Sore Subject.........

[tourerjim]

Will start with Everest, we had our garage that's attached to the house converted, Everest fitting the fronted part with one piece paneling & door with a first class job through to completion, then we got Everest to do the top windows (4), without a doubt its all real good quality stuff except the 'workers', after they fitted them 3 window openers didn't fully close, so much sealer used it was squirted out from the finishing's, wrong bottom trims used on the insides & front bedroom window openers pi**ed, then to top it all the landing window was fitted wrong way round which then needed another window being made & fitted, two months later all done.

Anglian Windows, early May they done an est to fit new porch & downstairs windows all agreed deposit paid then we were waiting, waiting & still waiting so we've just cancelled the order because not one person has contacted us its been me chasing them all the time, now they can't even tell me when ill get my deposit back, 7" grand of work & there not bothered.
Now we've got to start all over again getting estimates, we're never use Everest or Anglian again, think we should use someone nearer to home...???

[pgkevet]

I was once caught by a double glazig co... fitted several windows into my house.. wife paid the blance on completion and when i came home i saw how shoddy the job was. The company proved impossible to contact re guarantees etc. I brooded about it for some time will silly ideas such as petrol through their letterbox or paying some brixton yardies to go break legs. Commonsense prevailed and I came up with a plan... booked them to do a whole load of windows in another property I owned. When it came to paying the balance I thoroughly inspected the work..and to be fair couldn't fault it (different fitters). I explained to the guys that did the work that I wasn't paying until the first job was done right. They had a direct line to boss-man who cussed and threatened me etc. Fine I said..love to see you in court...or you just fix the first job and get paid.
When the bunch of guys that did the second proper job saw the first they cracked up..totally agreed with me and came back to pull them all out and redo.

Now if I have any work done i make damn sure i understand what's involved, why it's being done that way and inspect the end result properly before parting with a balance.

Most replacement windows are a doddle to put in: it's taking the old ones out that can be a mare and a lot cheaper than most folk think to have made up. We had this farmhouse totally changed all windows and an added conservatory..nd indeed the double glazig in my hobby shed. I had it done by professionals to get it doen lots quicker than if I;d tried to DIY it - too crocked to have the energy for manual labour all day. Theguys that did it charged honest parts + labour and didn't work slowly. In fact a lot of stuff was paid directly by me to suppliers..keeps an eye on the costs.

[noste500]

Aye , I part own a business that does some of the works beng discussed and frequently we repair work fitted by the
"larger" national company (,s) because the customer can it get satisfaction . ( or even a reply sometimes )

[milly0812]

Sore Subject.........

It's all a bit of a joke, I've been fitting windows now for 29 years and next year I have to sit an exam to prove I know how to. There are no concrete regulations in place for fitting only guidelines.

Back in the 90s I knew teams that would hold the windows in place with wooden wedges then apply expanding foam to fix them. Not a single solitary fixing !! Mind you once the foam and mastic had cured the frames were going nowhere but that beside the point lol

To the OP, go with a local reputable company and use checkatrade ;)

[David Drew]

[QUOTE=milly0812;1043630]
Back in the 90s I knew teams that would hold the windows in place with wooden wedges then apply expanding foam to fix them. Not a single solitary fixing !! Mind you once the foam and mastic had cured the frames were going nowhere but that beside the point lol

[/QUOTE]

That was/is considered a valid fixing method for PVC-u windows - especially abroad. It meant locating the frames with Fischer bolts into 'mid-opening'. Carefully foaming in and then taking the Fischer bolt screw out. Allowed for expansion and contraction.

Not the way these days.

[tourerjim]

[QUOTE=milly0812;1043630]It's all a bit of a joke, I've been fitting windows now for 29 years and next year I have to sit an exam to prove I know how to. There are no concrete regulations in place for fitting only guidelines.

Back in the 90s I knew teams that would hold the windows in place with wooden wedges then apply expanding foam to fix them. Not a single solitary fixing !! Mind you once the foam and mastic had cured the frames were going nowhere but that beside the point lol

To the OP, go with a local reputable company and use checkatrade ;)[/QUOTE]

Checkatrader" there another joke, had 5 reply & only 3 turned up to there appointment times & only 1 estimate turned up in the post, I agreed the job with him which was to re-level the brick driveway & move a toilet pipe to underground, day before he was due to start got a text to say he can't do the job.

[milly0812]

Sore Subject.........

Sounds like I need to move to Northampton to make my fortune then lol

[scallybert]

I might be completely wrong here, but I think that some window frames are partly structural in that there isn't a lintel above them. That being the case, you don't want someone bodging them...

[David Drew]

[QUOTE=scallybert;1043641]I might be completely wrong here, but I think that some window frames are partly structural in that there isn't a lintel above them. That being the case, you don't want someone bodging them...[/QUOTE]

In which case proper load-bearing mullions or supports need to be installed. Eg bay poles. No window should take the load of a building above it.

Err.. I think we have hijacked this thread!

[tourerjim]

[QUOTE=scallybert;1043641]I might be completely wrong here, but I think that some window frames are partly structural in that there isn't a lintel above them. That being the case, you don't want someone bodging them...[/QUOTE]

Bit like saying trust-a-trader.com, what's there saying" [I]for local & independent advice trust a trader.???[/I]

[pgkevet]

Around here geting anyhtign done can be a mare.. again you can make endless calls, get promises but lucky if anyone actually shows. I found my builder and double glazing folk by asking neighbours ad folk that have lived here a long time. A good reason for going to the pub regularly so folk know you. The two pints a week I drink down there pay for themselves in reduced aggro. The local builders merchant, scrappy, several farmers etc all drink there.

[tourerjim]

[QUOTE=pgkevet;1043650]Around here geting anyhtign done can be a mare.. again you can make endless calls, get promises but lucky if anyone actually shows. I found my builder and double glazing folk by asking neighbours ad folk that have lived here a long time. A good reason for going to the pub regularly so folk know you. The two pints a week I drink down there pay for themselves in reduced aggro. The local builders merchant, scrappy, several farmers etc all drink there.[/QUOTE]

Yeah I did that" when the window cleaner turn up he was too pi**ed to get up the ladder.

[Mark_T]

[QUOTE=tourerjim;1043637]Checkatrader" there another joke, had 5 reply & only 3 turned up to there appointment times & only 1 estimate turned up in the post, I agreed the job with him which was to re-level the brick driveway & move a toilet pipe to underground, day before he was due to start got a text to say he can't do the job.[/QUOTE]

Similar experience here, got 1 reply, agreed date and time for him to come around and give me an estimate for the job.

He didn't turn up and doesn't return email/phone calls.

Never thought it would be this hard giving people work ...

[pgkevet]

[QUOTE=tourerjim;1043653]Yeah I did that" when the window cleaner turn up he was too pi**ed to get up the ladder.[/QUOTE]

Gave me a chuckle... but no window cleaner these days should be using a ladder.. all done with long-reach pressure washers..

[trexamanic]

Sore Subject.........

We are getting new windows. These Anglian guys were fricking joke.
Never heard so much bull in my life. Was charging over double a reputable local crowd.
When I said this he then started nocking thousands off the quote.
I nearly peed myself thinking this practice still happened but it got even worse..
He said that instead of paying cash, if I took out a finance agreement then settled in full after the first payment he would knock another £1500 off.
At that point he was shown the door, brochures and all.
These twits still think they can get away with it.

Shop local, visit his previous jobs, chap the door and explain.
That is how I have done it..
Also if its too good to be true chances are its shitty grade glass and bleaching plastics.
I worked for crsmith for 2 years making the windows in Scotland.