Q1. How long have you been established?

West End Services has been established since 2000, prior to that we have over ten years experience in property maintenance services and home renovations.

Q2. Do you have insurance?

Yes we have £2,000,000 public liability insurance, details are available on request.

Q3. How much will the work cost?

The cost of the window repairs depends on several factors, for example the size of the windows, the level of service, the current state of the woodwork/window parts etc. Our surveyor will visit your property and provide you with a detailed no obligation best advice report and quotation. This will take between 20 minutes to an hour.

Q4. Do you give free estimates?

Yes always, and free advice. We will never offer to do unnecessary work or talk you into paying for work which is inappropriate. If there is a cheaper option or the work is best done by another type of tradesman we will always advise you accordingly. We rely mainly on word-of-mouth advertising from our satisfied customers.

Q5. Does the price include materials?

Yes, for all window renovations the materials are included, the window hardware - brass or chrome locks, sash eyes etc - are individually priced but will be clearly marked on your quotation sheet if any of these are required. For other types of work, e.g. wallpapering or some types of handyman work the customer may supply their own materials and we will provide the labour and sundries only.

Q6. How quickly can you come out?

We are not really an emergency service as most of the work we do is booked in advance. We can sometimes fit in smaller jobs at short notice if we can manage it. We will try to come out for surveys/quotations within a week from receiving your enquiry.

Q7. If I want to go ahead with the work how long will it take?

The work itself will take approximately one day for each full window being renovated, smaller repairs will take less time. Most of the year we have approximately a 6 week wait from taking the booking to starting the job, sometimes smaller jobs can be done sooner.

Q8. What are your normal working hours and do you work weekends?

We usually work Monday to Friday 9 am - 4 pm on site, with quotes/repairs scheduled for around 5 pm, but sometimes we work early evenings and Saturdays if requested.

Q9. Do I need to pay a deposit?

For renovations which include draught-proofing and simplex opening systems we ask for a small deposit as these materials are made to measure in advance. A receipt will be issued.

Q10. Do you offer discounts?

We do not artificially inflate our prices only to ‘reduce’ them again to offer so-called discounts. Like any organisation we occasionally experience potential gaps in our order book or products are over-ordered and in these rare cases we will pass on any savings to our customers.

Q11. I need to take time off work?

No, as long as we have access. You would need to be there at the start and at the end of the work.

Q12. Do I need to apply for planning permission or a building warrant for work upgrading my windows?

The latest guidelines issued by Glasgow City Council state that permission is not required for upgrading work to windows where the original design and character of the window is being maintained, even in a conservation area (for listed and unlisted buildings). Only if you are replacing the entire window and frame planning permission is required, permission is also required to replace historic or original decorative/stained glass. When we survey your windows we will be able to advise you if any permission is required.

Q13. Will there be a mess?

There will be some dust and disruption as building work is being undertaken but all our tradesmen are clean and tidy and will fully cover all surfaces with dust sheets which are freshly laundered prior to each job. We pride ourselves on our tidy approach and will always clean your windows at the end of the work - inside and out - and vacuum the carpets etc.

Q14. What areas to you cover?

We usually cover the west and north areas of Glasgow at present but do hope to extend this to cover other areas of the city in the near future.

Q15. Are you a member of any trade guilds or associations?

No, there are some so-called organisations which will sell anyone a membership and right to use an associated logo for an annual fee so for this reason we have chosen not to be a member of any organisation. We rely on ours high standard of workmanship and personal recommendations from our numerous valued customers to preserve our excellent reputation.

Q16. How can I pay?

We accept cheque, bank transfers or cash. At present we cannot accept credit cards but hope to be able to offer these in the near future.

Q17. What’s my guarantee?

Over and above your full consumer rights you will get a full 5 year warranty certificate covering your window renovations. All window hardware - e.g. brass/chrome locks, handles etc is covered by a 20 year guarantee.

Q18. How can I preserve my windows once they have been renovated?

Windows should be opened using the window furniture only and not the glazing bar or rail as this weakens the sash joints. Traditional windows should be inspected and cleaned regularly i.e. at least a couple of times each year.

Q19. When do I need to re-paint my windows?

We recommend that sash windows are painted every 5 years to maintain their appearance and keep on top of any maintenance that is required. If you window is very exposed to the prevailing weather this is especially vital. If you window has a more sheltered exposure you may be able to get away with painting it every 7 or so years.

Q20. What about the value of my house?

Period and character houses hold their prices better than modern ones, in today’s market keeping up maintenance in a professional way and retaining authentic features in the original design is the way to maximise value.