High spec uPVC?

[Crofter]

I'm looking for a sliding patio door with a decent uW value... and a window as well. To replace the current units which are both comfortably under 1.0 uW.

Money is a bit tight so I'm trying to juggle thermal spec and budget. The originals were Aluclad but just to replace these two units at today's prices is going to cost approximately double what it cost me to do the entire house back in 2016!

 

So I'm considering uPVC. It looks like there are some pretty high spec options these days. The names that have come up are:

- Eurocell Syncro

- Aluplast Super Slide Neo

- Liniar Modlock

- Ideal 8000

 

It seems hard to find any suppliers who will deal directly with me, even if I'm offering to drive down and collect these in a van... don't they want my business??

[Mike]

8 hours ago, Crofter said:

The originals were Aluclad but just to replace these two units at today's prices is going to cost approximately double what it cost me to do the entire house back in 2016!

Not answering your question, but why would the alucald ones need replacing after only 9 years?

[Crofter]

12 hours ago, Mike said:

Not answering your question, but why would the alucald ones need replacing after only 9 years?

Operator error. 

The house is used for holiday letting and we have dozens of different people staying there each year.

The tilt/slide mechanism was too complex for a few people, and some just left it open, others tried forcing it closed. It's now pretty badly damaged and I think the most sensible thing to do is to replace it with something simpler. 

Similarly, the window was damaged when somebody opened it during a gale. That's eventually led to some rot in the frame. I shouldn't have specified a side hung pane.

[Crofter]

So, I have tracked down one very promising lead, but the only supplier who has given me a quote for this system just isn't passing the sniff test. Their FENSA number doesn't match the company name or location (hundreds of miles away!) which seems very shady to me. It's a shame because the uW values and price are good. Maybe too good to be true?? They also appear to trade under various different names that all come back to the same phone number, although at least it's a landline.

[JCL]

We have 3 eurocell upvc ones. Good doors, just make sure the drains in them

are working correctly as ours is draining on the corner of the frame making the tray under the door wet.

[Crofter]

8 minutes ago, JCL said:

We have 3 eurocell upvc ones. Good doors, just make sure the drains in them

are working correctly as ours is draining on the corner of the frame making the tray under the door wet.

I did consider Eurocell. They could do uW 1.1 for the sliding door and uW 1.0 for the window. It would have been very good value and given they have a showroom in Inverness, it would have been very easy. 

 

Ultimately, though, I spent a bit more money in order to get u values that are substantially better. 

 

And don't get me started on a certain 'big name' outfit who, now that they have my phone number, won't leave me alone. Their quote was laughably bad. The sizes bear no resemblance to what I asked for, the colours are wrong, and they won't give me u values for anything. These places operate as finance providers and don't seem to know anything about windows.

[JCL]

I know what you mean. We ended up using linear windows and eurocell sliding doors as the whole bill for this was 3x cheaper than just having the expensive sliding door options alone! Must say, no draught, and very warm!

[Crofter]

Just to update and conclude this, I went with Aluplast in the end. Just finished the installation.

Early days but I'm very happy. The new units are quite slimline, I was worried about switching from a timber finish to uPVC but against the white walls they're basically invisible.

The top hung window is a massive improvement on the old side hung one. No saggy hinges.

And the simple sliding door is a joy to use. Just effortless.

No signs of any air leakage, even when it's blowing 50mph outside. I'm in a very exposed spot so this was a concern. The old units had started to leak air quite badly. It's harder to shut the front door now because the house is airtight again!

U Values are claimed to be better than the old aluclad units- substantially better in the case of the door, 0.74 vs 0.96.

I paid a bit extra to get the glazing delivered separately, which was money well spent as it meant that installation was much easier.

 

All in all, very happy with the choice. Not the cheapest, but I've got about as good a thermal spec as I could get anywhere without going to truly silly money and krypton filled units. And it's come in just over half the price of the cheapest aluclad.

[craig]

Hi Crofter, 

 

Any chance of a video of it in operation? I've seen them but not operated one yet (still to go over to the factory but they are highly recommended and it's what I'm considering for myself and father in law. He'd appreciate it more than me to be honest.

 

Thanks

Craig

[john0wingnut]

9 hours ago, Crofter said:

Just to update and conclude this, I went with Aluplast in the end. Just finished the installation.

Early days but I'm very happy. The new units are quite slimline, I was worried about switching from a timber finish to uPVC but against the white walls they're basically invisible.

The top hung window is a massive improvement on the old side hung one. No saggy hinges.

And the simple sliding door is a joy to use. Just effortless.

No signs of any air leakage, even when it's blowing 50mph outside. I'm in a very exposed spot so this was a concern. The old units had started to leak air quite badly. It's harder to shut the front door now because the house is airtight again!

U Values are claimed to be better than the old aluclad units- substantially better in the case of the door, 0.74 vs 0.96.

I paid a bit extra to get the glazing delivered separately, which was money well spent as it meant that installation was much easier.

 

All in all, very happy with the choice. Not the cheapest, but I've got about as good a thermal spec as I could get anywhere without going to truly silly money and krypton filled units. And it's come in just over half the price of the cheapest aluclad.

Did you get Windows and the Neo Slider? Have been looking at options recently, but couldn’t find anyone down my neck of the woods who use Aluplast.

 

Similar story with the Rehau Artevo range - have found 2 fabricators thus far but not local.

 

 

[Crofter]

27 minutes ago, john0wingnut said:

Did you get Windows and the Neo Slider? Have been looking at options recently, but couldn’t find anyone down my neck of the woods who use Aluplast.

 

Similar story with the Rehau Artevo range - have found 2 fabricators thus far but not local.

 

 

It's a smart slide neo door, and I got one window too, not sure of the name there. 

 

Fabricated in Poland, I had to wait a couple of months for them, which was over Christmas and New year.

[Crofter]

5 hours ago, craig said:

Hi Crofter, 

 

Any chance of a video of it in operation? I've seen them but not operated one yet (still to go over to the factory but they are highly recommended and it's what I'm considering for myself and father in law. He'd appreciate it more than me to be honest.

 

Thanks

Craig

Yes will do. It glides nicely. The only thing I would say about it is that with the weight of 3G it has a fair bit of momentum so if you put too much oomph in to it it'll reach its stop with a bit of a bang.

 

Oh and thanks for all your advice and help!

[craig]

2 hours ago, Crofter said:

with the weight of 3G it has a fair bit of momentum so if you put too much oomph in to it it'll reach its stop with a bit of a bang.

Soft open/close would sort that out, could be retrofitted.

 

You’re welcome for the help. Glad it’s worked out.

 

 

Edited 36 minutes ago by craig