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UPVC double glazing quotes. And it's free!
UPVC double glazing quotes. And it's free!
 Do I need double glazed windows and doors?UPVC double glazing is a hugely worthwhile investment. Not only will it improve quality of life for you and your family, but a professionally-installed job will improve both the appearance and value of your home. With new windows and doors fitted, you will notice vastly improved sound insulation and a reduction in your energy consumption. Knowing that your home's security has been greatly improved will also help you sleep more soundly at night, while maintenance-free UPVC means you won't be forever sanding, filling and painting for years to come. Why should I use comparethewindows.co.uk to get my quotes instead of using the conventional system?Letting us do the work for you is, quite simply, going to save you a world of pain. It's likely that you, or someone you know, have already had some experience of in-home direct sales. This is how the vast majority of double gazing is sold in the UK today. How easy is the comparethewindows system to use?We pride ourselves on having designed a system that anyone can use and benefit from. Two or three minutes is the average time our customers need to enter their details. Then they just sit back, get on with their lives and let us do all the work for them, without having to pay us a penny. Could it BE any easier? What is a sealed unit? This is the glass element of UPVC windows and doors and is made up of two pieces of glass bonded together with a spacing bar at their outermost edges. There is a individual sealed unit for every segment of your windows and each is placed carefully into the frames when the frames themselves have been fixed firmly in place. What is Pilkington 'K' glass?Designed to optimise thermal insulation in homes and public buildings, Pilkington K Glass is a low emissivity coated glass which complies with energy efficiency requirements of the Building Regulations. Pilkington K Glass usually forms the inner pane of an Insulating Glass Unit (IGU). The coating reflects heat back into the room whilst also letting in free heat from the sun known as passive solar gain. Pilkington K Glass helps windows to achieve high Window Energy Ratings to demonstrate compliance with energy saving Building Regulations Part L. The glass in your windows absorbs heat then radiates it again on the colder, outside, surface. Pilkington K Glass has a so-called low emissivity coating which is positioned on surface 3 (counting from the outside) of the Insulating Glass Unit (IGU). The low emissivity coating is a poor radiator of heat. So the heat absorbed by the coated glass does not travel across the air gap to the outer pane and the cold outside world. Instead the coating reflects the heat back into the room. Windows incorporating Pilkington K Glass allow heat from the sun through and keep heat inside, making it easier and more cost effective to keep buildings warm. What are equal sight lines?This is an option available to you when you are designing how you would like your windows to appear when viewed from outside. With most windows it is obvious by looking at them, which parts of the window open and which are fixed. The openers have a slightly raised profile, while the fixed elements appear to be recessed. See picture A. A much neater appearance is achieved with the addition of 'dummy sashes' to the non-opening elements of the window, thus raising all the segments of the window up to an equal height. See picture B. There is a small additional cost if you choose to include 'equal site lines' in the design of your windows, but we believe that the aesthetic effect is well worth the investment. What is the difference between 'externally-glazed' and 'internally glazed' windows?After the UPVC window frames have been secured in position, window fitters place the glass sealed units within them, before fixing them in position with UPVC beading. If this beading is inside the building, this type of window is known as an internally-glazed system while, if the beading is fixed on the outside of the building, this is an externally-glazed system. What is an internal window board?These are variously known as window boards, window ledges or window cills. Available in either wood or UPVC, these are fitted when existing boards are in poor condition or simply because homeowners choose to include them as part of their home improvements. In most cases, windows are removed without any disturbance to the existing window boards and the edge of the new window is neatly closed with an industrial sealant. You have the choice of whether or not to have new boards fitted, but there is usually a cost associated with this. When a new bow bay window replaces a previously flat window, a new, tailor made window board is necessary to form an integral part of the structure. In this case, the cost of the window board is built into the cost of the bay. What is a bow bay?Bow bays, or 'plant-on' bays can change the look and feel of a room enormously. Your window fitters replace a previously flat window with a structure that curves out from the building. More light and a deeper window board are just two of the benefits of a bow bay. Included within the construction of a bow bay are the windows, a tailor made external window cill, leadwork flashing to the top of the bay, all weatherproofing and a custom-made internal window board. In most cases, planning permission will not be required to convert a previously flat window into a bay. However, buildings that are listed, or those located within an area where the built environment is closely controlled, may need approval. If in doubt check with your local authority or window fitting company. Are windows guaranteed?All reputable window fitting company that value you as a customer will provide a guarantee against products and workmanship. Most guarantees are for 10 years. Guarantees vary but usually cover colour fastness, mechanical performance and finishing. When is toughened glass used?There are strict rules governing the correct use of toughened glass. What are the fire regulations governing window and door installations in a residential property?There are strict rules governing emergency escape routes from buildings. What does the energy efficient window ratings label tell you?The BFRC Scheme is the UK s national system for rating the energy efficiency of windows and is recognised within the Building Regulations as a method to show compliance for your replacement windows installation. Window Energy Ratings use a consumer-friendly traffic-light style A-E ratings guide similar to that used with white goods such as fridges, freezers and washing machines. You can use the ratings label to make informed choices about the energy efficiency of the windows you are looking to purchase. With carbon emissions high on the global agenda and the current high cost of fuel, we are all looking for ways to make our homes more energy efficient. Each window rated by the BFRC has a unique label. This label will display the following information:
What are energy efficient windows?They are windows that help to contain and conserve heat within the home keeping out wind and rain, resisting condensation and yet allowing natural free energy - the warmth of the sun – to heat the home. They can be made using any frame material - aluminium, PVC-U, steel or timber or even a combination of materials. Energy Efficient Windows are easy to spot – just look for the BFRC label. |
If you don’t want us to get your quotes for you and prefer the direct approach, we can still help you. Our comprehensive business directory contains the details of thousands of UK double glazing businesses. Find local companies quickly and easily, wherever you are located. Search our directory of double glazing suppliers >>And if you’d like to put your business on the map, or would like to enhance an existing profile from as little as £149 for a whole year, please click here.
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Testimonials
Wendy Shales
Date: Oct 30, 2011
Recently took up a recommendation from a work colleague and contacted the team at Compare The Win...
Date: Oct 30, 2011
Recently took up a recommendation from a work colleague and contacted the team at Compare The Win...
FAQs
What is Pilkington 'K' glass?Designed to optimise thermal insulation in homes and public buildings, Pilkington K Glass is a low emissivity coated glass which...
What are equal sight lines?
This is an option available to you when you are designing how you would like your windows to appear when viewed from outside. With...
Links
What is the GGF?The Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) is a trade association representing companies...
Website: www.ggf.co.uk
What is the BFRC?
The BFRC is the UK’s national system for rating Energy Efficient Windows and you will find everything you...
Website: www.bfrc.org
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