As we start to see glimpses of Spring sunshine, many of us start to feel a bit more positive and motivated to make changes to our homes. According to House Beautiful, Spring is a great time of year to give your home a refresh. For any work that involves being outdoors or opening up your home to the elements, such as installing aluminium windows and doors, the warmer climate is a major help. In addition to this, the Spring bank holidays give us more time at home to consider our options and plan future home renovations.
Some home improvement projects are smaller-scale and do not require tradespeople or a large investment. But how do we ensure our bigger renovations are worth the investment? A lot of us don’t mind spending more money on higher-quality items, but it is important to ensure that we are making the most of our hard-earned cash by ensuring that we get value for money from a trustworthy supplier. With this in mind, we recommend that you pay due diligence before investing.
As a quality manufacturer of aluminium window and door systems, Reynaers works with installers who are dedicated to delivering exacting standards. Together, we want to help homeowners decipher true quality that lasts the distance.
Aluminium windows and doors – a checklist for quality
Energy performance
Most of the windows in UK homes do not meet the current Building Standards for energy efficiency. Although they were compliant when they were installed, legislation has since been updated. And there are more changes on the horizon with the introduction of the Future Homes Standard in 2027, as outlined by the Glass and Glazing Federation.
Check the energy performance of your aluminium windows and doors carefully. They should have a third-party assessed energy certification, whether a Window Energy Rating (WER) label or a u-value. It is important to ask to see evidence for either method of measurement, but when it comes to u-values, make sure you understand what the certification means. Some companies might use what is called a centre pane u-value, which does not consider the full window. Quality home improvement companies are transparent about what their certification does and does not include.
Weather testing
As well as looking out for windows with proven energy performance, it is worth checking if your new windows and doors have undergone weather testing. Although Building Regulations do not set a minimum weather ‘rating’ in the same way they do for energy efficiency, weathertightness is covered by legislation.
For a full outline of weather testing to look out for on your new windows and doors, you can read our article about aluminium windows and doors in all weathers, but here is a quick summary.
- Air permeability – how much air can get through your windows. Quality windows will have undergone testing to standard BS EN 1026:2016.
- Water tightness – how much water can get in. The relevant standard for watertightness is BS EN 1027.
- Wind load resistance – how well windows and doors resist high winds. The test to look out for here is BS EN 12210.
Not all tests are compulsory, but as a quality-focused manufacturer, Reynaers subjects its aluminium windows and doors to rigorous testing to make sure they last the distance, and to ensure the best experience for homeowners.
Sustainability
According to consumer research company, Mintel, 49% of people are becoming increasingly exposed to – and activated by – extreme weather events. This has led to an increase in consumer awareness of sustainability and growing levels of engagement in the topic. The research company also found that as awareness increases, consumers hold a more cynical view of corporate claims.
This is another area that separates quality windows and doors from their lesser quality counterparts. Ask your installer what system is used to make their windows, and then research that company. Look at the manufacturers’ commitment to sustainability. Aluminium gives you a great head start when it comes to sustainability because it has a lifespan of 30-40 years and is 100% recyclable at the end of its life. On top of this, Reynaers takes a science-led approach to embed sustainable practices in its product design and manufacture, to ensure an ongoing commitment to carbon reduction. We are dedicated to offering circular products that have a long lifetime and are recycled after use, making our aluminium windows and doors an excellent choice for your long-term carbon footprint.
Installer networks
While making sure the physical products you are buying are up to standard, it is also worth checking that the installer you are buying from prioritises quality. Sometimes we get a gut feeling about the companies we buy from, but with big investment items like windows and doors, it is imperative we do not get it wrong. Installers that are part of a manufacturer’s installer network often have to adhere to certain rules and a code of conduct, which signals quality. Reynaers at Home of one of these installer networks.
At Reynaers, some of the things we look at include whether they are part of a self-certification scheme such as FENSA, CERTASS or Assure, how long they have been trading for – we like our installers to have been trading for at least 2 years and to have been working with Reynaers’ products for at least 2 years, and whether they have good customer reviews on trusted review websites such as Google or TrustPilot.
You can read more about how to choose a reputable supplier here.
Reputable and helpful manufacturer
We have touched on this briefly, but the reputation of the manufacturer at the top of the supply chain for your new windows and doors will be a good indicator of the quality you can expect from your home improvements.
You don’t need to spend an inordinate amount of time on this, but have a quick look at how long they have been in business, their commitment to product performance and testing, whether they have an installer scheme and if so, the criteria for their partner network, as well as the transparency of their pledge to sustainability. All of these things indicate quality, so they should help to build an overall picture.
Another sign of quality is manufacturers that are genuinely helpful in your search. If their website is simply selling products, it’s a bit like an advert that you either trust or distrust. If, on the other hand, it is full of useful information and resources, it is a good sign that they are dedicated to helping you find quality windows and doors for your home.
Reynaers at Home for quality aluminium windows and doors
Reynaers Aluminium is over 60 years old and has always been focused on quality, longevity, and consistent improvement. We have a strict code of conduct for our network of fabricators and installers to guide the way that our products are installed in your home with the same care and attention that we take in our manufacturing processes.
Find your quality-focused local Reynaers at Home installer today.
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