Replacement windows

Sanguine Fan

I plan to get a new set of double-glazed windows installed in our home. As it is a long time since I have been in this market I would like to get up to speed on developments in window technology before I talk to suppliers.

Is there any source online or otherwise that could help me understand the options available, the energy rating issue about which I know nothing, and anything else that would help me make a decision?

From the little research I have done so far I know that some Irish suppliers manufacture their own windows while others import them ready-made. Are there any issues around the quality and longevity of double-glazed windows based on country of manufacture? In other words, is there any way of telling from the made up windows themselves, before they are installed, whether or not they are any good?

Our aluminium double-glazed windows were already installed when we bought our home and are in a poor state of repair. Several have condensation between the panes and I'd like to ensure that the replacements don't produce this problem down the line.

Any advice is welcome.

martinn123

Sanguine Fan wrote: »

I plan to get a new set of double-glazed windows installed in our home. As it is a long time since I have been in this market I would like to get up to speed on developments in window technology before I talk to suppliers.

Is there any source online or otherwise that could help me understand the options available, the energy rating issue about which I know nothing, and anything else that would help me make a decision?

From the little research I have done so far I know that some Irish suppliers manufacture their own windows while others import them ready-made. Are there any issues around the quality and longevity of double-glazed windows based on country of manufacture? In other words, is there any way of telling from the made up windows themselves, before they are installed, whether or not they are any good?

Our aluminium double-glazed windows were already installed when we bought our home and are in a poor state of repair. Several have condensation between the panes and I'd like to ensure that the replacements don't produce this problem down the line.

Any advice is welcome.

The first question you need to address is what material you want the windows made from. Wood, PVC, Aluminium, or a combination of Aluminium/Timber, do some research on these materials.
Double Glazed refers to the glass, various issues arise here, Low E, Argon Filled cavities, double/triple glazed, U value which refers to Insulation.
The condensation inside your existing glass is caused by the seal around the unit breaking down, and moisture getting into the cavity, the current warranty against this happening with nw windows is 10yrs.

Next get some quotes, you can read various posts here where quotes and the companies who install are discussed.

Good luck with the project, but do plenty of research.

gears

martinn123 wrote: »

The first question you need to address is what material you want the windows made from. Wood, PVC, Aluminium, or a combination of Aluminium/Timber, do some research on these materials.
Double Glazed refers to the glass, various issues arise here, Low E, Argon Filled cavities, double/triple glazed, U value which refers to Insulation.
The condensation inside your existing glass is caused by the seal around the unit breaking down, and moisture getting into the cavity, the current warranty against this happening with nw windows is 10yrs.

Next get some quotes, you can read various posts here where quotes and the companies who install are discussed.

Good luck with the project, but do plenty of research.

Just one extra point on the unit seals, there are some reputable companies offering a 20 year warrenty on this so if you want extra piece of mind look for this.

martinn123

gears wrote: »

Just one extra point on the unit seals, there are some reputable companies offering a 20 year warrenty on this so if you want extra piece of mind look for this.

Good advice

Sanguine Fan

Many thanks for the tips.

I have sourced three companies, one makes their own windows here and the other two import them from England and Germany.

While I'm concerned about price, I also want to ensure that the product is built to last. So I'll be asking lots of questions about the windows themselves.

I'll certainly keep the length of guarantee in mind too.

gears

Another point is to check certification. The one disadvantage to buying Irish windows is that it's unlikely they will have any certification even though they may be very well made. If you're leaning more toward an import make sure that the certs are independent, BBA would probably be the best but other test bodies would be as good.

Sanguine Fan

gears wrote: »

The one disadvantage to buying Irish windows is that it's unlikely they will have any certification even though they may be very well made.

This is true but as it could take years to establish how well made or not they are, the only alternative is some sort of external validation as you say.

I've talked to one firm who import their window frames from a UK supplier with ISO 9001-2000 and the British Kitemark 39541. However their glass comes from a different supplier in the Republic with no external accreditation that I can see. The firm then instals the frames and the glass in the customer's property.

Naively I assumed that these windows arrived ready-glazed from a single manufacturer. Now I am not clear how much weight to attach to the frames versus the glass in deciding who to go for.

martinn123

Sanguine Fan wrote: »

Naively I assumed that these windows arrived ready-glazed from a single manufacturer. Now I am not clear how much weight to attach to the frames versus the glass in deciding who to go for.

Most Frame manufacturers, do not make glass units, as its two seperate processes. Find out where the glass units are made and research from there.

You should be looking for glass units ith the lowest U Value which measures insulation values. For exampe double glazed units,with Low E ( or K Glass ) with the cavity filled with Argon Gas will give you a U value of 1.1. Triple glazed can go as low as .7 but will be more expensive.

The installing Co will quote you a U value for the window, but as previous posts here have shown the values can be misleading as the bigger the window, the higher the U value.

Window Co's will advertise A rated windows but again this is critisied on various posts here.

In the final decision you will be influenced of course by price, so get as many quotes as you can bear, and post the numbers for discussion