Shoestring

Great, thank you. Both are companies I have aproached for quotes - Devonshire is the one that all the manufactures have referred me to! Aspect Windows (the Ideal Combi partner in this neck of the woods, if that's usful info for anyone) has produced an initial quote for me, slightly eyewatering at the moment but they have been very helpful in suggesting changes to bring the cost down.

Tom, I see you are in Devon too. Please can you tell me the names of the distributors you used?

You could try Pittosporum for quick growning evergreen hedging or even use them as strategically placed specimen shrubs as they come in many different types, many very attractive, with varying degrees of vigour. We took down our leylandii hedge as we couldn't stay on top of it and replaced it with pittosporum (3ft plants maybe 3 or 4 years ago) they are now easily 8ft tall. The advantage with them (and laurel as Jilly said) over leylandii is that you can cut them back quite hard without ending up with ugly dead bits. The other thing you could do for more privacy is to build yourself a pergola and then grow things up it - perennials to establish and come every year like; honeysuckle/ clematis / climbing or rambling roses / virginia creeper / grape vine or annuals (to just last the season) like; sweet peas, morning glory or black eyed susan. It obviously won't cover your whole garden but it would give you an area you can sit out and relax without being watched and you could even put a polycarbonate roof on it to extend its use through the seasons. Good luck, we all hate nosey neighbours!!

I don't know, this has not been my intention - do you think the result would vary if I did that? I put together a list from a few threads but namely "cost for good quality triple glazing", (I know it's an old thread and I know it's triple glazing not double but it was REALLY helpful!). Going through the list of manufacturers, I went to the websites for each and requested quotes through their online forms/sent emails, depending on what was required, (from the ones that allow) others refer you straight away to their local partners/ distributors.

Hi all, I have seen quite a few old threads, comparing costs of different manufacturers for glazing (specifically we are hoping to get 2g aluminium clad timber). I have studied the old threads in great detail and approached a good many companies that have been mentioned for glazing quotes. The biggest issue I have had, is that when I think I have been applying directly through the websites of individual manufacturers, (Velfac, Internorm, Rational, etc) I have then been referred on to local "partners"/ "agents", consisting of only one company, local to me who supplies all these brands. I am worried that this rather takes away the competition element, to help drive down quotes, if all my options are being supplied by one company. ? Have things changed over the last few years? Why do I seem unable to go direct to the majority of manufacturers (exceptions have been Nordan & Munster - although seeing the reviews for Munster I don't think I will go through them!)? Is it the area I live in (Devon)? Or have I gone the wrong way about getting quotes i.e. do I need to ring them rather than filling in online forms and attaching my plans?

Hello all! I have been reading the wealth of information (thank you ?) from this site for months & finally joined yesterday, don't know what took me so long! My husband, 6yr old daughter and I began a project on our tired 1950's bungalow (which we have lived in for 9 years) in May, which has involved pulling half of it down, and putting up a two storey extension in its place. We have gone for blockwork construction (dense externally, lightweight internally with 50mm PIR part fill in the cavity) and will be cladding in larch. We have lovely views all around us and so glazing has been key for us, but without wanting to go ultra-modern with the design. Our budget is very tight so we are putting our money into the structure with any fancy finishing touches just having to wait. Any advice is greatly welcomed.