Top questions to ask your Sussex window installer

“How much will it cost?

Rogue traders can give grossly inflated quotes for windows and doors if they smell uncertainty about price. Even worse, overcharging for installation is almost always legal! The onus is on you to know your onions, shop around and call out someone who’s trying to squeeze some extra cash out of you.

At Kayvex, even if you aren’t local or looking to buy from us, you can use our prices as a guide (just scroll down!). These will naturally vary from area to area and depending on the complexity of the job, but not by too much!

“What’s the energy efficiency rating of your windows?”

The science is clear: we need to drastically increase the world’s energy efficiency to slow climate change. Similarly clear is the cost of compromising on home insulation— as anybody who’s ever lived in a draughty, poorly insulated home can tell you, over time the energy bills mount up.

Luckily, most quality window fitters these days carry highly-insulative A-rated glass as standard. If your fitter doesn’t, you need to ask why, and whether it’s worth contracting another company — within a number of years, energy-efficient windows pay for themselves, while lower-quality ones keep costing you money.

Some window manufacturers (like us!) even stock so-called Solar Elite glass, which offers 20% more insulation than A-rated glass. We’d be happy to run you through the details — why not get in touch?

“Can I view the products before choosing?”

If somebody doesn’t want you to see the windows they’re fitting, you might have a problem. You’re going to have to live with these windows long term, after all!

More generally, though, it’s often tricky to get an idea of the quality of the products a company is providing from pictures. One way around this is a good, old-fashioned showroom. Covid-permitting, it’s nearly always worth the trip to speak to an expert and see your potential new windows in the flesh.

“How long does the installation take?”

Having windows fitted shouldn’t be a big construction project — aside from very complex jobs, your fitter should be in and out in a day. Fitters that aren’t sure how long a job will take or don’t want to say might be best avoided.

“Do you offer any finance options?”

Offering finance options means the company isn’t strapped for cash — it can afford to let you pay over time. It also shows it’s in it for the long haul, as finance plans over a number of months or years indicate they don’t plan on disappearing any time soon. Finance options can also increase your bargaining power further down the line if something does go wrong, so the company has an incentive to deliver a long-lasting product

A company that doesn’t offer finance might be just fine — but make sure you get a receipt!

“Do you have any accreditation? And what’s the guarantee on your products?”

Quality companies will have been accredited by at least one reputable trades body like Certass, and endorsed by several other minor professional bodies or suppliers. You can usually spot these logos on the company’s website, but Certass itself runs a verification tool for consumers. 

Established, well-regarded companies usually give a long, strong insurance-backed guarantee on their products. This is because they believe in them, value repeat business and are able to partner with other companies to provide a joint warranty system like Quality Assured National Warranties — a partner of ours.