What Should You Look for When Buying UPVC Double Glazing Windows, Doors and Conservatories?

Investing in new double-glazing doors, windows and conservatories can be a daunting prospect.  With such a wide choice of styles, designs and technologies it can be difficult to figure out just what is right for your home.

It helps to start your decision-making process with a checklist of what your specific requirements are.

The following points will give you a good start to choosing the perfect installation for your home:

 

1.      Choose a look and style which will enhance both the look and value of your property.

 

 

• It’s important to consider the future. The height of fashion today may look dated and old hat in 15 years’ time, which will not help if you’re trying to sell your home.  Think about the age and style of your home and the type of frames and windows that will blend with that fabric in a timeless way.
• For the windows, think about the windowpane proportions and the colour of the frames.
• Consider the configuration of any opening lights.
  • How should they open?
  • Is child safety an issue for you?
  • How much ventilation do you need?
  • Is the vent a fire escape?
  • Do you want standard opening or sash opening?
• Do you want coloured or leaded glass?

Once you have a clear idea of what you want, spend time on the internet looking up similar windows in various homes to get a good idea of what they might look like when they’re installed.

Keep your budget in mind and be realistic.  That said, avoid being too price conscious if you can.  Spending a little more now could well pay dividends over many years as you enjoy the way the windows work and the way your home looks.

 

2.      Security Really Matters

You want to create a safe and secure home for your family, but it’s also important for your home insurance.   If you check your home insurance policy, you may find your windows and doors are required to meet certain standards for any claims to be honoured.

You should check whether any doors and windows you are looking to install meet the following standards:

• PAS23/24 approval (formally known as BS7950) for security performance
• BS7412 for weather performance
• Hold Secured by Design status

Windows and doors that are manufactured to these standards are your assurance that the construction, fittings and locks will keep intruders and weather at bay in the best way possible.

 

3.      What Type of Glass Do You Want?

The type of glass unit you choose can have a significant effect on both the temperature and sound insulation of your home:

• While double glazing can significantly improve the insulation of your home, triple glazing and ‘low emissivity’ glass can increase this even more. As well as the improvements it can make to the comfort of your home, you can weigh up the potential savings to be made against the additional cost.
• In areas where safety is paramount, toughened or laminate glass would be appropriate.

4.      What Colour Frames Would You Like?

Gone are the days white uPVC frames being the only choice.  There is now a wide choice of colours and textured finishes to allow you match the style and look you want.

 

5.      Do You Need Planning Permission?

There are times when you do need planning permission to install uPVC replacement windows and doors or add a conservatory.  These include:

• If you live in a Conservation Area
• You are in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty or
• Live in a Listed Building

If you’re unsure, always ask advice from your installer or local planning department.

 

6.      Is Your Installer Registered With FENSA?

 

Even though you probably don’t need planning permission for a new installation of uPVC double glazing, replacement windows are now covered by Building Regulations, in particular Part L relating to thermal efficiency, so you must make sure your windows and fitting comply.

The easiest way to ensure you comply is to use an installer who is registered under the FENSA scheme.

(FENSA = Fenestration Self-Assessment, and fenestration is simply an architectural term for the arrangement of windows in a building.)

If you choose to buy your windows from Trident (who are FENSA registered) but want to use your own installer and they are not registered, then make sure they are able to obtain approval direct from the Building Control Department for your installation.  If they can’t, you may find your installation does not meet building regulations which can affect your household insurance and raise complications if you want to sell the house in the future.

 

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Do uPVC Double Glazed Windows and Doors Need Maintenance?

UPVC Double Glazed Windows and doors need very little maintenance.  That said, to keep them looking and working at their very best, it’s worth keeping these tips in mind.

 

1.      Cleaning

• Slightly dirty frames can be cleaned easily with warm water and washing up liquid.
• If the frames are very dirty, you can buy special uPVC cleaning fluids.
• Avoid using abrasive cleaners or dry cleaning with a duster as these can leave tiny scratches across the surface.
• Cleaning solutions and polishes that contain solvents or thinners should also be avoided as these can degrade the plastic and seals.

2.      Ventilation

One of the great advantages of double-glazed windows and doors are the way they are designed to close very tightly.  This allows them to conserve energy and will, under normal circumstances, prevent condensation forming.

If humidity levels inside the house are particularly high, however, condensation may occur on cold surfaces.  This can be fixed by allowing some ventilation.

We always recommend installing windows with trickle vents so you can have a controlled steady flow of fresh air as required.  Otherwise you can open a window a little for a period of each day to allow the air in the room to be circulated.

3.      Handles and Hinges

All the moving parts on your doors and windows should be lightly oiled once or twice a year.  This will ensure they continue to open and close smoothly.

Should your double-glazed windows and doors begin to stick, the hinges can usually be adjusted to remedy the problem.

We do recommend this is done by one of our professional installers as there is most definitely a knack to adjusting the hinge correctly and it is possible to make the problem worse.

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Who are REHAU and Why are Their Products So Good?

We manufacture windows using “Extrusions” supplied by a leading specialist company called REHAU.

Extrusions are the shaped sections of uPVC that make up the frames of windows we manufacture.  Their design is crucial for the durability and insulation properties of our finished products.

REHAU are a German based global company that has been in the UK for over 50 years.  They were one of the first companies to produce and sell uPVC window and door systems in the UK and they now produce all their products in a state of art manufacturing plant in North Wales, combining the best of German design with UK manufacturing know-how.

All their products are designed with the customer in mind to enhance a home whilst providing energy efficiency and durability.  This ensures the windows Trident manufacture help you to save money and keep your home energy efficient.

REHAU’s range of innovative polymer products are used by a wide range of globally respected brands including BMW, Mercedes and Airbus.

The REHAU brand epitomises unbeatable performance and technical excellence and their green credentials speak for themselves.  They have championed environmentally friendly products and processes for many years, which allows us to share in their commitment to lowering the carbon footprint of our own manufacturing process.

REHAU hold the British Standards certification BS EN 140001 for environmental standards.

 

 

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WHAT IS FENSA?

FENSA is a government approved scheme that monitors building regulation compliance for replacement windows and doors. Every FENSA Approved Installer, whether a large national brand or a small local company, is assessed regularly to ensure standards are continually maintained.

FENSA stands for “Fenestration Self-Assessment”, and “fenestration” is an architectural term for the arrangement of windows in a building.

Employing a FENSA approved installer means you will be issued with an appropriate certificate.

A FENSA certificate is a declaration by the installation company that the windows and doors they have replaced:

• Comply with Building regulations
• Use energy efficient products
• Are registered with the local council

 

A FENSA certificate also:

• Verifies that the warranty is insured
• Is essential when selling the property

If you employ a window installer who doesn’t make you aware that you are responsible for complying with building regulations and doesn’t offer a FENSA certificate or other building regulations compliance certificate, you will need to organise and pay for an inspection by building control yourself.

You’ll need to allow a few hundred pounds for this, so make sure the installer agrees in their quote to rectify any non-compliance issues found by the building inspector.

To Find Out More: https://www.fensa.org.uk/

 

 

 

Insulating for Temperature – R & U Ratings

 

What are R Ratings for Double Glazing Windows Heat Insulation?

An R Rating refers to the resistance a material has to allowing heat to flow through it.  With double glazing this means how well the glass windows and frames keep the warmth in your house when it’s cold outside.  Referred to as the R-Value, the higher the number the more efficient the window.

Is a Higher or Lower R Value Better for Double Glazing Windows?

The higher the R-Value, the better.  The range for windows is usually between 0.5 and 4.0, with a typical single pane window having an R-Value of 0.91 and a high quality double glazed unit filled with insulating gas having an R-Value of around 3.6.

 

Example Glazing Options and Approximate Energy Performance
GLAZING OPTION	U Value	R Value
Single Pane	1.10	0.91
Double Glazed Unit with 13mm air gap	0.49	2.04
Double Glazed Unit with 13mm air gap and Low E coating	0.32	3.13
Double Glazed Unit with 13mm air gap and gas fill	0.24	3.6
Triple Glazed Unit with 7mm air gap	0.44	2.22

 

To Find Out More: https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/home-energy-efficiency/energy-efficient-windows