Windows
Replacement windows: frames, glazing and the certificate you need
One local tradesperson gets your request – no ring-round.
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Replacement windows fall under the Building Regulations in England and Wales, so the installation is not only a question of style and price. Either the installer self-certifies the work through a competent person scheme, or Building Control has to approve it. Tell us how many windows you need and what you have in mind. Your request goes, without your name, to window companies in your area, and exactly one of them can take it.
- Exactly one business. Your request is handed out once. After that, no other business sees it.
- You know who will be in touch. Before the business receives your contact details, we send you its name, address and phone number.
- Withdraw at any time. You can withdraw your consent at any time – using the link in our email.
Frame materials and glazing
uPVC is the most common frame in British homes: low maintenance and usually the lowest price, but thicker sightlines and a look that does not suit every older house. Timber frames can be repaired and repainted, and are often the only acceptable choice on listed buildings or in conservation areas; they need regular painting. Aluminium allows slim frames and large panes and is typical for modern extensions and bi-fold doors. Composite frames combine a timber inside with an aluminium outer face.
Double glazing is standard. Triple glazing adds weight and cost, and in the milder parts of the country the benefit is smaller than the brochures suggest. For sash windows there are double-glazed timber sashes with slim units, and secondary glazing is an option where the original windows must stay. Ask for the whole-window U-value or energy rating, not only the figure for the glass.
Building Regulations and the certificate
An external window is a controlled fitting. The replacement has to meet requirements on heat loss, safety glazing, ventilation and means of escape. Safety glass is needed in critical areas, for example in glazed doors and side panels up to 1500mm above the floor, and in panes up to 800mm from the floor. Upstairs, a window that serves as a fire escape must stay at least as good for escape as the one it replaces.
An installer registered with a competent person scheme such as FENSA, CERTASS or another scheme listed on GOV.UK can sign off the work, and you receive a certificate after completion. If the installer is not registered, the installer or you must involve Building Control before the work starts. Keep the certificate: it is one of the first documents a buyer's solicitor asks for.
Trickle vents are easy to forget. If the old windows had background ventilation, the new ones should not leave the room with less, which matters especially in kitchens, bathrooms and in homes that already have condensation.
Source: planningportal.co.uk
Make a requestPlanning, conservation areas and flats
Windows of similar appearance to the originals do not usually need planning permission on a house in England. Upper-floor windows in a side wall must be obscure-glazed and either fixed or open only above 1.7 metres from the floor. A new bay window counts as an extension.
In a conservation area, the council may have removed permitted development rights with an Article 4 direction, and swapping timber sashes for uPVC at the front can then need permission. Listed buildings need listed building consent for replacement windows. In a flat, the windows are often part of the building's structure under the lease, so check with the freeholder or managing agent first.
Quotes, VAT and doorstep contracts
Windows are standard-rated for VAT; the zero rate for energy-saving materials does not cover glazing. Make sure quoted prices say whether VAT is included.
Be wary of a price that falls sharply if you sign today. Before signing a contract at home, ask whether you can cancel, particularly for made-to-measure frames, and do not pay a large deposit before the survey has been done and the sizes confirmed. Ask how the installer protects your deposit if it stops trading.
- frame material, colour, profile system and opening style for each window
- glazing specification, whole-window U-value or energy rating, safety glass where required
- trickle vents, fire escape hinges and locks
- removal and disposal of old frames, making good of plaster and sills
- competent person scheme and how the certificate is issued
- guarantee on frames, sealed units and installation, and any deposit protection
How your request reaches one window company
It costs you nothing. After you confirm your phone number and email address, we show the details of the job, without your name or contact details, to window installers in your area. The first one to buy it gets it; it pays Offrano, and the request is removed. Before that installer sees your details, we email you its name, address and phone number.
It may happen that no installer takes the request, in which case it is withdrawn after 21 days. You do not have to accept the quote you receive. Offrano checks that buyers are registered businesses, nothing more, so look the installer up on the FENSA or CERTASS website before you sign.
Services
Guides on Windows
Frequently asked questions
What is a FENSA certificate?
It shows that replacement windows or doors were installed by a firm registered with FENSA, a competent person scheme, and that the work was notified under the Building Regulations. CERTASS and other listed schemes issue equivalent certificates. Without one, you need a completion certificate from Building Control.
Do I need planning permission for new windows?
Usually not for a house in England if the new windows look similar to the old ones. You may need permission in a conservation area with an Article 4 direction, and listed buildings need listed building consent. Flats depend on the lease and the freeholder.
Is there a grant for replacement windows?
Windows are not covered by the zero VAT rate for energy-saving materials and are standard-rated. Energy schemes aimed at low-income households focus mainly on insulation and heating, so check with your council before counting on help for glazing.
Is triple glazing worth it?
It reduces heat loss further but costs more and adds weight to the frame. Whether it pays back depends on the house, the frame quality and how long you stay. A well-fitted double-glazed window with a good energy rating often makes more difference than the third pane.
What should I do with old sash windows?
Repair and draught-proofing or secondary glazing keep the originals and are often required on listed buildings. Replacement double-glazed timber sashes are available where the council allows them. Ask a joiner experienced with sash windows before deciding.
Will I be contacted by lots of window companies?
No. The request goes to one installer only, and we tell you by email who it is before it gets your details.
Ready to make your request?
Describe your project – your request goes to exactly one business.
Make a request