uPVC is what most Irish houses end up with, and usually for sound reasons: it insulates well, it needs almost nothing done to it, and it costs less than the alternatives. The things worth paying attention to are the frame quality, the glazing spec and the fit, because those are what separate a window that lasts from one that does not.
Why do most Irish houses end up with uPVC?
It insulates well, it does not need painting, and it handles a wet climate without complaint.
The Irish climate is hard on external joinery. Timber needs repainting, and untreated steel corrodes near the coast. uPVC does neither. A wipe down is genuinely the maintenance.
It also performs well thermally, because the frame itself is a poor conductor of heat. That is a real advantage over aluminium unless the aluminium frame is thermally broken.
Casement or tilt and turn?
Casement windows hinge at the side and open outward. Tilt and turn windows tilt inward at the top for ventilation, or swing fully inward for cleaning.
Casement is the traditional Irish pattern and what most houses already have. It is simple, well understood, and there is less hardware to go wrong.
Tilt and turn is worth considering upstairs, because the full inward swing lets you clean the outside of the glass from inside the room. It also gives you secure background ventilation on the tilt setting with the window still latched.
What glazing should you specify?
High performance double glazing is the standard specification and suits most homes. Triple glazing is worth considering on exposed elevations and where noise is the main concern.
The gain from triple glazing over good double glazing is smaller than people expect in a typical Irish house, and the units are heavier, which puts more load on the hinges and frame. It earns its place on a very exposed gable, on a road facing elevation, or in a deep retrofit where the whole envelope is being improved.
We do not publish performance figures on this page, because the numbers depend on the exact unit specified and we will not quote figures we have not verified against a manufacturer spec sheet. What we will do is put the specification in writing with your quote.
What does a proper window fit involve?
Removing the old window without wrecking the reveal, setting the new frame square, fixing it properly, and sealing and making good inside and out.
Most window complaints are fitting complaints rather than product complaints. Draughts at the reveal, cracked plaster inside, and sealant that fails in a year are all install issues. The frame has to sit square in an opening that usually is not, be packed and fixed correctly, and be sealed with the right materials on both faces.
Making good is part of the job, not an extra. Internal reveals are left ready for decoration and external seals are finished properly.
Windows carry a ten year warranty against defects.
How it works
Send us photos, a short video and rough sizes of each window and tell us what you want. You get a free 3D design of the windows in your own house and one complete itemised quote, with every window and door priced on its own line. Once you agree it, we measure every opening on site before anything is made. Nothing is ordered and nothing is charged until you say yes.
Everything we supply is premium and made to the highest spec, and it is priced to that standard. Quality at this level is not a budget purchase, and we would rather say so here than after you have waited for a quote. If you are working to a tight budget, we are honestly not the right fit.
One team for the windows and the rest of the job
Our own team fits your windows, and we also do kitchens, fitted wardrobes and media walls and fitted furniture. If more than one thing needs doing, it is one contractor, one schedule and one point of contact.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a window replacement take?
Most houses are done in a small number of days depending on how many windows there are. You get the sequence in writing with your quote before anything starts.
Do you replace windows one room at a time?
Yes, where that suits you better. The order itself is still a minimum of 5 windows or doors, but each opening is closed the same day it is opened, so the house is never left open overnight.
Is there a minimum order for windows and doors?
Yes. The minimum order is 5 windows or doors, in any mix: 5 windows, 5 doors, or 3 doors and 2 windows. We do not quote for one or two on their own, because the freight alone would cost more than the door or window.
Can you match the style of my existing windows?
Yes. Frame colour, opening pattern and glazing bars can all be specified to match what is there, which matters most on a house where only some windows are being replaced.
Why do uPVC window quotes vary so much?
Chamber count in the frame, glass specification, hardware quality and whether fitting and making good are included. Two quotes rarely describe the same window.