Everest windows - ok or to be avoided?

[redhat]

We are venturing into the world of double glazed window shopping and have had a quote from Everest. Its higher than the rough online estimates we'd had and they said this is due to the fact that they compete on quality and not price.

Anyone know whether they are actually any better quality than anyone else? DH is influenced by the fact that the company has been around for a long time. I'm wary about paying more for something which is just a perceived benefit (straight out of the double glazing salesman's mouth) rather than a real benefit.

they are overpriced.
go for local window fitters/carpenters and look up their reputation.

I don't believe they are any better quality than other glaziers windows.

Avoid! You can find a local company that have been going for a decade and get an insurance backed guarantee. And pay half the price for twice the service.

We want Upvc unfortunately. Well we don't want Upvc nobody wants upvc but we want sashes and have 39 windows....

I thought the quality of the product looked good (better than Anglian for example) but we went for a local firm who had already done lots of houses in our road and were very happy with them. Ask your neighbours for recommendations.

My DM had windows done by them - mostly Victorian sash windows. Now they're in they look good but fitting was an absolute nightmare and they had to come back to sort out issues dozens of times.

Agree about using local fitters and ask neighbours for recommendations

I would always try for a local company, hopefully recommended and with a shop I can walk into and get dealt with rather than ring.

You can feel the difference in a quality made window/door. I have cheap as chips local company double glazed windows when we had a garage conversion done, (chosen by builder) and then expensive German made window and door for my kitchen extension.

Yes I can tell the difference, but the German made ones are very expensive so had I have been choosing it (was chosen by builder and included in my quote) I would have gone for one in-between quality wise.

That being said I wouldn't have Everest or Safestyle, just heard too many bad things.

Avoid! Go for a local company. The big guys send round salesmen who work on commission and don't seem to know their stuff like a local firm would and are also very expensive and not flexible, IME and then don't leave you alone. Ask around locally for recommendations.

Definitely go for a local company.

Everest's original quote was 5x what we had from 2 local companies (and the chap was practically impossible to get out of the house)

We rang back and they dropped their price so severely, they actually ended up undercutting the other companies. So they dropped 4/5th! We avoided even at that price. I'd rather go with someone who gives you an honest price up front.

IMO if they were genuinely high priced because of better quality, they wouldn't have discounted down to be the cheapest..

Can you not renovate the windows you have? (Presume they are wooden sash?) it will probably be cheaper and you won't devalue your house.

They're upvc casement atm. Very ugly.

39 windows! OMFG!

I suspect you're the victim of 'big house syndrome'.

A lot of companies are going to work on the fact that if you can afford a house with 39 windows then you're loaded.

It is big although not quote as big as that sounds. 6 of those windows are bays with three separate sections (so three windows required for one window IYSWIM)

quite

I think Everest do it to everyone. Well worth doing it this time of year OP when the fitters aren't getting much work.

We got four local companies to quote. The prices varied enormously with one company quoting double the lowest quote for very similar products. Make sure you ask them all the same questions and make a note of their answers. It is also worthwhile telling them you are getting other quotes.

We went back to our favourite company and asked them to match the lowest quote, which they did.

Avoid all the national companies and research any negative comments on google before deciding who you will ask to quote.

Go for a local company and make sure they are Trading Standards Approved, just do an online search for Buy With Confidence. Have a look at their work on other peoples houses, a decent company will have lots of satisfied clients on their books. Also, if you can, get recommendations from family/friends. Do an online search for reviews of the company, and make sure you have legal cover in your home insurance.

It's not being over-cautious, after going through my own horrendous installation, which still isn't finished, I now know how I would do it if I had the chance to start again!

Good luck!

Currently having Everest fit my windows, and they're THE WORST.

Supposed to be an easy, one-day fitment. To date, the installers have failed to show up FOUR times. No exaggeration. Appointments booked weeks in advance. I've taken EIGHT days off work to wait at home for them. Plus two evenings to meet with the sales guy. Each time they fail to show I have to call their office 2 or 3 times before they'll get back to me.

Still one window that they haven't finished installing, so I can't open. Looks great, but is essentially a glass wall.

DISGUSTING customer service.