With an average of 2 weeks off at Christmas most people will start to get itchy feet around the home by the start of week 2.
Pondering around the home will be an eye opener as to what most full time employed people miss concerning home improvements and double glazing issues.
Simple things around the home start to stand out more than ever as time is usually short during normal work time and any time off is used as wisely as possible with relaxing or entertaining the kids.
Just hanging the window lights up around the inside reveals of the windows can be an eye opener as to how bad the condensation problem is and what damage its is doing to the wallpaper and the plaster work underneath.
It is also a chance to be around the house during the day in the coldest part of the year relaxing and realising how much energy is needed to be generated just to keep a room at comfortable temperature.
Then the realisation that the bill for this is higher than ever and is on the constant increase. Promises of heating bills increasing next year by at least 5 % is already on the cards.
There is also the chance to realise that all the energy that is being generated could very easily be contained in each room simply by installing the newer A rated PVC windows and doors.
Not only will the aesthetics improve the appearance of the home but also give the new year 2013 an energy efficient start.
Lowering your carbon footprint, being greener and being energy efficient has been long associated with flower power green peace obsessive recycling tree huggers.
But slowly society is starting to realise that this saves lots of money and enables the family to live a better lifestyle and allows them to benefit more from life in general through less money being outlaid.
New effective double glazing Incorporated with other insulating techniques such as cavity wall insulation and loft insulation will give a much better home environment for the family to live in.
More interesting links:
Composite doors | PVC Windows Advice | Double Glazing General | Glazing Questions
For more advice read the archived blogs.
Around the country there are so many conservatories that are in desperate need of a replacement.
As the standard guarantee on a conservatory is a 10 year from any installer there is a lot that are out of guarantee, unmaintained , unsightly, not very well insulated and still just about standing.
Not only that but the ones that have been either done badly or or wrong will start being detrimental to the home they are attached to.
Double glazed PVC conservatories were considered a luxury only a few could afford, then planning relaxed on them and the prices came down enough for them to start popping up in virtually every other garden.
The only problem with the conservatories that were installed so quickly over a short space of time is that the majority were in white PVC and some used cheap materials. The building regulations on conservatories aren't the same as within the house boundaries so they don't need to fall in to insulating guidelines.
Most earlier conservatories used the cheaper versions of the polycarb roofing panels which are useless at withholding any heat at all.
There are improvements on the panels but they are still a mile off the A rated glass units installed today. Which have the added bonus option of them being self cleaning.
The glass in the frames will usually be toughened safety glass as this is the normal mandatory rule of glazing in a conservatory as the dwarf walls fall short of the 800mm height requirement.
The new A rated options of glazing will make massive differences in the winter months and also help keep cool in the summer. Altering the style of roof such as gable conservatory roof can give a different dimension and outlook.
Sun Damage
Sun damages PVC throughout the year and older versions of roofs and their parts start to perish and become brittle, therefore creating problems with the rain.
The PVC is constantly expanding and contracting throughout its 10 year guarantee and moving all the time. Newer second generation PVC roofing systems are manufactured to withstand far more weather through innovation and design.
Cheaper To Replace Second Time
With an already standing base to build off then the cost of having the lower building work carried out is not there.
As long as the base is level and has sufficient drainage for the escaping rainwater and no sign of damp or water damage it will fine.
The average cost of a simple average sized base is going to have cost around £ 4000 to
£ 5000 so its a good saving initially.
It will also have the advantage of speeding up the job as the only thing that needs carrying out is to De construct the existing conservatory and install the new one.
No more waiting around for the weather to pick up so builders can turn up to start digging and laying bricks.
So many people move in to a property and accept that the conservatory they have acquired is there for the long term. Even though they can only use it in the warmer months of the year.
There is also the option of styling the conservatory space in to a new more modern style of hybrid orangery with columns and internal soffits for small sunken spotlights creating an environment you want to be in.
Upgrading a conservatory is an investment in usage of space and investment into a better lifestyle through out the home.
Company information
More technical information on varying types of doors, windows and conservatories can be found here as we have been collecting knowledge and giving the professional finish for 23 years. Contact us or browse our website @ Southport Doors & Double Glazing
Interesting links:
New Rockdoors | PVC windows | ultimate conservatories | high security door products
More advice and posts on :
What is PVC ? and what does it stand for ?
combating condensation
Tips on how to re seal your own windows and get a professional guide
The professional view on how to sell your house and what areas to address
What benefits are there with PVC windows
Are the locks secure in your doors? check this post to see what we mean
From an installers point of view there are problems that have been around which seems forever concerning glass packers and costly failed double glazed units. Not only in money but in unnecessary measuring and fitting time.
There are a few systems which have attempted to address the problem, but the fact is that a 28mm double glazed unit will need a glass packer that accommodates a 28mm DGU with a 2mm overhang and the allowance for the compression of the gasket once the internal glazing bead is clipped in.
Most systems allow for the width of the unit and don't take the compression or overhang in to consideration. Therefore on installing the glazed unit all of the glass may not necessarily be sitting on the packers all the way along.
Usually due to either fitters not checking or bothering or that the disruption of banging on the window to clip the bead will disturbed the packers.
It may even be that all the glass wasn't sitting right in the first place due to toe and healing or a slightly misshaped DGU.
With really hot sun on the glass during summer months sometimes also in sunny winter days the glass with will heat up and over a course of time if not sat correctly will eventually begin to slip and the compound holding the 2 panes to the joining space bar will reveal a small hole.
This only needs to be a fraction of movement and reveal a pin hole, and as the window systems are designed to allow water in and drain themselves through their chambers so there will always be a certain amount of water inside the window at any time. This water condensates inside the chambers on heating up and makes its way into the Double glazed unit.
Only a very small amount of water need get into the are between the 2 panes to create a full pane condensation effect. Seems like a simple flaw to fix in the first place rather than argue about guarantee times on the glazed units or fork out for a replacement and send installer to go round - measure up first - then go back and install.
Company information
More technical information on varying types of doors, windows and conservatories can be found here as we have been collecting knowledge and giving the professional finish for 23 years. Contact us or browse our website @ Southport Doors & Double Glazing
Interesting links:
New Rockdoors | PVC windows | ultimate conservatories | high security door products
More advice and posts on :
What is PVC ? and what does it stand for ?
combating condensation
Tips on how to re seal your own windows and get a professional guide
The professional view on how to sell your house and what areas to address
What benefits are there with PVC windows
Are the locks secure in your doors? check this post to see what we mean
When hunting around for potential businesses to install new windows and doors, bathrooms, kitchens or even heating systems and plasterers it can seem a little bit daunting.
All because of what price ? will i get ripped off like the people on the TV ? and also what quality will that particular trade offer. Because when the jobs finished its too late to change your mind.
It's a minefield finding your way through endless lists of companies that are trying to out do each other and offer great benefits to do business with them. It's true that your gut instinct will be best to pick out the preferred few to get quotes from , but where do you go from there?
Initial research in to the products you would like is a start, and speaking to family and colleagues who have work done is another avenue.
But what if you are going in blind and don't have the time or the attention span to trawl through endless forums on impartial specifications and opinions on the products you want installed?.
3 FACTS
1) Generally the bigger the company the bigger the price tag, especially national ones.
2) Every business and company wants to take something from everything rather than loose the work completely, which puts the ball directly in your court.
3) No company likes loosing out to a local rival. The balls even further in your court.
The frame of mind 98% of people have on dealing with trade quotes is that they intend to get the best deal for their money regardless of what trade is needed.
That's all fine until it comes down to receiving the quotes and having to choose between them.
The process of elimination will differ from customer to customer but the mistake a lot of people make is taking the quotes as their final price with the option of no movement whatsoever.
The truth is in fact, there will almost always be movement in price regardless of what your criteria is for picking out your preferred company.Even a small amount is possible.
As mentioned above Every company regardless of size and trade want to take something from everything and would like to have the luxury of a backlog of work, especially in tough financial climates.
As good business is to have consistency and great service. Its all fine and well having massive peaks then massive troughs, but massive peaks bring as many problems as the troughs.
A | Peaks bring the desperation of more staff required short term and more mistakes made through mass upturn in orders and installation, therefore reputation drops. Bad news spreads fast
B | Troughs bring staff employment headaches and huge overhead problems with lack of cash flow.
So you have chosen your 3 companies and 3 quotes are received, what to do know?
no one is ever going to pick a name out of a hat so there is a process.
1) Who do you trust, after all they will be working on your property and will be operating throughout your home.
2) They will all claim to use the best double glazing products but which comes most highly recommended on the net. Is there images of previous work or previous customers who can vouch for their services.
3) Companies that slag off the competition are scared of competition and struggle to match their rivals like for like so therefore resort to underhand tactics as they have no confidence in their own products and service.
4) Technical knowledge | which company or representative of that company seems to have the best technical knowledge? It will matter greatly on surveying and installing the correct product.
5) Don't just look at the price, look at the overall service, guarantees and trade associations they are part of. Insurance backed guarantees and experience is important. Have a gut feeling and ask questions if necessary.
Once that's done..
DON'T BE A SHRINKING VIOLET AND SPEAK UP.
Now you have a preferred company in mind but in your opinion they seem a little bit pricey speak up and ask the question.
" If we agreed to go ahead with the job would there be any movement in the price as we prefer your company.? "
99.9% of businesses would alter their price tag on having a potential customer on the verge of a contract agreement. How much each individual business moves on price would be amongst themselves to offer but would be far more beneficial to you as the consumer.
Companies would much prefer a bite off every quote rather than have the customer accept that's the final price, and base their choice simply on that. Companies would much prefer you to approach them rather than chase the customer in a awkward scenario. In fact probably put the customer off.
Its important to realise also that sometimes prices are tight and can't be altered but it's well worth a go.
Company information
More technical information on varying types of doors, windows and conservatories can be found here as we have been collecting knowledge and giving the professional finish for 23 years. Contact us or browse our website @ Southport Doors & Double Glazing
Interesting links:
New Rockdoors | PVC windows | ultimate conservatories | high security door products
More advice and posts on :
What is PVC ? and what does it stand for ?
combating condensation
Tips on how to re seal your own windows and get a professional guide
The professional view on how to sell your house and what areas to address
What benefits are there with PVC windows
Are the locks secure in your doors? check this post to see what we mean
