Can anyone recommend a good and reasonable hardwood double glazing supplier and fitter? With either south east or nationwide coverage?

I've so far had one quote for 15 average sized windows which comes in at 7 grand. Is that good, or is there room for improvement?

Please don't mention UPVC. Unless pigs are flying past over my dead body and hell has frozen over that is.

"RedOnRed" wrote in message
...
Can anyone recommend a good and reasonable hardwood double glazing
supplier and fitter? With either south east or nationwide coverage?

Ovation Windows in Rugby are very good. Not quite SE though.


I've so far had one quote for 15 average sized windows which comes in at 7
grand. Is that good, or is there room for improvement?

It's about right.


Please don't mention UPVC. Unless pigs are flying past over my dead body
and hell has frozen over that is.

Well said :-)

RedOnRed wrote:
I've so far had one quote for 15 average sized windows which comes in at 7 grand. Is that good, or is there room for improvement?

That sounds very reasonable for "hardwood" - some big national chains
would have started quoting at 1,000 per window for *plastic*, then
offered you a special 33% discount and the salesman's daughter's hand in
marriage if you also ordered a back door and signed this very minute.

There's certainly room for improvement, but if it's a good company and a
good product it's not a total rip-off.

Owain

"Owain" wrote in message
t...
RedOnRed wrote:
I've so far had one quote for 15 average sized windows which comes in at
7 grand. Is that good, or is there room for improvement?

That sounds very reasonable for "hardwood" - some big national chains
would have started quoting at 1,000 per window for *plastic*, then offered
you a special 33% discount and the salesman's daughter's hand in marriage
if you also ordered a back door and signed this very minute.

There's certainly room for improvement, but if it's a good company and a
good product it's not a total rip-off.

Owain


Thanks for that Owain.

We had Staybrite Windows people round here a few months ago and out of
curiosity I relented into letting them give me a rough quote. I think they
said that they'd do the back for free. So buy one get one free basically. If
I recall, he was talking around the £4,500 mark.

By the way, how good looking is the salesman's daughter? :-)

Ovation Windows in Rugby are very good. Not quite SE though.


Thanks for that. I've just checked their web site and they look worth a
call.


I've so far had one quote for 15 average sized windows which comes in at
7
grand. Is that good, or is there room for improvement?

It's about right.


Please don't mention UPVC. Unless pigs are flying past over my dead body
and hell has frozen over that is.

Well said :-)

RedOnRed wrote:
By the way, how good looking is the salesman's daughter? :-)

Depends on who was shagging the salesman's missus!

Owain

"Owain" wrote in message
...
RedOnRed wrote:
By the way, how good looking is the salesman's daughter? :-)

Depends on who was shagging the salesman's missus!

Owain



Good point.

Knowing double glazing salesman's desperation to close a deal. They'd
probably let me shag their missus as a deal breaker and if the comission was
right.

On Mon, 27 Jun 2005 22:08:20 +0100, "RedOnRed" wrote:

Can anyone recommend a good and reasonable hardwood double glazing supplier and fitter? With either south east or nationwide coverage?

I've so far had one quote for 15 average sized windows which comes in at 7 grand. Is that good, or is there room for improvement?

Please don't mention UPVC. Unless pigs are flying past over my dead body and hell has frozen over that is.

I am hunting down a supplier for 16 windows for my house, your 7 grand
quote sounds about right, especially if fitted. If however its some
cheep softwood, its not a good price.

Its really hard to compare quotes, as there is much more quality
variation between companines in wooden windows than in plastic.

Rick

The price of a window varies a lot. =A3500 is not expensive but you
wouldn't ask 'How much does a car cost?' A more reasonable question
would be how much does a small diesel hatchback with less than 50000
miles cost?
'Hardwood' could mean various things. Usually it means the destruction
of a bit of rainforest. Sometimes it means the sustainable production
of English oak. Does your 'average sized' window have glazing bars to
divide the sashes into several lights? Do the sashes slide hoizontally
or are they hung to slide vertically? Or is it a casement window?
With uniform glazing lines? Will the timber be left untreated or
oiled? Or will it be painted? Will cheap modern alkyd paint be used
with the risk of moisture entrapment and subsequent timber deterioation
and peeling paint or would you want a breathable linseed oil paint that
allows the wood to stay dry and won't need repainting for many years?
Will your double glazed units meet Part L of the building regs, with a
U value less than 2? Isyour house listed or in a conservation area
where using hand made cylinder glass rather than float glass is
desired? If you can answer most of these questions I could give you a
quote for the sort of windows I make - but you'll probably have to wait
several months before you could have them.

On 29 Jun 2005 04:25:48 -0700, wrote:

The price of a window varies a lot. £500 is not expensive but you
wouldn't ask 'How much does a car cost?' A more reasonable question
would be how much does a small diesel hatchback with less than 50000
miles cost?
'Hardwood' could mean various things. Usually it means the destruction
of a bit of rainforest. Sometimes it means the sustainable production
of English oak. Does your 'average sized' window have glazing bars to
divide the sashes into several lights? Do the sashes slide hoizontally
or are they hung to slide vertically? Or is it a casement window?
With uniform glazing lines? Will the timber be left untreated or
oiled? Or will it be painted? Will cheap modern alkyd paint be used
with the risk of moisture entrapment and subsequent timber deterioation
and peeling paint or would you want a breathable linseed oil paint that
allows the wood to stay dry and won't need repainting for many years?
Will your double glazed units meet Part L of the building regs, with a
U value less than 2? Isyour house listed or in a conservation area
where using hand made cylinder glass rather than float glass is
desired? If you can answer most of these questions I could give you a
quote for the sort of windows I make - but you'll probably have to wait
several months before you could have them.

Hopefully you have my e-mail

Rick

wrote in message
oups.com...
The price of a window varies a lot. £500 is not expensive but you
wouldn't ask 'How much does a car cost?' A more reasonable question
would be how much does a small diesel hatchback with less than 50000
miles cost?
'Hardwood' could mean various things. Usually it means the destruction
of a bit of rainforest. Sometimes it means the sustainable production
of English oak. Does your 'average sized' window have glazing bars to
divide the sashes into several lights? Do the sashes slide hoizontally
or are they hung to slide vertically? Or is it a casement window?
With uniform glazing lines? Will the timber be left untreated or
oiled? Or will it be painted? Will cheap modern alkyd paint be used
with the risk of moisture entrapment and subsequent timber deterioation
and peeling paint or would you want a breathable linseed oil paint that
allows the wood to stay dry and won't need repainting for many years?
Will your double glazed units meet Part L of the building regs, with a
U value less than 2? Isyour house listed or in a conservation area
where using hand made cylinder glass rather than float glass is
desired? If you can answer most of these questions I could give you a
quote for the sort of windows I make - but you'll probably have to wait
several months before you could have them.

It's no to all your negative points and yes to all the positives with the
companies i'm dealing with and that are submitting quotes to me.

"Rick" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 27 Jun 2005 22:08:20 +0100, "RedOnRed" wrote:

Can anyone recommend a good and reasonable hardwood double glazing
supplier and fitter? With either south east or nationwide coverage?

I've so far had one quote for 15 average sized windows which comes in at 7
grand. Is that good, or is there room for improvement?

Please don't mention UPVC. Unless pigs are flying past over my dead body
and hell has frozen over that is.

I am hunting down a supplier for 16 windows for my house, your 7 grand
quote sounds about right, especially if fitted. If however its some
cheep softwood, its not a good price.

Its really hard to compare quotes, as there is much more quality
variation between companines in wooden windows than in plastic.

Rick


The wood is hardwood.

Rather miraculously, one of the companies has just shaved 3 grand off their
price today in order to come in at the cheapest. They're now quoting £7200
which includes replacing new front and back doors, fitting and VAT etc.

Their site...
http://sg-woodenwindows.com/English/English.html

On Wed, 29 Jun 2005 20:19:51 +0100, "RedOnRed" wrote:


"Rick" wrote in message
.. .
On Mon, 27 Jun 2005 22:08:20 +0100, "RedOnRed" wrote:

Can anyone recommend a good and reasonable hardwood double glazing
supplier and fitter? With either south east or nationwide coverage?

I've so far had one quote for 15 average sized windows which comes in at 7
grand. Is that good, or is there room for improvement?

Please don't mention UPVC. Unless pigs are flying past over my dead body
and hell has frozen over that is.

I am hunting down a supplier for 16 windows for my house, your 7 grand
quote sounds about right, especially if fitted. If however its some
cheep softwood, its not a good price.

Its really hard to compare quotes, as there is much more quality
variation between companines in wooden windows than in plastic.

Rick


The wood is hardwood.

Rather miraculously, one of the companies has just shaved 3 grand off their
price today in order to come in at the cheapest. They're now quoting £7200
which includes replacing new front and back doors, fitting and VAT etc.

Their site...
http://sg-woodenwindows.com/English/English.html


I'd walk away from them, they have just admited they were happy to try
and make a HUGE profit from you, so how do you know they havn't just
found a new way to rip you off ?

Rick

In article , RedOnRed
writes

"Rick" wrote in message
.. .
On Mon, 27 Jun 2005 22:08:20 +0100, "RedOnRed" wrote:

Can anyone recommend a good and reasonable hardwood double glazing
supplier and fitter? With either south east or nationwide coverage?

I've so far had one quote for 15 average sized windows which comes in at 7
grand. Is that good, or is there room for improvement?

Please don't mention UPVC. Unless pigs are flying past over my dead body
and hell has frozen over that is.

I am hunting down a supplier for 16 windows for my house, your 7 grand
quote sounds about right, especially if fitted. If however its some
cheep softwood, its not a good price.

Its really hard to compare quotes, as there is much more quality
variation between companines in wooden windows than in plastic.

Rick


The wood is hardwood.

Rather miraculously, one of the companies has just shaved 3 grand off their
price today in order to come in at the cheapest. They're now quoting £7200
which includes replacing new front and back doors, fitting and VAT etc.

Their site...
http://sg-woodenwindows.com/English/English.html

Hope their windows are better quality than that appalling style-over-
substance site sheesh.

Anyway, to the point, this caught my attention a little:
"The laminated timber adds extra stability and durability as well as a
superior quality finish thus reducing maintenance to a minimum and being
more environmentally friendly than other methods of construction."
Laminated, is that plywood then?

Good luck in your search btw, I haven't offered my supplier as they are
local only, and in Scotland.
--
fred

"fred" wrote in message ...
In article , RedOnRed
writes

"Rick" wrote in message
. ..
On Mon, 27 Jun 2005 22:08:20 +0100, "RedOnRed" wrote:

Can anyone recommend a good and reasonable hardwood double glazing
supplier and fitter? With either south east or nationwide coverage?

I've so far had one quote for 15 average sized windows which comes in at
7
grand. Is that good, or is there room for improvement?

Please don't mention UPVC. Unless pigs are flying past over my dead body
and hell has frozen over that is.

I am hunting down a supplier for 16 windows for my house, your 7 grand
quote sounds about right, especially if fitted. If however its some
cheep softwood, its not a good price.

Its really hard to compare quotes, as there is much more quality
variation between companines in wooden windows than in plastic.

Rick


The wood is hardwood.

Rather miraculously, one of the companies has just shaved 3 grand off
their
price today in order to come in at the cheapest. They're now quoting £7200
which includes replacing new front and back doors, fitting and VAT etc.

Their site...
http://sg-woodenwindows.com/English/English.html

Hope their windows are better quality than that appalling style-over-
substance site sheesh.

Anyway, to the point, this caught my attention a little:
"The laminated timber adds extra stability and durability as well as a
superior quality finish thus reducing maintenance to a minimum and being
more environmentally friendly than other methods of construction."
Laminated, is that plywood then?

Good luck in your search btw, I haven't offered my supplier as they are
local only, and in Scotland.
--
fred

I must admit, they keep on harping on about the laminated wood and how
superior it is. Apparently, it is solid wood (not plywood) but in sections,
but no one else seems to mention it.

"Rick" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 29 Jun 2005 20:19:51 +0100, "RedOnRed" wrote:


"Rick" wrote in message
. ..
On Mon, 27 Jun 2005 22:08:20 +0100, "RedOnRed" wrote:

Can anyone recommend a good and reasonable hardwood double glazing
supplier and fitter? With either south east or nationwide coverage?

I've so far had one quote for 15 average sized windows which comes in at
7
grand. Is that good, or is there room for improvement?

Please don't mention UPVC. Unless pigs are flying past over my dead body
and hell has frozen over that is.

I am hunting down a supplier for 16 windows for my house, your 7 grand
quote sounds about right, especially if fitted. If however its some
cheep softwood, its not a good price.

Its really hard to compare quotes, as there is much more quality
variation between companines in wooden windows than in plastic.

Rick


The wood is hardwood.

Rather miraculously, one of the companies has just shaved 3 grand off
their
price today in order to come in at the cheapest. They're now quoting £7200
which includes replacing new front and back doors, fitting and VAT etc.

Their site...
http://sg-woodenwindows.com/English/English.html


I'd walk away from them, they have just admited they were happy to try
and make a HUGE profit from you, so how do you know they havn't just
found a new way to rip you off ?

Rick


Don't worry, I won't be using this company. Although I have asked them to
re-submit their written revised quote though for the main reason that it may
well give me price leverage on the companies I really want to deal with.

However, they do seem genuinely nice people. Although I have been put off by
them not always answering their phone and their Yahoo e-mail address
bouncing back saying "no account found." They also seem to be finding it
difficult to visit due to being based the other side of the country.
Apparently, they specialise in supplying builders and architects. I found
them because they sent a brochure to the architects office my wife works at.

Those are some factors that don't instill much confidence when it comes to
handing over vast amounts of money.

Anyway, to the point, this caught my attention a little:
"The laminated timber adds extra stability and durability as well as a
superior quality finish thus reducing maintenance to a minimum and being
more environmentally friendly than other methods of construction."
Laminated, is that plywood then?
--
fred

I've just found another explanation for "laminated" wooden double glazing on
another site...

"The use of multi-layer timber is long established in Britain for long span
timber structures in demanding environments such as swimming pools and
bridges. In common use on the continent, but very rare in Britain, is the
use for window and door sections. This multi-layer structure is particularly
effective in resisting warping and twisting as the opposing grains even out
natural moisture movement. And It is the twisting of timber during wet
weather, more than the swelling itself, which causes windows and doors to
stick. Multi-layer timber sections are used as standard throughout our
range."

RedOnRed wrote:
Anyway, to the point, this caught my attention a little:
"The laminated timber adds extra stability and durability as well as a
superior quality finish thus reducing maintenance to a minimum and being
more environmentally friendly than other methods of construction."
Laminated, is that plywood then?
--
fred

I've just found another explanation for "laminated" wooden double glazing on
another site...

"The use of multi-layer timber is long established in Britain for long span
timber structures in demanding environments such as swimming pools and
bridges. In common use on the continent, but very rare in Britain, is the
use for window and door sections. This multi-layer structure is particularly
effective in resisting warping and twisting as the opposing grains even out
natural moisture movement. And It is the twisting of timber during wet
weather, more than the swelling itself, which causes windows and doors to
stick. Multi-layer timber sections are used as standard throughout our
range."

That's a sound arguement in favour of multi-layer timber. I know an
example of a Grade I listed windmill that had a rotten sail spar
replaced with a laminated beam as it proved difficult to obtain a
single timber of sufficient quality. For windows and doors the
arguement is not so clear cut. The wood will be more stable and there
will be less risk of things getting stuck or rattling from time to time
but against that must be weighed the appearance of a factory made
product against the quirkieness of handmade joinery using solid timber.
They have different characteristics and it may come down to a matter
of taste. A piece of solid oak may not stay straight and true for
hundreds of years but that doesn't stop it forming a beautiful and
servicable window or door for centuries. You pays your money and takes
your choice.

In article , RedOnRed
writes
Anyway, to the point, this caught my attention a little:
"The laminated timber adds extra stability and durability as well as a
superior quality finish thus reducing maintenance to a minimum and being
more environmentally friendly than other methods of construction."
Laminated, is that plywood then?
--
fred

I've just found another explanation for "laminated" wooden double glazing on
another site...

"The use of multi-layer timber is long established in Britain for long span
timber structures in demanding environments such as swimming pools and
bridges. In common use on the continent, but very rare in Britain, is the
use for window and door sections. This multi-layer structure is particularly
effective in resisting warping and twisting as the opposing grains even out
natural moisture movement. And It is the twisting of timber during wet
weather, more than the swelling itself, which causes windows and doors to
stick. Multi-layer timber sections are used as standard throughout our
range."

I wonder if this is laminated up then cut & used as normal timber or are
slats layered up & glued on a jig to form the desired article; sort of
meaning that joints/corners would be interlocking fingers. The second
would be very strong but I can see it being extra work and so not very
popular. I'm curious but not enough to send me off tearing google apart to
find the answer ;-).
--
fred