Alu clad window suppliers

[Pip B]

We used velfac windows - great product and thinner frames than some. Very happy with them. Absolutely don’t use Passivlux as the distributor or installer - very poor customer service. 

[marmic]

Hi all, glad I've found this discussion which confirms to me yes it's a very mixed bag out there!  We commence soon on a timber frame passivhaus project and need to make some decisions on windows/doors.  Seems to be plenty of experience here and wondering if anyone can narrow down which suppliers/manufacturers offer supply and install please to high standards, which in theory de-risks things.  Have been trawling around websites and straightforward info rarely obvious. (i wouldn't place two orders for separate supply and install).   And with sensible payment terms.

 

Currently only spoken to one (no names!) at early stages including a quotation. On paper seemed a very likely choice and i don't doubt the quality (albeit not checked further as yet) but having spoken further with them they insist on unreasonable payment terms wanting the whole lot before anything installed, which in my book is completely unreasonable as leaves nothing on the table as a lever if they get anything wrong - which the chap I was talking to said was not possible, and that if there were any errors it would be the timber frame company! Arrogant?

 

many thanks

[zzPaulzz]

I’m 8 weeks from having to make a decision on our windows and doors for our MBC passive frame. I hope to get passive certification so performance is important. Rationel, VELFAC and Nordan are keenly priced but I think the single weather seal they offer might be a problem longer term. Nordan have good performance data. Internorm are top quality but don’t do outward opening French doors which is a problem as we have two. Norrsken are similarly priced but I haven’t seen they can meet Part Q yet. I have a few more interesting options on the go but don’t have a price to compare with yet. Then there’s installation and warranty questions. It’s a minefield! 

[markharro]

We also used the MBC passive frame and used Uniwin windows!

[zzPaulzz]

16 minutes ago, markharro said:

We also used the MBC passive frame and used Uniwin windows!

Happy with them Mark? 

[markharro]

Yes we are. Good quality/price. The other thing is that the team at Uniwin are great. Very pleasant to deal with and patient!

[marmic]

thank you.  on my call list for tomorrow 😀

[marmic]

great conversation with Uniwin - unfortunately we are too far south for them to install.  But if we end up going supply only route will definitely be talking to them!

[flanagaj]

On 21/10/2024 at 12:38, garrymartin said:

In my research notes, I have a comment that Nordan are not highly rated - @Kelvin and @saveasteading have them and may be able to provide their views. They are on my "B" list of companies, as are Nordvest but I have no notes or commentary on Nordvest.

 

Rationel are on my "A" list but I would expect them to cost slightly more. Have you looked at Norrsken (also on my "A" list - made by Viking Windows)?  @Thorfun @Russell griffiths @Tosh and @MikeSharp01 have them and might provide some opinions.

 

 

Very useful!  Thanks

[zzPaulzz]

I went for 21 Degrees. Other than Internorm they are the only vendor offering double weather seals on windows and doors. Unlike Internorm they also offer inward and outward opening doors. Norrsken were a close third but their doors only have single weather seals. NorDan likewise. Rational were good value but a step down in quality. 

[marmic]

We have decided to use Nordica, supply and install inc air tightness and weather seals (we are building to passivhaus high performance).  Will be placing order very soon. They use Viking and Slowinscy. We are going for the latter with Lumis windows. Less cost and performance fine. They also communicate on a human level and clearly know what they are doing. Will update here in Autumn..........

 

Nordan were close at one point using an approved partner to install, but completely lost confidence - we have thick walls with the windows being set central to the insulation therefore set back - which also reduces summer sun. Our openings are flat, no cavity -  they just didn't get the need to increase the base of windows to enable a fall on the extended sills. and splitting the package creates blame issues if anything goes wrong. And they don't offer extended sills - these would have had to be supplied by installer.  And we didn't want ply packing window up and ordering underheight to allow for fall - which was suggested!

 

Supply only which we had considered:  Some would have been absoutely fine had we decided to do it this way.  But some quite the opposite!  For example, 21deg didn't even bother sendng a quote and didn't want to have a conversation.  Maybe they have more than enough business anyway and can be selective? We tried talking to them about other items too inc mvhr/pv (which they did respond on) as seemed sensible reducing number of suppliers and thought they would be super keen with added value but don't think they were bothered - separate contacts for each department and seemed rather disjointed. Had the impression there wasn't in depth knowledge either.  Dismissed them mainly due to disinterest on windows/doors.  We also decided supply and install anyway, also for pv/mvhr.

 

Other supply and install offers which would have been fine simply wanted way too much money. 

 

Norrsken which gets lots of mentions seemed to initially tick the boxes on the surface with supply and install and had been recommended  - but once i'd dug deeper these boxes were unticked.   Uncomfortable exclusions and caveats such as weather seals/air tightness. Also mistakes on quote (which they didnt correct when flagged) and insisted they were manufacturers which i found annoying  - they use Viking too as we all know and were expensive in comparision to others offering - yes rebranding is common in all industries and fine, but why lie when asked!! Sales chap arrogant - I think must have worked in double glazing in the 80's!

 

I speak honestly and only as I find..............

 

be careful out there!

 

[zzPaulzz]

FYI, I understand Norrsken have been bought by Viking now. Sales guy was fine with me, very responsive and knowledgeable. Ultimately it was the product that let them down. Weird how we have different experiences, feels like luck of the draw. 

Never came across Nordica! 
21degrees have been good though also had pricing errors. It pays to look very closely at everything. Also have thick walls. They did tell me to reduce the frame height to allow for packing to create the fall. I didn’t think to ask them to increase the frame base height! Packing ranges from 6mm to 15mm depending on wall position.  They offered to install but the travel distance made them £2k more expensive than a local installer. I might regret that saving if the windows don’t fit. 

[MikeSharp01]

13 hours ago, marmic said:

Uncomfortable exclusions and caveats such as weather seals/air tightness.

We have Norrsken and air tightness is perfect- we scored 0.2 on PH basis with only the locks leaking a bit so we put the keys in for the air test and even without them blocked I don't suppose there would have been a measurable difference but the whistling was annoying before we blocked them.