I live in a basement flat in a B-listed house in the West End of
Glasgow. Like a lot of these old properties, it's difficult and
expensive to keep warm, with a lot of heat escaping through the
windows.

I had Everest and Anglia over to give quotes for new double glazing.
We have 5 windows - 3 large and 2 small - and they both quoted more
than £10K. Which seemed rather a lot, so I left it for a while.

I've just had a decorator in to give a quote for a different job and
in passing he mentioned that he could replace the larger windows with
double glazed, including fitting, for £1K each. This is so much
cheaper that I'm a bit suspicious.

One difference is that the Anglia people were talking about how the
windows had to be made from sustainable hardwood, which is expensive.
My decorator says they just use good quality red pine. He says they've
done other windows in the area and conform to the listed building
status.

I'll probably ask to see an example of some windows that he's fitted
before I go ahead, but other than that, does anybody have any advice
on this?

Cheers,

Peter

wrote:
I live in a basement flat in a B-listed house in the West End of
Glasgow. Like a lot of these old properties, it's difficult and
expensive to keep warm, with a lot of heat escaping through the
windows.

I had Everest and Anglia over to give quotes for new double glazing.
We have 5 windows - 3 large and 2 small - and they both quoted more
than £10K. Which seemed rather a lot, so I left it for a while.

I've just had a decorator in to give a quote for a different job and
in passing he mentioned that he could replace the larger windows with
double glazed, including fitting, for £1K each. This is so much
cheaper that I'm a bit suspicious.

One difference is that the Anglia people were talking about how the
windows had to be made from sustainable hardwood, which is expensive.
My decorator says they just use good quality red pine. He says they've
done other windows in the area and conform to the listed building
status.

I'll probably ask to see an example of some windows that he's fitted
before I go ahead, but other than that, does anybody have any advice
on this?

Cheers,

Peter

Sliding sashes are relatively long lasting because they're recessed into
the brickwork and are slightly protected from the worst of the weather.
Round here a good deal of the Victorian softwood stuff has survived,
although not so much in south/west facing aspects.
"Good quality red pine" doesn't mean much. The term "unsorted upper gulf
redwood" would be a bit more meaningful.
A lot of draughts can be stopped by simply overhauling the existing
windows so that they function properly, and re-positioning the beads
etc. I might be thinking more about insulating the ceiling if I had the
height...

Cheap price seems about right (I have upgraded several tenemant flats in the
west end of Glasgow over the last few years). I wouldn't go with either
Everest and/or Anglia if they offerred it to me for free.

Whatever you decide, make sure you do nothing before you speak to the
appropriate people at the planning department of the council. They will ask
to see what you are planning to do before you start, and will come at the
end to certify that the work complies with what was agreed. You will not be
able to sell the house without the pperwork from them.

wrote in message
...
I live in a basement flat in a B-listed house in the West End of
Glasgow. Like a lot of these old properties, it's difficult and
expensive to keep warm, with a lot of heat escaping through the
windows.

I had Everest and Anglia over to give quotes for new double glazing.
We have 5 windows - 3 large and 2 small - and they both quoted more
than £10K. Which seemed rather a lot, so I left it for a while.

I've just had a decorator in to give a quote for a different job and
in passing he mentioned that he could replace the larger windows with
double glazed, including fitting, for £1K each. This is so much
cheaper that I'm a bit suspicious.

One difference is that the Anglia people were talking about how the
windows had to be made from sustainable hardwood, which is expensive.
My decorator says they just use good quality red pine. He says they've
done other windows in the area and conform to the listed building
status.

I'll probably ask to see an example of some windows that he's fitted
before I go ahead, but other than that, does anybody have any advice
on this?

Cheers,

Peter

On Tue, 7 Oct 2008 08:20:00 -0700 (PDT), "
wrote:

I live in a basement flat in a B-listed house in the West End of
Glasgow. Like a lot of these old properties, it's difficult and
expensive to keep warm, with a lot of heat escaping through the
windows.

I had Everest and Anglia over to give quotes for new double glazing.
We have 5 windows - 3 large and 2 small - and they both quoted more
than £10K. Which seemed rather a lot, so I left it for a while.

I've just had a decorator in to give a quote for a different job and
in passing he mentioned that he could replace the larger windows with
double glazed, including fitting, for £1K each. This is so much
cheaper that I'm a bit suspicious.

One difference is that the Anglia people were talking about how the
windows had to be made from sustainable hardwood, which is expensive.
My decorator says they just use good quality red pine. He says they've
done other windows in the area and conform to the listed building
status.

I'll probably ask to see an example of some windows that he's fitted
before I go ahead, but other than that, does anybody have any advice
on this?

Cheers,

Peter

Over the years I have seen this organisation advertised .I know
nothing about them other than what their website says and have no
connection with them nor have I used them
http://www.windowadvicecentre.com/double-glazing.htm

Stuart

In article , stuart noble
writes
wrote:
I live in a basement flat in a B-listed house in the West End of
Glasgow. Like a lot of these old properties, it's difficult and
expensive to keep warm, with a lot of heat escaping through the
windows.

I've just had a decorator in to give a quote for a different job and
in passing he mentioned that he could replace the larger windows with
double glazed, including fitting, for £1K each. This is so much
cheaper that I'm a bit suspicious.

Sliding sashes are relatively long lasting because they're recessed into
the brickwork and are slightly protected from the worst of the weather.
Round here a good deal of the Victorian softwood stuff has survived,
although not so much in south/west facing aspects.
"Good quality red pine" doesn't mean much. The term "unsorted upper gulf
redwood" would be a bit more meaningful.
A lot of draughts can be stopped by simply overhauling the existing
windows so that they function properly, and re-positioning the beads
etc. I might be thinking more about insulating the ceiling if I had the
height...

I agree, mine are a hundred years old and have really only suffered in
the most exposed locations.

There are good and straightforward draughtproofing solutions available
today (brush sealed beads etc) that can make refurbishment a better
solution than replacement.

I have only gone double glazed in a huge oriel window where the glass
losses were dragging the comfort level down too much.

Elsewhere it was just draughtproofing and the siting of a tiny radiator
near larger window groups to create a gentle warm air curtain and
balance the comfort level.

Where I did go for replacement, I went for softwood as the originals had
lasted so well, getting them from the long established firm, Blairs of
Greenock:
http://www.blairsltd.co.uk/our_produ...ase_window.asp

They're not the company they once were (many times bust and now owned by
CR Smith I think) but the o/p could do worse than download their
comprehensive drawings and compare them with what the alternative
suppliers are offering.

I've seen their hardwood offerings too and am glad I stuck with the
softwood. Cills are hardwood though.

Finally (for the o/p), be aware that replacing sliding sash windows in a
room with inset panelling is not a trivial task and takes a long time to
do right.
--
fred
BBC3, ITV2/3/4, channels going to the DOGs