There is a massive difference in the quality of windows out there. If I can help, a few things to look out for when comparing prices.
Most people look at the U-value and think thats a key indicator of performance and base decisions on this.
Some points will apply to PVC windows specifically as opposed to wood or alu-clad.
Security:
- Look for heavy duty hinges
- Look for interlocking grab tabs on the hinge side - to prevent vents being forced
- Look for multi point locking - shoot bolts top & bottom and minimum 4 point mushroom locks which are opposed to each other
- Look for a two stage lock position on the opening for night ventilation.
Frame:
Glass:
- PVC frames should be reinforced
- reinforcing steel should be insulated to prevent thermal bridging
- look for all stainless steel fittings; hinges, locks, guide bars, restrictor etc.
- minimum mild steel with marine type coating
- frame fixings should be high tensile steel.
- air tight foam should be flexible to move with the frame / building. Rigid foam will compress and create air gaps (tiny ones) which lead to leaks.
- gaskets should be welded / glued to the frame. With PVC they should be welded to a hot frame during the extrusion process. Do not accept gaskets that have been inserted by a bored technician on a production line!
Personally I would go with timber over any other type simply for the beauty of the product.
- double glazed will be argon filled
- triple glazed will be krypton filled. All new windows should be triple glazed. Spend the money now for the future saving.
- spacing bars should be insulated to prevent thermal bridging.
- look for low iron (low FE) glass on outer panes - high iron content prevents solar radiation from heating the interior air
- look for low emmissive glass (low-E) to internal panes to keep the heat gained by ocnvection within the room.
PVC is great for ease of maintenance. WIth PVC get high calcium and zinc content PVC, do not get cheap recycled PVC this will discolour!
There are more points, I'll post them later.
Sconhome,
Thank you very much for your useful comments. I was speaking with a very reliable and experienced trademan over the weekend and he was able to give me a lot of reassurance wrt MJ (he said that their product/service in the last two years is very different to that provided during the boom) so I may not rule them out entirely.
I will have a look at the costs and then make a decision. I would like to have the nordan windows but also need to keep the mortgage down.
ONQ, threebedsemi, hippy and sconhome, thank you all for your help on this one...much appreciated
I hope I make the right choice
Are you going to post more points like this or is the the lot?
ONQ.
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