Welcome to the new Compare The Windows Blog, this will become a leading resource for all things double glazing, UPVC window, UPVC door, and DIY related.
Please check back soon as we hope to have newly updated content appearing here weekly courtesy of our very own double glazing experts. With over 25 years of collective industry experience, you can be sure it will be worth reading!
Thanks
The Compare The Windows Team
|
|
|
Double glazing companies and their bad reputations |
In the eyes of many consumers, the double glazing industry has a a pretty poor reputation, due to well-publicised examples of unscrupulous behaviour, poor quality products, shoddy installations and underhand sales tactics.
Thankfully the great majority of businesses in this sector employ professional people and provide a courteous, respectful and high quality service to their customers. But how do you go about separating those who comply fully with the negative stereotype, and the good guys?
Most homeowners or tenants have, at some point, been cold called or spammed via email about an amazing double glazed window or door offer. Even some non-homeowners have been on the receiving end of these aggressive sales tactics!
Here at Compare The Windows we are different. We completely cut out the middle man, we don't use salesmen; we don't use aggressive or invasive sales tactics, promise silly discount sales or condone commission-only salesmen.
We DO allow you to make your own choices and decisions, and are here to help you find the best price, whether that be for a single door or window, or 100 units of double glazing!
So why not give our online double glazing quote comparison system a go? It's free to use and will only take you a couple of minutes. Instead of hours in the company of determined and often very persuasive salesmen.
|
|
How To Stop Double Glazing Condensation |
Does your house suffer from excessive condensation and moisture?
You are not alone, condensation build up, particularly in winter, is a common complaint from many homeowners, wether they have single OR double glazed windows!
The newer ranges of UPVC, Wooden and Aluminium double glazed windows and doors are vastly improved over their older, less efficient counterparts, howevever even this improved design and technology cannot prevent moisture build up and condensation on its own.
The first thing to consider is where the moisture is coming from, as without moisture in the air, there will be no condensation! There are many things you can do within your daily lifestyle to help minimise moisture build up.
If you often dry clothes and linen in the house, you should consider using any outdoor space, such as a balcony/patio/garden, if you are boiling/frying/cooking for long periods of time, you should use lids on your pots and pans. If you are going to be in the house for a long period of time, you should also leave any windows in badly affected rooms open and doors ajar to create some airflow.
You can also purchase many ingenious devices such as dehumidifiers and fans to help alleviate the problem. If you do not have extractor fans in your bathroom / kitchen, you should definately consider getting some fitted, as these can be a very cost effective alternative to a dehumidifier, which can cost upwards of 3-5p per hour to run. You can also buy disposable products such as moisture salts, or indeed take direct measures such as coating the double glazed window itself with a thin film of washing up liquid or shaving foam once a week. However these are only a reactive solution to the problem, they are not a long term fix!
The key issue is ventilation. Many newer double glazed windows come with trickle vents pre-fitted, which can be very useful for providing a steady flow of air safely and securely! You should also ensure that your loft/attic (if you have one) is able to breathe sufficiently by ensuring all insulation is atleast 15cm away from the gables and corners of the roof. The same goes for any walls that have had cavity insulation, all air vents and air bricks should be free of filler and able to do their job efficiently.
Remember, "If you Insulate, You MUST ventilate!"
|
|
Are You Ready For The Part L Building Regulations changes? |
With the newly elected Government now firmly in power, all eyes are on the policy gurus and decision makers. Part L of the Building Regulations were put forward in early last year and are scheduled to come into effect on 1st October 2010, and this could have a major effect on the choice of products available to you as a consumer. There are currently no restraints or restrictions on the type or indeed condition of windows and doors you can install as a property owner in the UK.
However based on their recent HIP announcement, we cannot rule out the idea that they could introduce a requirement for property owners to install much more energy efficient double glazed windows and doors even sooner, especially as the Energy Performance Certificate is not going anywhere soon! As it stands, replacement UPVC windows and doors ordered on or after 1st October 2010 must have a Window Energy Rating (WER) of at least band C (currently E) or a combined U Value of 1.6 W/m2K, and doors a combined U Value of 1.8 W/m2K max. So why not save money on your gas and electricity bills and make your house more energy efficient with some new replacement double glazing now!
|
|
Double Glazing Scrappage Scheme |
Have you recently been promised a Government Grant or other saving as part of a scrappage scheme when shopping around for new double glazed windows and doors to replace your old ones?
These scrappage schemes are NOT Goverment run, and are infact internal, business/firm specific scrappage and refund schemes and savings will vary from firm to firm.
There has been an ongoing petition (since January 2009) for a Government backed scheme similar to that offered for the car manufacturing industry, however as of yet it has not been raised in parliament.
We strongly advise you to ask for more details about these company-specific scrappage schemes and to shop around, as prices can vary dramatically between double glazing companies!
Why not take a look at our directory of double glazing suppliers to find a number of suppliers in your area.
|
|
Suspension of Home Information Packs |
The newly formed Liberal Democrat and Conservative Government announced this morning that with immediate effect, Home Information Packs (HIPs) are to be suspended.
It is claimed that the suspension of HIPs will help boost the fragile housing market through lower costs and a reduction in needless bureaucracy. However it has also been argued that their abolision could harm the fragile housing market, as many prospective sellers will no doubt wait for a few months before selling in order to avoid the fees associated with HIPs.
Regardless of what you think about HIPs, it is important to note that sellers will still be required to produce an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) on completion of the sale of their home. This means that now is still as good a time as any to take a look at the efficiency of your current windows, and to consider the energy efficiency benefits that newer replacement upvc or wood double glazed windows and doors could bring to your home. |
|
|
|
|
|
