've read a few places saying the same thing about fitting, but how will i know if a fitter is good? As most pictures they send are all from far so hard to see the little details

Neither quote has mentioned anything about a lintel or internal decorations which I will mention to them. Thank you for bringing these things to my attention.

Apart from fitting, out of the Kommerling and Veka, which spec would be better for me to go with? 

FreeBear

Newuser0 said: Apart from fitting, out of the Kommerling and Veka, which spec would be better for me to go with? 

Both will will have a thermal performance down to 1.2 W/m²K with sealed double glazed units or 0.86 W/m²K with triple glazed. This exceeds Building Regulation requirements for replacement windows (currently set at 1.6 W/m²K).

You only need toughened safety glass if the window is less than 800mm from the floor or within 300mm of a door.

That said, I have a window in my stairwell, ~1200mm above the step yet 780mm above the floor of the landing. It would be quite some feat to fall through that window, but the installer recommended toughened glass. Only a minimal increase in price as I recall.

Newuser0

Thank you! Your thermal performance numbers are extremely helpful. I guess in short either is fine it’s purely up to what I want and which fitter to go with. 

The glass in my current windows start at approximately 850mm so I’m guessing I don’t need toughened glass but the fitter is recommending it, and I don’t know if I want to lock horns when he is the professional.