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We examine Britannia double glazing windows to find out whether this company deserves to rank among the top window installers in the UK.
Britannia Windows is a family-owned and operated business based in Clevedon, near Bristol, specialising in double glazing windows. The company manufactures its own window units to size, using glass that has at least an A+ rating for energy efficiency, as well as triple glazing. While the factory and headquarters are based in Clevedon, there are showrooms across Bristol, West Sussex, Somerset and Hampshire.
Customers can choose from an impressive colour palette. The standard range of window frames is available in white and two woodgrain effect options – cherrywood and golden oak. Britannia’s premium range includes fine woodgrain finishes that resemble real timber frames very accurately. Options include woodgrain white, cream, rustic cherry, Irish oak, red, blue, Chartwell green, and grey.
Despite its growth and success in the South of England, Britannia has retained the hands-on approach of a friendly family business, offering advice and consultative home visits to draw up accurate quotations.
Britannia Windows also offers low-cost monthly financing, “buy now, pay later” plans and a 0% APR on purchases over £3,000.
On the downside, we’ve seen several poor reviews about Britannia Windows on Bark, Trustpilot, AllChecked and Yell. It seems that customers’ experiences vary dramatically depending on the installer, as is often the case with double glazing window companies. However, compared to other window providers, Britannia has relatively few reviews, so bear this in mind when you make a decision.
Britannia offers uPVC and aluminium double glazing windows in a range of styles, including casement, heritage and tilt and turn. You can select from a range of colours, including woodgrain finishes. The replacement window range is also available in triple glazing, and the company only installs windows with a minimum A+ rating for optimum noise insulation and energy efficiency.
Choosing a company can be a difficult decision as the windows you choose can affect your home’s comfort and energy efficiency. Plus, installing replacement windows is an expensive process, so you want to ensure you get it right. Always consider the pros and cons before making a final decision.
Britannia double glazing windows are made to measure and offer bespoke options, such as these in gorgeously stylish Chartwell green. (Image credit: Britannia)
A Britannia consultant will visit your home and discuss the various options available before preparing an no-obligation windows quote. This step in the process is free of charge, allowing you get to grips with the company’s products and prices before parting with any money.
Britannia also has an online tool where customers can experiment to their heart’s content with colours and styles to truly visualise the end result.
Britannia Windows is an affordable option for buyers seeking flexible finance, high-quality products and a vast customisable choice. However, the company only operates in the south west regions of England, so if you live further north, you will need to consider alternatives.
Britelite is a good alternative and offers competitive pricing (from £160 per window, excluding installation). Like Britannia, this company offers different colours as well as triple glazing and a 10-year transferable guarantee. Britelite operates in Kent, Sussex, Essex, Surrey and London, so it may suit customers in different areas who are outside of Britannia’s catchment area.
Homeowners considering a premium brand should look no further than Everest. This company is particularly appealing due to its generous range of warranties. Everest windows come with a 10-year standard guarantee on all parts and materials, while the uPVC Exclusives range is covered by a 20-year guarantee. You can also consider buying a lifetime guarantee for complete peace of mind.
Everest isn’t cheap, however, and you may pay twice as much as you would have had you chosen Britannia Windows instead.
Providing an exact estimation of what you could expect to pay for your new double glazing windows from Britannia is difficult. The cost will ultimately depend on the window style and finish you select and how large your windows are. However, online comparison sites can give you an estimation of what you might pay:
| Material | Cost (excluding installation) |
|---|---|
| uPVC | £250–£500 |
| Aluminium | £475–£625 |
Britannia double glazing windows are easy to maintain, only requiring occasional cleaning. (Image credit: Britannia)
Britannia says its windows are very low maintenance. If you’ve opted for aluminium frames, you can rest assured that they are rust-proof. You simply wipe down the frames and vacuum away any debris and dust to extend their lifespan.
uPVC windows should be wiped down twice a year with soapy water and dried with a soft cloth. Glass must be cleaned with clear liquid glass cleaner and not with paste or cream cleaners.
“Brittania windows were fantastic from start to finish. From the no-pressure quote to the great price without needing to haggle to keeping us informed along the way until installation. The fitters were polite and did a fantastic job; we’re really pleased with our windows and would be more than happy to recommend you to others.”
“Absolutely terrible customer service, they fitted my uPVC using double-sided tape, so when it fell off, and I called customer services for repairs to be made, they sent a fitter who made a complete bodge job, and I am still waiting for them to respond to me to come and put the repair right. . . .”
“Excellent front door and two big bay windows. Wrong glass was ordered for the surround of the front door, but this was rectified fairly quickly, and we weren’t asked for final payment until it was. The installation team was excellent over three days, polite, friendly, hard-working, precise, punctual, friendly and informative. Bay windows were replacing windows fitted over 20 years ago, not by Britannia, and it’s only now we realise how bad that installation was.”
Britannia offers a variety of design and colour options, enabling homeowners to find the style they are looking for. Online design tools, home visits and a number of convenient and beautifully laid-out showrooms make it easy for homeowners to visualise and choose their window products.
The company only offers aluminium and uPVC replacement windows, but its premium uPVC woodgrain finishes are particularly appealing, as the fine details can offer the attractive look of timber, without the cost.
The windows are highly energy-efficient, and triple glazing is on offer as well if you would like extra insulation.
Britannia is a good option for homeowners in the South West of England who require flexible financing. The company’s products are wide-ranging and high-quality, yet cheaper than companies like Everest.
There are many factors that affect the total cost of double glazing windows, including the company you choose to do the installation, the style of window, the frame material, the colour and finish and the size of your windows. However, as a general estimate, you can expect to pay anywhere from £160 to £625 or more for a standard casement uPVC window.
Adding an additional layer of glass to an existing window is known as secondary glazing. A thin frame is installed on the interior of your current window, allowing for a gap between the old pane and the new. Although secondary glazing does offer insulating properties, generally it isn’t considered to be as effective as double glazing at keeping your home warm.
The lifespan of double glazing windows depends on the material they’re made of and how well they’re looked after. uPVC windows tend to last around 20-25 years, aluminium around 45 years and timber up to 50 years or more, according to Everest.
The advantages of double glazing windows far outweigh the disadvantages; however, there are a couple of points to consider:
Many double glazing providers are offering triple glazed window units, and they are becoming increasingly popular with homeowners. Consisting of three panes of glass with air, or gas filled spacers between them, the insulating and soundproofing properties that double glazing offers, generally improve with three layers of glass – in some cases, by as much as 50%. However, this should be balanced against the increased cost of triple glazed windows.
To put together this Britannia Windows review, we read hundreds of customer reviews, professional opinion pieces, forums and technical documentation to understand what the company offers homeowners.
We created a 100-point scoring system to rate Britannia Windows and other window companies that assesses the features and characteristics homeowners care about most when buying new windows.