Which upvc window is best out of these

barker77

im stuck between the following for standard upvc windows with double glazing (or triple if can get good price).

Rehau

Ultimate collection

Truframe

Grateful for advice as I cannot see what differences are!

Albermarle

Impossible to give a definitive answer but for clarity.

There is a supply chain for UPVC windows.

UPVC Profile manufacturers + glass sealed units manufacturer + manufacturers of ancillary parts ( seals, handles, locks etc)

Then the next stage is fabrication of the actual window to your measurements ( the UPVC profile is welded together as part of the process)

Final stage is the installation.

Rehau are a UPVC profile manufacturer - you would not buy your windows directly from them, but from a fabricator/installer that uses their profile.

Ultimate are a fabricator and installer- it is not clear who is supplying them.

Truframe appear to be a fabricator selling to Installers. They are buying Liniar profile ( competitor to Rehau)

So they all have different business models and difficult to compare .

Overall the UPVC , glass and fittings are normally made to good ISO standards whoever you buy from. The installation can be the weak link.

FreeBear

Overall the UPVC , glass and fittings are normally made to good ISO standards whoever you buy from. The installation can be the weak link.

A cheap A rated frame that has been well fitted will outperform a badly installed A++ frame. Assuming either/both have been fitted to the same standard, you will not be able to measure the difference in thermal performance of any frame (unless you have access to a laboratory). The glass makes up the bulk of a window, so the quality and type of sealed unit will have a greater affect on thermal performance.

That said, current Building Regs pretty much requires coatings on the glass and argon gas filling of the sealed units to meet the required thermal performance. So your choice is really between double or triple glazed units - The latter being better if you have problems with noise. But triple glazed are heavier than double which places a greater load on hinges.

Bottom line - Quality of installation and warranty are more important in my opinion, Oh and any warranty needs to be insurance backed.

If you have an older property (say before 1980), you might need a lintel installed for the outer leaf of brickwork. FENSA have issued several briefings on this over the years, but I can point out a number of 1920s & 30s houses where this has been ignored. Even Anglian Windows has been guilty of this on one house I pass on a daily basis.

barker77

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82029797#Comment_82029797

any way to know which is better for triple glazing?

Albermarle

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82030287#Comment_82030287

AFAIK none of the companies you mention make their own double or triple glazing units. They buy them in from the people who make them. ( who in turn buy the glass from a large company like Pilkingtons) .

cpbackhouse

We have just had Rehau windows fitted which were made by the factory in our village and fitted by independent fitters we have previously used.

We have been very happy with the quality and the solid feel of them. We went for a flush fit style with their classic white grained wrap and are very pleased with how they look.

Our fitters opinion was that the benefits of triple glazing are limited now given how technology has improved. I'm not qualified to comment but that was his opinion.

barker77

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82031339#Comment_82031339

Thanks - is the flush fit good? I’ve seen it about but was worried it wouldn’t last as long or have as good a seal?

cpbackhouse

We really like the look of the flush fit. I like the fact that the opening panels look the same inside and out as the fixed panels. They certainly seem to seal very well as far as I can see, We've had some pretty full on storms since we have had them fitted and seem really good.

Chickereeeee

Triple glazing is excellent - if done properly. Sadly, nearly all UK providers use frames too thin for proper triple glazing.

The air gaps between panes needs to be around 16 mm to be effective - and as most UK double glazing is about 28 mm thick, you cannot fit 3 x 4 mm glass and 2 x 16 mm air gaps in! Consequently, the 'triple glaze' options on offer have tiny air gaps, which are not very effective. Which is why many say "You can have it if you want, but it's not worth it".

in many places in Europe, triple glazing is standard, and window thickness is 44+ mm. As it's standard, the cost is reasonable. In the UK, you would have to search for the few suppliers who offer the thicker, 'European style' triple glazing.

(Our sliding doors are 54 mm thick..)

Albermarle

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82037933#Comment_82037933

Good point, but the suppliers of thicker frames will charge more for them .

Also aesthetically they look more chunky/more white plastic on show.

Chickereeeee

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82038015#Comment_82038015

Ours are actually wood (aluminium clad) and the thickness (depth) of the frame is not necessarily related to the width of the profile. Ours are more 'chunky' than the thinnest aluminium profiles (which I dislike for a number of reasons), but fit the aesthetic of an older house perfectly.