Hi, has anybody had this done, we are getting quotes for double glazing existing windows, or putting in new ones. We thought if we had to put in new windows we may have to redecorate, but that is not the case. Cheers.
We have had half our house (for now) retro fitted. They put the new double glazed unit in where the single glazed pane was, and replaced all the opening windows (sashes) as well, so we got new double tongue handles and safety stays put in which the existing opening windows didn't have. There is no need to replace the whole entire window unit, so don't go with anyone who wants to do this. Cause then you'll have to have new architraves put in around the windows and do painting etc.
Some companies put in an adaptor thingy on the sashes to fit the double glazed unit. This doesn't look as nice as it actually widens the frame and cuts down on the glass area but if that doesn't bother you, that's fine. We intend to do the rest of the house sometime soon. The first half we did has normal clear glass, probably will be putting tinted glass in on the north side.
Three Piggies, Four Chooky Babes, Randy the Roo, Hubby and Me. []
Virtually all double glazing in the UK is UPVC - works just fine, and is cheap and cheerful. Go for what you can afford! The problem with Aluminium windows are that they are so thermally conductive, so they need to be thermally broken. Wood and UPVC are much more efficient at preventing heat loss.
Robinsons Folly?;285480 wrote: DO NOT get PVC ones. They look ugly and they scratch really easily. However they are cheaper.
HOW WRONG YOU ARE...they are exceptionally warm having been used in Europe for several years are very heavy and tough, come in several colours including woodgrain which is very hard to tell from real timber. They do not transfer cold through the frame like aluminium windows nor suffer from condensation. They are more expensive around 40% more than aluminium. Don't see how they would scratch. The frames are very tough UPVC and the glass normal glass.
Here in Hanmer more and more people are fitting them to new homes and they look much better than alloy especially in woodgrain.
I'm seriously considering putting them into a new home.
Check out the link above and check out the specs and pictures.
cantyguy;285491 wrote: HOW WRONG YOU ARE...they are exceptionally warm having been used in Europe for several years are very heavy and tough, come in several colours including woodgrain which is very hard to tell from real timber. They do not transfer cold through the frame like aluminium windows nor suffer from condensation. They are more expensive around 40% more than aluminium. Don't see how they would scratch. The frames are very tough UPVC and the glass normal glass.
Here in Hanmer more and more people are fitting them to new homes and they look much better than alloy especially in woodgrain.
I'm seriously considering putting them into a new home.
Check out the link above and check out the specs and pictures.
Exactly!
We got some, filled with argon, they are brilliant. The oldest ones we have are 6 years old and have no scratches. No need to repaint as they only took out the pane with the glass, not the frame. We used NK windows, they spread out large sheets and vacuumed before they left. It was tidier than when they arrived[]
Obviously things have come along in the PVC department. I first saw them a few years ago when they were relatively new here and a bit clunky. Good to hear they have improved.
Cheers!
Three Piggies, Four Chooky Babes, Randy the Roo, Hubby and Me. []
Robinsons Folly?;285537 wrote: Well, I've been told haven't I?[]
Obviously things have come along in the PVC department. I first saw them a few years ago when they were relatively new here and a bit clunky. Good to hear they have improved.
Cheers!
No worries, they are really good....just hope I can afford them
Robinsons Folly?;285480 wrote: DO NOT get PVC ones. They look ugly and they scratch really easily. However they are cheaper.
Sooooo not right.
I have installed UPVS twice here in North island NZ and they don't scratch any less than a normal alum. painted window.
And Noooo........ they don't look ugly. today I had two parties through our reno who were not invited but came in off the road to look at what we were doing (being locals) and both parties were really stunned as to how good the fixtures and fittings (security) of the windows were.
Its about time NZ pop' grew up with what is going on elsewhere in the world and got past the "" oh plastic windows"" phase.
Europe has been doing this for MANY MANY years and it works. [^][^]
and yes our were cheaper than double glase alum windows and doors when push came to shove with a couple of suppliers. Verbal quotes to our major local recently was trod over when they came to measure, (and yes I am good with a tape measure and they never explained WHERE the measurements went supposedly wrong) so we went back to our UPVS supplier in E. Tamaki.,
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they are really good....just hope I can afford them