| |
| |
|
Home Improvement Information |
|
|
|
How To Buy Double Glazing In The UK
Double glazing reduces heat loss through your windows. You can save money on your heating bills. However, it will be a long time before you save enough money equal to the cost of the windows. If you can't afford to replace *all* your windows, choose the rooms that cost you the most money to heat. Double glazed windows come in a variety of sizes and styles. Check for any planning restrictions on your house due to age and location. Sometimes planning permission may be required, in the case in listed buildings and conservation areas. Also if you are converting a flat window into a bay window. Check this with the local authority. Don't rely on the Yellow Pages or advertisements to choose a supplier. Anyone can place an advert, join a trade body, or display badges they're not entitled to. Always use a reputable company that you have had independently checked out. Don't rely on the fact that you have heard of them as even some of the biggest advertisers may have had several incarnations. It's very easy in Britain to shut down one company and open up again under a similar name. A 10% deposit is normal. A larger one is appropriate only if the work is 'bespoke' - such as unique timber window designs. Try to pay in stages according as the work in completed, and withhold the final payment until the work is completed to your satisfaction. Do not go for the cheapest quotation. There's a price point below which you'll be buying rubbish. Do not try to beat the price down too much. Less professional suppliers will agree to it, but sell you short later. Get the best you can afford. Ask your supplier how long the delivery will be. Have this stipulated on your contract. Additionally ask for an estimate of how long the work will take to finish once they are on-site. Always pay deposits by credit card, as this will afford you some level of protection under the Consumer Credit Act. If the company will accept credit cards for the whole job then that's even better. You have 30 days to make a claim with your credit-card company. You have to show how you were given bad goods or workmanship i.e. they contracted to give you X and gave you Y instead. Check, double check and get independent advice on the contract before you sign, as some contracts are considerably more onerous than others. The best way to avoid salesmen's traps is to be sure of what you want before the salesman arrives. Present him with your requirements and use that as your bargaining chip. Get a specific quote against a specific set of requirements. Then you can be certain of getting like-for-like quotations. Ask if your chosen double glazing installer is a member of the Glass and Glazing Federation, check for FENSA accreditation and make sure that all products carry the safety standard kite mark. Company checks to carry out: How long have they been in business? Check with Companies House. What guarantees do they offer? Are they insurance backed, lifetime or limited, are they transferable? Membership of independent or paid for trading organisations. These could include: G.G.F. - Glass and Glazing Federation B.P.F. - British Plastics Federation. F.M.B. - Federation of Master Builders Conservatory Council Conservatory Association Consumer Protection Association Guild of Master Craftsman E.B.C. - European Builders Confederation Quality standards: BS5750 B.B.A. certification Public liability insurance. Will the fitters and the company be covered if something should go wrong? You should look for at least 2 million pounds cover and check the certification covers the people who are actually doing the work. Product standards to check out: B.S.I. - British standards (kitemarks), for locking, security, safety, product, glass etc. B.B.A. - British board of Agrement FENSA - Document L of the building regulations. You should make up a comparison checklist and confirm all claims independently of any sales claim or literature. The *good* contractors get work by word-of-mouth referrals from previous clients. They've plenty of work to keep them going, and so are worth waiting a few months for. The bad ones are doing too many jobs at once, moving workers from site to site, don't supervise them properly, and thus do poor work. Ask yourself: Have I been given: 1. Full and honest information. 2. Samples 3. Installations locally to look at 4. Recommendations. 5. The small print 6. Acceptable levels of deposits and payment terms 7. Full drawings and specification (if you don't have them prepared first). 8. Time to think! About the author: T. O' Donnell (http://www.tigertom.com/double-glazing-uk/index.shtml) offers double glazing quotes, advice, and an ebook, in London, UK.
MORE RESOURCES:
Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Duct Cleaning - Proper Principals and Practices As a qualified duct cleaning contractor I have discovered that most homeowners feel that they are very uninformed when it come to the principals and practices of proper air duct cleaning hygiene.Let me begin by saying that the EPA as well as the National air duct cleaners association have stated that residential duct cleaning should take no less than between 4 and 8 hours to complete, anything short of that and you are probably not getting a thorough job. The Wireless Home It was only a few years ago that Real Estate agents and Builders were promoting the "Wired" feature as a must have when buying a new home. Wired meant that the home not only had cable running throughout it, but also Cat-5 wire. Hot Tub Heaven What will your next home improvement project be? Will it be an inground pool or how about a new deck? Why not consider a hot tub for the new deck? A hot tub is great for relaxing year round. There are lots of things to consider when shopping for your first hot tub. Beautiful, Elegant Bathtubs that Spruce Up any Bathroom Bathtubs have become an important necessity of our daily life for many reasons. Who hasn't enjoyed the comfort of soaking in a nice, hot tub at the end of a particularly hard day. All You Need To Know About The Feng Shui Bagua Map The feng shui bagua map is an octagonal shaped map which allows you to evaluate in feng shui terms any living or working space. The feng shui bagua is a very important feng shui tool and indispensable when we wish to harmonize a place and the elements in it. Hardwood Floor Care Will Keep Your Hardwood Looking Fantastic Hardwood is still the homeowner's favorite choice of flooring and caring for it takes minimal effort. Unlike laminate or engineered wood, hardwood can be refinished many times, and will add years of beauty and warmth to your home, as well as increase its value and speed its resale. Buying The Right Bed Sheets For Your Bed You spend a lot of your life in your bed sleeping and rejuvenating for the next day's activity. Sleeping is a process that takes up roughly about about a third of the average person's life. Window Dressing from the Outside Looking In Window coverings are important to the overall look and feel of a room, of course, but when designing window treatments, don't forget to take into consideration what your overall design will look like from the outside of your home.As a general rule, window coverings should all be of a similar coloring, which will significantly improve the look of your home's exterior. Fixing Old Wooden Chairs Fixing Old Wooden ChairsIF you have some old chairs that have broken or missing rungs or posts. Don't throw away the chairs, repair them. Create a Luxurious Laundry Room Give your home a luxurious feel with a beautiful laundry room. Even if you hate doing the laundry, you cannot deny that there IS a certain amount of satisfaction from transforming a bunch of dirty things into fresh and fragrant clothes! Put these items in your laundry room and feel the difference!-a few plants-adequate shelving-a rug or piece of carpet to stand on-an ironing area-large folding table-music-framed art or prints-a pretty dish to catch clutter and extraneous pocketed items-a trash can (continually clean the lint from the dryer)-GOOD LIGHTING, lamps, etc. Avoid Problems Painting Aluminum and Vinyl Siding Anyone with older aluminum siding is well aware of the paint chalking problem. Just rub your hand along the old siding and the chalky old paint will be all over your palm. Basic Methods of Foundation Waterproofing It is absolutely necessary to waterproof the foundation of your home. Foundation waterproofing is a critical step in maintaining your home's value and an important measure for preventing very serious damage. How to Install a New Toilet in 5 Easy Steps If your toilet is old and in need of repairs, it is cheaper to replace it by installing a new one. This is quite easy to do and can be completed in an afternoon. Do-it-Yourself Roofing, Is It Advisable? Some Tips and Guidelines Many do-it-yourselfers pride themselves in their handiwork, you can just see their garages filled to the brim with tools for those all around jobs. But ask any of them, installing roofs or repairing them is an unexciting and trying job, but someone has got to do it. New Construction Windows Or Replacement Windows? Which Is Right For You? Hello, my name is John Rocco.I grew up around the window and door business. Modern Rugs Add Color, Texture, Interest and Space Definition To Your Room Modern Design is sleek, stark, and spacious with angular and geometric lines. As the look for contemporary design is escalating so is the demand for modern home décor accessories. Laminate Flooring Advantages DurabilityBecause it's designed with a tough and durable wear layer, laminate flooring is much stronger than most installed solid hardwood flooring, carpets and vinyls, it's more resistant to scratches than softer surfaces (solid hardwood floors for eg.) and is one of the best choices for households with heavy foot traffic, kids, or pets. A Guide to Commercial Steel Buildings Commercial steel buildings are prefabricated and custom-designed for use as offices, stores, distribution centers, freight terminals, service stations, aircraft hangers, commercial garages and more. Since they can be molded into a range of shapes and sizes, steel buildings are finding applications in most any industry imaginable. Feng Shui Your Home, Work and Life For Balance and Harmony Feng Shui describes the communication that takes place every day between you and your environment, be it your home, garden or work. This discipline investigates the universal feelings and reactions of human beings to all environments, including our world. Make a Grand Entrance of Your Front Door You may find it difficult to believe that the days will start getting longer in the Northern Hemisphere in just four short weeks. You can find yourself this time of year coming home on dreary days, or welcoming evening visitors in the dark.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2006 |
