Replacement Windows - What to Look For

[Deryck Tintagel]

I am looking at replacing our 25 year old original builder grade uPVC windows and french door with something newer as some do not really shut particularly well and the bay window is not plumb in one corner!

I have had a couple of quotes - one at around £6k (50% deposit and balance on completion) and the other around £9k (no deposit and pay when completely satisfied). Both companes are reasonably sized and I think will do a good job

I will be getting other quotes before I choose, but are there any areas of the frame construction, etc that I should look at? I would rather pay a little more if needed to get good quality, but if they are pretty much all the same it could be just price

Any opinions or thoughts would be aprreciated

 

[ronniecabers]

These days all profiles are pretty much a much of a muchness, comes down to actual manufacturing quality of the window rather than the profile. Also fitting quality plays a huge part. A well made window badly fitted will be outperformed by a poorly made window well fitted.

 

[RrogerD]

Whoever you go for, be sure to double-check the planned design layout AND physical aperture measurements before you sign-off for manufacture. I had one large well known company do our whole property a few years back. Their measurements were way off. They just 'approximate' and then use filler trims. They would have put a small bathroom unit in with vertually no glass! Also, the georgian bars didn't line up across the full front aspect. It would have looked awful had I not CAD redesigned the layout for them.
Mind you, that was only the start. We ended up with no end of delays, problems and errors and settled a compensation package 'out of court' finally.

 

[RrogerD]

Try and see examples of others they have installed locally. Perhaps even speak to the home-owners.

 

[RrogerD]

We went with aluminium indoor current property. They tend to be thinner profile sections

 

[Deryck Tintagel]

These days all profiles are pretty much a much of a muchness, comes down to actual manufacturing quality of the window rather than the profile. Also fitting quality plays a huge part. A well made window badly fitted will be outperformed by a poorly made window well fitted.

The profile seemed to be a big selling point of the more expensive quote - more chambers so better insulation.

I am having a company quote today and they are fitting the windows for a neighbour opposite so an opportunity to see how they did! I am a little cautious of recommendations as a neighbour recommended a chap to refit my downstairs toilet. He was sacked after four days of barely turning up.

 

[ronniecabers]

Is it more chambers, or are they just claiming that? And if it is more chambers ( which i have my suspicion unless they know who you've also had quotes from and what profile they use ), then how much more expensive and will you ever ' recoup ' that in energy saving?
Again though I refer to my comment about the fitting in my original reply

 

[Deryck Tintagel]

Is it more chambers, or are they just claiming that? And if it is more chambers ( which i have my suspicion unless they know who you've also had quotes from and what profile they use ), then how much more expensive and will you ever ' recoup ' that in energy saving?
Again though I refer to my comment about the fitting in my original reply

About £2k more expensive so would be a lot of energy to use to get that back. They were the first to quote so and I do not generally say who has quoted

Quote from yesterday was about middle of the others, but that was based on having dummy sashes. Doing a bit of a read on the matter suggests that there are more seals and possibility for air leaks. The neighbour's house has the dummay sashes and it looks nice. Will receive a formal quote soon and will request the same with fixed lights. The addition of extra framing could make quite a difference to the light in the rooms as well

 

[mrrusty]

To give yourself an idea, run your windows through an online system like https://www.modernupvcwindows.co.uk/info-spec-windows-doors.php That'll give you an idea what you are paying for the measuring and fitting service. There is unlikely to be much of a difference in the material cost whoever the profile extruder is.

As other's have said a slapdash fitting job v a detailed and careful job is where the difference is likely to be.