Energy Efficient Windows & Doors in North Wales

Mr and Mrs H live in a spacious detached cottage in North Wales, the kind of property where stone walls, exposed landscapes and changeable weather are all part of daily life. It's a beautiful setting, but it's also one that puts demands on your windows and doors.

When the couple purchased the property in 2015, the existing double glazing appeared to be in good condition. It had been fitted in the late 1990s and, on the surface, looked like a decent asset. But over time, the reality told a different story. The sealed units were air-filled rather than argon gas-filled, and the frames were poorly insulated. That's a combination that would have been acceptable 25 years ago but falls well short of modern standards. Argon gas is less thermally conductive than air, meaning an argon-filled unit loses significantly less heat than an air-filled equivalent. The old windows simply weren't doing the job anymore.

The lounge bay window made the problem impossible to ignore. Fitted with a window seat, it should have been one of the most inviting spots in the house. Instead, it was draughty and cold in cooler weather, uncomfortable to sit in for any length of time. 

Why Everest?

Mr and Mrs H did speak to another company, a small local firm, but ultimately chose Everest. The reason was straightforward, Everest were quicker to respond to queries and provided a comparable quote.

Responsiveness matters. When you're investing in a whole-house window replacement, you want to feel confident that the company behind it is organised, communicative and capable of managing a project of this scale.

Energy efficiency for their Welsh cottage

Mr and Mrs H already knew exactly what they wanted, with a clear brief for Everest.

The specification was for nine uPVC storm casement windows, two of which are bay configurations (making 15 frames in total), plus a Signature composite door in anthracite grey. Crucially, the lounge bay window was specified with triple glazing, targeting the room that needed the biggest thermal improvement.

The choice of storm casement is worth noting. Unlike flush casement windows, where the sash sits level with the frame, storm casements have a lipped sash that overlaps the frame. The result is superior weathertightness, keeping rain and draughts out even in exposed conditions. For a cottage in North Wales, where wind-driven rain is a fact of life, that's an important choice.

A cold, draughty spot transformed

The overall appearance of the windows is better than the previous ones, but the real improvements go beyond aesthetics.

Two things stand out. First, light levels in the cottage have improved noticeably. The previous windows had lead detailing on the glass, which, while traditional in character, breaks up the view and reduces the amount of natural light entering a room. Removing that lead has opened up the outlook from the cottage considerably, giving much better views out and allowing more daylight to flood in. In a property surrounded by the Welsh countryside, that's a meaningful upgrade.

Second, and most importantly for Mr and Mrs H, the lounge bay window has been completely transformed. What was once a cold, draughty spot that the couple avoided in winter is now a pleasant place to sit whatever the time of year or outside temperature. 

Installation and service

Mr and Mrs H did experience a couple of issues during and after the installation. Two of the frames had been slightly chipped, either before or during fitting. Then, several weeks later, a different window developed a small semi-circular crack at the edge of the glass unit near the top of the frame.

The reality for an installation of this scale, is that a minor issue can happen. What matters is how problems are handled when they arise. Everest dealt with it quickly and professionally and Mr and Mrs H were very happy with how the team dealt with everything and the end results more than met expectations.