"Which" Double Glazing Company Should You Choose?

The influential Which Magazine last produced a comprehensive report on the double glazing industry in November 2002 that was entitled "Double Trouble". In preparation for this report they carried out a thorough survey beforehand. In May 2002, Which Magazine sent a postal survey to 3,519 Which Magazine readers who had had double glazing installed in the previous two years enquiring "about their experiences and asked them to rate the companies that they used" (Double Trouble - Which Magazine Page 41, November 2002).

Of the 2,218 respondents, 75% said they had opted for an independent or regional company. Which Magazine's summary on page 41 concluded "that double glazing companies, particularly national chains, are failing to provide trouble free service. Readers rated Everest the best of the chains with good quality units, but it's let down by poor customer service. Zenith also produces good units, but uses pressure selling tactics and causes more problems than Everest. Anglian, Coldseal and Staybrite were the least popular chains. Your safest bet is a personal recommendation of an independent or regional firm." (Double Trouble - Which Magazine, November 2002)

Leading home improvement specialists, Hazlemere Windows, Doors and Conservatories, always advises homeowners to visit the Which Magazine How To Buy Glazing Guide, as it offers good sound advice for anyone considering double glazed windows and doors or a new double glazed conservatory.
The Which "How to Buy Double Glazing Guide" is worth a read, as it outlines your rights, and which steps to take, and what questions to ask before you commit to purchasing double glazing products.

It is particularly worth looking at Which Magazine's payment and protection section which explains how you can gain added protection by paying by credit card and/or purchasing an insurance backed guarantee. Hazlemere Windows does have the facility to allow customers to pay by credit card (for a small fee, although there is no charge for debit cards), and offers further additional protection, should you require it, of an insurance backed guarantee from the Independent Warranty Association

The reality is that the vast majority of Hazlemere Windows customers tend to pay by personal or building society cheque, as the company is such a well established and successful independent regional manufacturer, offering a cast iron written ten year guarantee, backed by three experienced in-house dedicated service engineers, whose primary role is to deliver Hazlemere’s guarantee. Hazlemere Windows expert home improvement consultants always advise property owners to check things out for themselves, as they welcome being credit checked, as the results differentiate them from most of their competitors, and being particularly conscious of the well documented poor past record of some parts of the double glazing industry, they prefer all their customers to have total peace of mind.

Hazlemere were the Quantal Regional Installers of the Year for 2008, and also won the award for the Commercial Installation of the Year for the double glazed windows, doors and Quantal roof glazing system they manufactured and installed at Lane End Primary School during the 2008 school summer holidays.

If you want to take up Which Magazine’s advice that “your safest bet is a personal recommendation of an independent or regional firm." (Double Trouble - Which Magazine, November 2002), or you are in a dilemma as to “Which” double glazing company to use, you may find it worthwhile first checking out www.hazlemere.co.uk or ringing their experienced industry experts for free help and advice on FREEPHONE 0500 011561 or email them at info@hazlemere.co.uk

Hazlemere Windows Win Two Prestigious Double Glazing Awards For Quality of Aluminium Conservatory Roofing System Installations Throughout 2008

The company I work for (known locally as "Hazlemere Windows") have been recently awarded the prestigious Quantal Award for their Lane End School installation, which they carried out in 2008 at this Primary School in Edmonds Road, Lane End, High Wycombe, Bucks.

Quantal awarded Hazlemere the 2008 Commercial Installation of the Year Award in the education sector category for this Bucks school project which involved the construction of a new entrance lobby with a bespoke aluminium Quantal glazed roof to increase security and management of pupils, staff and the school’s many visitors and tradesfolk.

Hazlemere Commercial projects delivered this improvement scheme on time and on budget during the school summer holidays in 2008, despite discovering difficult ground conditions, when an unusually high water table was exacerbated by unseasonably wet weather. When excavation works commenced water was discovered “flowing” underneath the existing school building.
These unexpected working conditions were overcome in conjunction with Wycombe District Council Building Control and Buckinghamshire County Council’s principal surveyor for the district’s schools. Hazlemere Commercial’s operatives had to fit specialised drainage beneath the lobby concrete floor, to allow the excess water to drain away to soakaways.

Hazlemere Commercial are on the Buckinghamshire County Council’s approved list of suppliers and were selected by Lane End Primary School for this project, I understand, following discussions btween the School and Bucks County Council, given our proven track record as manufacturers and installers of bespoke aluminium glazing systems. The double glazing products used on this award winning project involved Sapa Dualframe 75 aluminium casement windows, Sapa 202 aluminium commercial entrance doors and a Quantal glazed aluminium roofing system.

During February 2009, Hazlemere Conservatories were also advised they had been adjudged the Quantal Regional Installer of the Year for 2008 for their numerous bespoke aluminium conservatory installations utilising the Quantal conservatory roofing system throughout Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Middlesex and Oxfordshire. Hazlemere Conservatories, independent manufacturers and installers of aluminium windows, doors and conservatories since 1985, like I, were thrilled to receive this award, endorsed by Richard Hulbert, General Manager of Quantal Conservatory Roofing Systems.

It is always nice to have high quality work acknowledged, and I am proud to work for a company who have high standards and even when problems arise (which inevitably do happen occasionally), do everything fair and reasonable to put these right as soon as practically possible. I know Hazlemere Windows honour their hefty 10 year guarantee, as many years ago (long before I started working for them) they came out to our home in Beaconsfield to fix some broken locks and handles on a couple of occasions and never made a fuss, nor charged us anything.

The low down on Hazlemere Windows

The company I work for Hazlemere Window Company Ltd is a bespoke, quality UPVC and aluminium window, door and curtain walling specialist, supplying the UK commercial and trade sectors, including the South of England retail market. With decades of experience in the commercial and retail sectors, Hazlemere has the knowledge and expertise to handle the design, manufacture and installation of replacement windows, doors, conservatories and a host of other, bespoke property improvements.

Hazlemere Commercial, a major Division of the Hazlemere Group, was formed in 1992 quickly building a reputation for designing, fabricating and installing quality architectural aluminium products to the commercial market sector. The Commercial Division works with architects, surveyors and main contractors as well as building owners and property managers supplying and installing curtain walling, commercial windows and commercial doors.

The Hazlemere Group also offers a wide range of conservatory interiors including furniture, blinds, ceiling fans, under floor heating and ceramic floor tiles. It also supplies and installs top quality roofline products (i.e. cladding, fascias and soffits, guttering and downpipes), garage doors and garage storage solutions.

Hazlemere are independent manufacturers originally established in 1985 by father and son, George and Stuart Braham respectively, offering a wide choice of materials and double glazing systems, making bespoke windows, doors and conservatories. In fact in 2007, Hazlemere were the first UK company to design, manufacture and install dual frame A rated aluminium window systems as endorsed by the British Fenestration Rating Council (BFRC for short!) and the Energy Saving Trust.

Is Evil triumphing in Gaza?

I have been watching the news daily since Israel started its military air strikes on Gaza. The stubbornness of both sides frustrates me, angers me and makes me fear for our World.

I do not see much righteousness, mercy or love for ones fellow man in any of the stated positions. Hamas should not deliberately keep sending rockets into Jewish settlements targeting innocent Israel families, and Israel should not over react by killing so many innocent Palestinian families, be it allegedly as collateral damage.

No side, or even the media, can agree what a military target is anymore, as black and white seems to have merged into only dark grey. Russia's incursion into Eastern Europe recently, follows on the back of America and Britain's incursion into Iraq, all of which resulted in thousands of innocent people being killed. So when Israel does the same, the United Nations, NATO, the European Union, the Arab League etc. are all helpless to stop it, having already sat back and allowed the so called super powers to flex their muscles.

It seems to me that the only force currently triumphing is evil, as hate of fellow man is fed by those wishing to progress their cause, all of which "claim" to be right. Hamas' stated aim is the obliteration of the State of Israel, which does not leave much room for compromise! They seem to have no regard for the safety of their people, by deliberately putting their military targets in densely populated civilian areas, for in their warped view, they win either way, by discouraging air strikes or by provoking Israel to act, thereby handing them a propaganda victory, and more reasons for Palestinians to hate Israel.

Where will it all end? Well, one thing we know for sure, there is not going to be a happy ending this side of eternity, as evil becomes more evil by the day, making it harder for the many good deeds done by the more moderate God fearing folk on all sides to have any effect on the evildoers, who seem hell bent on the destruction of their enemies, and often their own peoples and themselves!

If ever proof was needed that "Evil triumphs when good men do nothing", Gaza sadly for us all humans is it.

Hubble, bubble, toil and trouble.................

You don't need the Hubble telescope to see the condensation on badly insulated single or double glazed windows, or bubbles in blown sealed double glazed units!! If you don't address these visible warning signs your health or energy bills could eventually pay the price. There really is no point having cavity wall insulation and a well insulated/lagged loft if your property does not have energy rated, energy efficient, energy saving windows and doors.

The Pilkington EnergiKare advert shows home owners throwing cash out of their windows, which is literally what you are doing if you do not have a well insulated property with energy efficient windows and doors. Even the Energy Saving Trust's own research finds that home owners can reduce the energy lost through windows by 50% by installing double glazing, and save up to 20% on their energy bills year on year by fitting energy rated replacement double glazing. So, if you are not going to move, why not improve?

My advice is to do lots of research and take advantage of the free professional advice that is available from home improvement companies like the one I work for, as double glazing is one of the most important investments you will make in your home, so make sure you get a good quality product, experienced and qualified fitters and a cast iron ten year guarantee for your own peace of mind, as you need to be certain that whoever you decide to go with will be there in the years to come to service the guarantee, as not all companies can afford service departments with three full time expert craftsmen who will put right any defects that appear in the future, so to avoid any Hubble, bubble, toil and trouble choose wisely!

To find out more about the firm I work for visit http://www.hazlemere.co.uk/ or FREEPHONE 0500 011561 or email me at improve@hazlemere.co.uk or visit the 4,000 square foot home improvements High Wycombe showroom open 7 days a week.

Are replacement double glazed windows a double edged sword?

Clearly they are according to the Wiltshire Times website for Federick Henry Stokes of East Street, Warminster, Dorset, who allegedly entered into a dispute with builders over replacement windows. Threatening the developers with a Samurai Sword is clearly not the best way to go about securing energy saving improvements.

Being a little more serious the about replacement double glazed windows and doors they are a bit of a double edged sword, as on one side of the equation you have the fact that they do require an up front investment, balanced against the massive improvements they give any property on the other side of the coin. Yes, the energy saving are long term, but as long as you stay in the property you will get a good return on your investment in energy efficient cost savings alone, plus replacement double glazing is better aesthetically and reduces noise and draughts.

"Evil triumphs when good men do nothing"

The indiscriminate attacks in Mumbai in India last week, seem to have taken "terror" to a new level, as whilst the previous train bomb attack in Mumbai a few years ago actually killed more, this new attack has clearly done more psychological damage, with the locals and tourists alike not knowing who to trust. This new "evil" must not be allowed to spread, as my old mum often told me that "evil triumphs when good men do nothing."

My dear old mum also taught me that evil will always eventually expose itself for what is by it's very inherent nature, it can not stop doing evil, and always oversteps itself in its deceit, hate, viciousness etc. Hopefully humanity will be so outraged by the attacks in Mumbai it will collectively garner the political will to do something about this new fear before other evildoers are "conned" or convince themselves that their cause justifies their actions.

The sheer lack of love, compassion and care for one's fellow man is clearing not something that comes from a loving Creator God, but rather selfish, hateful, possibly religious/political fanatics who just can not seem to abide other people not " believing" or living differently to them. It is time for the good men to act to ensure evil does not triumph because they do nothing.