Double Glazing, Soffits & Fascias

danza

danza

danza

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Right chaps, were going to have our old and somewhat knackered double glazing replaced. We'll also be looking at having the soffits and fascias done at the same time.

What are the must haves for double glazing these days? Similarly, is there anything we should count as OTT or pointless?

We have 9 windows plus front door, back door and sliding patio door (probably will replace with French doors). We're not looking at uber high end really, as we'll probably be looking to move in 5 years ish.

We've asked 4 small local firms to come and quote, so having some idea of what we might expect/should ask for would be ace.

Cheers!
 
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I'd suggest using laminated glass in the French doors as this is one of the most common smash and grab entry points. With toughened glass which is what is commonly use it is so easy for them to break the glass and then be in and out in seconds. It shouldn't be too expensive just to have the external pane as laminated and it'll have the added benefit of some extra sound insulation.

Using decent locks would also be a cheap upgrade in security. Something like the Avocet ABS cylinders. More often than not they will just supply you with the cheapest barrels possible. Just make sure you don't get ripped off for them as you can buy them yourself for like £25-£30 each.

For the front door i'd recommend going for a composite over a PVC. They are not that much more expensive these days, but are far more secure, better insulated and look a million times better imo.

Edit: Also find out what profile they use for their windows, then you can research it and make sure its decent.
 
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Nice one, cheers for the info. I'll compile a list of questions so I don't forget anything. :o
 
Try to find out if the companies you're going to, supply Windows and doors which conform to the police 'secured by design' always good in terms of security for your home.
 
Right, we've had two local firms round so far, with a further two coming next week.

No quotes yet, but we're asking them all to do effectively the same 'base' quote that we'll compare, then add to as necessary. I'm sure they will differ in terms of what they include off-the-bat.

We're looking at composite front door, UPVC side/back door and UPVC French doors. I'm tempted to go for a composite side/back door as it'll be visible from the front door, and I think it'd be good if they match. This depends on cost, but I can't see it being a fortune more.

In terms of brands, so far we have:

Doors:

Rehau (composite) - Standard Yale, not secured by design (SBD)
Calder (composite) - SBD, Yale anti-snap euro cylinders as standard
Hallmark (UPVC) - not a lot of info on these, don't really like them.

Windows:

Rehau
 
Subscribed, any-chance of posting prices i need to get this done and really have no idea on double glazing. The current stuff get condensation all over it in a blink of a eye.

Derby area if anyone can recommend them.
 
Yep, will post prices. I'm in West Sussex, so I think that rules the firms I'm getting quotes from out for you. :p

Will give you some idea though, although my house has pretty large windows for a 3 bed semi.

My ballpark figure is about £11k all in, based on:

- 9 windows at £600 average
- Front door at £1500
- Rear/side door at £1000
- French doors at £1500
- Soffits, fascias and gutters at £1500 (front, side & rear)

Not sure how realistic that is.
 
9 Windows with 7 being 4x5ft high, 2 smaller Windows, 3 with frosted glass design. Composite door with garrison mul-t-lock cylinder. £3k from local firm fitted, the door was £900 of that.

I had Everest and safe style quote and they wanted £6k, another local firm wanted £9k. Had the usual spiel, the best of which was you need special glass in the ground floor because you've got a kid, the building regs for your house mean you need vents on all Windows at £300 a pop......
 
Those prices seem quite high to me. I recently had my full house re-fitted with windows and doors. The windows comprising a large bay window with three 1.2 x 1.5m sections, + 5 various sized windows (roughly average size 1 x 1.5 m) for £2300 all rehau profiles. Along with a half glass uPVC rear door for £350 and front door £500.
 
Just had some a quote myself for 12 upvc casement windows.

3 windows measuring approximately: 1200mm x 1600mm
3 windows measuring approximately: 950mm x 550mm
4 windows measuring approximately: 1100mm x 1100mm
1 window measuring approximately: 1750mm x 1100mm
1 window measuring approximately: 1100mm x 550mm

Trickle vents all round, toughened glass on 1 window due to height and obscure glass on 3 windows.

Total £4.4k. I'm located in London.

I am looking for woodgrain effect which the company has said is around 20% more. This is what I am after rather than the standard white as I think oak or mahogany effect looks nicer. The only doubt is durability, as I was told they can't be repaired if they are scratched?
 
Regarding the upvc soffits and guttering. We had a semi-detached bungalow (3 sides) done for £1300 a few years ago. Make sure whoever does the soffits replaces them rather than just nailing plastic coverings over the old ones.

Dave
 
Cheers guys.

Not had any quotes from anyone yet, will update when some come through.

divuk83 said:
Regarding the upvc soffits and guttering. We had a semi-detached bungalow (3 sides) done for £1300 a few years ago. Make sure whoever does the soffits replaces them rather than just nailing plastic coverings over the old ones.

Dave
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That's interesting - one company said that they bond the UPVC onto the existing (asbestos) fascias. Saves disposal cost. When my wife told me about this, I balked somewhat as it sounds like bloody butchery.

However, providing the underlying fascias are sound, is there any problem with this?
 
Price wise, I had a composite front door fitted for £875 all in, this was last month.

Window wise, I have had 2 quotes to replace our 'extension/conservatory type thing (flat roof style)' timber with all pvc windows and a sliding patio door.

2 quotes so far, one was £4800, or £5400 to raise the flooring slightly to remove any step from the lounge into that room.

The other was £4400 with room for 'movement'

Both local companies, still feels like it's expensive given it's not the whole house, that would be for;

3 x windows approx 1300mm x 600mm either side of room with only middle ones having a top opener (so 6 in total or 8 if you count the opener windows)
1 x Sliding patio door, with 2 x panes of glass either side with openers on each one at the top.

As other posts above show, prices seem to differ massively, so make sure you get loads of quotes, I know it's annoying though, constantly having to listen to the sales chat about why they are best etc etc!
 
Our guttering was asbestos, which I disposed of as it was cheaper. The contractor double bagged all the guttering and I took it to the local tip which cost me about £35 to dispose of. Much cheaper than what I would cost a workman to do as they get charged much more than domestic customers. That saved me a few quid.

The soffits were wooden and removed and disposed by the contractor. I'm not sure if it makes a difference removing or nailing over them, but ours were manky and a bit rotten so beyond saving and not something I wanted keeping.

Dave
 
The MDs and salesmen have got to pay for their top of the range Mercs some how :p

Just dug out my invoice for the A-rated, white windows I fit on my own house. £1771 for 10 windows, a pvc back door and a composite front door with fancy bevelled glass. I did get a discount on the frames as I buy from them a lot and fit them myself of course. But it does show you how much profit window companies make.

My advice is to always find a small company/ local guy that does it. you will get the exact same product, but you cut out a lot of the middlemen and probably even get a better job as a lot of the bigger firms pay the fitters naff all, so they will rush to try and make a decent wage from the job.
 
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Right, two quotes in. We will have 4 total from 2 small firms and 2 middle-sized firms (one yet to visit). All local.

The first two quotes are in from the smaller firms.

Quote 1 @ £12k:

£6k for windows, £6k for soffits and fascias. This includes removal and disposal of old asbestos fascias and wood soffits. I think this is all Rehau.

Quote 2 @ £9.1k:

£7.1k for windows, £2k for soffits and fascias. This includes removal and disposal of old asbestos fascias and wood soffits. All Rehau windows and doors.

Will post more when I know more.
 
danza said:
Quote 1 @ £12k:

£6k for windows, £6k for soffits and fascias. This includes removal and disposal of old asbestos fascias and wood soffits. I think this is all Rehau.

Quote 2 @ £9.1k:

£7.1k for windows, £2k for soffits and fascias. This includes removal and disposal of old asbestos fascias and wood soffits. All Rehau windows and doors.

Will post more when I know more.
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£4K difference for the soffits and fascias!

We had some local firms round to quote for replacing ours and they came in at £5k and £7k for a standard 3 bed detached house. Problem we have is the conservatory and each guy took a deep breath and said it's gonna be expensive cus you need scaffolding.

Such a minefield to get a descent company to give you a realistic quote
 
Yep, it's crazy.

Nothing too onerous about our house/glazing, yet prices are bonkers.

Another quote in from the medium sized firm - £12k with fascias/soffits bonded to existing. Bloody madness!
 
I remember having Anglian Windows round to quote for a 3x3 meter conservatory. They quoted £20k to start with for glass floor to ceiling, not even a dwarf wall. The sales rep didn't discount but a week later their "manager" called and said they had a cancellation and could do it at a special price of £6k.

I told him where to go!
 
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