Replacement Window Guarantees
A guarantee is usually issued by a window company once the installation is complete.
These days, many firms offer an independent insurance backed guarantee that automatically covers you for any faults if your supplier goes into liquidation.
Companies make a big issue about their guarantees and it's fair to say that some are better than others.
Some of the larger national companies for example, employ specialist service engineers whose sole job is to look after guarantee issues and repairs.
Really, the effectiveness of a guarantee comes down to how customer-focused the company is and whether they have priced their products correctly.
Buying solely on price is almost certainly going to mean that at some stage, the after-sales service is not going to be quite what you might expect, and that's simply due to the fact that all work has to be paid for.
Larger companies understand this and allocate a percentage of the cost of your windows to after-sales servicing.
Similarly, an insurance backed guarantee is not going to be free. It will be included in the price of your windows and, in times of economic instability, is usually well worth the price, since no matter how good your window company, it might not be around this time next year.
The most common guarantee offered in the glazing industry is 10 years and most PVCu windows will perform more than adequately for this period of time, requiring no maintenance, other than the occasional wipe with a damp cloth and perhaps a drop of WD40 or 3 in 1 oil on the hinges every year.
Be aware though, that a lot of companies only cover the frames and fittings for the whole period of the guarantee. The double glazed units themselves might only be covered for one, three or five years.
Luckily, they are easy to replace and inexpensive to purchase.
If you are buying replacement windows to fit yourself, ask the supplier for a copy of it's guarantee. There may be certain exclusions relating to the way the windows are fitted, which is why we recommend that you use an experienced fitter, at least for more complex installations.
Before changing a window, check to see whether additional support (such a lintel) is required. In some cases, the careless removal of a flat window can result in brickwork above the frame dropping or falling out completely!