FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

There is no difference whatsoever and to be absolutely correct it is PVC-U and neither of the above!

In the UK UPVC changed it’s name to PVCU in the late 1980’s to fall in line with other European countries. It seems that they were all calling it call it PVC-U because European languages mostly place the noun (being PVC in this case) before the adjective (U).

The ‘PVC’ part of it stands for Poly Vinyl Chloride. The ‘U’ stands for Un-plasticised. Poly Vinyl Chloride, which we know as every day ‘PVC’ is modified and can then be used in the manufacture of products such as bags, shoes and also fake leather. It is the use of this material which has made us familiar with the abbreviation ‘PVC’.

Pure PVC-U is not quite suitable for replacement windows and doors. A small amount of additives are required, necessary to provide longevity, high weather and UV resistance, and also to achieve a white colour making it ideal to use for the production of windows and doors.

Gone are the days when all windows had to be white!  Our replacement windows and doors come in a huge range of colours and finishes to suit your style.

If white or cream floats your boat, then great.  But if modern and stylish is your thing, then greys, greens and blacks such as Anthracite Grey. Hazy Grey, Matt Black and Olive Grey are really on trend.

We also have beautiful collection of wood grains, such as the rich, dark elegance of Rosewood or the brighter oak effect colours, along with smooth finishes and standout, statement colours including Chartwell Green, Dark Red and Steel Blue.

All of our windows are also available in colour combinations, so you can have the outside in one colour, and the inside another, if you wish.

Window Energy Ratings (WERs) use a consumer-friendly traffic light style to help you determine how energy efficient your window will be. Think of it as similar to the energy ratings you find on white goods in your home such as fridges, freezers, washing machines etc – using a scale of A+ – G.

A+ rated windows are the most energy efficient windows available in the UK as defined by the BFRC Rating Scheme. This is the UK’s national system for rating the energy efficiency of windows and is recognised within the Building Regulations as a method to show compliance for your replacement window installation.

Look out for windows that carry A or A+ rating so you can be sure they will keep your home comfortably warm and energy efficient.

All new or replacement windows require a minimum WER of C or above. Ask your Mitchell Glass advisor for further details and they’ll be only too happy to help.

A U-Value, in simple terms, indicates how well your window will be at retaining the internal heat within your home and preventing it from escaping to the outside. U-Values are measure in Watts per square metre, or W/m2 K. The lower the U-Value number, the better the heat retention of the window.

All new or replacement windows require a minimum U Value of 1.6 W/m2 K. Ask your Mitchell Glass advisor for further details and they’ll be only too happy to help.

Secured by Design (SBD) is the official police security initiative that works to improve the security of buildings and their immediate surroundings to provide safe places to live.

SBD’s product-based accreditation scheme – the Police Preferred Specification – provides a recognised standard for all security products that can deter and reduce crime. This includes domestic windows and doors, and the components within them such as locks, hinges etc.

Our sister manufacturing company, Conservatory Outlet (part of the Conservatory Outlet Group) is a registered member of Secured by Design and many of our products have been tested to meet the demands of the standard. Please ask your Mitchell Glass advisor for details if security is a particular concern for you.

Yes, Mitchell Glass is part of the Conservatory Outlet Group of companies, and its sister company Conservatory Outlet is one of the leading manufacturers of UPVC and aluminium windows in the UK. All of our windows are manufactured in the UK at Conservatory Outlet’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Wakefield, West Yorkshire.

Having such a close relationship with our manufacturer means we retain close control over our supply chain – ensuring the exceptional, quality of our innovative product range is maintained at all times.

Yes, Mitchell Glass are members of FENSA (Fenestration Self-Assessment Scheme). FENSA has been set up by the Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) and other industry bodies with Government encouragement in response to the current Building Regulations for England and Wales.

When having windows and doors replaced homeowners must comply with current thermal performance standards and ensure that they get a certificate of compliance from FENSA or from Local Authority Building Control.

FENSA also enables companies that install replacement windows and doors to self certify compliance under these Building Regulations.

Every home is different – so it’s difficult to estimate the cost of replacing your windows & doors without spending some time with us first.

All our windows and doors are tailor-made specifically for your home taking into account your openings and fittings.  And with so many style, colour and performance options to choose from, we really do need to spend some time with you and measure up before we can give you an accurate idea of how much it will cost.

The best place to start is to request a free design consultation, which can take place either in your home, or if you’re more comfortable, you can request an online appointment which can take place via Zoom.

Simply pop your details onto one of our contact forms and we’ll arrange a time and date to suit you ‘Appointment Booking Form‘.

We usually advise at least 1 hour for an initial appointment.  This will give our Mitchell Glass designer the opportunity to understand your requirements, take down all the measurements and to discuss the various window and door options available to you.

It really is difficult to say, as every job is different.  It very much depends on how many new windows & doors we’re installing and the complexity of the job.  As a rule of thumb though, a full house of windows can take around 3-4 days to install.  Please speak to a Mitchell Glass advisor for an accurate estimate of your project and delivery timescales.

Yes. To make life easy for you, Mitchell Glass can arrange a variety of affordable and convenient easy payment finance options (subject to application & status). Applying for finance is simple and we promise you a quick decision. Everything can be sorted out with you in the comfort of your home or at your local Mitchell Glass Showroom, so you can enjoy whatever you’ve set your heart on right away.

If you’re arranging your own finance, you’ll need to call us as soon as you get the go ahead. If you’re taking up one of our offers, the company will tell us both directly, so there’s no need to call as we will get in touch with you.

Finance companies can turn down people for lots of reasons, for example if you’ve moved several times over the past few years. In these circumstances, we always do our best to help and sometimes it’s worth trying another provider, especially if they know you.

Sometimes our finance company will say ‘yes’ almost immediately and on other occasions it may take them a few days. This short delay can be for any number of reasons and you should not be unduly concerned.