Here at Energy Efficient Glazing, we like to be as transparent as possible with our customers. We are happy to answer any questions you might have regarding home improvement. However, in the 15 years we’ve been in operation, we’ve found that we get asked certain questions time and time again. So, for your convenience, we’ve compiled these into a handy Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) section.
It’s important to be in the know when improving your home and you can be with the useful range of FAQs that we have listed below.
Are Energy Efficient Glazing insurance backed?
Yes. We offer insurance backed guarantees for certain products. Our consultants will discuss this with you in more detail.
Can I get a price or a quote via email or over the phone?
When you buy from Energy Efficient Glazing, you aren’t buying an off-the-shelf product – all our products are bespoke, with no two products ever the same. As all of our products are individually tailored to suit your home, taste, budget and requirement, we would need to view your home to provide an exact quotation.
What does the guarantee cover and for how long?
We offer a range of long-term guarantees for all of our products. The exact details of the guarantee depend on the product. Our consultants will be happy to discuss this in more detail.
Why do all parties have to be present for a quotation?
Choosing your home improvement products is an important decision, which usually all parties would want to be involved in. There are many elements to the decision that need to be made, including appearance, colour, style, technical specification and, of course, price. In order to make sure we provide you with an accurate price, we need you to make these decisions and for this, we need all parties present. If we have an appointment without all parties there, we may not be able to give an accurate quote, and often will need to return at a more suitable time when everyone is present. This adds to our costs and means that we will not be able to offer you such a competitive price on the second visit.
Do you carry out repairs on other companies products?
Because we do not hold stock of all necessary items and would not be able to offer any guarantee on other companies’ products after we had repaired them, unfortunately we are unable to offer repairs on products provided by other companies. Of course, we will be happy to remove and replace them.
Will you supply only?
Energy Efficient Glazing is committed to providing only the highest quality products and services. If a product is not installed correctly, it may not work properly. One of the reasons Energy Efficient Glazing offers industry-leading guarantees is that they are fitted by experienced and skilled installers. For this reason, we insist on installing all of our own products and are unable to offer supply only.
What locks does Energy Efficient Glazing use?
We use a range of different locks depending on the product in question. All Energy Efficient Glazing’ security products are tested to meet and more often than not exceed British Standards. Energy Efficient Glazing uPVC casement windows, for example, are twice as secure as British Standards – please see the individual product pages.
How long will my home consultation last?
Our consultations are entirely geared around your needs, so the length can vary. Generally speaking, it depends on the type of product and the complexity involved, but we would suggest around an hour.
How long should I expect to wait between placing my order and actual installation?
Depending on the product you have ordered, we usually begin installation within four weeks. Your consultant will give you a clearer idea of how long you might expect to wait for your home improvement purchase to be installed.
Is Energy Efficient Glazing a member of Certass?
Energy Efficient Glazing is a member of Certass which and is a leading body providing homeowner protection for the double glazing industry. Certass ensures that installations fully comply with all building regulations in England and Wales.
How much does double glazing cost?
The cost of double glazing will vary greatly depending on the material of the windows you choose and the size of the windows you require. Buying windows that are standard sizes from a DIY store may be cheaper than those made-to-measure, but will not be as energy-efficient. This means you will not save as much money on your energy bills – plus there’s the cost of employing a builder to fit your windows, with a high chance that they won’t be as skilled as our fitters, leaving your home less secure. Bespoke windows fill the space left from your old windows perfectly, with no need for additional fillers and packing materials, which always allow precious heat to escape.
What does double glazing do?
Adding double glazing to your home is just like putting an extra jumper inon the winter; keeping you warm by trapping warm air in the gap between the layers. As energy prices rise, double glazing is the easiest way of keeping the heat you’ve paid for within your home. All our windows are A rated, the highest energy-rating available. Double glazing will also help to reduce noises from nearby roads or flight paths, while offering increased security.
How does double glazing work and how does double glazing prevent heat loss?
There are many components that make up a double glazed window, including the glass itself, the distance between the panes and the gas that’s inserted between them.
Glass
Our standard glass panes are 4mm thick, unless you specify our safety glass (6.4mm) or Silent glass (10mm). We add a low-e coating to all our inner panes, which reflects heat back into your home to prevent it from escaping.
Gap between the panes
Energy Efficient Glazing specify an optimum gap of 20mm between the two panes of a sealed unit. We fill the gap with Argon gas, which minimises the heat lost through heat transfer. The natural place for warm air to escape is where the panes join together. Energy Efficient Glazing double glazed windows are fitted with ‘warm edge spacer bars’, made from a less-conductive material than conventional aluminium spacer bars.
What is low-e coating and low-e glass?
All Energy Efficient Glazing windows and doors come with low-e glass as standard. It’s a near invisible soft coating that’s applied to the inner pane of glass within the sealed unit. It allows heat from the outside to pass through into your home, but prevents heat from escaping to the outside.
What is condensation?
Condensation forms naturally when humid air collects on a cold surface and forms water droplets. If you have condensation forming on the inner pane of your windows (not inside the sealed unit) you need to improve the circulation of air to reduce it. By fitting a vent or removing close-fitting curtains you will encourage the air to flow away from your window before it has time to condense. Condensation between the panes of a double glazed unit is a different matter – this is a sign that the seal has become damaged and is no longer working properly. As a result, the Argon gas that minimises heat loss will have escaped, meaning your window is no longer performing as efficiently as it should and will need replacing.
How long does double glazing last?
As with most items, the longevity of a product depends entirely on how well you look after it. When you purchase Energy Efficient Glazing double glazing, you’ll be provided with a maintenance pack detailing exactly how to care for your new products. We offer industry-leading guarantees, including many that last a lifetime on all of our products – we offer a 10 year guarantee as standard on every product we install. All of our products are made from quality materials that are selected for their suitability – we test them to our own exacting standards, as well as adhering to British Standards.
How is double glazing installed?
Due to the complexity of installing a double glazed window, we recommend that a professional installer is used to fit your windows. A well-fitted window has many security benefits; we use strong reinforcing screws to firmly fit our windows into the brickwork. Our fully trained installers also make sure that each window fits perfectly, leaving your home free from draughts and sufficiently insulated against the cold and noise.
Does Energy Efficient Glazing use Pilkington-K?
We can offer Pilkington K glass if required. Our standard sealed units do not include K glass as technology has moved on from this and the new ‘soft coat low-e glass’ is now more efficient, without having a slightly brown tint that K glass gives.
What is the air-gap between the panes of glass?
Generally our windows have an air gap of 20mm, though this may vary depending on the type of window and the type of sealed unit specified.
What is the thickness of the glass?
The thickness of the glass we use depends on what the customer chooses. Generally, most glass is 4mm, laminated glass is 6.4mm and Silent glass is 10mm.
What are Window Energy Ratings (WER)?
Window Energy Ratings are an indication of how energy efficient a window is. Ratings start at G (the least efficient) and go up as high as A++ (the most efficient).
Building Regulations require that all newly fitted windows must be able to achieve a Window Energy Rating of C. However, here at Energy Efficient Glazing, we offer a variety of them that are capable of achieving A+ ratings. Get in touch for more information on which ones can achieve this rating.
How much does a double glazed door cost?
The cost of a double glazed door will vary greatly depending on the material and design options you choose. Customised and patterned glass will understandably cost more than plain glass, as will a set of double doors in comparison to a single door. Buying a door from a DIY store may be cheaper than one that’s made-to-measure, but it will not be as energy-efficient. Bespoke doors will fill the space left from your old door perfectly, with no need for additional fillers and packing materials that allow precious heat to escape. All of Energy Efficient Glazing’ products are made to your home’s precise measurements for thermal efficiency and include the cost of installation and market-leading guarantees.
Does Energy Efficient Glazing sell sliding doors?
Yes. Our uPVC patio doors feature sliding glass panels, perfect for providing easy access to your garden or balcony. We offer sliding doors in a range of styles, including a choice of six different wood-grain finishes. You can also have different frame colours inside and out if you wish. A selection of handle finishes helps to complete the personally tailored look. We also have bifold doors to consider. This über-modern design opens up an entire wall to the garden, an eye-catching extra feature that offers incredible versatility. Our flush line pop-out handles allow you to stack the panels back tightly, taking up minimum space and offering impressive security. They can slide to the same side, or can be split to open both ways. All our sliding doors are perfectly made to measure and come with extensive guarantees, including a 10-year guarantee on all materials and workmanship.
Are Energy Efficient Glazing’ doors wide enough for wheelchair access?
At Energy Efficient Glazing our doors are made to measure. The width of your door is dependent on the width of the opening we’re fitting in. If your property has a wider space within the door frame, we can manufacture a door to the dimensions for easy wheelchair accessibility. However, we cannot alter the width of any existing opening. We can also offer a low threshold option under certain circumstances, providing easier access to wheelchair users.
What are the available door sizes?
As we tailor the size of the door to the requirements of our individual customers, we don’t offer standard door sizes. However, during the process of buying a door from us, our surveyor will come out to your home and work out the size of the door that you require accordingly.
What are the colour options for Energy Efficient Glazing conservatories and orangeries?
At Energy Efficient Glazing we try to offer as much choice as possible, helping you achieve the perfect look for your home. Energy Efficient Glazing uPVC conservatories are available in gloss white, mahogany, golden oak, rosewood , white, cream or black woodgrain effect.
How long will it take to complete my conservatory?
It is not possible to give exact timescales, because every Energy Efficient Glazing conservatory or orangery is bespoke to suit your home. Timing will depend on the design you choose. If your design requires planning permission, this can take up to eight weeks; if building regulations are required, this could be another four weeks. These timings vary in Scotland. There is no need to worry, however, because Energy Efficient Glazing will take care of any issues that may arise and will certainly keep you informed of their progress.
What guarantees are offered?
A new conservatory is a significant investment for any home and that’s why Energy Efficient Glazing’ conservatories are built to last and come with long-term guarantees to ensure that you keep getting the best from your purchase for years to come. All the products used in making your conservatory have been tested and conform to British Standards, with the conservatory roof system BBA accredited – a testament to the quality of Energy Efficient Glazing’ conservatories.
To ensure your conservatory won’t move or sink over time, we’ll conduct a comprehensive site survey, determining the best base for your property. Based on this survey, our team will build either a structural traditional foundation to at least a depth of 1.0m or where ground conditions dictate we’ll engineer specialised piled foundations. All base and building works undertaken by Energy Efficient Glazing are constructed within building regulation guidelines and are fully insulated, damp-proofed and reinforced, so you can rest assured that every measure has been taken to prevent movement and provide you with a room for all seasons. From the date of installation, a 10-year guarantee is offered on all conservatories and bases built by Energy Efficient Glazing. These guarantees protect you in the case of a fault due to defective materials or construction.
How safe will my conservatory be?
The safety of our products is naturally of paramount concern to Energy Efficient Glazing. We use the highest specification toughened glass in our conservatories, conforming to both British Standard BS6206 Class A and BS5713. Looking like ordinary glass but with a special heat treatment process to toughen it, the result is not only a much stronger glass but in the unlikely event that any glass is broken, it will shatter into small, harmless fragments rather than into sharp and dangerous pieces.
Are there any restrictions for my proposed conservatory design?
At Energy Efficient Glazing, all of our conservatories are made to measure. We’ll make every effort to facilitate the requirements of our customers and can usually handle any size of conservatory requested, from small porches to large grand designs. Restrictions on size and design will usually depend on your chosen style of conservatory and the size of your property, plus any issues with planning permission and building control, which Energy Efficient Glazing will always attempt to take care of for you.
Do we need planning permission?
Some conservatories will require planning permission from your local council. This depends upon several factors including the size of the conservatory, the classification of your property type and how the conservatory will be integrated into the house. Energy Efficient Glazing will take care of any planning requirements for you, contacting your local authority, preparing and submitting plans, and managing the application through to a determination, while always keeping you well informed of the progress at every stage.
What is the difference between planning permission and building regulations?
Planning permission and building regulations are often confused. Both are the responsibility of the Local Authority. Planning permission deals with the aesthetic effect of a new extension on the surrounding homes and neighbourhood, whilst building regulations define how the conservatory must be constructed – its structural stability and thermal efficiency. Most conservatories are currently exempt from building regulations, but Energy Efficient Glazing will assist in determining what applications are required and will deal with any planning and building requirements for you, while always keeping you well informed at every stage. As every Energy Efficient Glazing conservatory is constructed within building regulation guidelines, you can be assured that even if a building control application is not required your conservatory is built to last.
Is it possible to build a conservatory on a slope?
If a slope is present in the place that you’d like a conservatory built, this is no problem for us here at Energy Efficient Glazing. We will lay the necessary foundations to support your conservatory and then build steps or a slope so it can be accessed.
How do you clean uPVC frames?
When exposed to wind, pollution, rain and other elements, windows and doors will naturally become dirty. Dirt shouldn’t damage Energy Efficient Glazing’ products, however you may wish to clean them based on the following guidelines to keep them looking at their best:
General Cleaning
Touch Stains
For long-neglected uPVC, use a uPVC cream cleaner
Products not to use
We recommend avoiding the use of the following as they are likely to cause corrosion or damage to the product:
We like to make the process of improving your home a straightforward one. So, in addition to providing some excellent finance options, we’ve simplified our ordering process into 4 easy steps.
To begin, simply find a product you like on our website or in our brochure, request a quote online or by phone.
When you’re ready a member of our friendly team will arrange to visit you at home to discuss your requirements in more depth.
Our experienced, professional installation team will fit your chosen product(s), minimising the disruption to everyday life.
All customers receive a 10-year guarantee on our products, so you can relax knowing that you have cover in place for years.
