When it’s time to get new windows for your house, you’ll get a letter at the start of the financial year. The letter will tell you which company will be doing the work. It will also explain that an asbestos team will check your home before anything starts. If they find asbestos, another team will remove it safely first. If you have wooden front or back doors, these might be replaced too.
A few weeks before the work begins, the contractor or a council worker will contact you to come and measure your windows and tell you when the work will start. The whole job should be completed within a week, and they’ll try to plan it around anything you already have going on.
- Preparing for window and wooden door replacements
- During the work
- Looking after your new windows and doors
- Reporting problems
Preparing for window and wooden door replacements
The contractor will call the week before the work is due to start and explain what you will need to do. Normally you need to:
- clear everything off the window sills
- take curtains and blinds down and move any furniture out of the way
- if you are having new doors, clear behind them
- move anything that needs extra protection out of the room or cover with extra sheets
- keep pets and children away from the work area as there may be some dust and broken glass
During the work
The contractor will treat you and your home with courtesy and respect. They will use dust sheets to cover carpets and furniture, and clean up any mess afterwards.
- the contractor will make sure that telephone cables or television aerials that pass through the window frame are removed
- do not climb on any scaffolding or ladders
- keep well away when the window fitters are taking out the old windows and fitting the new ones
- keep valuables out of sight and safe while the work is being done
Once the work is done the contractor will show you how to use your new windows and doors.
Looking after your new windows and doors
Follow thee guidelines to keep your windows and doors in good condition.
Cleaning
Use warm, soapy water to clean the frames. Any stubborn stains can be wiped off using a non-abrasive cleaner.
Don't use abrasive powders or pads, as they will scratch the surface which makes the windows harder to clean in future.
Oiling
To keep the hinges working smoothly, give them a couple of drops of light machine oil once a year.
Painting
Do not paint UPVC windows. Paint causes permanent damage.
Fixings
Do not make holes in the frames, for example to fix net curtains. Holes in UPVC are difficult to fill in or cover up.
Reporting problems
If you have any problems with your new windows for example if they are stiff, won't lock properly or mist up between the sheets of glass, contact the Capital Projects Team.
Also see
Housing Capital Projects Team
Please contact the Housing Capital Projects Team by email, other than in an emergency or if you don't have access to email.