Double glazing

spellinn

Yes, this old chestnut again

I've been going through the process of getting some quotes in for 13 new windows.

Had the usual array of "national" companies with their high-pressure sales tactics and astronomical discounts (one reduced his initial quote of £25k to £9k!)

Had two "sensible" quotes from local companies in the £3-3.5k range, which seem reasonable.

One is limited company, although companies house hold a number of records for companies in liquidiation with very similar names (could be cooincidence, but its a worry..). The second is a sole trader.

The sole trader appeared the most knowledgeable, knew his stuff, no hard sell, and both the missus and I agree he's "in the lead".

Both companies offer "Lloyds of London-backed" 10 year guarantees, however Im curious if anyone has ever claimed on one of these. I presume you can only claim if the original company/trader has gone out of business.

My only concerns with going with the sole trader is that a) there are no companies house records to check - cant find the company history.
b) Its easy for him to change his trading name, and phone number, and I'll be left high and dry when it comes to trying to get any problems fixed the future.

Your comments and views appreciated.

For those interested, the "rogues gallery" when it came to pushy salesmen and scam offers and discounts were :

#1. Zenith Staybright
#2. Weathershield
#3. Everest

Cheers,


/Neil/

The_Biff

I used a sole trader for 1 window & he turned out to be very good. His son was the installer. Afterwards I realised I had no address for him - only a phone number. Fortunately I did not need it but if I use him again I will ask for his address & visit his workshop.

raeble

Nothing to stop the ltd company buggering off as well. Ask him if you can see some examples of his work, see if anyone else has heard of him.

rwgibson99

We bought a house that had double glazing fitted throughout the property, including French windows into the back garden and both front and back doors. Our niaeve (sp.?) belief was that the windows wouldn't be a worry for us. On the contrary.

The quality of the workmanship has become apparent, the fitters have used gallons of silicone sealant around the frames to fill the gaps between the bricks and mortar. This is starting to peel. Vanity strips (flat panels of white uPVC) were used around the frames to a)make it look nice b)conceal the extent of the shoddyness.

The doors leak rain, and weren't weatherproofed adequately. The back door frame was fitted without a lintel, and the uPVC didn't have the load-carrying capabilities of the wooden frame that it replaced. Consequently the wall above the door started to crack...

I also believe that the window sills were fitted too short, so that rain water drips down, runs off the sill, and lands on the wall below (a longer/deeper sill would disperse the rain further away from the house), causing me a damp problem.

Now that I know a little more about what BAD double glazing looks and feels like, my advice would be to
a) seek examples of past workmanship
b) study the quality of the frames, locks, hinges etc. Check the "feel" of them (imagine comparing how a car door handle feels on an old Skoda versus a new BMW, and guess which one will last longer)
c) study the quality of the fitting, particularly the cavities along the edge of the frame - how little silicone was required?
d) enquire about guarantees for the rubber seal against the glass; a perished seal allows moisture in and will make your windows misty

Small traders have to start somewhere, and many of them are driven bust by bad deptors who cripple their cash flow. Big companies pretend that there is some sort of mysticism in the "art" of window fitting, and charge many multiples of the true cost under the guise of "value". Hence your quote for £25k - if they thought you'd pay it they wouldn't have discounted that figure.

Windows aren't that expensive, and if you had to get one replaced later on, it might be easier/less hassle/not much more expensive than trying to get a guarantee claim accepted.

Good luck with your quotes.

hsvqbutr

Hi
We used a sole trader to install all our windows and doors this year. His price was the middle one out of 3 quotes. We were really please witht the service, install went without a hitch.

We too had the hard sell, from 1 of the big Co's (cant remember which though), Said if we sign now we can have 40% off, said no, as i dont buy anything without getting quotes from other companys. anyway, he left and gave us our quote, which still had the 40% off and was valid. turns out all bulls&%t about signing now.

Still very happy with what we have now, plus we gave a local company some work, and not the big boys.

Gary

mrtickle

The quality of the workmanship has become apparent, the fitters have used gallons of silicone sealant around the frames to fill the gaps between the bricks and mortar.  This is starting to peel.

I have a similar problem - there are gaps between the window/silicone and silicone/bricks. I have a new-build double-glazed house with curtians that blow in the wind, and it's freezing in the bedroom :-[

So the windows need re-sealing. I can't do it myself as it's too high up, any ideas who I can get to do this and how much it might cost me for 3 upstairs and 2 downstairs windows?

vansboy

Grandma had Coldseal - before the current problems, they've got following merger/takeover with Brite - whatsit.

Had the silly price presentation, BUT.... their final cost was actually lower than local Mr plastic type products.

Also, listen to the EXTRA discount, that they'll offer if you take the finance, of theirs. This will give an idea how low the price can get!!

You THEN offer, say, £300 less & haggle up, a bit.

Minimum deposit of £100 on credit card - also settle balance on COMPLETION (not stage payments) with card, too. Then you'll be as protected, as you can be, with any problems & future guarantees.

I'll not bore you with the fact that they came to our house, instead of Grandmas 15miles away, to do the job!!

& took out old windows, before checking new ones would fit.They didn't!! Only a 12'' gap at the end, filled in with ply, for a month!!

Then the new one was cracked!!

The replacement was, too!!

Next one had marks inside the sealed unit!!

In the end, you couldn't have asked for a neater finish & a £100 refund, as a bit on recompense.

They really were trying to get the job done & very helpful - was this 'cos we hadn't paid them upfront, I wonder??

VB

rushnowt

I used a sole trader a couple of years ago and must admit he was very good and had no problems whatsoever, I just thankful i was lucky. but in the same position again i would definately ask friends/relatives/neibourbours for recommendation and i'd NEVER stump up a penny till the work was completed to my satisfaction EVER.

Good luck

RedOnRed

What in Gods name is the nation doing to their windows??

I Know each to their own and all that, but the thought of plastic windows makes me shudder and heave. I've driven down traditional victorian terraced streets where every other house's historical aesthetics is ruined by these shiny white plastic monstrositys.

The thought of giving some overly haired gelled, smarmy, gold toothed, scumbag sales man, wads of my hard earned cash for some shiny white hideous plastic things (just for the sake of having to avoid staining wooden ones) is more then I can stomach.

Doesn't any one else think that wooden windows are nicer (and quite often cheaper too)?

Sorry, of me soapbox now. Just had to get that off my chest.

Dan29

What in Gods name is the nation doing to their windows??

Hear hear. A subject for Grumpy Old Men, if they haven't already done it

divadee

When I had my windows done i went on friends recommendation. I used a local company and they worked like a dream. At the time was renovating the house, and the installers even helped me knock out a chimney breast

One word of warning they must be FENSA registered otehrwise you will need planning and building regs.