Importing polish windows

oldsmokey

Hi, we,re in the throes of renovating an old house, would love to fit sash windows but find them too expensive. A friend suggested we look at Polish suppliers. Apparently theres quite a saving to be made - we had munster joinery give a quote, and would like to deal withthem, but found the windows ugly, expensive and the fittings verrrry shiny...ugh.
We,d appreciate any feedback / recommendations. Our builder is prepared to fit them.
Thanks

oldsmokey

oldsmokey wrote: »

Hi, we,re in the throes of renovating an old house, would love to fit sash windows but find them too expensive. A friend suggested we look at Polish suppliers. Apparently theres quite a saving to be made - we had munster joinery give a quote, and would like to deal withthem, but found the windows ugly, expensive and the fittings verrrry shiny...ugh.
We,d appreciate any feedback / recommendations. Our builder is prepared to fit them.
Thanks

Awlads, c,mon...must be someone has experience....as an aside, we contacted a joinery specialising in windows , theyre preparing a quote...is this route likely to bea canof worms compared to workingwith say, munster joinery?

CJhaughey

I had a friend put in Polish sourced windows, his have started rotting in less than 10 years.
I think you get what you pay for, and the coating is as important as the actual frame when it comes to Irish conditions.

Who2

Do you realize you can choose different iron mongery on whatever window you decide to go with? It doesn’t have to be shiny. Are you going with aluminum, wood or Pvc? Double or treble glazed? Weights or springs? Have you the depth in behind the reveals so the frame can be buried sufficiently so as to avoid all frame and no glass effect. The heads usually catch people out. Have you upstands on the current cills and are your walls deep enough to take a sliding sash without encroaching into the room.
Sliding sash are a different animal to other windows and definitely shouldn’t be fitted by a builder unless you want a life time of hassle.
They even have to be carried a certain way, now it’s up to yourself but there’s far too many things that can go wrong with them to chance bringing them in from some unknown source and not to even worry about how you will get on with a guarantee?

vintcerf

there is a group on facebook (if you use that) where questions like this are covered extensively. loads of people order windows(sometimes even bricks!) from Poland, Latvia, Germany and other eu countries regularly. people in the group are very helpful so might worth your while asking there.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/816924585093717 (Self Build and Renovations Ireland)

Mickiemcfist

I know nothing of Polish windows, but I haven't heard many stories of satisfied Munster Joinery customers, heard plenty of complaints though.

sharpish

oldsmokey wrote: »

Hi, we,re in the throes of renovating an old house, would love to fit sash windows but find them too expensive. A friend suggested we look at Polish suppliers. Apparently theres quite a saving to be made - we had munster joinery give a quote, and would like to deal withthem, but found the windows ugly, expensive and the fittings verrrry shiny...ugh.
We,d appreciate any feedback / recommendations. Our builder is prepared to fit them.
Thanks

My builder said 1 year lead time currently for polish sash windows, my current windows are 20 years old and really difficult to find someone to repair them.

I've been quoted 1800 - 2500 per window for replacements, honestly thinking of sticking with them the window places are dreadful to deal with at the moment the must have loads of customers.

oldsmokey

Mickiemcfist wrote: »

I know nothing of Polish windows, but I haven't heard many stories of satisfied Munster Joinery customers, heard plenty of complaints though.

Ah, to be fair, members of the family have used them, found them fine...any problems were sorted...

oldsmokey

vintcerf wrote: »

there is a group on facebook (if you use that) where questions like this are covered extensively. loads of people order windows(sometimes even bricks!) from Poland, Latvia, Germany and other eu countries regularly. people in the group are very helpful so might worth your while asking there.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/816924585093717 (Self Build and Renovations Ireland)

Fantastic, thanks for that....cant beat a bit of local experience..will let ya know how it goes..

oldsmokey

Who2 wrote: »

Do you realize you can choose different iron mongery on whatever window you decide to go with? It doesn’t have to be shiny. Are you going with aluminum, wood or Pvc? Double or treble glazed? Weights or springs? Have you the depth in behind the reveals so the frame can be buried sufficiently so as to avoid all frame and no glass effect. The heads usually catch people out. Have you upstands on the current cills and are your walls deep enough to take a sliding sash without encroaching into the room.
Sliding sash are a different animal to other windows and definitely shouldn’t be fitted by a builder unless you want a life time of hassle.
They even have to be carried a certain way, now it’s up to yourself but there’s far too many things that can go wrong with them to chance bringing them in from some unknown source and not to even worry about how you will get on with a guarantee?

Thanks for that...its an old house, originally fitted with sash windows, did a bit of digging, the profile of these old windows is still present, even after the hideous 80s windows were fitted...measures 2in wide by 3in 'deep' iykwim... I presume that,ll make life a bit easier? Looking to go pvc, but would love wood, depends on quote really...double glaze will be fine..weights or springs, dont mind..stone built, so around 20in deep walls..
I appreciate its a bit of a risk, hence the research ðŸ˜..our builder is sound...its getting the measurements and quality right is bothering me..

sheff the ref

Has anyone here successfully imported Standard White PVC Windows from Europe.

I see a number of sites are emerging online where you can order online in Ireland and the UK

Obviously this would involve getting someone to fit them, but that is a bridge that can be crossed.

Is there a cost differential for basic white PVC windows for a house or do you need to be ordering something more elaborate to make significant savings?

I am aware there are risks, and if a window went wrong within a couple of years, would the cost differential allow for replacing one window from a local supplier. If you were to save €1000 it would probably be worth sticking with the tried and trusted, but if you were to make a significant percentage saving, then it would be different

Any experiences or recommendations

Funsterdelux

If anyone has details of european window suppliers(polish etc) that do casement and sash windows could ye pm me please.

oldsmokey

Well it’s a few years down the line…we ordered 16 timber sash windows with weights from a polish company..a fairly torturous caper, all by email..but pretty professional tbf. Paid 60 percent deposit, the rest on completion. We found a great crowd in westmearh that sorted transport, around 1400 e, not bad. Everything turned up unbroken, quality was good, no fockups..all fitted grand, …a few little niggles ona few units, easily enough remedied. There was a substantial saving in bringing them in, but it was a proper dose. So..it can be done..