lillybettybabs Posted October 29, 2013 Share Posted October 29, 2013 I am in the process of getting quotes to replace our windows. I haven't had to replace any before so i could do with some advice on companies which are good and ones to avoid. A lot of money to replace so i would like mid range. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted October 29, 2013 Share Posted October 29, 2013 avoid the big boys deals and try to find a local company through recommendations you'll get a lot more competitive prices that way. (30+ years in the glass and window trade ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickendoodle Posted October 29, 2013 Share Posted October 29, 2013 avoid the big boys deals and try to find a local company through recommendations you'll get a lot more competitive prices that way. (30+ years in the glass and window trade ) Agreed - good advice. We recently had work done by a local company to us and they were brilliant. You might find a local company who have a display area in a garden centre. Ours came out and quoted and the first thing they said was that the price they were going to give us would be the only price. It would be non negotiable. A lot of the big firms try to entice you by offering all sorts of discounts and getting you to sign before they leave. Ask a few questions before you invite them to your home - will they send a written quote for you to look over and not insist on you signing anything on the day. Ask them if they have previous customers you can call for a reference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 29, 2013 Share Posted October 29, 2013 Avoid Cherwell Windows (can't remember the exact name) they are pants. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lillybettybabs Posted October 29, 2013 Author Share Posted October 29, 2013 Ahh.... Cherwell have quoted me but their 'good' windows came out more expensive than the big boys. Their standard ones just weren't worth bothering with. I had another local company that seemed to cheap even for the good energy rating one and with Safestyle telling me that cheap means recycled plastic that will colour fade i am a little confused. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 29, 2013 Share Posted October 29, 2013 I take it you've trawled onlne for reviews and forums with comments? Will text you details of my builder who may be able ot suggest, or supply and fit at a good rate. I've never had to use him for windows, but it's worth asking as he's very helpful and works to a high standard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted October 29, 2013 Share Posted October 29, 2013 Ahh.... Cherwell have quoted me but their 'good' windows came out more expensive than the big boys. Theirstandard ones just weren't worth bothering with. I had another local company that seemed to cheap even for the good energy rating one and with Safestyle telling me that cheap means recycled plastic that will colour fade i am a little confused. with the exception of the outer skin all upvc frames have recycled plastic in them but it's from the of cuts of the 'new' plastic section and rejected section at the extruding plant as once it's been used it isn't any good for window frames and doors you get very little fading or yellowing now a days as they put more uv filters in the mix you need to watch the thickness of cheap windows as their are 2 thicknesses of section ones about 60mm the other is 70mm which is the one that we use to fit the other way to save money is with the reinforcing or rather without the reinforcing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Princess Leia Posted October 29, 2013 Share Posted October 29, 2013 Can't recommend a particular company, but a couple of points to think on. A smaller local company are likely to give better service than one of the bigger ones, who mostly use subcontractors to install. All the companies you buy windows from are fabricators - they don't make the extrusions or the fittings. Find out whose extrusions they use and google it for results. Ours for example are Rehau - German, very good reputation for extrusions, but the installing company fitted Raptor locks which are not so good. Surveying for the windows isn't a 5 minute job, so anyone who does it quickly is likely to miss something in the building construction which will affect the fit and installation later. One detail that can be overlooked in an effort to keep costs down is the number of opening windows. You need opening casement windows upstairs as a means of fire escape. but do you really want to have those open for ventilation normally? So, do you have both casement and transoms - more expensive, or just casements or just transoms? And make sure the window locks are the type that can be locked in a vent position (not all can). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapdragon Posted October 29, 2013 Share Posted October 29, 2013 Are you too far from Wallingford, do you think? We had ours from Wallingford Windows (ask for Bill if you call! He's lovely!) and they were great! Far, far more competitive then 'the Big Boys' and they manufacture to measure on site near Didcot. Turned up when they said they would and got the job done! We have since recommended them to another friend in our village and she was delighted. If you'd like their number PM me but I think they are online (isn't everyone, these days!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lillybettybabs Posted October 30, 2013 Author Share Posted October 30, 2013 Thanks for the advice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckmum6 Posted November 1, 2013 Share Posted November 1, 2013 Avoid Anglian, they are cowboys, we had terrible experience of them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted November 1, 2013 Share Posted November 1, 2013 I have heard terrible things about Anglian too and the other nationals. We had ours done about seven weeks ago by a local firm who also did next door a year ago. Make sure that you get the high security anti bump locks if you are having your doors done. Our fitters left all of the frames from the old wooden windows for us burn in our wood burner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 1, 2013 Share Posted November 1, 2013 The windows I inherited with the house are Anglian and they are total pants... plus they were always phoning me up to get me to buy more! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted November 1, 2013 Share Posted November 1, 2013 A friend had a conservatory from Anglia who subcontracted to someone from another county - and they were rubbish. So if you do go for a big firm, check they employ their own workmen. But as everyone else says, go for a local firm. And there are plenty of good recommendations here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted November 1, 2013 Share Posted November 1, 2013 most of the big boys use sub contract labour on a semi exclusive contract that way they don't have to pay them if them if there's no work or if the job runs over which is partly why they only want to do whole houses or conservatories/porches Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted November 2, 2013 Share Posted November 2, 2013 We went for a local firm too when we replaced the doors and windows. Although the burglers broke the lock the Police said they were the best locks around and it would have made it hard for them to get in but I guess if they really want to get in, they will get in Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted November 3, 2013 Share Posted November 3, 2013 Ask locally for recommendations Remember you need someone to come back if there are niggles especially once they have your money Also watch out for people who deal in cash Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lillybettybabs Posted November 3, 2013 Author Share Posted November 3, 2013 Thanks, One that was recommended seemed to cheap so i will go to their show room to look at the windows and locks. Safestyle keep calling me and i have got their price halved but they want our home as a marketing home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willow Posted November 4, 2013 Share Posted November 4, 2013 Check what is included in the quote very very carefully. My OH got a quote from Anglian for our sofits (against my wishes I didn't want them hounding me). Whilst I thought it was high it wasn't as high as I'd expected. On close scrutiny (and it had to be very close) I realised it covered maybe 1/3 of the total work we wanted done Add everything up as well to check totals are really totals. I've been caught before by a fireplace company in Reading that had included all the values on the quote but what I thought was the total wasn't - it said total but it didn't included the figure further up for the work - it was a total for just materials but done in such a way that without double checking all their figures and adding everything up I wouldn't realise until later. Shame they did a good job on my fireplace but I felt ripped off financially. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
