Independent Double Glazing Manfacturers and Installers Double Showroom Size

As most locals now know (I've lived in Beaconsfield for nearly 50 years), I am the Marketing Director of Bucks based Hazlemere Window Company. It has recently increased both its online and offline presence with a brand new retail website and 4,000 square foot extension of its pre-existing 4,000 square foot Wellington Road showroom.

Not content with doubling the size of its showroom to include revolutionary new products such as aluminium and UPVC orangeries and bi-folding doors, the company has also invested in a user-friendly, state-of-the-art website which gives internet-browsers a full overview of Hazlemere’s new range of UPVC windows, doors and conservatories.

The new contemporary website, www.hazlemerewindows.co.uk, co-exists with Hazlemere’s existing site, www.hazlemere.co.uk, which remains as an all-encompassing ‘group’ website and I trust, a valuable source of technical information for trade and commercial clients.

Our extensive home improvement showroom – situated on Cressex Business Park - is now 8,000 square foot, having added 4,000 square feet to cater for the company’s expanding product range.

The new showroom features the very latest, most technically advanced windows and doors, including ‘A’ rated thermally efficient windows which significantly reduce a homeowner’s energy bills and household carbon footprint. Innovative triple glazed windows and doors will soon be incorporated into the range as Hazlemere strives to provide its customers with the very latest home improvements. Hazlemere’s new range of UPVC windows, doors, conservatories and orangeries come as a result of the company joining the Conservatory Outlet network of dealers.

With such a diverse clientele it’s vital that we have both a strong online and physical presence in the market place. More and more people are shopping for home improvements on the internet, which is why we have improved our "online showroom". That said, people still love to visit our show site so that they can see and feel the products for themselves, and get a better idea of how Hazlemere could transform their home.

It’s about making sure that our customers are able to make the most informed decision when they invest in new windows, doors, conservatories and orangeries so that the end result is exactly how they wanted it.

Killing people, whether or not in the Middle East, is never a long term peaceful solution

What on earth are we doing seemingly getting dragged into yet another country and another war? Over 50 get killed in Yemen, Saudi Arabian troops march into Bahrain, yet we pick a fight with a madman with a less efficient army, a dictator who we have supported in the past, but now it seems politically expediant to weaken and oust him.

I'm against Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, and would love to see him gone, with Libya having a peaceful, democratic and prosperous future, but fear that the conflict will descend into a long bitter civil war, with tribal and personal interests of a few, triumphing over the average decent hard working and long suffering Libyians.

The only way the coalition can "win" is by NOT killing any civilians, particularly women and children, although I would not put it past Colonel Gaddafi's regime to buy some American ammunition and kill a load of civilians and blame it on the "Western" infidels.

Even if "we" succeed in stopping Gaddafi's troops killing civilians, whose is to say the "Rebels" won't kill civilians who support the regime? The whole thing is an utter mess, with the Middle East in complete turmoil. Who knows where it will end?

The only "good" thing, is that "Evil" by its very inherent nature, can not stop itself from ever increasing more evil and inhuman acts, so will eventually be exposed for what it is - pure evil.

Remember "Evil triumphs when good men do nothing", so we need to do something, but we must not be dragged down to the evildoers level, or frankly, they've won anyway.

Potholes - Sad Sign of UK's Crumbling Society

On page 3 of Tuesday 25th January’s Bucks Free Press Midweek newspaper, there was a stark headline of ‘Pothole will kill someone’. Driver Ray Richardson from Princes Risborough in Bucks reportedly hit a pothole in Station Road, Little Kimble on his way to work and damaged three tyres.

His compensation claim to Bucks County Council will apparently take 5-10 months to process, whereas he has to fork out for three new tyres now, plus is not guaranteed to be refunded the enforced outlay. It is a sad sign of both the way we are governed in the UK that taxpayers have to fork out up front, but councils cannot only delay payments, but can seemingly choose if and when they repair potholes.

It seems to me that the UK Government want more and more from taxpayers with increasingly shrinking disposable incomes, whilst delivering/providing less and less in return. This is why I believe potholes are symbolic of our crumbling short term UK society, given our infrastructure is the life-blood of the nation, which the Government and local councils have a civic duty to maintain. More of us use the roads more often, and more than any other public service, so a large part of our experience of the environment directly relates to the condition of the public highways. After the pothole crisis in 2009/2010 you’d have thought the lesson would have been learned by both Westminster and county councils......clearly not.

In the South Bucks Star on Thursday 27th January, the front page headline was “The cost to rid our roads of potholes is estimated at £120 million” .. And that’s just Bucks!

Everyone knows that repairing the potholes is not the best long term solution, proper re-surfacing of the roads is the answer, but of course councils claim they can not afford to.

The real question is can they afford the financial costs of not resurfacing Buckinghamshire's road network? Compensation claims and costs of repairs are only going to continue to increase until the political will is there to do the right thing for the country. By the way, if you want to report a Bucks pothole call 0845 230 2882

I personally encounter dozens of potholes on my way to and from work in High Wycombe, many of which are difficult to avoid, and some extremely dangerous to cyclists and motorbikes, let alone motorists and pedestrians.

Taxpayers expect decent roads and services to be provided by their local councils. They are not really interested in all the political in-fighting or arguments with central Government. Potholes, and temporary repairs to potholes are a depressingly visible, embarrassing and sad daily reminder that we currently live in a crumbling society.

What I believe the UK desperately needs is leadership at national, regional and local level, driven by conviction and direction to drag the UK highways and byways back from Third World standards, setting out a long term re-surfacing plan (which will actually cost less in the long term) to get the road network into some sort of decent order before someone gets killed and/or seriously injured by a dangerous pothole.swer, but of course councils claim they can not afford to.

The real question is can they afford the financial costs of not resurfacing Buckinghamshire's road network? Compensation claims and costs of repairs are only going to continue to increase until the political will is there to do the right thing for the country. By the way, if you want to report a Bucks pothole call 0845 230 2882

I personally encounter dozens of potholes on my way to and from work in High Wycombe, many of which are difficult to avoid, and some extremely dangerous to cyclists and motorbikes, let alone motorists and pedestrians.

Taxpayers expect decent roads and services to be provided by their local councils. They are not really interested in all the political in-fighting or arguments with central Government. Potholes, and temporary repairs to potholes are a depressingly visible, embarrassing and sad daily reminder that we currently live in a crumbling society.

What I believe the UK desperately needs is leadership at national, regional and local level, driven by conviction and direction to drag the UK highways and byways back from Third World standards, setting out a long term re-surfacing plan (which will actually cost less in the long term) to get the road network into some sort of decent order before someone gets killed and/or seriously injured by a dangerous pothole.

Which? probe finds national double glazing firms making false claims

An online report on a Which? undercover investigation in 2010, entitled "Double Glazing Sales Tactics Exposed", found that some salespeople in the industry were making dodgy claims - such as saying they were part of a government scrappage system that doesn’t exist - and pressurising people with discounts into signing up.

Which? personnel posed as potential double glazing customers, then asked Anglian, Everest, Safestyle, and Weatherseal/Zenith Staybrite to visit them at least four addresses each across Britain, and give them a quote for double glazing. This Which? investigation exposed "false claims from big firms' reps."

The Which? experts were "astounded by the tactics used", which included 6 out of 18 salespeople made misleading claims, such as ‘We’ve been tested by the government and were chosen for its scrappage scheme’ by an Anglian salesperson. 7 out of the 18 salespeople offered a discount if the Which? undercover researcher signed up immediately. 15 out of 18 offered significant savings, often half the ‘original’ price.

The Chief Executive of Which?, Peter Vicary-Smith commented "As a homeowner, replacing your windows is one of the most expensive jobs you’re likely to face, which is why we’re so disappointed to discover salespeople from the biggest names in the double glazing business making outlandish claims and using hard sell tactics."

Personally, I resent and deplore hard sell tactics, as they give the many good professionals in the double glazing industry a bad name, particularly as they unfairly tar reputable local independent double glazing manufacturers and installers with the same brush.

Many, like the Buckinghamshire based double glazing company I work for, have a "no pressure promise", which is totally opposite to the unprofessional behaviour (as exposed in the Which? probe) of some individual sales persons representing the "Nationals". Such morally poor actions are surely counter productive? In many cases they drive away customers, as it is my experience that property owners looking for replacement double glazing don't want any form of pressure applied to them when facing such an important investment decision - I certainly don't!

Consequently, I am proud to work for Hazlemere Window Company Ltd - a twenty-five year old family run firm that does not tolerate any hard sell tactics, plus is pleased to leave a detailed written quotation with a customer for them to consider in their own time and space.

The 2010 damming Which? report on the national double glazing companies serves as a reminder that there is still clearly too many selfish, pushy and uncaring persons working for the big boys. All I can hope is that the likes of Anglian and Everest clean up the acts of the representative 's exposed by Which?

Hundreds of years ago William Shakespeare wrote "something is rotten in the state of Denmark" (Hamlet Act 1 Scene 4). Sadly this still seems to apply to some sales persons representing National double glazing companies. Hopefully these unscrupulous individuals will soon be routed out by their pay masters or society to stop them taking advantage of the naive, elderly or timid.

Why UK Property Owners Only Have Until 30th September 2010 to Install Matching Windows and Doors

In an ideal world where money was no object I'd of course like to have the most up to date car in the marketplace that suited me. The truth is I cannot really afford the car I've got, and was thrilled with it when I first got it until four months later the Government increased the Road Tax on it from £300 to £400 a year, all because it was 6 g/km CO2 emissions over the 225 g/km car tax band limit. If you buy a petrol oe diesel vehicle with 231 g/km CO2 emissions today, 12 months Road Tax on it is now a whopping £750 a year!

The latest model they have produced of my car now has lower carbon emissions than my current car, is more energy efficient and has cruise control as standard, which mine unfortunately does not. However it also costs more than I can afford, plus I'd be paying higher road tax, so I learnt a long time ago to be content and extremely grateful, and very thankful for my little car as it has yet to break down, is quite fun to drive and gets me from A to B.

It is a very similar situation to the double glazed windows I had fitted to my Buckinghamshire home in 1994 by Hazlemere Window Company, who replaced every window and door with Monarch double glazed powder coated white aluminium windows and doors. All the sealed units were fitted with the latest (at the time) Pilkington K Glass and the toilet and bathroom windows with Pilkington Cotswold obscure glass double glazed sealed units.

At the time these Monarch double glazing products were highly energy efficient for their day, and my wife and I have been pleased with the investment we made in these high quality products. However, the Part L changes to the Building Regulations that come into effect on 1st October 2010 will sadly make our windows and doors obsolete come 30th September 2010.

Consequently, had we been planning an extension, or want to replace a window or door to match, we've ready got to order them by the middle of July 2010 at the very lateste to be ceratain to get them fitted before this Government deadline.

I am sure you can appreciate, that in 1994 I had no idea I would end up in the double glazing industry, or that thermally efficient window technology would advance so much year on year, to the extent that if money was no object and we had no intention of moving home, I would now replace all my windows and doors with the latest Sapa (Monarch) "A" energy rated aluminium windows, simply for the fantastic energy saving performance the most up to date double glazing products can now offer in terms of quality of life, security, aesthetics, insulation and heating bills.

The new Part L legislation does not just affect windows and doors, but many other parts of each premises, something I would strongly advise any property owner to find out about before embarking on any rennovation, extension or new build project.

The double glazing industry faces a major challenge, with the new Building Regulations effective making the vast majority of double glazed windows and doors obsolete overnight. Already window and door manufacturers like Hazlemere Windows are running down their stocks of the "old" soon to be discontinued aluminium profiles. Similarly, extruders like Sapa Building Systems are running down their stocks of the soon to be obsolete aluminium profiles, as no double glazing manufacturer or supplier wants to be left with extrusions that can not legally be made into windows and doors installed on or after 1st October 2010. There is one bit of good news, as aluminium frames can be 100% re-cycled, it means potentially that the obsolete extrusions will not go to waste after 30th September 2010 cut-off.

Although, as a consequence of the massive Part L changes, demand for existing double glazing products is expected to be high until 30th September 2010, so supply could become a real issue in terms of both availability of the product and indeed the very short time that property owners have to not only order replacement windows (that do not have a WER of "C" or above or have a combined U Value of 1.6 W/m2K), but also to have them surveyed, manufactured and installed before 1st October 2010 (when they become non-compliant with the new stricter Building Regulations aimed at ensuring property owners fit the latest most thermally efficient windows and doors).

Frankly, there is actually nothing wrong with our 1994 Monarch aluminium double glazed windows and doors. The only maintenance they have needed is a quick rub down with a damp cloth every few years and they look as good as new. Whilst our existing double glazing complies with the existing Building Regulations, should we wan to order new matching replacement windows and doors to the same specification, we only have till 30th September 2010 to do so, as after this deadline, no property owner or double glazing installer will be legally allowed to install them.

One another major thing to take into consideration is that the existing windows in our home do not cost so much to produce as the new generation "C", "B" and "A" energy rated windows, so consequently currently cost less to buy and install, so if you are in the middle of a replacement programme - now is the time to act before it is too late!

Do the growing number of potholes on our roads drive you potty?

Early in 2009 I contacted the Bucks County Council's Highways Agency twice during a six month period to register a dangerous pothole near where I live in Beaconsfield, Bucks. Nothing happened.

In November 2009 I registered a number of potholes in Wellington Road on Cressex Business Park, High Wycombe, Bucks, which is where I work for Hazlemere Window Company. Nothing happened.

Then the snow and ice came, and by the end of January 2010 in these two roads alone the potholes had enlarged, deepened, and like all over the UK, new potholes sprang up everywhere.

This deteriorating state of our roads (I can really only speak about South Bucks where I live and work where I have first hand knowledge and experience of the current dreadful state of the road network) must surely be of serious concern to all vehicle drivers, cyclists and pedestrians. Travelling to work in High Wycombe is now more like an adventure ride with motorists constantly swerving round potholes, so as to try to protect their tyres, wheel rims and suspensions, which occasionally results in them closely missing other oncoming vehicles.

I recently had to have a rear suspension linkage repaired on my car, so I am very well aware of the damage, time and inconvenience un-repaired potholes can cause. Why do Council Tax payers put up with the state of our roads? I just do not understand why more drivers do not complain. Surely if enough Council Tax payers made legitimate complaints, the authorities would have to make repairing our roads more of a priority?

Thankfully, the pothole I reported in Beaconsfield for a 3rd time earlier this year has now been repaired. However, despite yet again recently reporting the worsening state of Wellington Road in Cressex nothing has yet been done, and the road is just getting worse and worse. Given all the learners drivers in the region drive up and down this road constantly as the test centre is at the end of the road, you would have thought the Highways Agency would want not want learner drivers taking their test not to have to negotiate multiple potholes that remind me of a Somme battlefield!

When I did report the deteriorating road condition and the appearance of several new potholes to Bucks Highways Agency, the reply I received was that they had no money left to re-surface the road! They did say they would send someone at some point to have a look, but stressed they had no budget, and would only effect a repair if the pot hole was small and deep, as apparently wide pot holes present no danger as vehicles can navigate them safely they say! No wonder I have not seen anyone repairing potholes recently!

I asked about road safety, and if it would help if I wrote to my local MP to help secure Bucks Highways Agency more funding for vital repairs. Apparently not it seemed! Surely public safety and maintaining our roads should come before say cutting the grass on council owned fields or repainting building and fences etc.?

It seems to me that our UK roads will continue to crumble until someone in authority provides the Highways Agency with more funding and empowers them to systematically repair all the network. If we all now report all the potholes in the roads where we live and work, hopefully the authorities would realise the scale of the problem before it is too late, as potholes can cause road accidents and even deaths. When I was young road safety was taught in schools. Maybe it should also be taught to Council County and Government Transportation Chiefs who hold the purse strings and have the means to address the growing potholes crisis. Surely prevention is better than cure?

The Truth About the National Window Scrappage Scheme - Amazing what folk will believe nowadays!

I am amazed by how many potential double glazing customers have rung Hazlemere Window Company Ltd where I work in High Wycombe, Bucks, and asked me "Do you offer the government national windows scrappage scheme?"

Fair play to Anglian for clever marketing that has led consumers (like the ones I have spoken to personally) to somehow wrongly believe that there is actually a government national windows scrappage scheme - when at present there is not. The marketing I have seen for both Anglian and Everest do not mention the word "Government", but for some unknown reason some folk in the UK seem to "assume" that any national window scrappage scheme must be a government one?

Given there is a government national scrappage scheme for boilers (Up to £400 off if you qualify with an old enough boiler or something along those lines I believe?), and a national car scrappage scheme, I can sort of see why it is believable that some folk many actually miss-interpret the Anglian and Everest marketing messages to wrongly think that there is a government scrappage scheme for old windows!

There seems to have been a lot of research undertaken by consumers on this controversial subject, as many seem to be trying to find out whether or not there is in fact a government national windows scrappage scheme. If such a financially helpful scheme for property owners actually existed it would not only assist hard pressed householders, during these recessionary times, but also act as an incentive to fit the latest technologically advanced energy efficient energy saving double glazed windows.

However as the well known double glazing industry blogger "Renegade Conservatory Guy" points out on his blog it was only a matter of time before folk like Anglian and Everest "created their own window scrappage scheme", and going by some of the comments by consumers on his blog on the subject, some seem very unimpressed by such "obvious" marketing ploys.

My own view, is that many double glazing companies appear to build in huge discounts so some can "claim" to offer "up to 70% off" which is surely not credible? If any retail outlet offers 35%, 50% or 70% off, surely their original retail price must have been a rip off to start with? By building in such discounts into prices, this inflates the cost, so such marketing schemes like a "scrappage scheme" can be offered in lieu of the usual discount given away regardless. Plus the fact of the matter is any double glazing company worth their salt will take away your old windows as part of the service/contract anyway.

Why do any of us fall for such blatant marketing? I suspect it is because we all like a bargain, and/or want to think we are paying less than others, when in fact we can end up paying more than we should, so it is always wise to research any large purchases thoroughly, to ensure you hopefully end up getting the right value for money product, quality and service you deserve.

Sadly, whilst there is no government windows scrappage scheme, you can join the campaign led by the Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) to have one by signing up the the number 10 petition submitted by Nigel Rees of the GGF. So far 4,236 have signed up, which has a closing date of 24th March 2010. "We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to introduce a window scrappage scheme in the UK to improve the energy efficiency of the existing housing stock." Click here if you would like to sign the petition

Obviously, if a government funded national windows scrappage scheme did ever exist, it should hopefully act as an incentive to install energy efficient energy saving "green" windows. Under the proposed Glass and Glazing Federation scheme it is hoped that householders will be encouraged to scrap their old poorly insulated windows in return for a £1,000 grant towards the installation costs of new, professionally installed, energy efficient double glazed ones. The benefits to consumers would include the £1,000 saving, a facelift for their property, lower energy bills and a reduction in their carbon footprint as a consequence of more energy efficient homes.

Surely, both the environment and Government carbon reduction targets would also benefit with the reduction of emissions from the existing housing stock?

Consequently, Buckinghamshire based Hazlemere Windows who I work for fully supports the GGF's call for a national window scrappage scheme, particularly after the proven success of the national car scrappage scheme, which reportedly has accounted for one in five of all new car sales over recent months!

Energy efficient windows (EEWs) can make a massive difference by improving the thermal performance of the existing UK housing stock. Nigel Rees, Chief Executive of the GGF, commented recently that "Energy Efficient Windows (EEWs) have a huge role to play in improving the thermal performance of the existing housing stock". "EEWs can reduce emissions by 10% from dwellings nationally and reduce national domestic energy expenditure by 10%."

Whilst the GGF proposed window scrappage scheme will obviously not save the planet, it would, if introduced, not only be a welcome financial incentive to UK property onwers, but it would also send the right sort of signal to consumers that the government (regardlss whether a conservative or labour one) is committed to encouraging and supporting energy efficiency, reducing the UK's carbon emmissions and helping home owners save energy and money. So, if you do want to lobby your local MP and the government for a real and genuine national windows scrappage scheme, now is as good a time as any to do so!