DIY Double Glazing – The Insider’s Guide

Installing you own double glazed windows or doors ?If it goes well, you can be sure of 3 things:

  • Peace of mind – you’ve done the job so you know it’s done properly
  • Saving money – you’ve not had to pay out for qualified fitters
  • Pride: your home, your castle – there’s a great satisfaction in having done it yourself

Two things that you need to get right before you start any DIY installation project are firstly finding the right double glazing supplier and secondly, making sure you are aware of any legal obligations or governing regulations.

Finding the Right Supplier

Suppliers of double glazing, be it windows, doors, replacement glass units, can differ dramatically. If you are planning on doing the work yourself, be sure you are using good quality materials; it’s a lot of time and effort to invest if you are inevitably going to be let down by the product.

It is important to compare suppliers on a like for like basis.

More information on this can be found on the double glazing ordering tips page and here are a few key questions to ask before placing your order:

  • Is there a 10 year product guarantee?
  • Will they deliver to your home address and offload?
  • Do they offer after sales service and advice?
  • Do they provide telephone, online or onsite support should you encounter a problem?
  • What precisely is supplied?
  • Does the cost include glazing packers, fixings and sealants; everything required to do the job properly?

Remember price isn’t everything. You are already saving money on the installation and choosing the wrong supplier could prove more expensive down the line.

Legal Obligations and Governing Regulations

For some people an added flipside to DIY double glazing or replacement of windows and doors is not having to deal with double glazing sales representative in their home. However, if a job’s worth doing, it’s worth doing properly and there are many advantages to getting a rep in. If nothing else, it’s a free and easy way to glean all the necessary legal information and recommendations before you start.

Sales reps and professional installers are a mine of advice and information and you can be sure that they are up on all industry standards and regulations; it’s more than their jobs worth not to know it all.

It is always advisable to get a professional double glazing survey done even if you are planning on doing all the work yourself.

Considerations to take into account before embarking on any DIY double glazing project:

    • Details on complying with regulations governing openings, gas, fire escapes
    • Will any windows or doors legally require safety glass
    • How to take down the exact specifications that your supplier will understand – nothing worse than knocking the old window out to find the measurements of the new glass are slightly out.
    • Structural details regarding the legal size of frames required and load baring walls

If you do decide to get an installation representative in to get some sneaky free advice on DIY windows, they will also be able to help with:

  • Details on openings and ventilation
  • Choosing the right styles to suit your property
  • Security information such as the recommended types of locks, standard and recommended security requirements
  • Energy efficiency ratings. The Window Energy Efficiency Scheme provides an easily recognisable way of rating the efficiency of double glazing with A-rated being the most carbon efficient. However this needs to be taken into consideration alongside costs. A professional installer should be able to give you the figures comparing the savings in initial outlay against savings in heating costs and efficiency.

Remember: To get a certificate of compliance from your local Council in order to comply with building regulations once you?ve finished the job. Expect a standard fee of £58.75

For further information you may find the DIY double glazing guide and fitting tips pages useful.