Latest news with #windows
Times
26-05-2025
- General
- Times
Dark forces and railways are shutting out our light
T he windows were dirty, so they had to go. They couldn't reasonably be smashed or painted with biblical scenes in stained glass. What else were the station managers meant to do? They covered them up, of course, with sticky paper. It's what I do when my kitchen is grimy. I wrap it up in masking tape. All right, I don't, but we can safely assume the station managers at Waterloo do, given that commuters arrived at the start of last week to find the windows of the footbridge from Waterloo to Waterloo East had been papered over, replacing the natural light with the gloomy hue of total and utter mediocrity. After a call from a Times colleague, the covers were hastily peeled off, but not before disgruntled staff told commuters the reason: cleaning the windows would be too expensive.
The Independent
11-05-2025
- General
- The Independent
How much does double glazing cost for a three-bed house?
If you've just bought a new three-bed home or your windows are looking tired, it could be a good time to invest in some new double glazing. The first question that springs to mind is how much will it cost? When you buy most things, it is easy to spend five minutes Googling prices to get a vague idea, but not with windows. For some reason, publishing pricing is not common. Many companies say this is because windows in the UK are not standardised, and an average price does not help the individual buyer. It also means some fitters can overcharge. However, we have done the research for you and put together some quotes for the average three-bed home. This will offer you a useful yardstick even if your home is bigger or smaller. Just bear in mind, some window styles can cost a lot more than standard white plastic double-glazing. Read on to learn more. How much does it cost to double-glaze a three-bed house? Double-glazing a three-bed house in the UK can cost between £4,000 and £7,000, according to Pontefract-based Value Doors & Windows, although you can spend much more than that depending on what options you decide to go for. Yorkshire-based Coral Windows says £4,500 to £6,000 is possible, again depending on colour, finish and options. According to our own research at The Independent, for a set of eight basic uPVC casement windows on the average three-bed house, £4,500 is the target price you should be aiming for. UPVC windows tend to be the most economical, with timber and aluminium costing more – £14,000 and £9,600, respectively. It's important to reiterate that being in a remote location, having very large or odd-shaped windows, or opting for extras such as different colours or tougher locks will inflate this figure. According to industry data, smaller flush casement windows of 60x90cm cost about £480, while bigger ones of 94x160cm may be up to £700. How much does it cost to double-glaze a three-bed terraced house? Terraced homes are typically smaller and so may have smaller, if not fewer, windows. This means that the window frames themselves will be smaller and cost less, although labour costs will not decrease that much. You should aim for about £3,800 for new uPVC windows in an eight-window average three-bed terraced home. For timber frames, which cost a lot more but could last up to 40 years rather than the 20 plastic frames will last, aim for less than £12,000. Your other main choice is aluminium frames, which will last a similar time to wood frames, but with less maintenance, aim for about £8,000. If you live in a conservation area, you may have to abide by the rules and go for a more expensive option that's in keeping with the local area, such as wooden frames or sash windows, which cost about 50 per cent more than outward-opening casement models. Quotes will also depend on features such as locks or fancy glass types such as Low-e, which helps stem heat loss. Where in the country you are will also affect the price you pay. A detached or semi-detached home will probably cost more because it will have larger rooms. Larger rooms will mean bigger frames, and prices for the materials will rise as a result. Labour costs should not move that much, although larger homes could find themselves in a conservation area where bay or sash windows are demanded. These cost more. You should aim for about £5,000 for new uPVC windows. For timber frames aim for less than £15,000. For aluminium frames aim for about £11,000. How does pricing compare to single and triple glazing? Triple glazing is increasingly popular, although still a small part of the market. It offers more savings in heat retention and it blocks more noise, but it is also heavier and more expensive. Expect to pay about 15 per cent more. There are also fewer fitters and fewer styles available. You may be limited to uPVC windows for many companies. Single glazing will cost about 10-20 per cent less, although if you are choosing it, it is probably because you are in a listed property, perhaps with hard-to-fit or odd-shaped windows, which may increase the price. Offering a catch-all guide is difficult. You should also budget about £350 to £550 for scaffolding if you need it. Is double glazing worth it? Yes, is the short answer, and particularly as energy prices remain high. The premium to single glazing is small and single glazing is in limited supply. According to the Energy Saving Trust, installing A-rated double glazing in a semi-detached home will save £140 a year in lower energy bills compared to single glazing. If the windows last 20 years, that's a £2,800 saving, which is about half the cost of installation if you are able to secure a deal of £4,500, which The Independent's research suggests you should. For single glazing to make financial sense by comparison, it would have to cost less than half the price of double glazing, bearing in mind the heating bill savings. Then there are the other benefits to double glazing, including noise reduction and better security. With triple glazing, the saving compared to single panes of glass is £150 a year, £10 more than double glazing, and so only £200 more over the 20 year period than double glazing. How to get the best price on double glazing for your three-bed house Don't be too surprised if the initial quotes you get from fitters come in at up to double our £4,500 price. Fitting firms are cheeky like that and rely on the fact that most people aren't used to haggling and buy most things retail. Get a number of quotes and ask for a thorough breakdown, including how many hours of work are needed and the cost per window. Don't be afraid to ask for discounts beyond any offered upfront. It may be their summer sale, but there's often room to negotiate the price down a little further. And don't be pressured into accepting deals on the same day they're offered. This is a ploy to keep you from shopping around for quotes from other firms. Late autumn and early winter is a quiet time for some installers, so that can be good time to pounce. In the spring, homeowners are often looking to fix problems they've spotted during the colder winter months, making it a busier time for installers. Finally, read any sales agreement very thoroughly, making sure it matches what the sales rep told you, word for word. If there is a disagreement, it will be the contract that holds water, not the quick-fire promises made to you verbally to get you to sign. FAQs What can you expect to pay for four-bed and larger homes? Bay windows can cost up to £2,100 for a large, five-section bay. You'll also pay more for shaped windows, such as oval, arch or circle shapes. The cost per window will also be influenced by how much work is done. If you're having the whole house done at once, you'll find the cost of each window ought to be lower since you can share other costs such as scaffolding – if you need it – and labour across more windows. What are uPVC windows? Unplasticized polyvinyl chloride is a very popular plastic. The unplasticized part of the name indicates that it's rigid rather than flexible, which is what you want in a window. As well as windows, uPVC is commonly used in flooring, plumbing and packaging. Are there any window grants to double-glaze a three-bed house? Yes, if you are on a lower income, there are a few depending on where you live. ECO4, which is the current generation of the UK government's scheme to force energy companies to help insulate Britain's homes, offers vulnerable and low-income homes grants to update single glazing into double glazing to save energy. If you are on universal credit, you may well qualify. In Scotland, the government offers up to £9,000 for energy efficiency improvements including moving from single to double glazing under Warmer Homes Scotland. A similar scheme is available in Northern Ireland called the Affordable Warmth Scheme in Northern Ireland. You will need ot receive certain benefits to be eligible for these schemes.
The Independent
09-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
The best double glazing companies in 2025
If it's time for a new set of windows for your home, we're here to answer all your questions on double glazing work and guide you through the best window installers in the UK. When it comes to replacing or upgrading your windows with double glazing, you have a choice of local and national operators. Make sure to gather a number of quotes to get the best price. We have assessed a number of factors in bringing you our best buy list, including price, guarantee options, national reach and security. We have included a price per window in the table below for most of the companies. As you can see, the range is fairly wide and depends on the window size, material, location and how many you buy. What we can tell you is that the average three-bed house should cost about £4,500 to fit with new double-glazed uPVC windows, depending on location and window sizes. It's important to haggle, perhaps more than many with other purchases. Windows are more of a buyers' market, since unless the panes themselves are broken, it's a purchase you can put off, at least for a little while. This gives you the upper hand and allows some time to research the best price and options. Depending on the installer and how tricky your installation is, you may be able to shave up to half off the initial quote you are given. This may seem unlikely, but it's true. That's because many firms rely on Britons' general discomfort over asking for discounts to make expensive initial offers. They also rely on their competitors doing the same. Smaller outfits that feel they need to be more competitive may not be able to drop by as much – use your judgement. As well as this guide, it is also worth getting personal recommendations. If a company has done a good job at a fair price for a friend or colleague, they will probably do the same for you. Best window installers at a glance Fitter Area covered Founded Guarantee Best for Price range Coral Windows Yorkshire 1990 15 years uPVC windows, 10 years locks Payment terms, but Yorkshire only £400 to £650 for a casement window Britelite Windows London, South East 1970 10 years Good reviews, long history From £550 a window First Home Improvements Most of South England 2008 12 years Good reviews £400 to £750 Clearview Windows The northwest of England 2008 20 years on products Best guarantee and plenty of awards Not disclosed Anglian Home Improvements England, Scotland and Wales 1966 10 years National coverage £600 to £1,500 Safestyle England, Scotland and Wales 2024 10 years National coverage £600 to £1,500 Everest England, Scotland and Wales 2024 10 years National coverage £700 to £1,800 Best overall: Coral Windows Coral Windows was established in 1990 by managing director John Valente, and as such, it's one of the longest continually operating firms on our list. The family-run company covers the Yorkshire region and has its own security technology called SmartFrame, which detects intrusions and sends alerts to a smartphone app as well as triggering an alarm. It also reminds you to close windows ad doors when you leave your home. Coral is notable for not taking a deposit on work. Founder Valente says: 'Whether we do a £4k window job or £50k conservatory or extension, we do not take one penny of deposit. The customer sees the product before they part with a penny. We are family-run, and have survived several recessions and Covid.' These payment terms, together with the firm's reputation, means it snags our top spot in spite of its relatively small coverage. Opting for smaller companies when buying new windows can be a good option since your business is a bigger deal for them than it would be for a national operator. It also means showrooms may be closer – Coral has sites in Leeds, Bradford, Huddersfield, Wakefield and Sheffield. The company sponsored West Yorkshire police cars, which helped boost business in the area. Its products have also been accredited by the force. As for products, Coral has a range of styles including casement, sash, tile and turn and bay. One downside is that Coral only offers uPVC windows. If you want timber or aluminium, you will have to look elsewhere. Coral offers interest-free credit on half the value of the work for two years. You just have to pay the first half when the work is done. This is one of the better offers we have seen, although you will need to spend £9,900 or more, so it works only for big homes. The offer isn't valid for conservatories, either. If you want to borrow the full amount with Coral, you will pay 11.9 per cent APR, which is in line with other fitters and cheaper than borrowing on your credit card, but better deals are available through personal loans, and you should probably avoid rates like this if you can. As well as conservatories, Coral offers triple glazing with A+ energy ratings. Triple glazing is a good option for those looking to invest and really slash their energy bills. For most people, insulation and cutting draughts are probably cheaper things to do first. But some homes with good insulation will benefit from triple glazing. Pros: Rare interest-free credit if you spend enough No deposit Good reviews Long guarantee Cons: Yorkshire only Best track record: Britelite Windows Area covered: London, Kent, Sussex, Essex and Surrey Founded: 1970 Guarantee: 10 years Best for: Good reviews and a long history Another long-established firm, Britelite has more than 50 years of experience fitting windows, doors and conservatories. It covers the southeast of England. It has Which? Trusted trader status and the company says chairman Dominic Baxter regularly reads customer reviews in order to keep service levels high. The company's long track record and decent customer reviews helped propel it to silver in our review table. In common with the other companies on our review list, getting a price per window is difficult, but our research suggests that each unit starts at about £550. You will, of course, pay more for aluminium frames from Britelite. The firm also offers doors and flat roofing, as well as green roofs, a relatively recent innovation. No timber frames are on offer, but styles including casement and sliding sash are. Green roofs, as the name suggests, offer removable panels of plants which help insulate the property, slow drainage and look nice. The removable panels mean maintenance is easier. Britelite joins most of the other companies on this list in having regular sales, where up to 30 per cent can be saved on many products. In practice, this shows how much can be cut from most estimates and still leave a profit margin the company is comfortable with, so use this information in any negotiations you have with your fitter of choice. The company's website is unusual in having a map of customers and reviews, so you can cast an eye over the experiences of customers who may be near to you. In common with other vendors, finance is available, but not on great terms, being 12.9 per cent APR. Better loans are available elsewhere so long as your credit is good. Triple glazing, conservatories, cladding and roofline products are also available. Roofline is industry jargon for guttering and the boards that seal the house under the eaves. The cladding is uPVC material that can replace wooden boarding which was a common addition to homes once but requires regular varnishing. Britelite has showrooms in Maidstone, Kent and Wickford, Essex. Pros: Long track record Keen pricing Cons: South East England only First Home Improvements has some of the broadest coverage of England and roots going back to the 1970s, although the company's current iteration was founded in 2008 through a management buyout of the previous owners. If you are after fancier windows made of wood or aluminium, you are out of luck, but if uPVC is your material of choice, and you aren't in the areas covered by Coral or Britelite, then First could be your best choice. There's plenty of choice within the realm of uPVC, including casement, sash, tilt and turn and even Tudor windows. First also market oval, triangle, round and arched windows. The company offers a generous 12-year guarantee and this, together with its keen pricing, puts it third in our league of window fitters. First offers a wide range of colours and textures, so there's no need to stick with white if you want a more contemporary look. As well as windows, the firm will fit porches, conservatories and doors, and it has a nifty online door designer tool, which is a nice touch if you can't make it to a showroom. As well as a generous guarantee, First will stand by its quotes for two years, which could come in handy if you need some time to save up for the job. First joins many of its competitors in the occasional 30 per cent off sale, so it is well worth getting a quote around this time. It also offers financing, although its website is cagey about rates, suggesting they are nothing to shout about. Instead, consider going to a lender. If you want a loan of £7,500 to £20,000, TSB offers a rate of 5.9 per cent over one to five years, Novuna Personal Finance offers 6 per cent over the same period, and M&S Bank offers 6 per cent over one to seven years. Borrowing £10,000 over seven years at 6 per cent will cost £2,271 in interest and mean a payment of £146 a month. Pros: 12 year-guarantee Good reviews Cons: Best for a good guarantee: Clearview Windows Area covered: The northwest of England including North Wales, West Derbyshire and South Lakes Founded: 2008 Guarantee: 20 years on products (roofs and PVC frames doors & glass), 10 years on aluminium and building work Best for: A good guarantee and plenty of awards North West-focused Clearview has a generous 20-year guarantee on many of its products, although the work itself is guaranteed for the more industry-standard 10 years. If you are in the Nort West of England, Clearview is a good choice because of this lengthy guarantee and a respectable haul of industry awards. The firm is proud to have won the Glass & Glazing Federation Installer of the Year award for three consecutive years. Timber frames are again missing, with the company instead focusing on more popular uPVC and aluminium models. The company's Extreme brand of energy efficient windows, which have a A+ rating, have frequent third-off sales that are worth seeking out. Clearview puts a focus on design, and much of its marketing effort is on conservatories, which can be designed at its showrooms or through consultations at your home. They range from the standard white uPVC greenhouse-style designs through to more contemporary styles which look more like an extension. However, the firm also has a good selection of windows, including casement and flush models for uPVC and slimline aluminium frames for a modern look. Flush casement windows, as the name suggests, sit flush to their frame, rather than overlapping it like a regular uPVC model. Showrooms can be found in Preston, Nantwich and Warrington. As always, financing is expensive, and either paying in cash or getting a cheaper loan is probably a better financial choice. If you are ordering a conservatory, a three-month interest-free option is available, but this does not apply to windows or doors. Clearview's products are made at a factory in Yorkshire. Pros: Long guarantee Decent reviews Cons: Conservatory focus North West England focused No pricing data Best for national coverage: Anglian Home Improvements Area covered: England, Scotland and Wales Founded: 1966 Guarantee: 10 years Best for: National coverage and range of styles The first national company on our list and the longest-running, Anglian was founded in 1966. It's changed hands several times since then and is now owned by a private equity firm, Alchemy Partners. It is also the biggest in the country, fitting half a million windows, doors and other products a year. The company covers all of Britain and provides blinds and conservatories ,as well as windows, doors and porches. Anglian offers to match uPVC window prices, which means it is well worth getting a number of quotes. This shouldn't mean that you should just get them to match the lowest quote though. If you have chosen Anglian as your window fitter, then make sure to negotiate and see if any further discounts are available. If choice, reach and longevity were the only concerns in our review, Anglian would top the list. It offers a dizzying selection of UuPVC, aluminium and timber models, with all sorts of sizes and colours. But it has a reputation for being expensive and cost is one of our top criteria, as well as customer satisfaction. Anglian makes its windows at its factory in Ipswich, Suffolk, and they can be made to fit your measurements. It also offers money off if you recycle your old windows through the firm, which might make for a further attractive discount. Like many companies that offer home improvements, you can borrow money through Anglian to help spread the cost. But the firm's offering on this front isn't very competitive with a 12.9 per cent APR. You would be much better off spending savings, since no savings account in the UK can beat that figure. If you don't have the savings to spare, then seeking financing through a personal loan is probably a better bet, with rates closer to half what Anglian is offering being available. A big plus for Anglian is the sheer choice, with wooden options as well as uPVC and aluminium. The firm will also make sash windows, as well as the usual outward-opening casement style. Modern tilt and turn windows – the ones that will hinge at the bottom to allow a small vent at the top as well as hinging on the side – and bay windows are on offer, as is secondary glazing. Pros: Huge choice National coverage Cons: Expensive Mixed customer reviews Best for recycling: Safestyle Famous in North West England for its quirky TV adverts fronted by medieval garb-clad Jeff Brown, who offered regular buy-one-get-one-free deals to customers, and later ones featuring former England goalie David Seaman, Safestyle collapsed into administration in 2023, blaming high costs and weak demand. It was bought by rival Anglian, but the collapse left some customers with worthless guarantees. Its similar, but more limited, offering places it just below its owner on our list. Under its new ownership it offers very similar services to Anglian, with a 10 year guarantee and broad coverage of the UK. There's excellent choice, but all made in uPVC. Those who want wood frames, perhaps to adhere to local planning and conservation rules, will have to look elsewhere. But uPVC is very low-maintenance, and Safestyle offers every design variation under the sun, including sash, bay and triple-glazed. Safetyle will remove your old windows and recycle them. It has the same quote matching as Anglian and quotes are valid for six months. Make sure you haggle, as with any supplier on this list. Interestingly, Safetyle sales are sometimes seen at the 15 per cent mark, rather than the 30 per cent others offer. This should not dissuade you from seeking a bigger price drop, however. As with its owner, Anglian, you can borrow money through Safestyle to help spread the cost. But the firm's offering on this front is the same at a fairly chunky 12.9 per cent APR. You would be much better off spending savings, since no savings account in the UK can beat that figure. If you don't have the savings to spare, then seeking financing through a personal loan is probably a better bet, with rates closer to half what Safestyle is offering being available. Other fitters on this list offer interest-free credit or other favourable payment terms. Pros: Recycle your old windows Good choice, albeit only in uPVC Cons: uPVC only Mixed customer reviews Rough recent history Best for transparent pricing: Everest Everest is one of the more famous names on our list, thanks to a couple of TV campaigns in the 1980s and 2000s showcasing its windows at the Tan Hill Inn, the highest pub in Britain. But the company has had a troubled recent history, going into administration in 2020 in the wake of Covid lockdowns and then again in 2024. It is now owned by Anglian. Its financial troubles left some customers unable to cancel orders and with worthless warranties, although purchases made just before the collapse were fulfilled by its new owners. Everest, like Anglian, offers a huge array of options, including timber and aluminium. The website is very easy to use and doors and conservatories are also available. The company's recent troubled past and some recent unfavourable reviews put it last for us. Unlike its stablemates Anglian and Safestyle – and indeed unlike any other firm on this list – Everest publishes a guide on how much their windows are likely to cost. These costs inform our table further up the page. With the other firms, we have had to use customers' estimates to provide figures. uPVC casement windows cost £700-£1,800 a window, with sash windows costing 50 per cent more, tilt and turn models 25 per cent more, bay windows 150 per cent more, aluminium frames 25 per cent more than uPVC and timber 50 per cent more than uPVC. These prices are the firm's asking prices and should be taken as a starting point for negotiations. Aim to lop of at least a quarter and try for a half if you can, perhaps by offering to pay upfront or add more work. Everest says its windows are now triple glazed as standard, which will make for costlier windows – add 10 to 20 per cent – albeit ones that retain the heat better. Everest, like its sister companies Anglian and Everest, offers financing but the rate is an uncompetitive 12.9 per cent. Using savings first will be cheaper, if you have them. Failing that, there are loans from high street lenders at half that rate. Pros: Unusually transparent pricing Triple glazing as standard for uPVC Cons:
CTV News
06-05-2025
- CTV News
Heavy police presence in Surrey
Vancouver Watch A man was seen breaking windows in a residential area before barricading himself inside a home in Surrey Monday afternoon.
