Double Glazing On The Web

Did you know that overheads such as advertising, showrooms and general marketing can up the purchase price of your double glazing by up to 10 times?  Catch your breath a minute and read on for some good news! 

The answer you are looking for folks: Internet sales; same quality, but with fewer people to pay in the chain.  If you buy your windows and doors direct from the manufacturer you can cut out the middle men and their overheads.  Fact: double glazing is cheaper online, and more importantly you are in charge of the facts.  The prices that you see are the prices that you pay.  ‘Now where did I put that tape measure …?’

The benefits of double glazing are substantial.  Primarily for reducing heat loss, but also noise pollution and condensation are significantly reduced.  Remember, saving on heat loss means saving on your energy bills.  For all you green readers, you will know that this in turn benefits the environment.  By reducing the energy you use at home, you are actively working to decrease your ‘CO2 footprint’.  Give yourself a pat on the back; your double glazing is helping to save the planet!

Online retailers are continually crunching down the cost of improving your home online, so remember that it’s not just windows and doors you can make a saving on…..go on, live dangerously and get those yellow curtains and scatter cushions to match!

Finally!  After what seems like dozens of brochures, telephone calls and sales pitches, you have reached a decision on how your dream new conservatory will look and who will bring your vision to life.  But hang on….. have you organised for a surveyor to come in?  If you haven’t… make sure you read on!

 
Most double glazing orders are manufactured specifically to individual requirements; every millimetre matters!  Not only will the surveyor confirm precise measurements, there are essential safety checks to be carried out.  Your new conservatory will soon be the pride and joy of your home, but before work can get underway you need to be sure that the ground itself is suitable for the structure.   You must also identify whether your project is classified as exempt from Building Regulations.  Your conservatory may need to conform to the latest building regulations including provision for drainage and water run-off which often requires re-routing of existing pipe-work.

Planning permission may also be required for your installation to go ahead, be sure to check with your local council before giving the green light for any work to commence.  If your surveyor is local, they may be able to assist you with this. 

Now for the easy part: picking your surveyor couldn’t be easier – with various databases online to choose from, you are sure to get a price that’s right. Alternatively many double glazing firms and conservatory suppliers will have a reliable, specialist surveyor in-house, making the whole process even easier.

Eyes and windows; they seem to be synonymous.  We’re all familiar with the sayings ‘Windows are the eyes of your home’ and ‘The eyes are the windows to the soul’. 

Literally speaking, windows are the eyes of your home – because you look through them at the world outside.  We must give a small mention to the ‘curtain twitchers’ (CT’s) in our communities.  We all know which house they live in - they form a more covert style neighbourhood watch scheme with a somewhat differing objective!  CT’s tend to be more on the ‘vintage’ side with plenty more time on their hands to devote to the cause.  Keep up the good work!

Not many people know that windows were actually a source of income for the UK Government during the 17th and 18th century.  2, 4 or 8 shillings were payable dependant on the number of windows at the property.  The bigger the house, the more windows it was likely to have and the more tax the occupants would pay.  To avoid the tax, some occupants would brick-up their windows; this can still be seen today in many towns including Poole, Southampton and Portsmouth.

Thankfully window tax was abolished in 1851, although this doesn’t stop us moaning about washing the net curtains or keeping the double glazing sparkling!

First impressions mean everything; we’ve all heard it, but does this age old saying really apply to such things as front doors?    Well folks, the scores on the doors reveal the answer is Yes.

After weeks of ritual cleaning, de-cluttering and sprucing, your home is finally ‘on the market’.  It seems a little unfair that after all that effort, your prospective buyers’ opinion was already swayed before they took their shoes off.  Expensive, stylish décor will certainly muster up some lust, but what use is this if their heart was left at the Front Door?   

Research shows that most home buyers take in only superficial impressions of a property, so it’s time to shift the focus and consider your front door and what it says about you.  Upgrading your “curb appeal” could help you sell your home more quickly, for the price you want and more importantly need.  However with so many Front Door choices, how do we know which one to buy?  Take the guesswork out of the equation by considering these four crucial elements: Safety, Durability, Design and Budget. 

Remember, your Front Door can serve as a powerful design element and project an instant image of luxury to your potential buyer.  However what they say about your tea and homemade scones is probably best kept to themselves!