New windows

[LonelyFlans]

I need to replace a couple of windows at the front of the house - bog standard (ie not bay windows).

I've never replaced windows and am not sure what decisions I'll need to make or things I should be aware of - any tips?

If you're getting double-glazed windows and get any of the national double-glazing companies in for a quote, be aware that they overinflate their initial price (by thousands of pounds) and then bring it down with a load of time-sensitive 'offers', eg we have a special deal on at the moment, if you sign up within 7 days; or I'll phone my manager and see if I'm allowed to give you a reduction.

Google "double glazing sales techniques", eg https://www.bebingtonglazing.co.uk/article/69/double-glazing-sales-dirty-tricks-

Usual advice, get three quotes from different companies, at least one a local independent firm.

In terms of the windows themselves, you might want to make a decision about the visual appearance of the frames. Opening windows have a wider surrounding frame, whereas non-opening don't. This can result in a mix of frame-widths on the windows. If you want to avoid that, you can have "equal sightline" frames, which means all the frames match the width of the opening windows. It does reduce the total surface area of glazing, but personally I prefer that to different widths.

Go local, not the likes of Everest and Target, it will be cheaper. Never be bounced by offers- if the offer looks good, the original quote was a rip-off, and the company are probably crooks. Our chap is great, gives you one plain quote, sticks to it, no messing about, he only uses good materials, and his fitters are careful. Get recommendatons if you can. Work out what sort of openings you want (I hate tilt-and-turn, some people love them). Make sure they will take away the old windows and glass, and make good any 'Things' that happen when fitting (like chipping render, which can happen however careful they are).

You'll generally need at least the same opening area of any you replace (building regs).

Make sure anyone you use is FENSA registered, and make sure you get the FENSA paperwork afterwards for if ever you want to sell the house.

Important to get the paperwork quickly. We had windows done in a rental property by a highly recommended sole trader, he said he would send the paperwork over but didn’t. When I chased him, he was ill and had stopped trading and FENSA hadn’t received any documentation.
For future window replacements, I have used local firms and everything has been really good.

Thanks all - I've had a quite from a local company who came round plus a couple of National online quotes. They're all working out around the same so I'll probably go with the local company, but need to go back to them to ask some more questions that you've raised.

The problem I find with local independents is although many of them are good on doing the work, they are absolutely appalling on paperwork/compliance and finishing off.

If you can, I would make sure you hold back a % of payment which is payable only when the registration is complete. Ideally they would only get paid when 100% of the installation is complete (including the registration) but that might be a little too much to hope for.

I would also consider what type of house your installing them in. Not just in terms of aesthetics but functionality/design beyond them just being able to open and let light in. Air movement is critical in preventing condensation building up within a property. Condensation can attract mould. If you don't keep on top of it, you get black mould, and we know where that ends up.
Preferably, windows with an openable fan light (smaller top window, sometimes called storm lights) are good for venting rooms/property. But cracking a window and putting it onto the locked, slightly open position is good enough to vent too ). Insurance policies allow for windows to be cracked open in that way as they are still in a "locked" position. Some window designs based on cost have few "opening options". New builds suffer from condensation as developers put in cheapest windows (least amount of glass, hinges, etc), and they are insulated up the ying-yang.
Take a look around at the fenestration designs in homes around your way. I believe trickle vents are mandatory these days, but they are not as good as a openable, secure window.
If you're planning to be there a while, spend on better functioning windows. Agree with paperwork. Chase it up as some installers are fantastic at installing but not so hot on the admin.

Re trickle vents - I don't know the current rules but when we got new windows (10+ years ago) we were told that once you get trickle vents, if you were to replace the windows in future you'd have to replace like for like, ie with trickle vents. The sales rep told us that putting the window in the slightly open position and locking it would be secure (fan lights in downstairs windows) so that's what we went with and not trickle vents.

But the rules might have changed now.