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In our First Home Improvements windows review, we look at the products on offer and how they perform in terms of energy efficiency and security. Find out if First Home Improvements deserves to be ranked among the top double glazing providers in the UK.
First Home Improvements launched in the 1970s as Debbage and Tubby Limited, with its first showroom in Norwich. The founders retired and the company became Anglia First Home Improvements in 2008. In 2016, the company re-branded to become First Home Improvements and went through a period of expansion across the UK. Now, the company has a workforce of over 750 people and 18 showrooms offering a range services including double glazing windows.
First Home Improvements is focused on producing A-rated energy-efficient products, including doors, windows and conservatories. The company uses traditional hand-craft methods and produces uPVC windows according to the highest standards.
Despite the fact that the company only sells uPVC windows, it offers many more styles than other window companies. You can select from an impressive nine styles: casement, bow, bay, sash, tilt and turn, cottage, shaped, Tudor and Georgian bar. To complete your desired aesthetic, choose from seven standard finishes, including grain-effect finishes. If you want something different to the standard colour selection, simply send First Home Improvements your preferred RAL colour code for complete customisation.
Double glazing is harder to break than single glazed windows, but First Home Improvements windows also feature additional security features, such as a blade-locking system from Yale. According to the site, this makes the lock technology three times more secure than standard window-locking systems.
First Home Improvements offers a choice of credit options (subject to approval), and promises to match a competitor’s price if you get a cheaper quotation elsewhere.
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First Home Improvements offers a wide range of low-maintenance uPVC replacement windows. Customers can choose from a range of colours and traditional wood grain foils. There is a wide choice of glass designs, including Georgian bars and decorative, etched or leaded glass.
Double glazing is a costly but worthwhile investment. We urge homeowners to consider the pros and cons of any company before making a final decision. Choosing First Home Improvements has the following advantages:
Be sure to consider the cons, including:
uPVC double glazing windows can help reduce a home’s heating bills. (Image credit: First Home Improvements)
Contact First Home Improvements for a direct, obligation-free quote. You can also request a brochure using the online form. For real-life inspiration, visit one of First Home Improvements’ 18 showrooms across England.
The company employs a large team of designers, surveyors, installers, builders and support staff to help you through the process.
First Home Improvements is a solid company with a good reputation and a great selection of uPVC window styles. However, other companies may be a better fit for you, especially if you’re interested in different frame materials.
At a cost of £250 to £570 per uPVC window, Anglian is similarly priced to First Home Improvements. The company offers a 10-year guarantee on all parts and labour and a 15-year guarantee on gas-filled windows. Its uPVC windows are rated A to A+ for energy efficiency.
Another benefit of choosing Anglian to supply your new windows is its selection of frame materials, including timber and aluminium. Additionally, many of the styles (tilt and turn, sliding sash and casement) are SBD-approved for their high security standards.
If you are interested in a premium brand, consider Everest. It’s one of the oldest and most reputable double glazing providers in the UK, with a 4.3-star Trustpilot rating (out of nearly 12,000 reviews) and a host of accreditations, including Secured by Design, Quiet Mark, FENSA, TrustMark, BSI, BFRC, FSC and BSI Kitemark.
The brand isn’t cheap, but there are added benefits. For example, windows from Everest’s uPVC Exclusives range come with a 20-year guarantee. What’s more, Everest sells triple-glazed windows for extra energy efficiency.
First Home Improvements does not provide pricing on its website, as the cost can vary depending on the style and finishes you choose. However, the average price of double glazed uPVC windows measuring 60 x 90cm is around £150 to £500, excluding installation costs.
| Property type | Number of windows | Casement upvc windows | Sash windows |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flat | 4 – 5 | £1,000 – £1,250 | £2,000 – £2,250 |
| Small house | 6 – 10 | £1,500 – £2,500 | £3,000 – £5,000 |
| Large house | 11 – 15 | £2,750 – £3,750 | 5500 – £7,500 |
uPVC windows are very easy to maintain. They should be wiped down with warm, soapy water and then dried with a soft cloth. Window frames can be damaged by abrasive cleaners so these should be avoided.
Glass can be cleaned with a liquid glass spray cleaner.
First Home Improvements offers various styles of decorative inserts for its double glazing. (Image credit: First Home Improvements)
“I had nine windows and a back door fitted, I am so pleased with them. The work was carried out efficiently and without causing too many problems. All the old windows and doors were disposed of. The fitters were courteous and professional, I was given a demonstration of how the windows and doors performed. I had to call the scaffolding firm, to chase up removal, as it’s been three weeks and it’s still erected! I would definitely recommend first home improvements.”
“Going back to the beginning when I found an add for First, sceptical as ever with the whole sales pitch, Tom was sent to visit us for a quote, very professional, no long drawn out sales pitches, gave us exactly what we asked for, no gimmicks, a pleasure to do business with. Arranged for the surveyor to arrive another very nice man, who allowed us to discuss what was required. They could not accommodate the stable door, but we were never pushed into anything else; we were very happy. Then fitters Daniel and Luke arrived to fit our windows, left everything very clean and tidy and did a fab job all around. This company is highly recommended, and we will be using them for our new extension.”
“We had new windows installed. Robert and Clint were fantastic. They were friendly, courteous and helpful. They did a fantastic job, and everything was done to a high standard. We couldn’t be more pleased with their work and the quality of the windows.”
Hilary, Trustpilot review
First Home Improvements is a good all-round double glazing company with numerous customisation options and colours. The company focuses exclusively on uPVC, but offers many more style options than other UK brands.
There are plenty of benefits to uPVC windows. Unlike timber frames, they require very little maintenance and are not as vulnerable to degradation.
First Home Improvement windows come with a solid 12-year guarantee, which is longer than the industry average, and there are generally positive reviews about the company online.
We believe First Home Improvements is a good option for homeowners looking for uPVC frames with a wide range of colour customisation options at a fair price. The company has a wealth of experience from its beginnings in the 1970s, and its generous guarantees offer valuable peace of mind.
If you are noticing your energy bills increasing, draughts, or condensation between the panes of glass inside your double glazing, it may be worth updating your double glazing.
Although the sealed units can last for around 30 years, they can eventually become faulty. If this falls within your warranty period, contact your installer for replacement windows. Outside this period, consider the benefits you’ve enjoyed from having double glazing when thinking about getting new units.
Triple glazed windows are becoming increasingly popular, and many installers offer this option. Although pricier than double glazing, the addition of an extra spacer and glass panel increase the insulation offered by up to 40%. Other benefits increase over double glazing, too, including sound insulation and home security.
Secondary glazing is done by adding an extra window to the inside of your existing one, and it can be a cheaper option than installing double glazing. However, the benefits may not match up to getting replacement windows.
If your existing windows are draughty, or allow damp to seep through, the second frame, because it doesn’t form a sealed unit, can encourage condensation to build up. Also, it may not provide the same level of insulation that double glazing does, and can take up more sill space than you’d like.
In the long run, investing in replacement windows may be the better option.
Misting occurs when the seal on a double glazing unit become faulty, and this can be repaired, although the issue may return. This is a job for professionals.
A small hole is drilled through the frame and a desiccant agent pumped in. This will absorb the moisture, leaving the space between the glass panes dry. This can be a risky process, and there’s no guarantee that the window won’t be damaged.
Many double glazing providers offer customisation of their uPVC window frames using a range of colours and finishes. This makes is easy to increase the appeal of your home, and give the windows a personal touch.
Woodgrain effects, such as oak, beech and maple, are popular choices, but colours, especially bolder hues are rapidly increasing in popularity. Blues and greens offer wide palettes, with the more subtle tones blending well with period architecture. Braver colour choices, such as burgundies and yellows bring a stylish splash of contemporariness to any exterior.
To compile an objective review of First Home Improvements, we read hundreds of online customer testimonials, technical documentation, brochures and media articles. We carefully assessed the company’s product offering and services, and how it compares to other UK brands.
We then rated First Home Improvements against a 100-point scoring system based on the features and qualities customers care about most, including: