Double Glazing

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We are thinking of getting our double glazing done sometime soon. It could be a total of 17 windows and 2 doors so it's a big job. Anyone have experiences, good AND bad with suppliers and big companies?
I know you are kinda held to ransom by the quality of the local fitting contractors and how much commission the salesman is trying to wring out of you.
So who would you recommend (We are in Edinburgh if that Helps.)
 
in my opinion you are going to get a better deal out of a local man than a big national , the local man will not want his reputation going down the pan if he does shoddy work , i would suggest you ask relatives / neighbours for people who have done a good job , also , you need to be asking questions of whoever you choose , for instance , a door panel should have an aluminium or plywood layer in it , not just plastic and foam , aluminium reinforcement in frames is good , you want an insurance backed 'ring fenced' guarantee , not just a piece of paper that says guarantee :)
 
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Go local... not big names.....do not pay until you have checked every window

and if you think you have 'FENSA' to fall back on think again......they do not want to know if you ring them....
 
We Had a company local called COLDSEAL, remember the adverts, they saturated our area with cold calls and quotes, I got them to quote for 10 windows and 2 doors, French door and large patio door, they came up with a price and within half an hour with came down to nearly 60% of the quote, shows what they (and others) are making
 
We got a" buy one get one free" quote, can't hurt I thought :lol:(this was 9 years ago)

Guy sat there for about 90 mins after measuring up, what's the quote then,I asked.
Well, he looked reluctant to give it but then said £9000 :eek:
This for a medium sized semi with two bays

When I said no (polite reply :p) he went.

A couple of days later got a call from them saying a salesman had been fired for giving wrong quotes and what was youre's.

Guessed it yet," well sir ,that was wrong,and we can do it for £7500,can we call round and talk about it" my reply BOGGOF.:bat:

Still kills me when the add comes on the telly.....

As said,go local.
 
Oh I know there are lies, damn lies and double glazing salesmen! You have to remember they are nearly always on commission over and above the minimum or "real" price so you will never get an honest answer out of them. I really think they just pick a number out of the air once they have sized you up n see just how much they can get out of you.
 
I approached a joiner I saw working on an extension to a nearby house.
He did the job for about a third of what the big outfits quoted - cash deal though.
 
Depending on how capable you are at DIY an even bigger saving can be made by fitting them yourself, it is not rocket science.
Anyone who has witnessed how quickly the old windows are knocked out and replaced will understand.
The cowboy fitters hide a multitude of sins with their infill strips and silicone sealant!.
I have windows to replace and install in a garage/bedroom conversion to match in with a conservatory, I will be installing those myself and also replacing the misted up d/g units on some existing wooden units,
Salesmen want the general public to accept that double glazing is costly to justify their silly quotes, it is knocked up at relatively little cost in the factories.
 
Galaxy66 said:
Depending on how capable you are at DIY an even bigger saving can be made by fitting them yourself, it is not rocket science.
Anyone who has witnessed how quickly the old windows are knocked out and replaced will understand.
The cowboy fitters hide a multitude of sins with their infill strips and silicone sealant!.
I have windows to replace and install in a garage/bedroom conversion to match in with a conservatory, I will be installing those myself and also replacing the misted up d/g units on some existing wooden units,
Salesmen want the general public to accept that double glazing is costly to justify their silly quotes, it is knocked up at relatively little cost in the factories.
Click to expand...

Part of my deal was that I worked with the joiner to help him take the old windows out and put the new ones in. It is 2 man job. Knowing how to measure up is vital.

The cowboy fitters hide a multitude of sins with their infill strips and silicone sealant!.

You are dead right there.
 
Galaxy66 said:
Depending on how capable you are at DIY an even bigger saving can be made by fitting them yourself, it is not rocket science.
Anyone who has witnessed how quickly the old windows are knocked out and replaced will understand.
The cowboy fitters hide a multitude of sins with their infill strips and silicone sealant!.
I have windows to replace and install in a garage/bedroom conversion to match in with a conservatory, I will be installing those myself and also replacing the misted up d/g units on some existing wooden units,
Salesmen want the general public to accept that double glazing is costly to justify their silly quotes, it is knocked up at relatively little cost in the factories.
Click to expand...

Of course its cheaper to DIY it. But you seem to have some beef about trademan charging you for there time? Ok like everything theres good and bad tradesmen, but if you go to firm to have them fitted then you got relise that your paying the sales mens wages, the cost of vans, the cost of tools, the wages of the people installing them, companys also have to follow H&S that can add many £100's on the cost of the job these days.

If you dont want to pay other peoples wages, and go to the trouble of doing it yourself thats fine, but theres much more that goes into quotes then just window frames in this case.

Best thing to do is get as many quotes as possible, as different companys have different margins for things listed above plus lots of other stuff, Check the type frames they want to fit, not all frames are equal! The are windows and doors that if fitted can help lower your insurance premiums.

A small local builder/window fitter maybe your best bet, you could try visiting a local building site. Problem with smaller builders you may not have so much after care, then again you might get much with a bigger firm either.

I am not a window fitter so dont have any contacts that maybe helpfull to you.
 
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