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Double glazing or replacement windows – how do you find an approved supplier in Berkshire?

I have to confess until I started to look at buying some replacement double glazing windows I had no idea that finding an approved supplier and installer could be surrounded by so many pitfalls.

For a start I did not realise that organisations such as FENSA (The Fenestration Self-Assessment scheme – a wholly owned subsidiary of the Glass and Glazing Federation even looked at the companies – I thought it was just about the product.

In fact, the product standards and energy ratings are set by the British Fenestration Rating Council (Incidentally I had to look it up as well – it means the arrangement of windows in a building) so now it isn’t simply a matter of double glazed window replacements – they actually have to be at a minimum energy rating before they can be installed.

I had not even heard of the FENSA Trust Mark which is a government endorsed standard. So number One is probably make sure that they have this FENSA Trust Mark and have earned the right to apply it

Are they members of FENSA or the Glass and Glazing Federation?

Have they even been approved by the manufacturer and undergone product training?

How many installations have they conducted before and can they offer a number of verifiable references and can you go and inspect them?

Is the company financially secure, and will they offer deposit guarantees?

Did the company obtain their FENSA recognition under the present ownership?

These are just the questions I thought of immediately and I imagine that you can also think of many others, BUT the big burning issue is really, will I actually ask these questions at the time? Will I remember them all? Am I actually comfortable asking them? Can I trust the answers? Will I have the nerve to seek proof or even ask for it? Will I simple sit and be as nice as possible in the hope that I get a better price rather than antagonising the supplier?

I think we all know the answer to that one especially as I may not even fully understand the answer if I got it – if by some wild stretch of the imagination he handed me his accounts there is every chance I still wouldn’t understand a word of it. I am not an accountant.

What I really want is a simple way of getting in contact with approved suppliers in Berkshire who have already been vetted by FENSA and who are allowed to use the Trust Mark. Don’t assume because they had a bit of paper with it on that it means they have earned it – I looked up the installer prosecutions on the FENSA site – quite a number had been punished for “misuse of the FENSA logo”

Finally on the pitfalls section did you realise that the installation of replacement double glazed windows is subject to Building Regulations. A FENSA approved installer is able to certify that it meets the standard himself BUT if he is not approved then you HAVE to get the Local Authority to come and insect your installation to ensure it meets with building regulations. It is the home owner’s responsibility to ensure it meets the regulation requirements – do you know what the requirements are? I don’t.

OK relax – so let now assume that I have my “approved supplier” and now I need to know exactly what I am buying and why

So what type of windows can I look at?

1) Sash windows – these are the type that you see on a lot of period and period style houses that open up and down wards with one frame in front of the other.

They look pretty good on appropriate types of houses and the modern ones do have the same problems as the original ones which was that they had a tendency to stick and could rattle a lot. They also don’t have the weights and that funny cord that used to run between them any more.

2) Tilt and turn windows – pretty modern invention designed very much for convenience and ease of use and probably what many of us think of when we envisage double glazed replacement windows. They do what the name suggests in that they tilt and turn so it makes them better where say you can’t open a window outwards (maybe on to a pavement) – they are also great for cleaning (don’t need to pay out for a window cleaner any longer!) and good for controlling ventilation levels. You can usually get out of them pretty easily in the event of a fire.

3) Casement windows – what most of us think of as a normal window – opens outwards either left-hand or right-hand opening.

So that’s the style of window but what frames do I go for?

Aluminium frames were the first ones we saw on the introduction of double glazing into the UK. Very robust and fairly intruder proof their popularity declined following the introduction of timber frames and the very popular UPVC type frames – as is normal, as the popularity declines the price goes up. You may find them harder to obtain for domestic use as they are now normally found on commercial buildings – they also use to have a tendency towards condensation.

Wooden Frames – can be very exclusive and expensive – Undoubtedly they look pretty good especially on the period style homes and if you live in a conservation area some local authorities may still insist on them but do remember unlike UPVC and Aluminium they will require maintenance. It is a good idea to get the fames checked prior to purchase as cheaper materials may be prone to warp or split.

uPVC / PVCu / UPVC window frames – by far the most popular and almost always now – the least expensive. One of the great advantages is that they are really durable, have a very long life span and require no maintenance. They can’t rot or flake nor can they rust. Surprisingly they also have an excellent security reputation as the frames are very difficult to break or damage

Are there any real advantages to buying into Double Glazed Replacement windows?

· Reduced energy bills.

· Lower carbon footprint.

· More comfortable home.

· Peace and quite.

· Low maintenance no need to constantly re-paint.

· Reduced condensation.

· Easier to sell the home.

 

Energy saving from double glazing

Every house will lose some heat through the windows, and doors. Double glazing is an effective way of reducing this energy loss and reducing our heating bills.

The possible savings vary and may depend upon the energy saving rating of your chosen double glazing replacement windows. Rather like the rating we now get on fridges etc approved suppliers will often offer energy rated windows with an A-rated window being the most efficient.

It is almost impossible to estimated what you will save on your energy bills as it will vary from house to house dependent upon – the number of windows, the age of the property, the condition of the roof, if the doors are double glazed, does it have cavity wall insulation, sufficient loft insulation, and draft-proofing etc

Search for an approved supplier in Berkshire – We cover all the following areas:

Aldermaston, Ascot, Binfield, Bracknell, Bray, Burchett's Green, Caversham, Chieveley, Compton, Cookham, Crowthorne, Datchet, Finchampstead, Hungerford, Lambourn, Langley, Maidenhead , Newbury, Oakley Green, Pangbourne, Reading, Sandhurst, Sindlesham, Slough, Speen, Spencers Wood, Sunningdale, Sunninghill, Swallowfield, Thatcham, Theale, Twyford, Upper Bucklebury, Wargrave, Wickham, Windsor, Winnersh, Wokingham, Woodley.

You can also find out more about these products by visiting our partner website for further information on Local Window Suppliers.

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Berkshire – Did you know…?

Berkshire (sometimes abbreviated to Berks) is a Home County in the South East of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which goes back to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1958, and Letters patent issued confirming this in 1974.

Berkshire has been the scene of many battles throughout history, during Alfred the Great's campaign against the Danes, including the Battle of Englefield, the Battle of Ashdown and the Battle of Reading. During the English Civil War there were two battles in Newbury. During the Glorious Revolution of 1688, there was a second Battle at Reading, also known as the "Battle of Broad Street".

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