Double glazing

[FourOnTheHill]

Please share all your double glazing wisdom! I’ve had a well known national company beginning with E round who claim theirs is the best, and the quote is pretty steep. Thing is, my parents have some of their windows, they’re over 25 years old and as good as the day they were put in. Not a single seal has gone, no condensation, opening and locking mechanisms are smooth and functional. Compared with the windows we need to replace, which are younger and absolute shit, it looks like above-mentioned company isn’t such a bad idea. What other options are there that last well? This is our forever house and I want sash windows but open to upvc sash. Recommendations please.

National companies tend to be massively expensive. Have a few local quotes or ask your neighbours for recommendations.

I will. But how will I know if they’ll last 25 years or turn to crap like the ones we have that were installed 15 years ago?

I went for the same company, for exactly the same reason as you. I had no other way of judging it.

It's a massive investment in your house, and I didn't want to save a couple of thousand on a gamble. If it went wrong, then the added cost of putting it right would probably end up costing more in total than going for the expensive option in the first place.

If you get a few other quotes in before you see E, then you can set yourself a realistic budget and argue it. Don't feel uncomfortable saying to the rep "right, you stay here, we're going into the other room to discuss it". Personally, I don't believe the 'this discount is only available if you sign tonight' - ultimately they want your sale.

So no one has any wonderful double glazing recommendations? Has anyone used Crittall? Are they the only people who do steel frames? What are steel frames like to live with? Cold?

Can’t comment on Crittal other than knowing it seems very fashionable at the mo. When it comes to double glazing, though, a lot of local companies use large national manufacturers for their windows. Our local company offers different products of varying quality and price points.

Oh god don't go for crittal metal framed single glazing. I lived for 10y in a house with those windows and it was an absolute bloody nightmare. They poured with condensation - literally. In winter it was often so bad that the puddles on the windowsills overflowed onto the floor. Nothing I did made any difference. There's just no thermal insulation to them. I wasn't allowed to replace with double glazing. I ended up fitting secondary glazing, which helped a lot but didn't solve the problem.

And I would be cautious about metal framed double-glazing, too. I have a metal doubl-glazed door. It's solid and draft-proof, but the door itself can get extremely cold. Sometimes it is wet with condensation. Nothing like as bad as those Crittal windows, though.

UPVC or wood all the way for me.

My parents had double glazing installed in January one year. A very unpopular and cold time to have it done. They were able to negotiate a good deal as a result.

NeverUseThisName that’s a pretty robust no vote for the Crittall type Windows. I believe they’re double glazed now but even so you’re probably right!

Have reported the spam post from deborahwilson

We used our local company 'town doors and windows' and they were amazing (in our old house). Our new house has terrible condensation. The only problem with a local firm is that sometimes they won't offer the finance deals which the big companies do. That's fine if you've got £15k up front, but if not, you might be limited to a bigger company that can offer you monthly payment. This local firm sells 1 type, no faffing about. Quote on the day. No 'let me call the office and get that price down for you' rubbish. Good honest service. If you're in Worcestershire and want a recommendation I'm happy to tell you if you pm me

Crittal windows won't be as bad now, the building regulations specify minimum average u values and limiting u values for the worst spot, which would prevent condensation. I'd assume they have an insulating layer between the external and outside layers in order to meet the requirements.
We have aluminium windows but they are triple glazed and they have a thermal break so very little condensation.

Maybe going for a local company’s best quality would be a possibility.

One thing the man from E said is that theirs is the best because the argon filled units are made in an argon filled chamber, rather than it being injected in like other brands are. Is this bs? What do I need to look for in better quality windows?

Also can anyone who has sash windows tell me how do you stop the dc falling out? Man from E was vague about this, I asked if the bottom section can be locked in a way that children can’t unlock. He said stuff about limiters and locks but nothing I could properly understand.

Tia, I know this is a very boring thread.

I don't know why, but whenever metal windows come up, someone always says "Oooh, I had aluminium forty years ago and it radiated the cold!" I'm not having a go at you neveryou because it's definitely not just you. It's a refrain!!

It's just a bit daft that people think modern technology moves on, but windows somehow don't!! Or that all those fancy homes in London with their fancy aluminium windows are putting up with an absolutely freezing cold house as a result!!

Metal windows are now thermally broken. They are completely different from the totally freezing ones of yesteryear. And yes, I do remember what they were like - I removed one from my house about 7 years ago! But the modern ones are just not the same.

Admittedly my Crittal windows were decades old (I did specify single glazed, I know nothing about double glazed Crittal) but my metal double glazed door is 7y old. It is supposed to have all the thermal breaking etc. Nonetheless, the metal parts are distinctly colder than the glazed parts. Most of the year this does not matter, but if it gets really cold out, it is very noticeable.

Sash windows can have child locks installed in the frame. They pop out above the bottom panel to stop it being opened more than a few cm. They can be pushed flush with the frame again by 2 people if the window needs to be opened more.