FAQs

There isn’t one!

When it comes to windows, doors and other home improvement products, all three all refer to the same material: Unplasticised Polyvinyl Chloride. The difference in naming conventions dates to the 1980s when there was an attempt to standardise the acronym. The ‘unplasticised’ part often gets omitted due to brevity but it’s worth noting that all PVC used in this sector will be unplasticised.

A casement window is the most common type of window that you’ll see. The casement refers to the part of the unit that moves. In this case, the casement sits proud of the surrounding frame.

In contrast, flush windows feature casements that sit in line with the outer frame. This creates a neater looking window, and this style has become increasingly popular in recent years.

The difference between the two types of windows is clear when you see them side by side. Why not visit your nearest County showroom to see for yourself?

There are both positives and negatives with both options. Ultimately, we’d recommend that you discuss your exact needs with a County representative to get the right answer for you and your property.

Typically, triple glazing is better at retaining the internal heat in your home and preventing cold spots. With the correct combination of gaps and glass thickness, triple glazed units can also help with noise reduction. However, if stopping sounds from outside entering your home is your lead priority, you may want to explore different options.

All our replacement windows and doors are available in a wide range of colours.
If something modern and stylish is your thing, then you’ll undoubtedly find your ideal shade amongst our collections of ultra-contemporary greys, blacks and whites. We also have several wood grains options on hand, as well as a bold range of statement finishes including blues, greens and reds.

Also, all County windows are available in colour combinations, so you can have different finishes inside and out.

The Window Energy Rating (WER) is a consumer-friendly traffic light system that’s used to showcase how energy efficient a window will be. It’s very similar to the system used to display the energy ratings of home appliances and white goods. It follows a scale ranging from A+-G.

A+-rated windows are the most energy-efficient windows available in the UK, as defined by the nationally-recognised BFRC Rating Scheme. This forms part of Building Regulations, which is a crucial part of determining if your replacement windows meet current guidelines.

When purchasing new or replacement windows, look for those that carry the highest ratings – A and A+. That way, you can be assured that your windows are the best available and will keep your home warm.

It’s a little-known fact that all new or replacement windows require to be WER-rated C or higher. To learn more about the energy efficiency of our windows, please ask your County advisor for further details.

A window’s U-Value determines how well it retains internal heat. The U-Value is measured in Watts per square metre, or W/m²K. When checking a window’s U-Value, the lower the number the better.

All new or replacement windows must have a minimum U-Value of 1.6 W/m²K. Ask your County advisor for further details and they’ll be only too happy to help.

Secured by Design (SBD) is an official police security initiative that looks to improve the security of buildings and their immediate surroundings.

SBD’s product-based accreditation scheme – the Police Preferred Specification – provides a recognised standard for all products that can reduce or stop crime. In our sector, this relates to windows and doors and all the components within them (locks, hinges etc.)

Our manufacturing partner, Conservatory Outlet, is a registered and longstanding member of Secured by Design. Many of our products are tested to meet this police-backed standard.

Please speak with a member of our team for more.

Our windows are made by Conservatory Outlet, the leading manufacturer of UPVC and aluminium windows in the UK.

Thanks to our exclusive agreement with them, we’re able to provide the very best selection of windows to our customers across the South East of England.

Yes, County is a member of FENSA (Fenestration Self-Assessment Scheme) and our membership number is 10485.

FENSA was set up by the Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) and other relevant industry bodies in response to the current Building Regulations in England and Wales.

When having windows and doors replaced, homeowners must comply with certain standards as determined by building regulations and obtain a certificate of compliance.

FENSA also enables companies that install replacement windows and doors to self-certify compliance under these Building Regulations.

You can get different types and styles of composite doors.

Standard doors are typically 44mm deep and feature a foam inner that provides strength and protection. They also are finished in a coloured GRP skin and are relatively lightweight.

Then there is the Solid Core Door. This type of composite door is slightly thicker (48mm) and has interlocking laminated timber layers. These are then finished in a UPVC skin.

Yes, in most cases you will be able to choose separate colours for the interior and exterior facing door panels. For example, you could pick red outside and white inside – or whatever you’d prefer!

A member of the County team will be able to advise and talk you through all the different colour options available.

As standard, we provide three sets of keys with every door. You can request additional sets if you’d like – just let us know when ordering and we can sort those out for you.

Yes, absolutely. Just let your County advisor know upon ordering.

Secured by Design (SBD) is an official police security initiative that looks to improve the security of buildings and their immediate surroundings.

SBD’s product-based accreditation scheme – the Police Preferred Specification – provides a recognised standard for all products that can reduce or stop crime. In our sector, this relates to windows and doors and all the components within them (locks, hinges etc.)

Our manufacturing partner, Conservatory Outlet, is a registered and longstanding member of Secured by Design. Many of our products are tested to meet this police-backed standard.

Please speak with a member of our team for more.

Locks and their internal mechanisms are rigorously tested to ensure their durability and strength. A three-star rated one is the best on the market. The types of locks that we use feature unique snap-secure technologies that prevent the barrel from being comprised.

Yes. If you’d like your French doors to fold back, ask for them to be ordered and fitted with an egress hinge.

Both are fantastic options and will open your home up to your garden. The main differences between the two styles are that sliding patio doors have slimmer frames and have more glazing, whilst bi-folding doors can fold completely back to improve access.

Ultimately, though, the choice is yours. If you are unsure what style of door will work best, please speak with a member of our team who’ll be able to offer free, impartial advice.

In truth, the differentiators between these three living spaces have blurred somewhat in recent years. Simply, your living space can be whatever you want it to be.

A traditional conservatory would be a structure predominantly made of glass. With glazed walls and ceilings, the space would be open up to the outside world, provide beautiful views and get plenty of sunlight. However, you can opt for a tiled roof conservatory, which will add warmth and comfort to the room, or add in some dwarf walls for extra insulation.

A key feature of an orangery is its pillars. These can be either brick or aluminium and give the space a more luxurious feel and appearance. An orangery also tends to have a pelmet around the roof structure.

Conversely, extensions do tend to mimic the design of your existing property. A standard extension will have predominantly bricked walls and a tiled roof of some kind. However, the roof can become a feature of the space with the addition of a lantern or some full-length glass panels
But who needs labels? Your living space is yours – speak with one of our team members who can help you create something unique.

This depends on your room, how you plan to use it, which direction it faces and your budget.

If you value plenty of natural light and a view outside, then we would recommend going for a glass roof. With the advancement of solar controlled glazing, you can easily get a glass roof that’s suitable for year-round use.

Conversely, if you are thinking about a more homely look and feel to your space, then a tiled roof would be the right choice. With a tiled roof, you can always add in full-length glass panels or Velux windows to create a wonderful hybrid roof.

Speak to a County advisor about the best option for you that meets your requirements and your budget.

Our living spaces are designed with year-round comfort in mind, and our roofs are no exception.

We are far removed from the days of polycarbonate roofs that turn rooms into makeshift greenhouses. At County, we can supply a wide range of solar control glazing that can make a real difference to your property. With different tints and values for light and heat transmission, there’s plenty of choice on offer.

All our roofs are manufactured by our key partner, Conservatory Outlet. Thanks to our exclusive agreement with them, we’re able to provide the very best selection of roof products and glazing panels to our customers across the South East of England.

Absolutely. We have a variety of shingle and slate options for you to pick from. If you prefer, we can match the tiles to your existing property.
Also, we have several flat room membranes available. Please speak with a County representative for more information.

Solar control glazing is glass that is finished with a special coating that limits the amount of heat that is transmitted into your space from external sources.

The appointed County-approved building team will obtain the closest brick match to your home and check this with you before any work begins.

Please bear in mind that there may be some differences between the new bricks and your existing bricks due to manufacturing changes and natural processes, such as weathering.

If the closest match isn’t what you want, there is the option of having the bricks tinted. But please be aware that this will incur an additional cost.

Most extensions will require approval under Building Regulations. There are several types of extensions that don’t but fear not, we’ll take care of the entire process and advise you of the options and requirements accordingly.

An extension or addition to your house is permitted development, not requiring an application for planning permission, subject to certain conditions that are met.

Typically, these are:

• The ground area covered by the extension and any other buildings within the boundary of the property, excluding the original house, is not more than half the total area of the property.
• Any part of the extension is not higher than the highest part of the roof of the existing house.
• The eaves of the extension are not higher than the eaves of the existing house.
• Any part of the extension does not extend beyond any wall facing a road if it forms the principal or side elevation of the original house.
• The eaves are no more than 3 metres in height if any part of the extension is within 2 metres of the property boundary.
• The materials used in exterior work, except in the case of a conservatory, are of a similar appearance to the existing house.
• An upper floor window on a side elevation within 15 metres of a boundary with another house is obscure glazed; and, is non–opening unless the parts which can be opened are more than 1.7 metres above the floor of the room in which the window is installed.
• A side extension does not exceed 4 metres in height or be wider than half the width of the original house.

In a single-storey extension

• The extension does not extend beyond the rear wall of the original house by more than 4 metres for a detached house or 3 metres for any other type of house;
• the height of the extension does not exceed 4 metres;
• no part of the extension is within 3.5 metres of any property boundary with a road opposite the rear wall of the house.

In an extension with more than one storey

• The extension does not extend beyond the rear wall of the original house by more than 3 metres;
• No part of the extension is within 7 metres of the property boundary opposite the rear wall of the house;
• The roof pitch of the enlargement is as far as practicable the same as that of the original house.

If you live in a house within a conservation area, World Heritage Site, area of outstanding natural beauty or National Park-

• No part of the exterior of the house is clad with stone, artificial stone, pebbledash, render, timber, plastic or tiles;
• The extension is not more than 1 storey or 4 metres in height;
• No part of the extension extends beyond a principal or side elevation of the original house

This is a difficult question to answer. Every design and build is unique and as such, we can’t give specific timetables.

If your project is time-critical, please speak with a County advisor.

The purpose of a test dig is to determine local ground conditions and ensure that the build can go ahead as planned with a traditional concrete base. If conditions won’t accommodate the base, we’ll advise on alternatives, such as a specialist pile foundation or a concrete raft.

A cavity tray is a type of damp proof course that helps channel water from a cavity and out through the external wall.

This depends on your room, how you plan to use it, which direction it faces and your budget.

If you value plenty of natural light and a view outside, then we would recommend going for a glass roof. With the advancement of solar controlled glazing, you can easily get a glass roof that’s suitable for year-round use.

Conversely, if you are thinking about a more homely look and feel to your space, then a tiled roof would be the right choice. With a tiled roof, you can always add in full-length glass panels or Velux windows to create a wonderful hybrid roof.

Speak to a County advisor about the best option for you that meets your requirements and your budget.

If you’re going to the expense and trouble of replacing your conservatory roof with a newer one, it makes sense to upgrade your frames at the same time. Failing to do so may risk compromising the warmth and comfort of your revamped space.

Speak to an advisor and we’ll work out an excellent deal for incorporating more energy-efficient frames in the same process.

The roof system is comprised of several parts: A pre-engineered lightweight frame, insulating panels, fire-grade plasterboard, exterior-grade plywood and an impenetrable membrane. It is then finished with either tiles or solid panels.

The roof system is comprised of several parts: A pre-engineered lightweight frame, insulating panels, fire-grade plasterboard, exterior-grade plywood and an impenetrable membrane. It is then finished with either tiles or solid panels.

A clad over roof is sold by some competitors as a cheap alternative to a proper roof replacement.

With a clad over roof, the new roof structure is installed without removing the old one. This isn’t recommended for several reasons:

• Weight: A clad over system can be too heavy for your conservatory’s existing frames/structural support. This is because they use heavy timber, insulation materials and tiles. Any old conservatory requires a lightweight roof. The lightest solid roof systems weigh around 31kg/m².

Tip: When getting your roof replacement, always ask for the total weight of the new roof per m².

• Fire Safety: By their very nature, clad over systems do not meet current fire safety regulations. It may be tested in isolation but these systems can’t be tested as a complete structure, which is necessary to pass Building Regulations. Solid roofs must be classified with a fire rating of either AC, AB or AA per the British standard BS476-3.Tip: Always ask to see the fire safety certificate of the entire roof system before you commit to the project.
• Building Regulations: Clad over roofing systems also don’t tend to get Building Regulations Approval due to their low thermal value or structural integrity. This isn’t to be confused with planning permission, which often isn’t required. As a homeowner, you are required to notify Building Control if you are making a change to any structure – including replacing a polycarbonate conservatory roof.
  

Tip: Check with Build Control that they have been informed about the impending works. Obtain a Building Regulations ‘Final’ Certificate and keep that in a safe place.

Our living spaces are designed with year-round comfort in mind, and our roofs are no exception.

We are far removed from the days of polycarbonate roofs that turn rooms into makeshift greenhouses. At County, we can supply a wide range of solar control glazing that can make a real difference to your property. With different tints and values for light and heat transmission, there’s plenty of choice on offer.

The cost can vary but as a rule of thumb, you should expect to spend anything between £5,000 for a small conservatory roof to upwards of £10,000 for a larger one. Don’t forget that we can offer different payment plans to suit your budget.

We can normally replace a roof within a few days, weather depending, with minimum disruption to your home.

You do not need planning permission when changing a roof but you are required to notify Building Regulation Control. Failure to do so and obtain the necessary paperwork can halt the property from being sold.

Obtaining Building Regulations approval from your local authority helps certify that the replacement roof has been checked by a government-approved building control inspector to ensure the roof is installed correctly and is structurally safe and thermally efficient.

You will also have peace of mind that should you come to sell the property in future, there won’t be any issues with unauthorised works that may hold up the process.

To help you improve your home and have the property you’ve always dreamed of, we can arrange a variety of convenient finance options (subject to application and status).

Applying for finance with us is simple. The process is straightforward and can be done either in person at one of our showrooms, or in the comfort of your own home.

If you’re arranging your loan or finance option with a third party, then just let us know as soon as you get the go-ahead. If you’re taking up one of our offers, there’s no need to do anything.

Finance companies can turn down applications for various reasons. In these circumstances, we always do our best to help. It may be worth your time to approach another lender, especially one that knows you (such as your mortgage provider).

Most of our applications receive approval within a few days but don’t be worried if it takes a little longer to hear back.