
What should you look for in a PVC window or PVC door?
If you are now thinking about replacement UPVC windows or doors. If you are at the early stages and you believe that a new UPVC window is the same as any other UPVC window stop and think now. This is not this case. PVC windows & doors are manufactured in various different ways with various different profiles and machinery with different products and attributes added to the door or window.
Some people follow the principal if you pay peanuts it’s made by monkeys or you only get what you pay for. Quality is not cheap it’s priceless.
We have written this buyers guide for UPVC windows and UPVC doors to assist you along the right lines cutting out the cowboys and making sure that you get a product at a reasonable price but most importantly the correct UPVC door or UPVC window for your needs and your property.
Before I begin you may want to look at our about us page / company profile online. Which outlines our success in the UPVC window and door industry.
Click to find out more about Clyde UPVC Door & UPVC Windows
Or don’t just take my word for it have a look at our customers / client testimonials page.
Click for Windows Doors & Conservatories Testimonials
Whether you’re buying a PVC door or window they both have frames and usually another UPVC frame within this.
So what do you need to look for with regard to the frame quality?
Be sure the window / door frame has been fully welded using proper frame welding machinery rather than mechanically jointed. This is the strongest part of the frame.
Mechanically jointed frames on the other hand are simply welded at the corners with any other parts screwed onto them which is not ideal and is more or less out of date, however beware it still practiced by some window / door manufacturers.
Next you want to find out how substantial the door or window frame is, and more importantly that you have or are purchasing a high security frame
There are three main frame standard sizes within the UK 50mm, 62mm and 70mm (when we say this size we mean the front to back of the outside to inside size which is the actual thickness of the frame).
It is important to look for a product with a 70mm frame as opposed to the less secure / weaker 62mm and 50mm frame again this is outdated now, yet still used by many manufacturers to keep costs down.
When you reduce the frames thickness you most defiantly reduce insulation therefore you loose home warmth increase power bills and for those who are environmentally minded you will increase your carbon footprint for sure.
In short NOT energy efficient and also not as strong as the 70mm system if there is less plastic there is less strength and insulation.
You also need to check that the UPVC frames have been reinforced by either aluminium or steel sections these should be specific to the window frame rather than a company buying quality window frames and then adding in cheap reinforcing that they may have bought in from elsewhere.
It is really important that this frame and reinforcing is sought from the same company as the sizes are specific to fit inside each other and this critical to the integrity and the strength of the window or door frame.
You may want to have a look at the videos on our website which show how and where our frame profiles are made.
Click for UPVC Doors and Windows Video

© 2008-2010 Clyde Windows
site by xixdesign
Here are some Scottish towns, cities and villages where we installed UPVC products in our 18 years of trading.
AIRDRIE including Calderbank and Chapelhall ALLOA, ALVA, TILLICOULTRY, DOLLAR including Clackmannan, Menstrie, Sauchie and Tullibody ANSTRUTHER ARBROATH including St Vigeans ARDROSSAN, LARGS, SALTCOATS, STEVENSTON including Fairlie, Millport, Skelmorlie, Seamill and West Kilbride AVIEMORE, GRANTOWN-ON-SPEY, KINGUSSIE including Boat of Garten, Carrbridge, Nethybridge and Newtonmore AYR including Alloway BARRHEAD including Neilson and Uplawmoor BATHGATE including Blackburn, Polbeth and West Calder BEARSDEN, MILNGAVIE including Balfron, Blanefield, Drymen, Killearn and Strathblane BISHOPBRIGGS including Lennoxtown and Torrance BLAIRGOWRIE, ALYTH, COUPAR ANGUS including Meigle, Newtyle, Rattray and Rosemount BO'NESS including Whitecross BONNYRIGG & LASSWADE including Polton and Rosewell BROXBURN & UPHALL including East Calder, Kirknewton and Winchburgh BURNTISLAND, KINGHORN BUCKIE, CULLEN including Findochty, Portgordon and Portknockie
CAMPBELTOWN, LOCHGILPHEAD including Ardrishaig, Inveraray and Tarbert CARDENDEN, THORNTON, WEMYSS STREET PLAN including Coaltown of Wemyss, East Wemyss, West Wemyss and Kinglassie CARLUKE & LAW CARNOUSTIE, MONIFIETH COATBRIDGE COWDENBEATH, LOCHGELLY, KELTY including Ballingry, Crossgates, Crosshill, Hill of Beath, Lochore and Lumphinnans CRIEFF, COMRIE, AUCHTERARDER including Blackford, Braco, Gleneagles and Muthill CUMBERNAULD & KILSYTH including Banton, Croy and Queenzieburn CUPAR including Balmullo, Ceres, Dairsie and Springfield DALKEITH including Easthouses, Gorebridge, Mayfield, Newbattle and Newtongrange DENNY, BONNYBRIDGE including Allandale, Banknock, Dennyloanhead, Dunipace, Haggs, Head of Muir, Longcroft and Stoneywood DUMBARTON & VALE OF LEVEN including Alexandria, Balloch, Bonhill, Cardross, Jamestown, Loch Lomond Shores, Milton and Renton DUMFRIES & NITHSDALE including Cargenbridge, Glencaple, Heathhall, Kirkconnel, Locharbriggs, New Abbey, Sanquhar and Thornhill DUNBLANE, DOUNE, CALLANDER
DUNDEE including Broughty Ferry, Invergowrie, Birkhill and Muirhead DUNFERMLINE including Blairhall, Cairneyhill, Charlestown, Crossford, Culross, Halbeath, High Valleyfield, Kincardine (on Forth), Limekilns, Low Valleyfield, Newmills, Oakley, Saline, Torryburn and Wellwood EAST NEUK & LARGO including Anstruther, Cellardyke, Crail, Earlsferry, Elie, Kilrenny, Lower Largo, Lundin Links, Pittenweem, St Monans and Upper Largo EDINBURGH CENTRAL - Murrayfield to Meadowbank ELGIN & LOSSIEMOUTH including Burghead, Duffus, Fochabers, Garmouth, Hopeman, Kingston (on Spey), Lhanbryde and Mosstodloch ELLON including Balmedie, Cruden Bay, Hatton, Newburgh (Aberdeenshire), Pitmedden, Potterton and Tarves FALKIRK including Airth, Avonbridge, Carron, Carronshore, Larbert, Slamannan and Stenhousemuir FORFAR, BRECHIN, KIRRIEMUIR including Edzell, Friockheim, Letham and Lunanhead GALASHIELS, MELROSE, SELKIRK including Clovenfords, Darnick, Earlston, Lauder, Gattonside, Newstead, Newtown St Boswells, St Boswells, Stow and Tweedbank GIFFNOCK, CLARKSTON, NEWTON MEARNS including Busby, Eaglesham, Thornliebank and Waterfoot Govan, Kinning Park, Gorbals, Bridgeton and West End. GLENROTHES, LESLIE, MARKINCH including Coaltown of Balgonie GRANGEMOUTH, POLMONT including Brightons, California, Laurieston, Maddiston, Redding, Reddingmuirhead, Rumford, Shieldhill, Wallacestone and Westquarter GREENOCK, GOUROCK, PORT GLASGOW including Inverkip, Kilmacolm and Wemyss Bay HADDINGTON, DUNBAR, NORTH BERWICK including Aberlady, Dirleton, East Linton, Gullane, Gifford, Longniddry and West Barns HAMILTON Blantyre
HAWICK, JEDBURGH, KELSO, DUNS, EYEMOUTH including Chirnside, Coldingham, Coldstream, Denholm, Greenlaw, St Abbs and Yetholm HELENSBURGH including Cove/Kilcreggan, Clynder, Rosneath, Garelochhead, Rhu and Craigendoran INVERKEITHING, DALGETY BAY including Aberdour, Hillend, North Queensferry and Rosyth INVERNESS including Ardersier, Balloch, Cradlehall, Culloden and Smithton IRVINE & GARNOCK VALLEY including Beith, Dalry, Dreghorn, Glengarnock, Kilbirnie, Kilwinning and Springside JOHNSTONE, LINWOOD including Elderslie, Brookfield, Howwood, Kilbarchan and Lochwinnoch KEITH, DUFFTOWN including Aberlour, Craigellachie, Newmill and Rothes KILMARNOCK including Crookedholm, Crosshouse, Darvel, Dunlop, Fenwick, Galston, Hurlford, Kilmaurs, Newmilns and Stewarton KINROSS including Crook of Devon, Kinnesswood and Milnathort KIRKCALDY including Dysart
KIRKINTILLOCH including Chryston, Gartcosh, Lenzie, Millerston, Milton of Campsie, Moodiesburn, Muirhead, Stepps and Twechar LANARK, BIGGAR including New Lanark LARKHALL Ashgill LEVEN, BUCKHAVEN, METHIL, KENNOWAY including Methilhill and Windygates LINLITHGOW including Linlithgow Bridge and Torphichen LIVINGSTON including Mid Calder, Pumpherston and Uphall MONTROSE including Ferryden and Hillside MOTHERWELL including Carfin, Cleland, Eurocentral, Holytown, Newarthill and New Stevenston MUSSELBURGH, TRANENT, PRESTONPANS including Cockenzie & Port Seton, Fisherrow, Inveresk, Macmerry, Ormiston, Pencaitland, Preston, Wallyford and Whitecraig NEWBURGH including Auchtermuchty, Falkland, Freuchie, Kettlebridge, Kingskettle, Ladybank and Strathmiglo NEWPORT, TAYPORT including Gauldry and Wormit PAISLEY
PEEBLES Innerleithen, Cardrona and Walkerburn PENICUIK, LOANHEAD including Auchendinny, Bilston and Roslin PERTH including Abernethy, Almondbank, Balbeggie, Bankfoot, Bridge of Earn, Burrelton, Dunning, Errol, Glencarse, Glenfarg, Guildtown, Inchture, Luncarty, Methven, Scone (New Scone), St Madoes and Stanley PITLOCHRY, ABERFELDY, DUNKELD including Birnam, Blair Atholl, Kinloch Rannoch and Moulin RENFREW, ERSKINE, HOUSTON including Bishopton, Bridge of Weir, Crosslee, Inchinnan and Langbank ST ANDREWS including Guardbridge, Leuchars and Strathkinness SOUTH QUEENSFERRY, KIRKLISTON including Dalmeny, Newbridge, Ratho and Ratho Station STIRLING including Bridge of Allan, Bannockburn STRATHAVEN, STONEHOUSE
TROON, PRESTWICK including Dundonald, Loans, Monkton and Symington WHITBURN, ARMADALE Addiewell, Blackridge, East Whitburn, Fauldhouse, Greenrigg and Stoneyburn Glasgow City of Edinburgh Dundee Dundee City Paisley Renfrewshire East Kilbride South Lanarkshire Livingston West Lothian Inverness Highlands Cumbernauld North Lanarkshire Hamilton, South Lanarkshire Kirkcaldy Fife Ayr South Ayrshire Clydebank West Dunbartonshire Greenock Inverclyde Kilmarnock East Ayrshire Perth Perth and Kinross Stirling Coatbridge North Lanarkshire Irvine North Ayrshire Dunfermline Fife Glenrothes Fife Dumfries Dumfries and Galloway Airdrie North Lanarkshire Falkirk Motherwell North Lanarkshire Wishaw North Lanarkshire Rutherglen South Lanarkshire Cambuslang South Lanarkshire Bishopbriggs East Dunbartonshire Bearsden East Dunbartonshire Arbroath Newton Mearns East Renfrewshire Musselburgh East Lothian Moray Bellshill North Lanarkshire Dumbarton West Dunbartonshire Kirkintilloch East Dunbartonshire Renfrew Renfrewshire Barrhead East Renfrewshire Alloa Clackmannanshire Grangemouth Falkirk Blantyre South Lanarkshire Johnstone Renfrewshire Buckhaven FifePort Glasgow Inverclyde Lanark South Lanarkshire Kilwinning North Ayrshire Larkhall South Lanarkshire Prestwick South Ayrshire Erskine Renfrewshire Bathgate
West Lothian Abington Airdrie Airth Alexan Barrhead Bearsden Bellshill Biggar Bishopbriggs Bishopton Blackness Blackwood Blantyre Bo'ness Bonhill Bonnybridge Bothwell Bowling Braidwood Bridge of Weir Busby Cadzow Caldercruix Cambus Cambuslang Cambusnethan Cardonald Carfin CarlukeCarmunnock Carnwath Carron Carstairs Castlecary Castlemilk Cathcart Chapelhall Chapelton Chryston Clachan of Campsie Clackmannan and Clydebank Coalburn Coatbridge Covington CowlairsCrawford Crawfordjohn Crossford Croy Culter Cumbernauld Dalmarnock Dalmuir Dalserf Dalzell Denny Dollar Dolphinton Douglas Drumchapel Drumclog Dullatur Dumbarton Dunipace Dunsyre Duntocher Eaglesham East Kilbride Elderslie Elsrickle Elvanfoot Erskine Falkirk Finnieston Forest Mill Forth Georgetown Giffnock Glasgow Glassford Glenboig Gourock Govan Gowkthrapple Grahamston Grange Grangemouth Greenock Haggs Hamilton Harthill Hartwood Hawkhead HaywoodHillend Hillington Hogganfield Holytown Houston Howwood Hurlet Hyndfordbridge-end Inchinnan Inverkip Jamestown Johnstone Kennetpans Kilbarchan Kilmacolm Kilsyth Kings Park
Kinning Park Kirkintilloch Lamington Lanark Langbank Larbert Larkhall Law Lennoxtown Lenzie Lesmahagow Libberton Linthouse Lochwinnoch Longriggend Maddiston Mansewood Maryhill Meikle Earnock Merksworth Millikenpark Milngavie Milton of Campsie Mollinburn Morningside Mossend Motherwell Mount Vernon Neilston Netherburn New Monkland Newarthill Newbigging Newhouse Newmains Newton Newton Mearns Nitshil lOld Kilpatrick Monkland Overtown Paisley Parkhead Partick Pettinain Pollok Pollokshaws Polmadie Polmont Port Glasgow Provanmill Quarter Renfrew Renton Roberton Rutherglen Ryeland Sauchie Scotstoun Shieldhall Shotts Slamannan Cobbinshaw Springburn Stepps Stirling Stockbriggs Stonehouse Strathaven Symington Tarbrax Thankerton Tillicoultry TollcrossTradestonTwechar Uddingston Uplawmoor Vale of Leven Walston Wemyss Bay Whiteinch Wilsontown Wishaw,Wiston