Everest Windows? Any recent personal experiences?

[MandSReadyMealForOne]

I need to replace a few windows on the front of my house (about 12). The windows need to be in keeping with the rest of the house and so will be UPVC casement. I want good quality, slimline frames and will be getting a few quotes from local companies and nationals.

Everest is on my list. Has anyone had any work done by them recently? What was good, what was bad?

Are they a company like Hilary’s blinds & Thomas Sanderson, i.e. offering fairly bog standard ‘made to measure/bespoke’ products at eyewateringly overblown prices then giving discounts galore to get your business?

They do seem to have very high prices which they then offer “time limited” discounts on. We had a quote from them just to see how they compared, but even with a discount they were twice the price of the local company we ended up using. They were also fairly pushy about trying to get us to sign up there and then to get the discount - I was very clear I wasn’t going to do that!

We had all the (non matching, not original, leaking!) windows in our Victorian terrace replaced with uPVC sashes by the local company in the end - the frames maybe aren’t the thinnest they could possibly be, but they are a lot better than some I’ve seen and represent excellent value, I think.

The manufacturer of our windows was Ecoslide, but i don’t know if they will do the style you are looking for - from the name I’m guessing they specialise in sashes.

We’re just about to have an appointment with Everest because our existing window/door lintel isn’t strong enough for a bi-fold and apparently Everest’s bi-folds are fixed in frame so would be suitable.

I have to admit I’m not looking forward to it as I know there will be pressure and that they’re the most expensive on the market. We’ve already had 2 quotes from local installers so will be telling Everest where to stick it if they can’t match them!

If you haven’t got a specific colour to match then I’d go down the route of a local supplier/installer if I were you.

They're the most expensive on the market, so there's no chance of them being able to match or beat a price from local/smaller firms. Better off going with a medium sized firm, then you'll get good value for money. BTW... You need to have a lintel installed, any company that says their bifolds will support it, is only saying that to get a sale out of you, you will have no end of issues putting bifolds in without proper lintel and building control will not sign off when you come to sell.

Over inflated prices, time sensitive discounts, prehistoric sales techniques and really poor customer service. Are there any decent local firms near you? Not one man bands, but a medium sized firm, that's been around for over 10 years?

We had a grim experience where the sales guy started fake crying and telling us his wife would divorce him if he didn't get this commission!

Any window company that advertises on to pass their hefty advertising costs onto their customers. Their sales tactics are very dubious to say the least. Use a local company that have a good reputation.

Oh gawd @MoodLighting I’m prepared for pushiness but not sure I’m ready for that kind of sales technique!!!

Our building regs advisor said our lintel wouldn’t be strong enough- worryingly none of the 3 local companies that quoted mentioned it could be a problem. The opening is 4m wide and because standard bifolds are top fixing this is why it wouldn’t be ideal. Apparently Everest are the only company whose bifolds are set in a frame and so wouldn’t need a stronger lintel.

However sounds like it might be cheaper to get a structural engineer, a builder, a new lintel and normal bifolds rather than the Everest ones

Everest bifolds are no different to any other company that sells aluminium bifolds. All bifolds are set in a main frame, where the top section is essentially a guide rail and the bottom is where the doors are hung and run on a roller system. Any weight load bearing on the top of the frame whether it's everest bifolds or another firm, will cause issues with the running of the doors. Just get a builder to prepare the opening first and have a new lintel installed and then get some decent Ali bifolds. Schuco, origin or reynaurs are your best bet! 👍

I admit I thought it odd that he said Everest are the only company that manufacture bifolds that aren’t top fixing. Unless I’ve misunderstood what he meant and I’m not explaining myself very well! Even if we did go for Everest, they don’t colour match their bifolds to the colour we’re looking for our windows so probably best I stop looking at Everest horror stories and start looking into lintel costs!!!

Thank you guys. I suspected they’d be high pressure rip off merchants. We do have a few local firms with longevity and reasonable reputations, I’ll be speaking to them.