New windows - what do I need to know?

[brokenbiscuitsadness]

First house post divorce and feeling very wobbly about some of the jobs that need doing.

As a priority I need 3 timber sash windows replacing (well beyond repair) and longer term the whole house (rest of windows are brown plastic but currently adequate).

I’ve had 2 quotes:

1. local independent larger company
2. local 2 man independent.

quote 2 has come back about half of the first. Both companies have many positive reviews, company 2 just doesn’t have the fancy website.

My pocket is telling me to go with quite 2 but I’m nervous about them
being so small.

what steps do I need to take to be reassured about going with them?

I have decided to replace the timber sashes with plastic having thought long and hard about maintenance aspects

Hi, Op I was you a few years back, well done on starting your new life in your new home. I had new windows fitted when I first moved into my new post-divorce home and I went with a large reputable company because I felt that the after care and the whole set up would be more reliable. They have a 10 year guarantee, too. Plus they are FENSA approved. Have you asked the small business about these details?

However, if you can't afford the more expensive price, you may have to go with the cheaper.

You need to check 1 the brand of the windows they are installing so you can look into them independently surprisingly some small places don’t tell you that and 2 whether they give an industry guarantee e.g FENSA ( regulated body for windows) so you have protection if they mess up.

thank you ☺️
im trying not to feel overwhelmed by everything that comes with buying an old house but hard not to be when windows cost so much money!
The cheaper ones do come with 10 year guarantee but I will check FENSA.

Im also unsure what I should expect about finishing off, should I expect to have to replaster anything; also does literally everything get replaced like windowsills, trickle vents etc? I feel so clueless and don’t want to be left with costly finishing off work

In my case, there wasn't really any finishing off, the workers did it.

When I first moved, I found myself a local handyman. I tried him out on minor things at first and he was good (and cheap) and I found myself using him for a lot of small jobs over the years. He also knew other local handymen, so I was able to get decorators through him, too. I found him on a site called 'next door'. Might be an idea to try and find someone like that, too, just for anything that comes up.

I forgot to add: enjoy your new home! One of the happiest times of my life was when I was first in my new post-divorce home, oh the freedom was wonderful, make the most of it.

I've had all my windows replaced and two sets of full wall french doors put in. The windows and the first set of french doors was by a small company who were brilliant and came recommended.

The second set were from a larger local company and were much cheaper. My builder recommended them.

One thing I found was how much more expensive like for like was. I had a bay in one of the bedrooms (which wasn't original and I didn't like it anyway) and I saved £900 having a flat window.

I had triple glazing which is wonderful!

Both companies did it all. There was no finishing off.

Maybe ask for further recommendations?

When I had windows replaced, I paid for some of the interior cills/boards to be replaced, where they were in poor condition, oak boards in the living room, mdf elsewhere. There was a little bit of damage to paintwork and wallpaper as you would expect and they fitted beading around the frames to hide any gaps. Trickle vents may be an extra, locks are normally standard, in my current house, the vertical sliders (upvc version of sash that uses springs rather than weights) have restrictors that normally stop them opening more than about 6", they also have a catches so you can tilt them into the house to clean them.

Good news is I’ve just found the smaller company on the FENSA registration.
@SomersetbakerI’ve also been quoted for vertical tilt and turn sliders - although sadly not triple glazed!

I’d suggest choosing a specialist timber sash company. This may be a small or even one person business.

Also ask about repair. They almost certainly will be repairable and this will save you a lot.

find a couple of joiners that do this type of work to quote too. Then magnetic secondary glazing eg Extraglaze

I’d look at the basics before worrying about the size of the firm.
For the smaller company, ask for:

• Photos of recent sash installs
• A couple of local addresses you can drive past
• Proof of FENSA or CERTASS
• Written warranty and what happens if something goes wrong
• A clear breakdown of materials and lead times

Plenty of the small outfits do better work than the big glossy ones, they just don’t spend money on websites. If their reviews look genuine and they’re happy to show past jobs, I wouldn’t be put off by the price difference.

Hi OP, I'm a renovation novice and need to replace my windows. Unfortunately, I can't afford timber sash windows. I've decided to go for mock sash instead:

https://www.sashwindowsuk.com/

Seeing the frames close up, I liked the 'ultimate rose' the most.

If you go for uPVC frames make sure you see a sample, some cheaper windows have thick (wide) frames and look chunky and clumsy, while some more expensive frames have slimmer frames (more like wood) and look more elegant.

Are you in a consevation area? If so you would need to ensure you check any restrictions.

If the company you chose is local you could ask if any of his customers would allow you to see his work, if only from the outside? Ask what finishing off is done and what else might be needed.

Once you're thinking about building work such as windows, keep an eye out for similar work bring done in your area. Make a note of the address you drive past, and the company name and phone number on the van. You dan photograph it on your phone. Have another look as the work progresses and when it finishes and, if there is time, a few months later. If you are outgoing you can engage the householder in conversation and they may be happy to tell you how wonderful it was.

Window companies are keen to capture prospects and will have a leaflet, or at least a card, with their details.

Look for a company that has a local real-life address and telephone number. The owner of the company, and some of the workers, should speak English.

You can look up limited companies to see how long they have been trading, and the directors, to see what other companies they have been involved in, and how often they go bust and start up again, at Companies House. Only use the government website, not the crooks, scammers and chances who set up similar looking pages in the hope of charging you for information you can access free.

www.gov.uk/government/organisations/companies-house

Be aware that websites that charge traders to be listed, and allow them to screen or edit unfavourable review comments, are advertising sites, not recommendation sites, even if they masquerade as such.

Very good point @PigletJohn

@brokenbiscuitsadness do a lot more trawling your local Facebook and Next Door app sites for real customer recommendations and do check with your council if any permissions to change are needed, as if and when you come to sell, you’ll need those and FENSA certs available.

Also worth thinking about style with regard to ease of exterior cleaning, particularly with upstairs windows. You might not be changing those yet, but forward planning is a good idea.

You could also check whether only the windows need replacing and the window frames just need renovating. That can save a stack of money (not sure if this works with upvc windows though).

If the reviews are good, and seem genuine, I wouldn’t be put off by the smaller firm.

Not to denigrate the skill of the people involved, but replacing windows like-for-like seems like a reasonably simple job for someone who’s done it a few times; square things in a square hole!