Frequently asked questions on windows

No, they’re all the same thing, and it should be PVC-U windows, to give them their official name.

It was in the late 1980’s that UPVC changed its name to PVCU in the UK for consistency with other European countries. It’s believed they called it PVC-U because European languages mostly place the noun (being PVC in this case) before the adjective (U).

‘PVC’ stands for Poly Vinyl Chloride, with the ‘U’ standing for Un-plasticised. Poly Vinyl Chloride, better known to most people as ‘PVC’, gets modified for use in the manufacturing of products such as bags, shoes, and fake leather. This is how so many of us are aware of the ‘PVC abbreviation.

Pure PVC-U is unsuitable for window and door manufacturing as it needs a small number of additives to ensure of longevity, high weathering, and UV resistance. These additives are also essential for achieving the familiar white colour found on windows and doors.

The days of replacement windows and doors only being available in white are long gone. We can supply our replacement windows and doors in all sorts of coloured finishes.

That’s not to say there’s anything with white or cream, far from it, but if you want something different, then there’s plenty to like in our colour palette, which includes colours like Anthracite Grey, Hazy Grey, Matt Black, and Olive Grey.

In addition, Clearview also offers a series of woodgrains, ranging from the rich, dark elegance of Rosewood to more vibrant oak effect finishes and statement colours, such as Chartwell Green, Dark Red and Steel Blue.

You can combine colours by having one colour on the inside of a window and a different finish on the outside if you desire.

If you want to know the standard of energy efficiency offered by a window, just look out for its Window Energy Rating (WER). You will be familiar with energy ratings being displayed on white goods, such as fridges, freezers, washing machines etc. with them energy rated from A+  –  G.

An A+ rated window is the most energy efficient window you can get in the UK, as defined by the BFRC Rating Scheme. This is the UK’s national system for rating the energy efficiency levels of windows and recognised in Building Regulations as showing compliance with the rules when fitted at a residence property.

If you can afford them, it’s well worth investing in windows with either an A or A+ rating to be ensured of a high level of thermal efficiency.

It is compulsory for all new or replacement windows to have a minimum WER of C or above. Speak to advisor for advice on buying and WERs.

The U-Value of a window tells you how good your window is at retaining internal heat and stopping it from escaping. A U-Value is measured in Watts per square metre or W/m2 K. The lower the U-Value number, the better the heat retention of the window.

It is a requirement for any new or replacement windows to have a minimum U-Value of 1.6 W/m2 K. For further info on U-Values, just speak to a Clearview advisor.

Secured by Design is a Police-run initiative that’s wholly focused on improving the security of buildings and their surroundings to provide people with safer places to live.

SBD’s product-based accreditation scheme – the Police Preferred Specification – is the recognised standard for products that are specifically designed to minimise crime. It incorporates domestic windows and doors, and their components, such as locks, hinges etc.

Conservatory Outlet (part of the Conservatory Outlet Group), our sister manufacturing company, is an approved member of Secured by Design, so much of our product range meets the SBD standard. Outline you have any concerns about home security with one of our advisors.

Conservatory Outlet is also one of the country’s leading manufacturers of UPVC and aluminium windows, a retail network that Clearview is extremely proud to be a member of. They build the windows in a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Wakefield, West Yorkshire.

It is advantageous that we have such a close relationship with our manufacturer as it allows us to keep close control over our supply chain and ensure our product standards never drop.

We can confirm that Clearview is a member of FENSA (Fenestration Self-Assessment Scheme). It was established by the Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) and a series of other industry bodies, with encouragement from the Government, as a response to current Building Regulations.

When getting your windows and doors replace, you must comply with current thermal performance standards and obtain a FENSA certificate at the conclusion of the project to show compliance with the rules.

Being a FENSA member also permits us to self-certify any replacement window and door installations.

No home is ever the same, so it’s hard for us to provide you with a figure until we have properly sat down and discussed things first.
Any windows that you buy from us will be specially tailored for your home, accounting for the available openings and fittings. We also need to be informed of your style, colour and performance preferences, and of course, we must measure up at your home in order to be able to estimate what the cost will be.

Get a FREE design consultation organised with Clearview, which can either be held in your home or at one of our showrooms. We can also speak virtually via Zoom. Just request an online appointment.

Fill in the relevant contact form with all your details and a suitable date and time will be arranged to talk.

As a rough guide, we always set aside 1 hour for the initial appointment. This is generally sufficient time for the designer to understand your needs, note down any measurements and discuss the many window and door options that we have available.

All replacement window projects are different, so it’s hard to say. You also must consider how many windows need to be fitted and whether it’s a complex job. We can, however, tell you that it generally takes about 3-4 days to install a full house of windows. The advisor involved will be able to provide information about any timescales.

Yes, you can. Clearview has several easy payment finance options available (subject to application & status). Making a finance application is easy and you won’t be waiting long to find out if it has been successful. This can be organised in a showroom or at your own home, whichever venue you prefer.

When you are arranging your own, just give us a call as soon as it gets approved. If you decide to organise finance through Clearview, the finance company will notify us both and we’ll be in touch with you.

There can be any number of reasons why someone gets turned down finance, including if you have moved several times in the last few years. In the event of this happening, will we be there to help. It could always be worth trying to obtain finance through another provider, particularly one that knows you.

We’ve known some finance companies to give an almost immediate response, while others may take a few days to give an answer. Any delay isn’t something to be overly concerned about and can be down to various reasons.