New porch, is Anglian any good?

FreeBear

Make sure you have substantial corner posts. A slate roof is going to be heavy, and uPVC is not structural. Corner posts (as used on bay windows) do have steel/aluminium inside, but you will need to check that they will support the weight of the roof.

ThisIsWeird

Emily_Joy said:

Our new house has got Anglian windows and the front door, installed in 2019. A few weeks ago I was about to leave the house to catch 5:40am train to work when I realised I cannot lock the front door from outside - at all. After checking the lock works perfectly when the door is open, I thought it is perhaps just a bit misaligned, so I managed to lift it and lock from inside. Later that day I called Anglian as the door is still under warranty. I was told that (1) an engineer could visit in 3 working days (2) I can call locksmith if I need help sooner, but this will invalidate the Anglian warranty (3) they don't provide any kind of emergency services themselves. 

Since problems with doors often come under "emergency" category, I wouldn't be using them myself. I also wouldn't expect the door to develop issues after 4 years only...

I don't want to do Anglian a disservice (again...), and I have no issues with the quality of their products (I have no idea, but assume they must, surely, be pretty darned good?).

It is quite common for doors, especially PVC types, to settle a bit in their frames, and that can make the locking spigots/claws/clamps struggle to operate. A wee tweak usually sorts it - but, yes, annoying if you cannot secure your house!

My issue with them, and a few other Nationals - is their value for money, and selling techniques.

Emily_Joy

ThisIsWeird said:

Emily_Joy said:

Our new house has got Anglian windows and the front door, installed in 2019. A few weeks ago I was about to leave the house to catch 5:40am train to work when I realised I cannot lock the front door from outside - at all. After checking the lock works perfectly when the door is open, I thought it is perhaps just a bit misaligned, so I managed to lift it and lock from inside. Later that day I called Anglian as the door is still under warranty. I was told that (1) an engineer could visit in 3 working days (2) I can call locksmith if I need help sooner, but this will invalidate the Anglian warranty (3) they don't provide any kind of emergency services themselves. 

Since problems with doors often come under "emergency" category, I wouldn't be using them myself. I also wouldn't expect the door to develop issues after 4 years only...

I don't want to do Anglian a disservice (again...), and I have no issues with the quality of their products (I have no idea, but assume they must, surely, be pretty darned good?)

I don't know whether they are good or not. It appears they installed many windows and doors in our street, at least the half which is not in conservation area and not listed. In our house the silicone sealing around all windows need replacing. Ironically, there were issues with most of the internal doors too (now sorted). I personally would prefer old solid oak doors all the way - currently on lookout for them...

dllive

Thanks for your comments @ThisIsWeird

Ive just looked on the Planning Portal and measured the existing floor space. Its the same, so I suspect the previous owner built the porch to the size that he didnt need to go through Planning for. 

The slight complicating factor is that I have to factor in those stairs leading to the garden. So either I keep the current foot print, or extend over the stairs. If I extend Ill then to to factor in costs for bifold doors (or similar cheaper option) plus all the extra glazing etc. Id then be going down the 'extention route' which I dont have the stomach - or budget - for.

Yes, youre right, a canopy would be good. Which raises a connundrum: if I increase the width to the stack, which includes the canopy, Ill have an odd gap to the left of the canopy, becuase the porch comes out about 50cm further than the stack. Heres some photos to put it in context.

I did even think about having a canopy that extended over the stairs, but given the pitch of the roof, I wonder if it would look odd.

Also, having the door on the the widest side of the porch - so its easy access to the garden and to the street?

Any thoughts gratefully received!

Postik

I'm out of touch now with who is good and bad, but my parents had windows fitted 30 years ago by either Everest or Anglian (think it was Anglian but can't remember for sure) and they are still as good today as the day they were fitted.

They had an extension at the same time and had a UPVC door fitted by the builders and that lasted about 2 years before it cracked.

Albermarle

Postik said:

I'm out of touch now with who is good and bad, but my parents had windows fitted 30 years ago by either Everest or Anglian (think it was Anglian but can't remember for sure) and they are still as good today as the day they were fitted.

They had an extension at the same time and had a UPVC door fitted by the builders and that lasted about 2 years before it cracked.

Having been connected with the industry in the past, I can say that Anglian were one of the first UK companies to invest seriously in production of PVC windows from a primary manufacturing viewpoint ( as opposed to just fabricating the windows) 
However over the years they have fell behind considerably in that, now having old plant.

On the other hand if you use a local builder, they do not obviously make PVC windows/conservatories/porches them selves, and buy them in from companies like Anglian or local fabricators, who buy in all the basics stuff from much bigger manufacturing companies.
The issue is more the quality of the overall install and the lack of high pressure sales.

ThisIsWeird

dllive said:

Thanks for your comments @ThisIsWeird

Ive just looked on the Planning Portal and measured the existing floor space. Its the same, so I suspect the previous owner built the porch to the size that he didnt need to go through Planning for. 

The slight complicating factor is that I have to factor in those stairs leading to the garden. So either I keep the current foot print, or extend over the stairs. If I extend Ill then to to factor in costs for bifold doors (or similar cheaper option) plus all the extra glazing etc. Id then be going down the 'extention route' which I dont have the stomach - or budget - for.

Yes, youre right, a canopy would be good. Which raises a connundrum: if I increase the width to the stack, which includes the canopy, Ill have an odd gap to the left of the canopy, becuase the porch comes out about 50cm further than the stack. Heres some photos to put it in context.

I did even think about having a canopy that extended over the stairs, but given the pitch of the roof, I wonder if it would look odd.

Also, having the door on the the widest side of the porch - so its easy access to the garden and to the street?
Any thoughts gratefully received!

I'm not sure a canopy over the steps would work, as it would be too low at that point.

Your final idea above looks pretty much spot on to me.

What to do with the gap between the chimney stack and the outside edge of the porch width is entirely up to you, and both options would look and work fine.

From your first pic above, it looks as tho' there's a row of blocks along the ground where the porch wall runs, so presumably also a foundation there of some sort? So the most cost-effective way forward would be to use this, even tho' in theory you could extend it slightly out to overlap the step's side wall, but the small gain wouldn't be worth it.

Where to put the door? At the end as shown will provide it with the shelter for folk to stand in as they fumble for the key. I don't think it's a big ask for folk to walk up the steps and have to go that short distance to the end, so having the door on the 'face' would have little benefit, and lose you the shelter imo.

How much will that entrance be used? Is it largely for family in order to access the garden? Or is it an actual way that visitors access your house?

Now that you have that image, and it's largely a timber construction, I'd be looking to ask a few general builders/joiners to come over, have a chat, and discuss the project. Then you'll also have an idea of the likely cost.

Not sure how visually-realistic they are, but you can get slate-effect roofing sheets/panels that would make it a much simpler job, and also be much lighter.

ThisIsWeird

Another thing to consider is, if you are (and I presume you are) separating this porch from the rest of the house - ie, it won't be heated, and there will remain a proper exterior door between it and entering the house - then it must instead be well ventilated to prevent damp and condensation forming inside it.

It'll then be cold, but dry

Postik

Albermarle said:

Having been connected with the industry in the past, I can say that Anglian were one of the first UK companies to invest seriously in production of PVC windows from a primary manufacturing viewpoint ( as opposed to just fabricating the windows) 
However over the years they have fell behind considerably in that, now having old plant.

On the other hand if you use a local builder, they do not obviously make PVC windows/conservatories/porches them selves, and buy them in from companies like Anglian or local fabricators, who buy in all the basics stuff from much bigger manufacturing companies.
The issue is more the quality of the overall install and the lack of high pressure sales.

Am I right in thinking Eurocell is one such manufacturer?  And local window firms will buy the plastic from there and fabricate them?

FreeBear

dllive said:

This design works well - The covered open space next to the door gives shelter when fumbling for keys. A PIR light would be a big advantage in the winter months when it gets dark. Put a glazed window in the back wall, and you won't need the skylight. I'd leave the ~500mm gap open, and perhaps grow something up the post. Nothing too aggressive, so not wisteria. Maybe jasmine.