Checklist before hiring a PVC window company

You are replacing your windows and already have quotes on the table? Before you sign, run a simple check. Many quotes look complete but say little: “quality frame”, “thermal glass”, “installation included”. Phrases like these sound good and do not commit anyone to anything.

This list helps you see what is really written. Copy it to your phone or print it. If an answer is “I do not know”, ask the company before you sign. Once it is signed, everything gets harder.

You do not need to know about windows. You need to know what to ask, and to notice whether the answer is clear.

How to use this list

Say you received two quotes for five windows. The first has one line: “5 PVC windows with double glazing, installed”. The second has a full page, with the frame brand, the glass, the sizes and the service. The first may be fine. But you cannot tell, because it says nothing you can check.

Run each quote through this list. Tick what is written and underline what is missing. At the end you will see at once which quote answers more points.

The company

• [ ] Does it have a name, an address and a landline or office contact (not just a mobile number)?
• [ ] Does it show finished jobs, or can you talk to past customers?
• [ ] Did someone come to your home to look at the windows, or was the price fixed from a photo?
• [ ] Does the quote show the company name and tax number? This is the name that will appear on the invoice.

How to check it yourself: look the company up online and see whether the address exists. Ask whether you can see a job done in your area. A serious company is usually happy to show one.

What you are buying

• [ ] Does the quote give the frame brand and model (the window frame)?
• [ ] Does it give the glass: double or triple, and whether it has a coating? You can ask the installer for the Ug value (it measures how much heat passes through the glass: the lower, the better).
• [ ] Does each window have sizes, opening type and colour?
• [ ] Does it say which hardware (hinges and handles) will be used?
• [ ] Does it say whether the windows have CE marking? Ask to see the paperwork.

If the frame has no brand, there is no way to confirm what you are buying. “Quality PVC” can mean anything. To understand what brands and classes mean, see PVC profile classes.

The installation

• [ ] Does it say who fits the windows: the company itself or a subcontractor?
• [ ] Does it include removing the old windows and taking away the rubble?
• [ ] Does it mention sealing around the window and finishing the wall (repair, paint)?
• [ ] Does it give the delivery time and how many days the job takes?

Why it matters: a good window, badly installed, lets in air and water. Installation counts as much as the material. See what to expect in PVC window installation.

Price and paperwork

• [ ] Does the price say whether it includes VAT?
• [ ] Does it say how you pay and how much is paid up front (the deposit)?
• [ ] Does the quote have an expiry date and is it signed or stamped?
• [ ] Is the warranty in writing, with a time limit and what it covers? See Warranties and certificates.
• [ ] Do you know who to call if there is a problem after the job?

When a deposit is mentioned, ask how much it is and what it is for. Often the deposit is used to order the windows, which are made to measure. The rest is usually due on delivery or at the end of the job. Check that what is proposed looks reasonable to you, and that it is written down.

The most common mistakes

• Comparing only the total. A cheaper quote may leave out removing the old windows or repairing the wall.
• Accepting sizes “off the top of the head”. If nobody measured on site, the window can arrive too small or too big.
• Trusting a spoken promise. “That is included” only counts if it is on paper.
• Signing in a hurry. Whoever wants to close “today only” is not thinking about you.
• Forgetting the afterwards. Nobody asks who comes back if the window gives trouble.

Warning signs

• Pressure: “today only” or “this week only”.
• A price far below the others, with no explanation.
• A refusal to put things in writing.
• Asking for everything to be paid before starting.
• Not accepting that someone sees the home before giving the final price.

None of these signs proves the company is bad. But they are reasons to ask more and, if the answers stay vague, to look for another.

Before the job starts

After signing, there are still things to agree. Ask and note:

• The start date and who tells you if there is a delay.
• Whether you need to clear the space next to the windows and protect furniture and floors.
• Who deals with the rubble and the cleaning at the end.
• What the finish around the window will be like and when it is ready.

These questions prevent arguments halfway through the job, when there is no way back.

Mini-glossary

• Frame (profile): the window frame, usually PVC.
• Double / triple glazing: two or three panes, with air or gas in between.
• Ug: heat passing through the glass. The lower, the better.
• CE marking: a sign that the product meets European rules for sale. It does not say how it was installed.
• Deposit: part of the price paid when you place the order.
• Hardware: hinges, locks and handles.

Comparing without being fooled

Compare quotes with the same frame, the same glass and the same service. A lower price may simply leave things out. Make a simple table, one column per company and one row per item. Wherever a space stays empty, ask whether it is included.

To read each line, see How to read a window quote. To understand what moves the price, see How much do PVC windows cost.

What to do next

• Ask the installer questions: Questions for the installer.
• Have not asked for quotes yet? See How to ask for a quote or use the calculator for an idea.
• Looking for an installer near the sea? See the example of Peniche.