FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

There isn’t any difference, and they should technically be called PVC-U windows, as that’s their official name.

The UPVC name was changed to PVCU in the UK back in the 1980’s so that it has the same title as it did in other European countries. History says that they referred to it as PVC-U because European languages mostly place the noun (being PVC in this case) before the adjective (U).

Poly Vinyl Chloride is the full name for ‘PVC, with Un-plasticised being what the ‘U’ stands for. Most people know it by the shortened abbreviation of PVC because of its use in the manufacturing of things like shoes, fake leather, and bags.

It’s not possible to use pure PVC-U for window and door manufacturing as it firstly requires a few additives to guarantee longevity, high weathering, and UV resistance. Without these additives, you also can’t create the famous white colour.

In the not-to-distant past, white was one of the only colour options available, but things have changed, and replacement windows and doors can now be finished in all sorts of colours.

We like white and variations of it, as our customers continue to do too. However, there are so many shades in our colour palette, including finishes of Anthracite Grey, Hazy Grey, and Olive Grey, to name just a few.

Crystal Clear can also get a woodgrain effect organised for you, with Rosewood being just one option on the table, a very rich and distinguished woodgrain.

They compete well against colours such as Dark Reed, Steel Blue, and Chartwell Green.

You may well conclude that a dual-coloured door is the way to go just because of how many possible colours you can have.

An ‘A’ rating or any other such WER (Window Energy Rating) is designed to communicate the level of energy efficiency that a window provides. White goods get labelled in a similar fashion e.g., fridges, washing machines, freezers.

Modern replacement windows are energy rated from A+ – G.

A+ rated windows are the most energy efficient windows currently available to buy in the UK, as defined by the BFRC Rating Scheme. This is the country’s national system for highlighting the energy efficiency standards of windows and doors, and it also tells you if they conform with Building Regulations.

They’ll cost you a little extra, but A and A+ windows are worth the investment if you want to profit from outstanding energy efficiency.

Rules require that all new or replacement windows have a minimum WER of C or above. Get more info on WERs from an advisor.

Replacement windows all have a U-Value and what it signifies is how successful the window is at retaining heat and stopping it escaping. It gets measured in Watts per square metre or W/m2 K. The lower the U-Value number, the better the heat retention of the window.

Any new or replacement windows sold in the UK must have a minimum U-Value of 1.6 W/m2 K. An advisor can provide added insight on U-Values.

Secured by Design is the only security-focused scheme in existence that has the full backing of the Police, and its purpose is to heighten the security of buildings and their surroundings.

SBD’s product-based accreditation scheme – the Police Preferred Specification – gives you tangible evidence that a product has been specifically designed to minimise crime. It can encompass domestic windows and doors and their components e.g., hinges and locks.

Most of our products satisfy SBD standards as our sister manufacturing company, Conservatory Outlet, is an accredited member of Secured by Design. If home security is a real concern to you, tell your advisor this when you’re discussing your window-related requirements.

Crystal Clear is a part of the Conservatory Outlet Retailer Network and Conservatory Outlet is one of the country’s leading manufacturers of UPVC and aluminium windows. The Yorkshire-based company has a hi-tech factory in Wakefield.

This gives us the privileged position of being able to closely run the rule over our supply chain, not a luxury that many window companies have. We can therefore check that our high standards are always maintained.

Because every home is so different, we wouldn’t like to tell you until we know a little bit about yours. We’ll sit down with you and get this information.

Your windows will also need to be tailored for your property so that they fit into the openings and fittings, and we must be informed of your style, colour, and performance preferences. After a quick measuring up, we can then give you a price, which will provide fantastic value in the long-term.

Put in a request for arrangements to be made for a design consultation with Crystal Clear. This can be held in our showroom, or if you prefer, one-to-one in your home. Virtual appointments are also possible.

Submit your details via the contact form and an advisor will be in touch to organise a suitable date and time.

We always tell our customers to try and put aside 1 hour for their design appointment. That gives us sufficient time to find out more about what you want, take down any measurements you supply and introduce you to our different window and door ranges.

It can vary from job-to-job as it will all depend on things like how many windows are involved, the complexity of the project etc. But to give you a bit of an indication, a full house of windows will usually take around 3-4 days to install. An exact timescale will be provided by your advisor.

That is a possibility. Crystal Clear is delighted to offer you a series of finance options (subject to application & status). It’s quick and easy making an application for finance, and you’ll find if it has been accepted in no time. At home or in our showroom is where you can get a finance arrangement organised.

If you have made your own finance arrangements, just contact Crystal Clear when you get word of its acceptance. When it’s organised through Crystal Clear, the finance company will be in touch with us both and then we’ll contact you.

People get turned down for finance for many different reasons. A common one is because they have moved several times in recent years. If you fail to receive finance approval, Crystal Clear is here to help. One thing that’s worth doing is trying a different provider, ideally one that already knows you.

Sometimes you will be told almost right away, or you may have to wait a few days. Delays occur all the time and it’s nothing to be worried about as it could be down to any number of things.