Advice for homeowners

We have been contacted a couple of times now on Twitter about replacement French doors and the need for a FENSA certificate. So let's look at a typical question on this subject:

"I had a conservatory built back in '98 and had the existing wooden French windows between the house and the conservatory kept. However, in 2002 I had these removed.

I am now selling the house and I need to put windows back. I have bought some windows and have now hung them myself, putting the conservatory back to how it was in '98. The house buyers solicitor is now requesting a FENSA certificate for the installation, which I obviously don't have.

My question is, do I actually need one? After all I have replaced the windows that were there back in '98. My second question is do I need them for single glazed doors, which is what I have used?"

Replacement Doors

Well first things first, these are essentially replacement doors. If you're wondering why, it's because they replace the original footprint of the property. Because they are replacement doors, certification will need to be provided to the house buyer's solicitor (and it is why the solicitor is asking for these). So, for anybody out there reading this thinking, 'I was going to do that', then remember; the easiest option is to have a FENSA registered installer to supply and fit the new doors. In that case, you would receive your certificate and there would be no issues.

However, in our question, the homeowner hung the doors themselves, so in order to obtain a certificate, they (or you if you have done the same thing) will need to go back via their local authority with a retrospective inspection through building regulations. You will need to do this for certification.

With a FENSA installer, you can get new replacement doors with full certification. That means you can save time and hassle. You can rely on them to install high-quality replacement doors for your home carefully and considerately.

Double Glazed Door Replacement

The second part of the question asks about single glazed doors. This is a bit of a problem. Single glazed doors wouldn't pass a building regulation inspection. That will cause an issue as you won't be able to gain a certificate from the local authority. Unfortunately for the homeowner, these really need to be double glazed.

A double glazed door replacement can benefit homeowners in plenty of ways. Double glazing panels improve insulation, meaning your home should be able to meet modern performance standards. FENSA Approved installers can certify the doors fully, so you don't have to.

A FENSA certificate demonstrates that the doors you're installing use high-quality double glazing. Double glazing has become the standard for homes, meaning that single glazed doors don't meet these standards anymore. In the case of this homeowner, they'll be unable to obtain a certification with those designs. As a result, double glazing from FENSA installers is the way to go for any door replacement.

Do You Need FENSA For Doors?

Choose to work with one of our Approved Installers to get your FENSA certificate for your doors. Working with our installers makes the whole process easier. Whether you're restoring your home or giving it a new lease of life, those professionals can help you with a great set of doors and an even better installation.

As part of meeting FENSA standards, your door replacement will be thorough. The installers should test every component of the design to make sure your new doors work well. Not only that, you'll get doors that have better performance anyway. Doors with double glazing can make your home more energy efficient. You can save on your energy bills and save on the installation with FENSA.

FENSA is vital for your new doors, as you'll want a certificate now and when it's time to sell your home. So, when you choose one of those installers, you can have peace of mind that you won't run into any issues with your door replacement.

It's a good example...

Hopefully this example of one of the questions we are receiving will help homeowners out there understand a little more about replacement doors and windows. Unfortunately, looking through many discussion groups on the web, there is a lot of misinformation/confusion coming from homeowners. We hope this post will help.

Replacement Doors from FENSA

If you're looking to get replacement doors, then choose a FENSA installer for the job today! They can provide the advice and certificates you need.

You can search through our site for more information and find local installers in your area. That way, you can find the right door replacement with ease.