6 Key Things You Should Know About Windows

Whether you’re building your new house, or replacing windows in your current home, you may be entering the window market severely under-informed. Why not just replace them with exactly the same as you had before? Surely windows aren’t that complicated? Below are the things you should know about windows, before you buy.

Questions like this open you up to being overcharged for an inferior product. Coming up are the absolute basics that you MUST know before signing off from any window supplier.

If you’d like more information about the topics discussed, or would like a free quotation for your home, please contact us via the form or phone 01608 684 607.

1. PVC, Timber or Aluminium-clad Timber

Most windows in the UK are PVC, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s correct for you. Alu-clad timber is becoming increasing popular. A longer life-span, better insulation and nearly zero maintenance makes it an excellent choice.

Unfortunately, if your home is in a conservation area, you may be limited in the material you can use and the exterior colour. Conservation areas often limit to timber-only windows. Be sure to check with your local council if you’re unsure.

2. U Values, Uw Values and Ug Values

This is where some sneaky suppliers can make products appear much better than they actually are.

For example. Say a company claims to have a window with a U value below 1 W/m^2k. Sounds great! But what does it actually mean?

Well, a U value is basically a measure of how well a window is insulated – the higher the number, the worse the window will insulate against the elements. We go into much more detail in another blog post.

Be warned though – a Ug (glass) value is normally much lower than a Uw (overall) value. Be sure to check what a value is referring to if it sounds too good to be true.

3. Triple Glazing – Do you really need it?

There was a brief period of time when triple glazing was “the thing” to have. Nowadays, double glazed units have overtaken old triple-glazed units, and offer more than enough insulation for the vast majority. Modern triple glazing should be reserved for builds where you know that the building will have excellent insulation properties.

The best way that this has been described to me: there is not point in buying a cheap jacket, with an expensive zip.

4. Side Hung or Side Guided? Other Window Opening Styles are Available…

A simple, yet often unknown difference. Side-hung windows work similarly to a normal door – they pivot at the hinges attached to the frame. In many cases, a friction brake is installed as standard. This allows the window to be locked in an open position without slamming shut in the wind. The hinges are often visible from the outside and they tend to be cheaper than their guided counterpart.

Side-guided windows offer some ease of maintenance where cleaning is concerned. The guide-rails allow you to access the exterior glass from inside the house. This does obviously mean that there is less of a clear opening in the event of a fire.

This is a key part of window basics and knowing what you’re buying. We find that most customers care greatly about this difference when they see the windows in our showroom.

Tilt and turn windows are very popular in Europe and, whilst they are not the norm in the UK, provide a unique and very logical solution. The ability to choose between ventilation or fully opened, the addition of being easy to clean and excellent thermal performance make these units very much worth considering.

5. Are you Curtain Walling?

This moves us beyond window basics, but is still important to consider in the early stages.

Curtain walling, in the window industry, is where a window unit extends from one floor to another. It is a very common feature of modern skyscrapers.

Many suppliers and manufacturers’ products will not be certified for this. And, as a result, will refuse to send a quote that features it.

Make sure that you ask the supplier whether their products are CWCT certified before ordering.

6. Aftersales

Congratulations! By using all of your new window knowledge, you’ve successfully worked out exactly what you want from your new windows. You’ve done your research, and have ended up with 2 quotes from different companies in front of you. They both look exactly the same. They both feature similar U values and share the same length warranty. So why is one quote so much more expensive…?

Aftersales is an area that many people don’t consider. In an ideal world, the measurements taken are perfect; the estimator interprets the plans and inputs the configuration correctly; the manufacturer reads this information correctly; the delivery arrives without issue and the fitter installs the window with no complications. But what if something does go wrong after the order has been placed?

Make sure that your supplier offers a good aftersales service. There are a worrying amount of suppliers and manufacturers who will not help you with your project once the payment has been made. When looking into this area of window basics, make sure you check out the company’s review page as well as talking to the company directly. A lot can be said for other’s experiences.