Boring topic I know, but it's time for CH towers to have it's windows & doors replaced, any recommendations or otherwise on the companies that provide said products ?
Avoid Zenith. Where are you based? In the Bedfordshire area Prestige Glazing are very good, and do a no nonsense pricing structure, no salesman bullshit, just a price per window plus fitting.
Just bought 2 gas filled French doors for my new bike room / man cave - triple glazed (approx. 3 times more efficient than double glazing). Worth the extra I think. Paid £1450 instead of £1150 for double glazed units - fully armoured with top notch locks/mechanisms. Local place in York is fab but not near you - York Trade Windows. Think your best finding a local trade firm and having a barter. Watch fitting if buying trade, was quoted £300 but my joiner will do it for a third for the two.
I had my double glazing fitted a couple of years ago by Safestyle. I usually avoid national concerns for stuff like this, but the price was spot on as I basically knew how much to expect to pay (even though the salesman did the old "I'll have to clear that price with the boss, and it's only valid if you accept now") The windows were spot on and the fitters were done in a day and really good. I haven't had any issues with them. However I didn't have my door replaced by them and they were on the phone every week pestering me about buying a door, I told them to stop calling to no avail. In the end I let them send their people out when I wasn't in, that got rid of them. I fitted a composite door myself from Global Door A top notch door and quite easy to fit. I've looked at a few composite doors since buying mine and haven't seen any as good quality.
i had windows done by Safestyle and the fitters were a right couple of monkeys - smashed the old windows out and we were picking up bits of glass for ages afterwards. they even managed to get some out in the road which we had to clear up after thay had gone.
I never had that Steve, they were very good. They meauserd up all of the window apertures before removing the old units to make sure the measurements were correct and didn't break any glass whilst removing them. I had just finished tiling my bathroom and had a pile of cut tiles on the decking in the garden. They even took those away with them when taking the old windows away.
I had safestyle do ours Good price and good service. There are a lot of companies out there. Do some research and decide what price you think is fair knock a few hundred off and you will pretty much pay that. I am sure you are aware that all this bogoff shit is just a con look through that and see which is the fairest deal
Been in the trade for over 30 years. Best advice is avoid the Nationals. They are just sales machines and tend not to care once monies have changed hands. Find a well established local company (not a 1 man band) and look for feedback and recommends, sometimes you can find reviews online. Regardless of which company you go for, salesmen WILL 'distort' the truth and promise the earth. Make sure anything 'specific' to your order is written on the contract.
First off forget the likes of safestyle etc,they employ contract fitters who get paid £x per window so it is there best interest to fit as many windows as they can in a day,its a gamble there are more bad window fitters fitters than good ones.Go to a well established local company,preferably with recommends from friends/relatives,if you have a salesman call remember he works on commission so its in his interest to sell for as much as possible,best if one of the employees comes out to survey/quote.Ask what window system they are using,there are some cheap shite window systems out there if possible try to find a company that uses the Rehau system(its top quality stuff).Go for A energy rated windows as they are the best value for money,triple glazing is not needed(unless you live by motorway/airport)the extra weight of the glass will course you problems long term,make sure the company is Fensa registered(glazing equivalent to corgi).Don't be put off by one man bands,i have traded on my reputation for 20years without the need to advertise or even have my van sign written.In white upvc as a guide,back door 2xg £500,front door £550,small 600x1200 window £225,large 1800x1200 with 2 opening vents £400,patio/french doors 1650x2100 £850,composite front door £800.
I couldn't use safestyle purely on grounds of those terrible adverts. I completely agree with the post above, and would second rehau extrusions, they are top notch and more resistant to yellowing than some others. I'm no expert on windows at all, but my parents had denverglaze do their old house about 20 years ago (denverglaze used rehau extrusions and pilkington a rated glass) they were also one of the first to do internal beading - at the time a great security benefit. When they sold the house just under three years ago the windows still looked and performed as well as the day they were fitted.
Thanks for the recommendation. I've been thinking about getting a new door. Their DIY price looks good but £336 for them to fit seems a bit steep at the mo. - Hmmm, wonder if I could find someone local to do the fitting job......
From a purely laymans point of view, Everest have been around a hell of a long time, surviving the late 80's and early 90's when double glazing companies seemed to come and go on a weekly basis so I assume they must be doing something right.
The whole upvc window trade is a grey area for most,good marketing in the car/bike/tv industries mean you all know what you are getting for your money,i bet 99% of you know f all about glass/windows.I have never had my suppliers phone me up and say we are having a sale on,they usually phone to tell me of price increases,remember windows are made to order they are not just stacked up in all variable sizes waiting to be purchased(with exception of B&Q/Wicks)so there is no stock to discount.Get 3 quotes is the rule but be prepared for the big sell and the old i will have to phone my boss bullshit.
Good to know when i move from St Neots to MK this year. My mate had a top job done in MK last year, if you want their name let me know and ill enquire.
Re; the old this price is tonight only...I have/had to 'pitch' that with sales leads in the home improvement industry. In the knowledge that the sales manager had a 'sweeper' who would ring a day or two later with a much better price if not sold on the night! There is no such thing as a price that cannot be matched or beaten after the sales rep has left. Happily I didn't have to put up with that shit for long. (Now run my own survey company) Plus one on the Rehau comment earlier in the thread. Its a well established window system used by many companies without issue. The sales pitch about using Pilkington glass is bullshit. They are the main supplier of glass in the UK. Simple enough. One man bands can give good value, and sometimes good service. BUT, if they are on holiday when your window is leaking or the door will not lock, it isn't going to be of much benefit. Ditto when they decide to retire or are off work with a broken leg. Not knocking them, just pointing it pout.
