Supply only windows make sense when you already have a builder on site or fit windows yourself and want to pay for the product without an installer's mark-up. A fitted package is better when you want one company responsible for measuring, windows and fitting, or when a grant requires installation by a company. We sell windows only, so below we show both routes honestly.
For years we manufactured, fitted and exported windows to Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland ourselves. Today, after 29 years and more than 5,000 orders, we sell the product only. We know where problems arise when purchase and fitting are split, and we describe them below.
Supply only windows or a fitted package: the comparison
| Criterion | Supply only + your installer | Fitted package from one company | |---|---|---| | Measuring | you or your installer | the installation company | | Responsibility for sizes | the buyer | the company | | Price transparency | two bills: windows and labour | one total | | Choice of windows | any system, colour and extras in the configurator | that company's range | | Choice of installer | you choose and compare | included in the package | | Warranty | windows from the seller, fitting from the installer | usually one for everything | | Scheduling | you plan delivery and fitting | the company plans it all | | Unloading | up to you | usually the company | | Grants | often not available, check the rules | more often eligible |
When should you choose supply only?
- You are building a house and have a builder who will fit the windows at shell stage.
- You are renovating with a tradesperson you trust.
- You fit windows yourself and know how to do an airtight, insulated installation.
- You want to choose system, colour and extras across several brands, not from one range.
- You want to see the window price on its own, straight away in the window configurator, before asking about fitting.
When is a fitted package better?
- Nobody can measure the openings and take responsibility for the sizes.
- You are counting on a grant. Schemes such as BAFA and KfW in Germany have their own conditions and often require fitting by a company, so check them with the relevant body or an energy adviser.
- You have no time to coordinate delivery, unloading and the installer.
How do you organise fitting for supply only windows?
We do not offer fitting and do not recommend particular firms, because we take no commission. We can tell you how to set it up:
1. Find the installer before you order. Ideally they measure the openings and give you the frame sizes, so responsibility for sizes and fitting sits with one person. 2. Agree the fitting method. Depending on the system and wall, the window is fixed mechanically (frame fixings or brackets, roughly every 70 cm and at least 2 per side), and foam insulates rather than holds. A warm installation has three layers: airtight inside, insulation in the middle, vapour-open outside. Check the details in the manufacturer's instructions. 3. If you are replacing without breaking out the plaster, ask about a renovation frame that fits over the old frame. The configurator offers it depending on the system, as it does the Dutch frame (NL). 4. Decide on roller shutters before the quote. The box of a top-mounted shutter makes the window taller, so a late decision changes the sizes. 5. Line up the dates. Production takes 3–8 weeks from payment, and the exact date is in the confirmation. Book the installer for a few days after delivery. 6. Plan unloading: a forklift or 2–3 people. Until fitting, store the windows upright, under cover, away from sun and damp, and remove the protective film no later than 4 weeks after delivery. 7. Order the materials with the windows. The configurator suggests foam, tapes, fixings and packers, roughly 1 can of foam per 6 m of perimeter.
With every enquiry we check sizes, opening sides and item descriptions. The two things we correct most often are an opening size given instead of a frame size, and an opening side described from outside instead of from inside. Before production you get a drawing to approve, so show it to your installer.
What happens to the warranty if someone else fits the windows?
The windows carry a 2-year GALI warranty covering profiles, hardware, sealed units, roller shutters and motors. It does not cover damage from incorrect fitting; the installer is responsible for the fitting. Put your agreement with them in writing and keep the paperwork. The declaration of performance and CE documents come with the delivery.
Next step
You see the price of supply only windows straight away in the made-to-measure window configurator; then get a local quote for fitting. What drives the window price is covered in What do windows cost without installation, and the ordering process on the How it works page.