Buying guide
How to choose a window company
Short answer
Choose a window company by checking five things: who actually fits the windows, whether they are FENSA registered, what the guarantee covers and whether it is insurance backed, exactly what the written quote includes, and whether they measure every opening themselves. A company that answers all five clearly, without pressure to sign on the day, is a safe bet.
1. Who does the fitting
Many companies sell windows and pass the installation to whoever is free that week. Ask directly whether the fitters are employed by the company or subcontracted. Your own fitters are accountable to the business and to you, and the person who fits your windows should understand what was agreed at the survey. We use our own fitters, never subcontractors.
2. Registration and certificates
Replacement windows must comply with building regulations. A FENSA registered installer can self certify the work and you receive a certificate, which solicitors ask for when you sell. If a company is not registered, you may need to involve building control yourself. We are FENSA registered.
3. The guarantee
Ask how long the guarantee lasts, what it covers, and what happens if the company stops trading. An insurance backed guarantee protects you in that situation. Our installations come with a 10-year insurance-backed guarantee.
4. What the quote includes
A good written quote should spell out:
- Every window, its style, opening and colour
- Glass specification and any safety or obscure glass
- Removal and disposal of the old frames
- Making good inside and outside
- The total price with nothing to add later
5. Warning signs
Be wary of big 'today only' discounts, a price that drops sharply when you hesitate, a salesperson who will not leave until you sign, or a quote given without anyone measuring the openings. None of these mean the windows will be bad, but they tell you how the company is likely to behave if something goes wrong.
Local knowledge also helps. A company that works across your area knows the local housing stock, from Victorian terraces to post war semis, and can plan for the quirks those openings tend to have. We have over 40 years of experience and cover Leicester and a 30 mile radius.
Comparing quotes fairly
When you have two or three quotes, line them up item by item rather than just comparing totals. Check that each company has quoted the same number of windows, the same opening styles, the same glass and the same finish inside and out. A lower total can simply mean a thinner specification, no safety glass where it is required, or extras such as disposal and making good left off.
Ask each company how long the fitting will take, who will be on site and how any problems found on the day will be dealt with. The answers tell you a lot about how organised the company is.
Getting the survey right
The survey is where a good window company earns its keep. A thorough surveyor measures every opening, looks at the condition of the brickwork and lintels, checks which rooms need escape openings and safety glass, and talks through how you use each room before recommending an opening style. It should feel like a conversation about your house rather than a sales pitch.
If the person quoting cannot answer practical questions about how your windows will be fixed and finished, or brushes them aside, treat that as a signal. The small details discussed at the survey are what decide how the finished job looks and works.
Common questions
Get a free fixed quote
Call 07925 319937, open Monday to Sunday 9am to 6pm, or send the form.