West Yorkshire Windows

Nobody likes to spend money when they do not have to and more so now than ever in the current credit crunch we are all looking to save money. One such expense which many people debate is whether to install replacement windows and doors or not. There are several considerations which you need to think about to determine if you need replacement windows.

One of the most important factors which you must consider is safety and all too often this is surprisingly overlooked. If there was a fire in your house often windows would be the only means of escape therefore particularly first floor and above windows should be easy to open. Often old wooden windows will have been painted so many times that they can no longer be opened and this is a serious safety risk.

Unfortunately it is a sign of the times that we live in that security needs to be a consideration. Locks on older windows and doors are often flimsy and can easily be broken. It is important not to only consider the main front and back door but consider all the external doors in your house such as French doors and patio doors.

It seems like every time we open a newspaper we read how gas and electricity prices are once again set to increase. Or how global warming is getting worse and it is all our responsibilities to do our bit to look after the planet. The windows and doors are one of the weakest spots in many homes in terms of energy efficiency it is predicted that between 25 and 40 percent if the heat in a home could be lost through inefficient windows and doors.

Many people do not realise that their windows and doors are actually inefficient but if any of the following factors sound familiar then the likelihood is that your windows could be improved. Is double glazing used in your windows? Are your windows more than 20years old? Do your windows suffer from condensation, and do you get little pools of water on your windowsills? Are the windows warped or rotting and can you feel drafts around your windows? Are your windows easy to open and can they be locked easily? These are just a few of the factors which indicate that your windows may need replacing.

By installing double glazed replacement windows and doors you will be able to solve all of the above issues. Double glazing improves the security, safety and efficiency of a home making it a very worthwhile investment that in the long run will save you money on your gas and electricity bills. Double glazing has also proven time and again to be very popular with potential house buyers and can therefore add value to your property and make it easier to sell.

For the latest Double Glazing & Replacement Window offers installed throughout West Yorkshire including Bradford, Barnsley, Castleford, Doncaster, Halifax, Huddersfield, Leeds, Pontefract, Sheffield and Wakefield – freephone 0800 026 4455 today!

When it comes to improving the aesthetics of your property replacement windows come in a variety of styles and colours meaning that there is a style to complement virtually any house. If you live in a tradition property then there are uPVC windows available which are made to look like traditional sash windows. If however you live in a modern property there are a range of colours to choose from such as grey or black to help give your home a truly contemporary look.

If your windows are starting to get a little old then installing replacement windows and double glazing has many benefits. This article will talk you through the benefits of double glazing and replacement windows.

• One of the most obvious benefits of double glazing is that is highly energy efficient and can reduce your gas and electricity bills considerably.

• Replacement windows are now very affordable. Improvements in manufacturing technology has meant that they are now far cheaper to produce and therefore cheaper to buy.

• UPVC replacement windows benefits from the latest in multi point locking technology which means that it is highly secure. Making it increasingly difficult for anyone to break in to your home.

• Although single glazing will help to reduce the amount of external noises in a house, double glazing is far better as an insulator and reduces the amount of outside noises in your home considerably.

• UPVC double glazing is also very low maintenance. Unlike traditional wooden framed windows where they needed to be treated every couple of years to prevent them from rotting and warping. Whereas replacement only require wiping with soap and water every so often to keep them looking as good as new.

• Replacement windows will also improve the aesthetics of your home both internally and externally. It will give your home a clean fresh look and there are a variety of styles to choose from including traditional sash look windows to more contemporary styles.

• New windows can also increase the value of your home they are often high up on potential buyers wish lists and will make your home more desirable.

• Double glazing is not only restricted to the windows but can also be used in doors and UPVC French doors which will also benefit from all the above.

There are obviously many benefits to installing replacement windows including improved security, lower gas and electricity bills, low maintenance and making it more desirable to potential buyers.

For more information on Replacement Windows, Double Glazing and uPVC French Doors please visit our showrooms in Leeds & Wakefield.

After the successful debut of whitegrain uPVC windows in the summer of 2008, West Yorkshire Windows have now launched 5 new colours.

With the UK double glazing market reaching boiling point window companies are being forced to develop new product developments to bring in new custom.

Managing Director of the Conservatory Outlet group, Matthew Glover explains, “The challenge for uPVC window companies in a difficult market to encourage people to change their uPVC windows that they had fitted in the 1980s and 1990s. PVCu windows are a long lasting and maintenance free solution for replacement windows, but consumers are unlikely to be thinking about replacing new windows that are no more advanced than the windows they intially replaced 10 or 15 years ago. Therefore, West Yorkshire Windows have developed our A rated energy efficient windows which can help to provide large savings on heating bills (compared to standard double glazed windows). And we believe these new colour options will give people more individuality, and is a real alternative to timber windows”.

West Yorkshire Windows will be offering not only uPVC windows, but uPVC doors and conservatories in Green, Grey, Cream, Black and Rustic Cherry on the external face. The supplier, Synseal, is offering conservatory roofs to match as well, making it a full suite.

These new products are available in standard lead time, and offer a better solution than the alternative – spraying uPVC frames.

They will also be continuing to offer the whitegrain product with the grain on the inside and outside of the frame, as well as the option of a conservatory roof to match.

All the new colours are available as A Rated environmentally friendly windows with high security locking.

Click here for more information on conservatories.

Sir/Madam

I am writing to say thanks for the great service we have received from West Yorkshire Windows.

Colin the salesman was courteous, knowledgeable about the uPVC double glazing, and not pressurising at all, his honesty and lack of pushiness surprised my husband and myself, after stories we had heard about other companies.

The surveyor and arranging the survey was easy, the fitting of our new uPVC windows was arranged quickly and all the times and dates kept to.

Your window fitters, when they fit our energy efficient windows recently, were hard working, kept the house clean and the windows looked great.  A small scratch on 1 of the double glazed units was noted and the fitter immediately arranged for a replacement unit.  Again there was no chasing up needed I was contacted promptly and the fitting arranged at a mutually convenient time.  Again the maintenance man was polite, respectful and worked hard.

All in all I would just like to say what a pleasure it has been to work with such a professional company with excellent standards and service from start to finish, thank you.

We will certainly recommend you to others and wish you every success in the future.

Yours sincerely

Trinity Place

Bingley

Bradford

West Yorkshire

One of the most challenging decisions you will need to make after buying a home or when embarking on a home improvement strategy is deciding on the style of your replacement windows and doors. Everybody wants an attractive and aesthetically pleasing home and the right double glazing windows and doors can go a long way to achieving this. Before undertaking any interior or exterior design project, you must first outline the major products that you require. You should look around and decide which styles you like and what materials you think will be best suited for you, as well as considering issues related to cost and maintenance.

A variety of attractive double glazing windows and doors are available on the market for relatively inexpensive prices. Traditionally windows and doors for residential properties have been manufactured using wood but recent trends have indicated a shift towards PVC windows. These PVC windows, doors and conservatories provide a great finish and have many advantages over the traditional wooden frames. You can also choose between casement or sash windows depending in the style of your home.

Features of double glazed windows

• Double glazing windows are internally beaded windows where the glass is held from the inside and are considered more secure than traditional wooden framed windows.
• Most PVC windows and PVC doors are multi-walled with internal reinforcements made from either aluminum or galvanized steel.
• Frames are available in a variety of different colours. The standard colour for PVC windows and doors is white although there are various colour options and wood effect windows available.
• PVC windows are much better for insulation purposes and have proven to be much more energy efficient.
• Double glazing windows are also much stronger and have many additional security features to protect your home from intruders.

West Yorkshire Windows based in Leeds and Wakefield manufactures high quality PVC windows and doors with all these added features and many are available with special discounts and promotional offers. West Yorkshire Windows specialise in the design and installation of the latest energy efficient ‘A’ Rated double glazing PVC windows, doors, bespoke conservatories and orangeries. Providing helpful and expert advice for free and without any obligation to buy.

Why not give us a call on 0800 026 4455 or visit our fabulous showrooms in Leeds or Wakefield – we guarantee you won’t be disappointed.

It would be an obvious point to make that having new uPVC doors and uPVC windows fitted would provide several benefits to your house as a whole. The addition of these new features would undoubtedly increase the value of your home and the good news is that they do not have to detract from the external styling of the property either. In fact, by adding something like a porch, conservatory or orangery you not only compliment the building but also add more room and in many cases a touch of elegance to your house.

Energy efficiency is also another good reason for having new uPVC windows or uPVC doors fitted.  This measure helps to save the environment by reducing your carbon footprint but it can also save money in your pocket by reducing energy bills.

The one overriding feature that I believe is the most significant point to take into consideration, though, is the added security features that modern uPVC doors or uPVC windows have to offer.  Not only do you benefit from the most modern and sturdy of materials but the equipment is likely to be fitted with good locks and bolts and even something as seemingly insignificant as internal beading can prove to be a useful addition to security.

Here we will look at some of the more significant features that modern uPVC doors and uPVC windows have to offer.

Internal Beading
At the end of the day a double glazed window is not designed to survive a sustained attack. After all, the emergency services need to gain quick access into your home if need be, but the idea of having modern windows fitted would be to deter the opportunist thief.  Older double glazed windows had the beading fitted on the outside of the glass, meaning that a potential burglar could pop out the plastic seal around the frame with a screwdriver and literally remove the entire unit.

Nowadays internal beading is fitted pretty much as standard which takes away this option.  If somebody wanted to break into your house with modern uPVC windows fitted they would literally have to smash the glass thus creating a lot of noise and bringing the attention of the neighbours to the fact that something was wrong.

Fire Safety
Having new uPVC windows fitted opens up the opportunity to make the house safer in the incidence of fire as well as improving the security of the property.  If you use a company that offers a bespoke design service you can make sure that they run through all the features and benefits of fitting windows within certain areas of the property that would allow for a quick escape during the rare instance of a fire in the home.  By having new windows fitted you are not only benefiting from all the points above, but it could also be the difference between life and death for you and your family.

Modern Locks and Bolts
Older doors in particular only have one lock that clicks into the frame at the middle of the door, making it easier for an intruder to force his way into the property.  The newest doors however have things such as multiple locking points, barrel locks with an anti drill design and anti-lift pins and hinge protectors, literally designed to prevent a would be burglar from lifting doors (especially in the case of an older conservatory or sliding patio door) right off their hinges.  These many added security features of modern uPVC windows and uPVC doors have evolved over the last 20-30 years of trial and error.

A process of developing technologies that would beat the ever increasing ingenuity of the burglar has led to the development of ever more secure locks and bolts to be added.  A burglar tends to be opportunistic and will deliberately seek out a soft target.  The best way to send out a message to them is to have new windows and doors fitted so they do not even give your property a second glance after noticing how the fittings look rock solid from the outside.

To explore your options the best step forward would be to book a session with a company that offers a bespoke design service.  There are a few good companies out there that offer this and not only will you be able be able to come up with a plan that suites the style of your building, takes into such external factors like a risk assessment of your property to determine the weak points but will also take into consideration your budget.

The double glazing in our uPVC windows has one of the highest energy saving ratings in the industry.

To enable customers to make the best choice the British Fenestration Rating Council (BRFC) have introduced a rating scheme where A is the most energy efficient and G is the least, similar to the ratings seen on white goods like washing machines.

• A rating – The highest industry rating available from West Yorkshire Windows.
• B rating – Available from West Yorkshire Windows.
• C rating – The recommended threshold for energy saving windows.
• D rating – Building Regulations requirement for replacement windows in Scotland.
• E rating – Building regulations requirement for replacement windows in England and Wales.

Insulating your home is one of the best ways to make your home energy efficient – and one of the key ways to save energy is through double glazing. Double glazing acts as second layer of protection for your home from losing heat. And when around half of heat used to keep your home warm is lost through the walls, windows or loft, you could cut this significantly by installing double glazed windows.

Single glazed windows alone can lose around 20% of your home’s heat. Double glazing can make a wise long term investment for your home, and be good for the environment. Double glazed windows can save £80 to £100 and 680kg of CO2 every year – not to mention adding real value to your property if you later choose to sell.

How Double Glazing Works
Double glazing works by trapping air between two panes of glass. This creates an insulating barrier that will stop heat being lost, stop condensation appearing at your windows, and will also help stop noise from outside.

You should look for energy saving recommended double glazing, to ensure that you are installing the most energy efficient frames and glass. This will be particularly important when Energy Performance Certificates give an energy efficiency rating to homes in the new Home Information Packs that you’ll need, if you choose to sell your property after June 2007.

The Costs
The cost of installing double glazing greatly depends on the size of your house, and how many windows you wish to fit double glazed panes. If your budget is tight, you may choose simply to double glaze the windows in individual rooms rather than your entire property. Pick the rooms you use most often and tend to heat most.

West Yorkshire Windows launched there Energy Rated uPVC Windows on the 1st of February.

So far, over 50% of customers have chosen to upgrade from our standard C Rated uPVC Window to the more advanced A Rated uPVC windows. It is understandable though, when an average house could save the cost of upgrading within the first 2 years of the windows being installed.

A report issued by one of the profile manufacturers stated that the average 3 bedroom Semi Detached home would cost £1000 per year to heat (with single glazed timber windows). It also stated that if you installed A Rated uPVC windows your heating bills could be reduced by up to £250 per year.
Our upgrade cost for A Rated windows works out to be about £300 for the average home! You can see why more and more people are coming to West Yorkshire Windows for a quality job!

For more information, please call into one of our showrooms in Wakefield and Leeds.

West Yorkshire Windows are celebrating our 15th Birthday this month.

We have been fitting quality conservatories, windows and doors since the early nineties. The company was started by brother’s Matthew and Andrew glover in 1994, working from a small shop in Middlestown.

We are now one of the largest installers of uPVC Conservatories, uPVC Double Glazing, uPVC French Doors and http://www.westyorkshirewindows.co.uk/upvc_compositedoors.php in Yorkshire and have recently added uPVC Orangeries to our portfolio.

We would like to thank all of our very valued customers for there support over the years and promise to continue the good work for years to come.

Getting the best deal for gas and electricity is an important first step in reducing your bills, but it is time to start thinking about conserving energy as well. So what can you do to protect yourself and minimise you and your family’s exposure? Here are our top ten tips:

1. Compare your energy prices online regularly with Utilities Today
If you have never switched energy supplier before, you could save up to £170 per year. Even households who have switched before should look again for a better deal – savings of 15% can be achieved quite easily. Remember – check whether you’re still getting the best deal every six months!

2. Pay by monthly Direct Debit.
Rip up those cheques and see if your current supplier can offer you savings by moving to a cheaper payment method. Consumer watchdog energywatch reckons you could save up to £67 per year by moving from cheque to monthly Direct Debit.

3. Don’t use prepayment energy meters.
Prepayment meters usually accept tokens or coins that can be bought or topped up. If the customer stops paying, the supply is cut off. The advantage is that you can budget your expenditure, however, this is also the most expensive way to buy your energy. If you have a prepayment meter in your home, contact your supplier for advice on having it replaced with a credit meter.

4. Insulate your home.
Did you know that 40% of heat in a typical home is lost through the walls and loft? Make your home more energy efficient through draught proofing, cavity wall insulation, ‘A’ Rated uPVC double glazing, replacement uPVC Doors and by putting a sleeve over your water tank. And before you worry about the cost – help is at hand: The government, energy suppliers and local authorities all have a range of grants to help pay for making insulation improvements.

5. Get energy-saving light bulbs.
Every time you switch on a regular light bulb, 90% of the electricity is wasted as heat, and only 10% is converted into light. And while these special bulbs cost more, you should consider that they can last up to 12 times longer than standard bulbs.

6. Make your own electricity.
Government grants are available for a range of technologies to generate electricity in your home.

7. Get a gas boiler that generates electricity.
Innovative new gas boilers provide hot water around the house, while absorbing the heat that would normally be wasted through the exhaust to generate electricity. The energy can then be used in your home or exported back into the electricity grid – saving up to £200 per year.

8. Take the Energy Savings Trust Home Energy Check.
Still not convinced this is for you? Use this simple online tool by the Energy Savings Trust to generate a personalised report that shows where you could cut back on your energy consumption. http://www.est.org.uk/sens /propertyDetailsPublic.do?action=view.

9. Financial help for elderly people.
The government operates a £200 Winter Fuel Payment scheme for pensioners over the age of 60. More information on how to apply for the scheme is available on this link http://www.thepensionservice.gov.uk/winterfuel/what-is-it.asp or by calling the Winter Fuel Payment helpline on 08459 15 15 15.

10. Think you know it all now?
Visit the website of the National Energy Foundation and test your knowledge about renewable energy sources. Get it right and you could win a Solar Sunhat. http://www.nef.org.uk/energyadvice/quiz.htm.