Double Glazing

[giveup]

I know this is not really the right place to put this question,but I would like your advice and comments. We have decided to have our house double glazed and would just like to see how other ABers have fared. We thought we would get 3 or 4 estimates, Has anyone any recommendations or firms to avoid.Its a big expense and we don't want to get caught. Any advice gratefully received.

[237SJ]

It`s probably best to get a local recommendation. I would imagine Everest are expensive but they are advertising a 50% off sale so it might be worth getting a quote - you`ve got nothing to lose.

[boxtops]

We use a local firm -I say "use" rather than past tense because we did our DG in three phases (front of house, back of house, doors) as we could afford it. We used a local company that came well recommended, not part of any chain. Absolutely delighted. Not only great workmanship but knowledgeable civil contractors who knew their business.

[FredPuli43]

What dismayed and amused me about the firms I had quotes from for my mother's flat, was the speedy way in which the original estimates came down in the face of my intransigeance, to a third of the original in one case. I "innocently" asked how long the job would take and how many men. These questions were innocently answered. That gave me a base cost for labour. The rest was material cost and profit including the salesman's commission. The cost of material won't change, so the variation is in commission and othe profitIt's fairly easy to find a rough idea of material costs, before or after any quote. Then you say for each reduced quote that you're surprised at the man cutting his labour rates so much; you'd hate to work like that for his firm ! You can propose your estimate and see how close you can get the price. The salesman will "make a call to his manager", several times, and report that he's just been told they have a special offer, then that "just for you" his manager has reduced the quote, and so on. Eventually you'll get somewhere near right.

[boxtops]

I do think workmanship comes into it too, fred - our contractor is not the cheapest price but it's worth paying, IMO

[ubasses]

As Fred says, they all come out give you 'the price should be' quote, but we have an offer on, then they phone their boss for you and lo and behold they have a cancelled order or someone working in the area and they can do it for £x. Having gone through all that we discovered a local Company with a showroom where you can actually see samples of doors and windows. Asked for a ball park figure, came out immedialtely with an amount equal to the lowest previous quotes after their pantomime.

[bookbinder]

Find someone who is a member of a professional organisation, e.g. FENSA:
http://www.fensa.co.uk/homeowner-info.aspx
I have no experience of FENSA, nor of having double glazine installed, so I'm afraid that I can't offer details of personal experience.

[ubasses]

Should have said we googled them saw lots of good reports and they were excellent.

[Uriah Heep]

Use a good reptable local company. If you are in an exposed area pay close attention to the size of the profile used. Beware of companies who promote slimline sections. Check with them about using reinforcing. Avoid large expanses of glass. The best advise I can give is to avoid companies who advertise a lot. I remember what one manufacturer said to me " I rely on my product selling itself". Steer clear of pushy sales people. A good company will give reasonable estimate for the work and not pressurise you. Beware of companies that quote a price and then offer a large discount.

[woofgang]

Ask to see other houses where their products have been installed locally, but not recently and try and talk to the owners. My mate had a conservatory put in by a "reputable local installer" its now subsiding and she's having massive trouble with it...and now she is talking about her problems, other similar stories are coming out of the woodwork.

[carrust]

Stay away from Safestyle UK! Go & look @ some of the online forums about this company.

[kloofnek]

I used a local firm...they were wonderful!Cleaned up after themselves...one of them had found my mop and bucket and was moping the floor which is laminated...I couldn`t believe it,
They were very serious hard workers.
The only thing I had to do was keep them in a cup of tea with their lunch and the odd break...I stress..these were very few....they brought their lunch with them and ate it in their van...no going of for an hour or so.

I live in Cheshire between Liverpool and Chester.

[giveup]

Thank you all for your comments and advice. I bumped into an old friend today and her mother has just had her place double glazed by a small local company.They are thrilled with the work and the price,so I'm going to have a look next week. Fingers crossed.