DNA Windows and Home Improvements FAQ's

1. Are you FENSA registered?

Yes.  We are a FENSA registered company.  We register your details as soon as your installation is completed.  You will receive your certificate of registration directly.  These certificates are important as they required by solicitors when you come to sell your property.  You won't be able to sell your property without a FENSA certificate.

2. What is FENSA?

FENSA are an independent organisation designed to police the double-glazing industry, ensuring that it's members adhere to the rules and regulations set out by the government.

3. Do you give an insurance backed guarantee (IBG's)?

Yes.  We give all customers a 10 year insurance backed guarantee free of charge.  Please contact us for more information.

4. How long is your guarantee?

We provide a full 10 year guarantee on everything.  Our guarantee covers all hardware, glass, handles.... EVERYTHING!  Beware some companies only offer a 2 year guarantee on harware.  We provide a lifetime guarantee on our frames.

5. What do I do if I have a problem after my installation has been fitted?

We pride ourselves on our excellent after-sales service, our aim is to provide a great service even long after your installation.  Should you have any problems just call 01270 848610 and we will arrange a convenient time/day to you.  We aim to get to you that day or within 24hrs.

6. Can you advise on where impact safety glass should be used in my home?

It should be used in low level glazing, glazing in and around doors, overhead and in large areas of glazing to prevent injury following accidental glass breakage.

7. Can you tell me the benefits of toughened glass over laminated?

Toughened glass is up to 5 times as strong as ordinary glass which means that is has to be hit much harder in order to break, also when it does break it is into lots of small pieces which are much less dangerous.  Laminated glass has the same strength as ordinary glass but it consists of 2 pieces with a sandwich of plastic interlayer.  If the glass does get broken this interlayer holds the whole piece in place so there is no hole left in the window for an intruder to get in though for example or large free shards.

8. What are Window Energy Ratings?

Window Energy Ratings were introduced by the Government in 2005 as a means for window companies to demonstrate compliance with Building Regulations Part L concerning energy efficiency of their windows. The Window Energy Rating level is shown on a label attached to the window which looks very much like the kind of label you will have seen in the past on domestic appliances such as fridges and washing machines

9. How can my windows help to reduce the noise level in my house?

There are a number of ways that this can be achieved including using 28mm double glazed units, or to have an uneven thicknesses of glass in the front and back panes, using regular laminated glass in one of the panes. Ask us for advice.

10. What is the difference between u-pvc and pvc-u, 1 supplier claims better aging, particulary colour for pvc-u?

To answer the question very simply, there is no difference between u-pvc and pvc-u. Both terms refer to unplasticised (hard) PVC, which is used extensively in building products where rigidity is an important attribute.

Plasticised (soft) PVC on the other hand is used where flexibility is important, for example medical tubing applications, insulation sheathing on electrical wiring, etc. Pvc-u is more to do with commonality of terminology world-wide than it is to do with formulation. Any claims of better performance of pvc-u over u-pvc are therefore spurious.

11. How do you see the advantages and disadvantages of UPVC and Aluminium for replacement windows?

UPVC offers the following advantages...

* Good insulator
* Low maintenance
* Many suppliers / usually the cheapest option today
* Now available in wood grain and any coloured finish.
If it has a disadvantage it maybe that it has relatively low structural integrity. This is overcome with steel or aluminium reinforcement. Also it can be susceptible especially in south facing situations to "expansion" in sunlight. Again using "fully reinforced" frames can reduce this.

Aluminium offers the following advantages...

* Virtually no maintenance over its long lifetime
* Slim, strong sections that will not warp or twist
* About one third the expansion of PVC-u
Its main disadvantage is that it's a relatively poor insulator. (However thermal break aluminium frames are available which offer better insulation) It is also usually more expensive than PVCu.

10 year guarantee on EVERYTHING. No quibble or questions asked. All products installed by us are guaranteed unconditionally for ten years. And this doesn't just cover the locks, hinges, glass and profiles as is typical with most double glazing companies. If we've taken care of the electrics, plumbing, tiling or plastering during an installation, then we'll guarantee these as well.

Exceptional after installation care - we have a fleet of vans and fully trained staff to deal with any problem with our products. From a sticking lock to a lost key or a faulty seal, a quick phone call to us and you can expect to see a DNA Windows and Home Improvements representative at your property. We'll call you first to agree a convenient time and the repair will be free of charge if within 10 years since installation.

No hidden costs. The quote we provide at the outset is the price you pay on completion of the job. All costs are visible before you sign and we certainly won't charge you a penny more even if we have to re plaster a wall because of our installation.

No pressure sales. By this we mean that we don't run gimmicky sales promotions that sound too good to be true and we dont have any sales reps that are paid a commission on sales. Instead Andy is the person you deal with at every step of the way, ensuring 100% customer satisfaction.

All about reputation. Although we advertise our services which helps spread the word about our growing company, the majority of DNA Windows and Home Improvements customers have either bought from us before or been personally recommended by other satisfied customers. We've literally thousands of glowing testimonials. Ask to see copies of them or read some on the testimonials section on this site.