Double Glazing On The Web

Some conservatory suppliers are reporting up to 45% increases in sales over the past three months.

The probable reason for this trend-bucking statistic is that conservatories are seen as a risk-free way of enlarging the home, thus adding value to the property.  In this very uncertain housing market, moving home is nigh on impossible and there is a very real fear of negative equity.

Adding that conservatory is one way, and a very good way, of safeguarding the value of your property, and giving you more living space.

A double glazing salesman features in the new ITV ‘real life’ series, Natural Born Sellers.

The series, which commences on October 2nd, features eight salespeople who have put their careers on hold and their reputations on the line. They risk everything over six weeks for the ultimate buzz - to close the biggest deal of their lives.

Replacing the existing workforce in real businesses across the UK, these ruthless professionals must hit aggressive sales targets, earn maximum commission and as a result push their combined kitty of cash ever higher.

Watch it and learn - then come to us for your double glazing, doors, and conservatories!

Just a heads up to readers in Crewe and Nantwich: I have just read that new planning regulations applying to new extensions (including conservatories) come into force in your area next Wednesday, 1st October, 2008.

These regulation changes seem pretty confusing to me because, whilst many extensions that have previously needed council permission can now be built without permission, some previously allowed developments now need planning permission.

Of relevance to this site: all conservatories or rear extensions over three metres in length will, from next Wednesday, require planning permission.

Read about these and other changes here

If you frequently look at your neighbours’ conservatories and wonder why; why do they go through all the hassle, upheaval, and expense of having a conservatory added to their house, read on:

Conservatories - The Pros

• Adding a conservatory to your home will increase the footprint size of your home.
• Adding a conservatory to your home is far cheaper than moving to a larger property.

• Adding a conservatory to your home will increase the amount of natural light that your home enjoys.

• A conservatory has the effect of ‘bringing the garden into the home.’

• What could be more cosy and comfortable than sitting in the warm and watching the rain?

Conservatories: The Cons

• The initial outlay for a conservatory can be high.
• You will have to lose some of your garden to the conservatory.

• A conservatory is just another room to heat in the winter months.

• A conservatory has to be furnished - otherwise you won’t use it.

• A south facing conservatory will need blinds.

• Conservatories are not particularly child friendly.

Conservatories: The Summary

In terms of adding extra space when you can’t really afford to move, a conservatory can’t be beat.  Even if you move at a later date, the conservatory will have increased the value of your home.  In terms of whether it’s worth you investing in one, it all depends on how much you will use it - and you are more likely to get a lot of use out of it if its comfortable.

Conservatories: The Conclusion

Probably the best advice is to budget carefully.  If you can afford to furnish a new conservatory and install blinds, that is promising. If you can also afford to heat your conservatory in the winter - you should go for it!

Apparently, rogue conservatory salesmen still exist, despite the industry’s attempts to clean up its act.

From next month (October 2008) as a consumer, if you sign up on your doorstep to purchase a conservatory (well, anything really, but this is a double glazing blog!) you will be allowed to cancel contracts, even if you requested a sales visit to your home or office.

Previously you only had the right to cancel door-to-door salesmen’s contracts in a seven day ‘cooling off’ period if the salesman visits were unsolicited.

The Cancellation of Contracts made in a Consumer’s Home or Place of Work etc Regs 2008 came about because a number of reports and consultations uncovered the need for more protection.  Apparently, protection is particularly needed in the case of the sale of services to construct patios, driveways and conservatories.

The Regulations apply to sales of goods or services to a value of £35 or more, not to sales below that threshold.

Another sad indictment on our industry.  Here at Double Glazing on the Web we pride ourselves on being honest and ethical - and our conservatories aren’t too bad either!

The following is taken from Lib Dem Councillor, Ian Shires, blog:

Well Mr Brown I’ve got news for you, many of us have already lagged our lofts, put in double glazing, insulated our cavity walls. You name it, we’ve done it! and guess what? none of it heats the house!!

We’re “brassed off ” with people like Hilary Benn - what does he know about any sort of poverty let alone fuel poverty. The only thing he’s had to give up is the families hereditary tittle!! We don’t need people like him telling us we need to make our homes more energy efficient.

I have to say I do agree with his sentiment about having energy efficiency and the green agenda forced down our throats.  However, financial assistance with installing energy saving home improvements will make a tremendously positive contribution to the quality of life for some people.  It seems that Mr Shires has forgotten what its like to scrape the frost from inside the windows on a cold and frosty morn.  Or, just maybe, he has never been in that position.

If you don’t have double glazing and you would like to wake up to a warm home, you need an honest supplier, one that charges an honest price for an honest job.  We are very proud of that fact and make no apologies for mentioning it from time to time!

If you are waiting for the fuel poverty package to be announced before installing double glazing, it is expected to be unveiled tomorrow.  Despite expectations, there will be no windfall tax on energy companies’ profits. And whatever the package, you’ll want to be sure you’re getting the best value for your money.

It is expected, however, that over 10 million households will be offered financial help for the installation of loft insulation, a new boiler, and double glazing.

The announcement comes after Tuesday’s report by the National Housing Federation that showed a staggering quarter of the population will be in fuel poverty by next year.

To read the announcement in full go to The Press Association.

Alison Prowse Piper, who apparently goes by the moniker ‘Queen of Double Glazing,’  has  won her claim that she suffered sex discrimination, sexual harassment and unfair dismissal.  Piper, who worked for double glazing giant, Anglian Home Improvements, claimed that, after taking maternity leave twice in 14 months, she felt ‘ostracised’ and her pay was cut by more than half to £30,000.

Now, I can’t comment on the case per se - I wouldn’t know Ms Prowse if she came up to me and offered free double glazing - but the story underlines the point I’ve been making about how sales people’s salaries and commissions inflate the price of your home improvements.

At one point, Her Illustrious Majesty was a national manager of Anglian Home Improvements telecanvassing department, commanding a £72,500 annual salary for a three-day week.

I rest my case.

Oh, and here’s some honest pricing!

I’ve banged on a lot on this blog about the benefits to the environment (and your pocket) of double glazing.  Niggling away at the back of my mind, though, was something I read months ago about UPVC frames being bad for the environment.  I struggled to see how double glazing, something touted by all concerned in the world of the eco-warrior as having a positive effect on the environment, could also have a negative effect.  So, I decided to find out - what better thing to do on a rainy Saturday than research double glazing?

I found the following information on the negative aspects of UPVC (Vinyl to those of us who remember LPs, or long player records, to give them their full name):

• Production of UPVC is, apparently, hazardous
• UPVC is difficult to dispose and it is difficult to recycle

Then I found a uTube video by Dr Patrick Moore.  As a founding member of Greenpeace, I thought that his arguments, whether negative or positive, could be relied upon to be well informed and, indeed, they were.  And the estimable Dr Moore makes a case for UPVC double glazing. His argument is that, as UPVC has such a long life - 35 years with virtually no maintenance - the disposal issue is overstated.

And what about recycling?  Well perhaps it is difficult, but it is not impossible.  I did a little Googling and found Recovinyl, a pan-European organisation that provides financial incentives to support the collection of PVC waste.  The organisation’s literature states: (brackets mine)

It (PVC) is used to make long-lasting products, often with a life-expectancy exceeding 60 years. In addition to its longevity, PVC is a material perfectly fit for recycling after its use.

So, disposal and recycling of UPVC frames are not major issues, although they are issues that are ripe for new initiatives.

Manufacturing is an issue.  However, as double glazing the average property results in a reduction of approximately 740 kg a year in carbon dioxide production, it would seem that the benefits outweigh the problems.  In fact, if everyone in the UK who needed to install double glazing did so, 59,200 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions would be eradicated from the UK’s overall carbon footprint.

The Way Forward

So what conclusions did I come to on that rainy Saturday afternoon?

• UPVC double glazed windows are very beneficial to the environment - just look again at the CO2 reduction above
• UPVC can and, indeed, should be recycled.  A greater awareness of this fact and how to access the relevant  facilities needs to be encouraged in the general population
• Until a new, safe to manufacture, product has been developed, replacement of old windows with UPVC double glazing should be encouraged.

As we used to write at the end of a scientific experiment when I was at school QED!

Following rumours that the government had been ready to hand out £150 fuel money to families claiming child benefit, Gordon Brown’s speech to business leaders yesterday smashed all hopes of that extra cash materialising.  Instead, he said that proposals would soon be unveiled to assist with rising fuel bills, but there would be “no gimmicks or giveaways.”

The expectation is that the measures will focus on helping people to install insulation and double glazing.  In fact, the government are locked into talks with industry leaders about this as I write.  Brown said the government would take “steps to making every home more energy efficient,”  thereby cutting bills permanently.

You know where to come!

Daily Mirror