What are good quality doors and windows? When it comes to choosing new windows and doors for your home, you can be faced with many different incentives to buy. There’s isn’t a bad product on the market, but some design, quality and specification differences separate good quality doors and windows from lesser products.
Some home improvement companies focus on price. These give you seemingly great discounts and low prices even for a complete houseful of windows and doors. Other companies focus on the quality of their products. These prefer to deal in high-value prestigious contracts, rather than typical replacement windows. Finally, there are window companies extolling the virtues of their experience or their longevity.
What are good quality doors and windows?
All of these sales messages found when researching good quality windows and doors are positive. However, they can mean different things to different people. A landlord with a rental property may prefer cheaper windows. Landlords do not consider quality above the price in many cases. Property professionals need windows and doors at the lowest possible cost. Often this is to complete their project, rent it out and maximise their return.
So what constitutes good quality doors and windows? How do you know what is behind well-made products and the reasons for the price differences?
What market sector does your home improvement company serve?
Some window companies focus on high volume window replacement work. It is these offering the lowest possible prices for windows and doors. This is not to say that their products are bad.
The reality is that there is no ‘bad’ door or window on the market. British and European standards ensure the quality of materials and the finished product. More regulation for windows and doors results in better products than before. However, just like other consumer goods, you get what you pay for.
The same applies to windows and doors. Some products are engineered better, have better quality components from premium manufacturers and are not designed for large volume mass production.
The too-good-to-be-true offers for windows and doors usually mean mass-produced products. Many of these come from substantial factories, making over 1000 windows and doors a week. Therefore with mass production comes lower quality than a bespoke window.
A great example is the locks used that vary widely in windows and doors. Our Origin windows use the familiar Yale name. Yale locks represent security and peace of mind.
Who makes your windows and doors?
Many different manufacturers make the vast majority of PVCu and aluminium windows and doors. It is therefore tough to know exactly who has made your new windows and doors.
At Open Living, we work with Origin. Only Origin makes their bifolding doors, sliding doors and windows. Origin differs from the mainstream window industry. Origin is unlike others relying on many different manufacturers making their windows.
The advantage of using an exclusive manufacturer is quality and a guarantee. Origin aluminium windows and doors are the only ones on the market with a 20-year guarantee.
Origin is also unique in enabling you to register your product with them. If you need additional windows and doors in the future, you know it can be traced back. The exact product, colour, hardware fitted and even the date of manufacture are all traceable.
It is not just the manufacturer that is important. A quality door and window provider will use powder coaters that are strictly monitored by industry bodies for quality. Glass processors and manufacturers are also monitored to ensure the glass is of the best quality for your new windows and doors.
Who fits your windows and doors?
Another area where quality products differ from conventional windows and doors is who fits them. With so many windows and doors available from trade counters and builders merchants, how do you know that the person installing these are trained and experienced?
With bifolding and sliding doors especially, the correct installation is the most critical factor in ensuring long-term reliability.
Our Origin products are fitted to the highest standards because our installers are constantly monitored and trained. This training ensures Origin maintains the highest levels of quality through their network of installers. Open Living is one of the biggest and longest established Approved Origin Installers.
So while you can buy other windows and doors from anywhere, you have the peace of mind of buying from Open Living, trained for Origin doors and windows by Origin. Another reason why Origin windows and doors have double the guarantee period of other windows and doors.
Home improvements are a substantial investment in your home.
So as you can see, there are differences between quality windows and doors and regular windows and doors, both on price and quality. Here’s what to look out for.
- What brands of components used in your windows and doors?
- Who is behind the painting and colouring of aluminium?
- Who makes your new windows and doors?
- Are your window installers trained to fit the product?
Always visit your intended door and window provider at their premises. Often their showroom will demonstrate the quality of the products and the experience of the company.
At Open Living, we have invested substantially in our showroom to showcase the quality of all our windows and doors. Visit us and find out for yourselves what is behind a quality window and door.
