O/T UPVC double glazing recommendations/warnings

[Icy Gull]

Thinking about replacing my wooden windows throughout the house. Any NSCers in the Worthing area have any experiences of Anglian/Everest or any of the other big players or recommendations for smaller companies?

Much appreciated, it looks like a minefield of hard sell out there from preliminary enquiries.

Thanks!

 

[scooter1]

We used Glass Ctr in Portland Rd. The owner is an STH, and a good guy. They did a great job, tidy and quick.

 

[nicko31]

Just fitted Ideal Combi with aluminium / wooden frames, really nice look as you can choose the frame colour

 

[cardboard]

Ya buy one ya get one free........I say ya buy one, ya get one free

 

[Westdene Seagull]

I'd be very careful of Anglian. I had them quote for one of my old houses - all very sales and pushy. They measure up and then come out with the list price. They then go through a ridiculous piece of theatre to give you discounts - 'oh look, there's a postbox opposite your house so if you allow us to put up a board we'll give you a 5% discount as people posting letters will see our board.', 'ah, you've got a cat - I love cats - tell you what I'll give you another 5% off as cats lovers should stick together don't you think - you've got two ? Oh, that's got to be worth another 2%' and on it goes until miraculously they get to a price that is available today only. Strangely when I said no it was available for the next seven days - I know this because they phoned me every day telling me they would hold the price for one more day only.

I've used Brighton Trade Windows and they were very good - measured up and gave me a decent price first go.

 

[Bold Seagull]

Thinking about replacing my wooden windows throughout the house. Any NSCers in the Worthing area have any experiences of Anglian/Everest or any of the other big players or recommendations for smaller companies?

Much appreciated, it looks like a minefield of hard sell out there from preliminary enquiries.

Thanks!

First of all, ask yourself if UPVC is the only option for your replacements. UPVC typically has a lifespan of 20 years depending on orientation and prevailing weather. Some UPVC will last less if say South facing.

The problem being that replacement windows in the '70's made from unregulated timber lasted about the same, so the prevailing thought is to replace with plastic because timber is a lot of work. However many house builders, and housing associations and developers are moving away from UPVC because of the lifespan, you can't repair them if they get damaged, and their environmental impact.

Have a look at timber/aluminium composite windows that are a timber frame with aluminium fascia or casements to the outside.

Are your windows definitely beyond all repair? Sash windows can have whole frame sections cut out and repaired, and glazing replaced with slimline double glazed units.

UPVC isn't the only answer for replacements and not always the cheapest, so worth looking around.

If UPVC is your option, then Shaws of Brighton are good, and they also do other products like above so worth contacting them for like for like prices.

 

[Icy Gull]

Thanks all, very helpful

 

[Midfield Minton]

Albion glazing,have done a lot of our work,very good and the price is ££££ cheaper then the bigger firms,plus was a season ticket holder when doing our work maybe still is

 

[HAILSHAM SEAGULL]

I am a freelance window and conservatory surveyor, and wouldnt touch Angian/Everest or any natioal company with a barge pole. ll you get is a national company, with sales managers, showroom managers and salesmen all getting an over-rider and commission out of your sale.
I do most of my work for an Uckfield based trade supply company. We can recommend window companies that we supply the products for in Hove, Worthing and Littlehampton or we have a team of installers that we would recommend to install the windows. We dont charge for the survey and all our products are A-Rated and comply to Fensa and Certas.
Look at www.britannictradeframes.com , the companies website.
Upvc or Aluminium are both available.
PM me if you need more info, but whoever you chose,unless your minted, dont go to any of the large national companies

 

[Jaguar_uk]

First of all, ask yourself if UPVC is the only option for your replacements. UPVC typically has a lifespan of 20 years depending on orientation and prevailing weather. Some UPVC will last less if say South facing.

The problem being that replacement windows in the '70's made from unregulated timber lasted about the same, so the prevailing thought is to replace with plastic because timber is a lot of work. However many house builders, and housing associations and developers are moving away from UPVC because of the lifespan, you can't repair them if they get damaged, and their environmental impact.

Have a look at timber/aluminium composite windows that are a timber frame with aluminium fascia or casements to the outside.

Are your windows definitely beyond all repair? Sash windows can have whole frame sections cut out and repaired, and glazing replaced with slimline double glazed units.

UPVC isn't the only answer for replacements and not always the cheapest, so worth looking around.

If UPVC is your option, then Shaws of Brighton are good, and they also do other products like above so worth contacting them for like for like prices.

This is absolute rubbish, the type stupidity often spouted by Eco mentalists.
I have worked in this sector for 30 years so can speak with experience, yes it is true that upvc windows used to have a relatively short lifespan but compared to timber windows of the same era they still easily outlasted softwood ones.
Today's upvc windows can be much better than those early ones, but be careful as the are still many inferior products out there.
Aluminium products whilst in theory being longer lasting are considerably more expensive and suffer from the fact that they are thermally less efficient and the hardware used is no better that that used on upvc, and for doors usually somewhat worse.
Softwood is better than it was but still requires maintenance, it will shrink, swell and warp. Hardwood suffers from all those things as well as the added bonuses of costing about four times as much as upvc and destroying the worlds rainforests.
Whatever anyone says, the best option is upvc just choose a a good quality one. I know that is a tough ask if you don't know what you are looking for, if you are interested I could give you list of important things to look for.

 

[dazzer6666]

I'd be very careful of Anglian. I had them quote for one of my old houses - all very sales and pushy. They measure up and then come out with the list price. They then go through a ridiculous piece of theatre to give you discounts - 'oh look, there's a postbox opposite your house so if you allow us to put up a board we'll give you a 5% discount as people posting letters will see our board.', 'ah, you've got a cat - I love cats - tell you what I'll give you another 5% off as cats lovers should stick together don't you think - you've got two ? Oh, that's got to be worth another 2%' and on it goes until miraculously they get to a price that is available today only. Strangely when I said no it was available for the next seven days - I know this because they phoned me every day telling me they would hold the price for one more day only.

I've used Brighton Trade Windows and they were very good - measured up and gave me a decent price first go.

Exactly this, had a similar experience with Everest and Deceunick (or something like that). Few % for this and that, oh we could use you in our next brochure etc, then called his 'regional manager' to get 'an additional special discount'.......initial price was eventually reduced by half. Got a quote from a highly recommended local company (used by my housebuilder neighbour) which was way less than the reduced quote from the two Nationals.

Some of our UPVC windows are 16 years old and pretty much as good as new. We have had a few handles go and panes 'blow' which seems normal - they are surprisingly cheap to get repaired (there is a company in Burgess Hill that specialises in UPVC door and window repairs).

 

[Hampster Gull]

Exactly this, had a similar experience with Everest and Deceunick (or something like that). Few % for this and that, oh we could use you in our next brochure etc, then called his 'regional manager' to get 'an additional special discount'.......initial price was eventually reduced by half. Got a quote from a highly recommended local company (used by my housebuilder neighbour) which was way less than the reduced quote from the two Nationals.

Some of our UPVC windows are 16 years old and pretty much as good as new. We have had a few handles go and panes 'blow' which seems normal - they are surprisingly cheap to get repaired (there is a company in Burgess Hill that specialises in UPVC door and window repairs).

This. Scumbags

 

[METALMICKY]

I'd be very careful of Anglian. I had them quote for one of my old houses - all very sales and pushy. They measure up and then come out with the list price. They then go through a ridiculous piece of theatre to give you discounts - 'oh look, there's a postbox opposite your house so if you allow us to put up a board we'll give you a 5% discount as people posting letters will see our board.', 'ah, you've got a cat - I love cats - tell you what I'll give you another 5% off as cats lovers should stick together don't you think - you've got two ? Oh, that's got to be worth another 2%' and on it goes until miraculously they get to a price that is available today only. Strangely when I said no it was available for the next seven days - I know this because they phoned me every day telling me they would hold the price for one more day only.

This!!!!! When cheeky scouser arrived at my doorstep his opening gambit was " its really really nice to meet and I really mean that". Then it was on with the pantomine as described by Westdene Seagull. In our case the alleged common ground was cat lovers and then twins when it was revealed that we needed porch to store a double buggie. The bull shit was really ramped up when after gasping at his first quote he twice phoned his boss in the pub to get authorisation for a one off special discount.

 

[Hillian1]

Exactly this, had a similar experience with Everest and Deceunick (or something like that). Few % for this and that, oh we could use you in our next brochure etc, then called his 'regional manager' to get 'an additional special discount'.......initial price was eventually reduced by half. Got a quote from a highly recommended local company (used by my housebuilder neighbour) which was way less than the reduced quote from the two Nationals.

Some of our UPVC windows are 16 years old and pretty much as good as new. We have had a few handles go and panes 'blow' which seems normal - they are surprisingly cheap to get repaired (there is a company in Burgess Hill that specialises in UPVC door and window repairs).

Which one pray tell?

I'm looking to have some work done on windows that are draughty as hell, only 8 years old too.

 

[dazzer6666]

Which one pray tell?

I'm looking to have some work done on windows that are draughty as hell, only 8 years old too.

http://aftercare.me.uk/

Used them a few times, service is always excellent

 

[HAILSHAM SEAGULL]

One of the newer scams is by firms that offer "You buy one, you get one free", or place an order for the front of the house and we will give you the back of the house free.
This sounds good but then they hit you with extra charges for handles, fire escape hinges, which is law on upstairs bedrooms or a surcharge for A-rated glass, which all reputable firms will be supplying anyway.
The main aim of these national companies is to get inside your house and to give you a quotation. then comes the hard sell.

 

[super ads]

I play golf with the guy who owns precision windows in worthing. It's the one just north of worthing railway crossings. His names Martin. Top top bloke and very honest and easy to chat to. Well worth giving him a ring.

 

[Grombleton]

Got my doors and windows replaced with Benchmark in Lancing - very thorough with their work, not the cheapest compared to the bigger companies (I think SafeStyle were the cheapest) but we're really happy with them.

 

[thedonkeycentrehalf]

http://www.checkatrade.com/TheUpvcSpecialists/ is my brother in law based in Worthing. He is a Man U fan (a real one who goes to Old Trafford) but other than that he is a good bloke.

 

[Diablo]

steer clear of the big boys with their salesmen on commission....Any reputable small builder will/can buyand fit UPC widows