Obtaining approval for replacement windows.
Discussion
Why is it now sodifficult to carry out any work on your home..
I am looking at replacing my kitchen window before the new kitchen gets fitted. But now i am told i cat do this as a DIY job as it needs to be certified by FENSA or by your local authorities Building Regs. Ok a Fensa installer will charge £150 to check the install and provide a certificate and the local building regs will charge £125 for the check.. All this for a window that costs £200.
To add insult to injury i cant even change my patio door for a newer more secure and more thermal efficent one without planning permission & a Fensa Certificate.
Any thoughts on what i can do, to overcome the regs by either a self assesment or a cheaper way of gaining approval.
I am looking at replacing my kitchen window before the new kitchen gets fitted. But now i am told i cat do this as a DIY job as it needs to be certified by FENSA or by your local authorities Building Regs. Ok a Fensa installer will charge £150 to check the install and provide a certificate and the local building regs will charge £125 for the check.. All this for a window that costs £200.
To add insult to injury i cant even change my patio door for a newer more secure and more thermal efficent one without planning permission & a Fensa Certificate.
Any thoughts on what i can do, to overcome the regs by either a self assesment or a cheaper way of gaining approval.
Is it a conservation area or a house with rime limited covenants placed by the builders?
I wasn't aware the council had any role unless building regs were needed and why do you need those to simply replace a window?
I know that whne we had some glass replaced in our side window the glazing company insisted on using laminated glass because it was at ground level and the later regulations insisted on laminated glass.
I wasn't aware the council had any role unless building regs were needed and why do you need those to simply replace a window?
I know that whne we had some glass replaced in our side window the glazing company insisted on using laminated glass because it was at ground level and the later regulations insisted on laminated glass.
After dealing with the morons in our LA Planning Dept. I would be inclined to just do it and claim it was always like that.
We've taken this view on some of the work to a listed building, they even requested permission for work to be done on a like for like basis.
Half the time it's just a cretinous Planning Officer wanting to flex some muscle and be awkward for the sake of it.
We've taken this view on some of the work to a listed building, they even requested permission for work to be done on a like for like basis.
Half the time it's just a cretinous Planning Officer wanting to flex some muscle and be awkward for the sake of it.
stevieb said:
Its royally f
ked me off, as all of the window companies are quoting £600 for a window, but a cheapy wickes one custom made is less than £200 and a local builder will install for £50.
Just do it then - do you seriously think anyone else takes any notice of these stupid rules?ked me off, as all of the window companies are quoting £600 for a window, but a cheapy wickes one custom made is less than £200 and a local builder will install for £50. Deva Link said:
stevieb said:
Its royally fked me off, as all of the window companies are quoting £600 for a window, but a cheapy wickes one custom made is less than £200 and a local builder will install for £50.
Just do it then - do you seriously think anyone else takes any notice of these stupid rules?ked me off, as all of the window companies are quoting £600 for a window, but a cheapy wickes one custom made is less than £200 and a local builder will install for £50. So they will be the ones who will be causing the grief if they dobb me in.
stevieb said:
Deva Link said:
stevieb said:
Its royally fked me off, as all of the window companies are quoting £600 for a window, but a cheapy wickes one custom made is less than £200 and a local builder will install for £50.
Just do it then - do you seriously think anyone else takes any notice of these stupid rules?ked me off, as all of the window companies are quoting £600 for a window, but a cheapy wickes one custom made is less than £200 and a local builder will install for £50. So they will be the ones who will be causing the grief if they dobb me in.
Buildings control want to know if you so much as rake the gravel on your drive these days.
Personally I'd just change it, there are too many hoops to jump through these days, what happened to the good old days of best practice. Its the blame culture at fault if you ask me.
The less compilable the law becomes the more people who wont comply and the less relevant and more pointless it becomes. Get a new one put in, keep the neighbours sweet, inform them ahead of the change, ask if there is any way you can minimise there "disruption" if one of them works nights or whatever. That way they feel like there all important and wont think twice when a man in a van screws a new window frame in.
Personally I'd just change it, there are too many hoops to jump through these days, what happened to the good old days of best practice. Its the blame culture at fault if you ask me.
The less compilable the law becomes the more people who wont comply and the less relevant and more pointless it becomes. Get a new one put in, keep the neighbours sweet, inform them ahead of the change, ask if there is any way you can minimise there "disruption" if one of them works nights or whatever. That way they feel like there all important and wont think twice when a man in a van screws a new window frame in.
eddie1980 said:
Buildings control want to know if you so much as rake the gravel on your drive these days.
It's not quite that bad - in fact you could put up a conservatory or glaze your porch and you don't have to involve them.There are sensible reasons why they should check windows. I think the rules stem from "green" issues - making sure they're the right level of insulation etc. But there are potentailly ventilation and means of escape issues - you need to bear in mind that some people are incredibly thick.
Deva Link said:
It's not quite that bad - in fact you could put up a conservatory or glaze your porch and you don't have to involve them.
There are sensible reasons why they should check windows. I think the rules stem from "green" issues - making sure they're the right level of insulation etc. But there are potentailly ventilation and means of escape issues - you need to bear in mind that some people are incredibly thick.
Your right, just as long as you don't want power in your conservatory or a outside light on your porch.There are sensible reasons why they should check windows. I think the rules stem from "green" issues - making sure they're the right level of insulation etc. But there are potentailly ventilation and means of escape issues - you need to bear in mind that some people are incredibly thick.
Deva Link said:
eddie1980 said:
Buildings control want to know if you so much as rake the gravel on your drive these days.
It's not quite that bad - in fact you could put up a conservatory or glaze your porch and you don't have to involve them.There are sensible reasons why they should check windows. I think the rules stem from "green" issues - making sure they're the right level of insulation etc. But there are potentailly ventilation and means of escape issues - you need to bear in mind that some people are incredibly thick.
But now from from a cost benifit point of view there is no point in me replacing the windows at home, as the sums now dont stack up. Now if i factor in a Fensa Approved installer to do the work the costs are significantly higher. and the Benefit to cost ratio is well below 1 over a 3 year period (I am planning to move in 3 years time).
So with all best intentions of making my home more green, i need to line either the installers pockets or jump through loads or government red tape to say the windows are OK.
DIY and keep quiet.
When you sell, you'll need to answer a questionnaire that'll ask 'have you had any windows done since 2002'.
If you're really bad with remembering dates, you'll be fine on that one
or your solicitor can sort out an indemnity policy before selling, if you happen to remember you did fit a window recently.
When you sell, you'll need to answer a questionnaire that'll ask 'have you had any windows done since 2002'.
If you're really bad with remembering dates, you'll be fine on that one
or your solicitor can sort out an indemnity policy before selling, if you happen to remember you did fit a window recently.
eddie1980 said:
Deva Link said:
It's not quite that bad - in fact you could put up a conservatory or glaze your porch and you don't have to involve them.
There are sensible reasons why they should check windows. I think the rules stem from "green" issues - making sure they're the right level of insulation etc. But there are potentailly ventilation and means of escape issues - you need to bear in mind that some people are incredibly thick.
Your right, just as long as you don't want power in your conservatory or a outside light on your porch.There are sensible reasons why they should check windows. I think the rules stem from "green" issues - making sure they're the right level of insulation etc. But there are potentailly ventilation and means of escape issues - you need to bear in mind that some people are incredibly thick.
andy43 said:
DIY and keep quiet.
When you sell, you'll need to answer a questionnaire that'll ask 'have you had any windows done since 2002'.
If you're really bad with remembering dates, you'll be fine on that one
or your solicitor can sort out an indemnity policy before selling, if you happen to remember you did fit a window recently.
I will be getting 2 windows fitted by a window fitter in the summer, so will have a FENSA cert for those 2 just not the other 11 windows. The best bit is that the 2 windows being fitted in the summer are £5000 each. (2x Large Bay windows - structural). When you sell, you'll need to answer a questionnaire that'll ask 'have you had any windows done since 2002'.
If you're really bad with remembering dates, you'll be fine on that one
or your solicitor can sort out an indemnity policy before selling, if you happen to remember you did fit a window recently.
Indemnity policy - may have to take one of them out as i already have taken one out to cover me as some things came out of the chancel search.
Thinking about this - is the £150 LABC charge per window, or per visit?
For 9 windows, I'd pay the £150 if it's a one-off charge. It's not like the BCO will know specifically what he's looking at anyway - if you've bought upvc frames and read up on fitting first, it'll be as good as a rushed professional fitter as long as you can take your time over it.
And regarding the conservatory wiring, if you can't be bothered buying old colour cable off ebay, the 'replace one length due to damage' policy works for me.
Done a whole floor of our house that way.
One by one.
As the mouse knawed it's way through each cable, one at a time.
Cheese spread works a treat, if our LABC is reading
For 9 windows, I'd pay the £150 if it's a one-off charge. It's not like the BCO will know specifically what he's looking at anyway - if you've bought upvc frames and read up on fitting first, it'll be as good as a rushed professional fitter as long as you can take your time over it.
And regarding the conservatory wiring, if you can't be bothered buying old colour cable off ebay, the 'replace one length due to damage' policy works for me.
Done a whole floor of our house that way.
One by one.
As the mouse knawed it's way through each cable, one at a time.
Cheese spread works a treat, if our LABC is reading
stevieb said:
andy43 said:
DIY and keep quiet.
When you sell, you'll need to answer a questionnaire that'll ask 'have you had any windows done since 2002'.
If you're really bad with remembering dates, you'll be fine on that one
or your solicitor can sort out an indemnity policy before selling, if you happen to remember you did fit a window recently.
I will be getting 2 windows fitted by a window fitter in the summer, so will have a FENSA cert for those 2 just not the other 11 windows. The best bit is that the 2 windows being fitted in the summer are £5000 each. (2x Large Bay windows - structural). When you sell, you'll need to answer a questionnaire that'll ask 'have you had any windows done since 2002'.
If you're really bad with remembering dates, you'll be fine on that one
or your solicitor can sort out an indemnity policy before selling, if you happen to remember you did fit a window recently.
Indemnity policy - may have to take one of them out as i already have taken one out to cover me as some things came out of the chancel search.
-C- said:
After dealing with the morons in our LA Planning Dept. I would be inclined to just do it and claim it was always like that.
We've taken this view on some of the work to a listed building, they even requested permission for work to be done on a like for like basis.
Half the time it's just a cretinous Planning Officer wanting to flex some muscle and be awkward for the sake of it.
The rules on listed buildings are very strict, and this is for the simple reason that listed buildings are listed for a reason, usually their architectural or historical merit and if you change it then it loses that merit. If you don;t like the rules the simple solution is not to buy a property that is listed! Changes that are Like for like need to be given permission to ensure they are really like for like!We've taken this view on some of the work to a listed building, they even requested permission for work to be done on a like for like basis.
Half the time it's just a cretinous Planning Officer wanting to flex some muscle and be awkward for the sake of it.
As regards the OPs comment don;t the windows come already approved these days?
No, because to get the FENSA certification, they need to be the right type of windows, used in the right place. For instance toughened glass in certain places and below a certain height. Then there's the U-ratings etc. Bloody nightmare. I'm in the same position - I want to replace one small single glazed window which is old, cold and very unsecure (above a flat roof and easy to get into the house). It will cost me £180 for the window, and the same again for approval.
Swapped a couple of exterior doors on the extension. Badly fitted pine/glass/chipboard(!) doors swapped with nice new hardwood ones in the old frames. Proper 5-lever insurance rated locks etc. I can't figure out if I need building control approval so have just done it - I theory not as they are not glazed, but still don't know. I give up.
Swapped a couple of exterior doors on the extension. Badly fitted pine/glass/chipboard(!) doors swapped with nice new hardwood ones in the old frames. Proper 5-lever insurance rated locks etc. I can't figure out if I need building control approval so have just done it - I theory not as they are not glazed, but still don't know. I give up.
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