There's double glazing and then there's double glazing. Friends and neighbours often commented that our wooden leaded windows were a lovely feature of our house. However they didn't have to live with the drafts and the howling gales that came through the gaps in the leading, never mind the frame. A change of windows were years overdue, the last straw was when Glyn decided that it was rediculous having to sleep in a hat because the bedroom windows had so many draughts that it was impossible to get a decent nights sleep without the extra layer of protection.

We had no idea of how much double glazing was going to cost nor what type of glazing would replace our lovely leaded windows.

Firstly we contacted some local firms, we asked round for recommendations but only got one, we picked the others from out the local paper and yellow pages.  If you're having bog standard windows done and want a decent job for a reasonable price, then there are a few thermally efficient double glazed window suppliers to choose from. If you want the names of the ones we'd recommend then contact us by email and we'll happily send them to you. Unfortunately they didn't have the manufacturing capability to achieve the style of window we wanted so we had to look at one of the national suppliers who have their own manufacturing and extruding plants. The thing I really liked about the local double glazing firms is that there's not hard sell.

The one thing you must be prepared for with having one of the nationals come round, is they want to sign you up on the spot. Not only that, but they want you and your partner there, so you have no excuse to fob them off with the excuse that you want to discuss it with your other half.

Make it clear that you wont be making a decision that day. They'll give you all the patter that this offer is only available on the day they come. It's absolutely nonesense. They're Double Glazing Salesmen for heavens sake, of course they'll give you the same offer if you ring back, in fact you might even get a better one. Be prepared not to be bullied.

I had a particular lothing for the National Double Glazing Companies. The company we eventually chose were one of the most expensive, but they had the best ideas in terms of a style of window that would work upstairs in the sash style windows, downstairs in the bay style windows and a special secondary glazed unit for the long stained glass window in the stairway . They also went to great lenghts to tell me they were the most thermally effieceint window on the market.  "So what"  I thought at the time,  but having had the double glazing installed, not only has the temperature shot up in the house, we've had to turn the thermostat down from 20 to 16 degrees. In all the years I've lived here we've never been able to sit in a T-shirt in winter, with the thermostat on 16 and still be hot! My sister has commented that the reason I've maintained my youthful complexion is due to the fact I've been mummified by living in the perishing cold for so long. So I have wrinkles and lines to look forward to now, as well as a toasty warm house.

Back to the price, I have to confess I did gasp when he told me the price he had calculated. He gave me a load of spin of how it would add tremendous value to my house. I wasn't convinced at the time (I am now). It wasn't a good enough reason to justify the price to myself. It became an endurance test and a battle of wills between the Double Glazing saleman and myself.  We went at it for about 4 hours before we eventually ground each other down. I got a fantastic price, almost as low as the local double glazing companies, he got paid there and then, and I agreed to have a board in the garden for 6 weeks. Everyone was a winner.

The fitters arrived within a few weeks and did a fabulous job, with little mess, and got the job finished within 3 days. The first night  the windows were completely fitted, we went out for a meal and when we came back in we couldn't beleive the heat in the house. Even if we'd paid the full price it would have been worth every penny just for the heat.

The friends who had told me I was making a terrible mistake putting double glazing on the house,  complimented the new look of the house and said it looked even more cottage like and had really brightened the kerb appeal.

What's more is the windows have one of the longest guarantees on the double glazing markets. You must beware of the 10 year guarantees on offer that they covers the windows, locks and handles. Many firms guarantees only guarantee the actual window unit and not the locks and handles, which have a tendancy to 'go' in the first few years if they're not properly maintained.

From speaking to other local people and from my own regrettable experience with my leaky conservatory (not fitted by the windown company we used) there are double glazing companies out there that you shouldn't touch. Obviously for legal reasons we can't slag them off here, but if you'd like to know who we used or who other locals recommend, then please contact us and we'll happily supply you with the details.