I work for a UPVC manufacturing firm, and just thought I would give any potential buyer some general tips to look out for when thinking of buying any UPVC windows and doors.
When a sales representative comes to your house, he should have a sample window frame with him, I would recommend you ask to have alook at this before you buy it, so you no exactly what you are getting, once the windows have been fitted there is no turning back.
A few points:-
Make sure the window is sturdy and ask what is in the middle on the frame, (the part you can't see) you would be expecting on a standard window for this to be either steel or some sort of metal internally. Some companies only put plastic in the middle.
They you need to one the sample window to see what the opening mechanism is like, e,g it is study and easy to open or is it stiff.
You then need to think about the glass you want, the regulations as it stands today are,
any window below 800mm from floor level to the bottom of the window cill has to be toughened glass, so if you window is waist height it doesnt need to have toughened glass in. Don't be fooled by the sales rep he makes money on every sale remember.
Every bathroom has to have obscure glass, with a rating of 4 to 5 (this is how obscure the glass is).
All upstairs windows do not need to have locking handles you need at least 1 or 2 fire escapes upstairs, and all window handles downstairs have to be locking, I would stick with silver select locking/unlnocking handles these are standard and are like a brushed silver handle. They don't scratch as quickly.
Then you need to decide on the colour of the upvc, beware if your house is south facing brown or oak upvc is not recommended as it is only a foil that is put on the windows and this will most definiately bubble or peel off if the door or windows are getting constant sun.
You then need to ask to see the warranty, you should get 5 years for the units, which covers if the units were to fail or crack, (if it fails it starts to mist up inside) 12 months for the handles and locking and 10 years for the upvc which includes DISCOLOURATION make sure you check this, it doesnt always cover this.
You also want to no if you have a money back warrantly which is call FENSA, when you say this the rep will no you have done your homework. This is a recognised certificate that you get when you have replacement windows, this doesn't include new build properties or conservatories or porches. Just windows and doors that have been replaced from eg wood to UPVC. This will be sent out straight from FENSA once your windows and doors have been fitted.
You then need to pick a door, this can be very stressful as there are many nice doors, but, when you have chosen what you want doesn't always mean you will get it. This all depends on the size of the door whether the panel will fit or not.
The Company I work for Kingfisher Windows in Leeds, they sell alot of Composite doors, which are like a wood door with a UPVC coating, and they come in colours like, blue, green, red, black, & white. Only one side is coloured, so for example the outside will come black and the inside will come white.
Also whilst you are talking about the doors you may need to think about a low threshold on your door, this is to help disabled people get in and out of the house, and with a normal threshold this can cause problems.
Once you have gone through all this and you are happy with what you are getting, rep should start to measure your windows and doors, and then once you have checked everything you will then sign the bottom and should be given a fitting date or an expected fitting date.
The fitting part can be very stressful and all the fitters should bring dust sheets with them, if they haven't you should ring the company who is fitting them and let them no.
Once the windows have been fitted and you are happy with them, you then need to check what sort of cleaning solutions you can use, each window manufacturing will tell you different things, but beware that some soluations can make the windows go yellow or pink, and if the manufacturing company found you were using a product not recommended by them, why may not pay out.
We use a cleaner called Cream Cleaner, it is white like crean and you rub this into the upvc. Some products can also burn through the upvc and this will void your warrantly.
Hope this help and I hope i have covered everything
I would recommend Kingfisher not because i work for them because they have a good customer service and they are not too exspensive.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Advantages: Great prices and sales staff with great fitting and fitters Disadvantages: Pray nothing goes wrong because once they are in your on your own
cleopatrathefirst 25.10.2003 (26.10.2003)
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