Got a question relating to window and door products? Or a question about the window and door industry? This page aims to answer some of the most common and frequently asked questions with regards to the window and door industry.
More questions, answers and features will be added to this page soon.
What is FENSA?
According to the FENSA website:
FENSA stands for the Fenestration Self-Assessment scheme. It has been set up by the Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) and other industry bodies, with government encouragement www.communities.gov.uk, in response to the Building Regulations.
FENSA is a self-certification scheme where installation companies can register with them to demonstrate their work is compliant.
The job of FENSA is to ensure installers registered to them fit windows and doors to the correct standards according to Building regulations.
There are other self-certifications in the industry, such as Certass and Network VEKA. Good glazing companies should be signed up to a self-certification scheme to demonstrate compliance with the rules and provide peace of mind for the home owner.
Are Government grants available for windows and doors?
The short answer is no. There is no grant from the Government for new windows and doors. This is a common misconception.
A term often associated with this is “scrappage scheme”. There is no connection with the car scrappage scheme the Government introduced during the recession. Some companies have used this term to advertise their own discount schemes and is not to be confused with anything official from Government.
A feature on this will appear here soon.
What is the best way to maintain windows and doors?
Maintaining your windows and doors is very simple. Please click the button below to read a great feature full of tips and advice on maintaining your windows and doors and keep them looking great and operating well for as long as possible.
What is the cause of external condensation?
You may have just had new energy efficient windows and doors fitted, but notice that on some mornings the external pane of your double glazing has condensation for a few hours. This is a natural phenomenon with the product and not an actual fault.
External condensation will occur on energy efficient windows when the temperature of the external face of the outside pane of glass is lower than the air temperature. It will also occur if the dew point of the outside air is higher than the temperature of the glass.
This is not classed as a fault, but a natural occurrence and physical proof of your energy efficient windows at work. However there are now glass products available in the market which can combat this problem. Speak to your window company to see which option is best for your home.
What guarantees are offered on window and door products?
The lengths of guarantees for windows and doors can vary from company to company. The industry standard though tends to be 10 years. Some offer 5 year guarantees on hardware, although most now offer ten years on hardware and working parts.
Other home improvement products such as glazed extensions, conservatories and roofline products also generally come with ten year guarantees.
Occasionally some installers will offer slightly different guarantee lengths depending on the product. It is worth asking early on what guarantees are given for the products you are interested in.
