haythorn_1

Not yet. My plan was to do most of the internal bits (pipe work and drainage) myself then get an MCS installer to do the heat pump. i agree that it doesn’t look hard. Just trying to work out where best to spend my time.

Frustrating how octopus seem to be the only ones that are reasonable and don’t pocket the grant but the house needs to be complete

I read the installer has 3 months from approval complete the install. But if it is not complete by then, they can just re-apply and give your consent again.

It is an option I will consider, especially as won’t have to ensure it follows mcs guidelines on sizing. But if I can get someone to install it for less than 4k (with grant) it seems like a no brainer

I am in the midst of extension and renovation, part of which we will be replacing the gas boiler with an ASHP and adding UFH throughout the ground floor. My plan was to get the ASHP installed midway through the build as we may move into the extension whilst the old house is renovated. I’ve started making some enquires with installers as I want to take advantage of the BUS grant. Octopus won’t look at it until all the structural work is done. Would that be the case for all MCS installers or will some install whilst work is still being done and factor planned improvements in their calculations?

10-15mm on each side - which is what the manufacturer suggests. Seems quite a lot? So to avoid this I measure the diagonals and if too far out I ask the builder to correct?

Thanks all. It's been useful hearing peoples thoughts on this. Grand Designs makes it seem as though everyone always has problems with their windows not fitting. Think I am leaning towards taking the risk of measuring them myself. Allan Brothers (and Outline who seem to make their aluclad) have decent instructions on how to measure. Fitting the opening windows doesn't look too hard as you can remove the sash, so I might attempt those. I have a couple of fixed windows that I expect would be hard work as the heaviest 120kgs.

Those quotes are from different supplies. i have specced triple glazing with Georgian bars which seems to be adding a bit to the overall cost. The quote that I have from an installer was 5k, but then I would be taking the measuring risk.

Any recommendations on which to get?

Thanks all. @JohnMo my preference would be for a company to do it all, but for the Ali clad quotes I have it works out at almost double the price. I could get upvc (eg residence) for a similar price but then they aren’t as nice. It’s about 40m2 of windows. Working out at ~40k for supply only or 70/80k for supply and install (with vat) i don’t have any big windows as we are going for a traditional style. Largest is 2.4m x 1.2m but that has 4 sashes. Then we have some French doors with side windows that in openings 3m x 2m. I am tempted to measure myself then ask my builder to fit. we do have some bay windows that might be more challenging to measure. Allan bros do have some decent instructions.

I am narrowing down on which window supplier to choose and leaning towards Allan Bros alu clad, but they are are supply only. Does any one have any advice on dealing with supply only manufacturers and how best to reduce the risks with this. I have made some enquiries about getting professional installers to fit them. The main questions I have are: Measuring - should I pay for a window installer to do this? Is it that hard? My construction in brick and block so i presume worst case the opening could be adjusted? Fitting - should I pay for a window installer company to do this? Have others had success with their builder doing this? Is the skill getting them in place or getting them to work smoothly? I have a couple of french doors that would be annoying if it didnt work well. Airtightness - i was planning on doing this myself although an installer has offered to do this too. Would an installer do a better job? Protection - the installer has included in their quote to apply industrial cling film on the inside and out. Seems like a sensible idea but it’s an extra £1k! Would i be foolish to remove this? Thanks in advance!

Went to visit the local residence 9 windows supplier this morning. Thought we would look at some other cheaper options to see whether we noticed the difference. Definitely not as nice looking / feeling but much cheaper. Interestingly the supplier said that triple glazed with multiple glazing bars is massively increasing the price. He had to run it again to check it was right. So maybe that’s what’s making our quotes so high.

Thanks @craig. The quotes were part of a larger order of around 40m2 of windows and French doors. I just shared that specific window as an example of the style. Who would you say are mid level suppliers? Ive not been able to find any quotes sub £1k per m2 that are alu-clad. Maybe my expectations are too high!

@Dunc I think you are right as I have two patio style doors but from looking at the individual windows they still seem very high. I want a traditional style but with modern thermal characteristics. So one of the larger windows is quoted like the below with multiple individual sashes and glazing bars. This window is £4k fitted from rationel. Supply only from nordvest for this was circa £3k. Maybe it's the style I'm asking for thats bumping up the cost?

That seems reasonable compared to what I've been getting: Rationel - £1997 Per m2 fitted Nordan - £1100 per m2 supply only Nordvest - £1050 per m2 supply only Norsken - - £2400 per m2 fitted I'm ordered far less glass (~40m2), have several bay windows and lots of glazing bars. This is also just the initial quote with no negotiation, but it's still way more than I was expecting. I've started looking at the top end of uPVC as an alternative.

I recently did this for a 10ft x 8ft base. So slightly smaller. I dug out the ground, put mot, hired a mixer then made the concrete and wheel barrowed each batch 40m to the bottom of my garden. All on my own. Was extremely hard work, just the physical aspect. Managed to get it acceptably smooth for a shed though. Not sure if it was worth it vs the other methods but I reckon it will last a long time.

Good to know, thanks all!

Does anyone have and windows with glazing bar inserts like this (ideally with triple glaze): How do they look? Can you tell it’s a single pane of glass?

Thanks @Kelvin, useful. Thats more like the kind of price level I was expecting. Nordan are on my list.

Starting the process of getting quotes from a few recommended suppliers. Just got my first one from the local distributor of Rationel and nearly fell off my chair. Worked out at £1997 per m2. Quote is for 38m2 mostly of windows with a few French doors all in formaplus triple glazed with glazing bars. I had requested the order be split in two as this is a refurb in stages, if I combine to one it drops by ~10%. Still seems way beyond what I would have expected for Rationel. Hopefully some of the others are more reasonable.

@Thorfun that is what I have done on my test circuit and it works. There is a slight delay from pressing the switch to the light turning on, which is a bit annoying.

Plant room is about 5m from ASHP location. So could run pipes in the ceiling joists to the exterior wall or below the foundations. Through the foundations seems much more expensive but I guess it removes the need for a wall penetration.

If doing strip foundations would the pre-insulated pipe need to go below the footing? If so how far below? Must need a deep trench!

This looks much cheaper than the Rauvitherm, is there much difference?

Need to be careful of the u value. For the moondraught it seems the standard one is 1.66 w/m2. It is quite a small area though.