brico depot windows

[confused of chalus]

Has anyone bought the off the shelf brico depot windows and/or french windows? The price is very attractive and we think with some good finishing we can make them look better - but are there any downsides? 

[UlsterRugby1999]

Many of the good folk on here will have their own views on this subject but for what its worth, here's mine.

I have bought and installed many many doors, windows and porte fenetres from BricoDepot. They are, generally, cheaper than the other shop - Lapeyre - but in my opinion they yield better value for money. The key is the fitting and finishing of them. Thats the same for all windows and doors etc.

I fitted several windows, porte fenetres and doors from Lapeyre into a house for a client and they are pure rubbish. The large doors and porte fenetres drop like and Irish rugby player with a ball.

Buy with as much confidence from BricoDepot as you would anywhere but just ensure you fit and finish well.

[WJT]

UlsterRugby, I am not sure I understand what you mean by the Lapeyre doors and windows drop like an Irish Rugby player.  Do you mean they eventually fall out?

We have had a few of the oak Lapeyre windows and one large porte fenetre fitted with no problems so far. I must say the finish on the oak isn't very nice though, I believe it must be coated in polyurethane because the finish does look quite plasticky. But they seem OK and do appear to blend in with the other oak windows on the house unless you look to closely that is.[:(]

I am interested in this because next week we are having a new opening in a stone wall and a window fitted and they are going to Lapeyre tomorrow to buy the window for it.[8-)]

[Bugsy]

They are absolutely fine to use. You'll probably find the same sealed units in much more expensive windows.

Just make sure that you get your sizes right as they come slightly oversize to allow for variations and get the hardwood ones..

.

ps, they are unbelievably heavy.........

[omg]

Hi, As a matter of interest can you give me an idea of how much the hole in the weall is costing you?

Thanks

David

[WJT]

Bugbear, stupidly, I have never even looked at windows and doors anywhere other than Lapeyre. We did have a carpenter make some up specially for a large opening. I did get a quote from Lapeyre for this and the carpenter's quote was better and included fitting them. The oak did come unfinished so I stained them myself and must admit the finish is much better than Lapeyre's plastic looking finish. But I have just never thought to look anywhere else particularly for standard sizes other than Lapeyre. The ones we have bought are meant to be solid oak.

OMG, the price for the opening including the Lapeyre window and fitting is €2,100. I forgot to have him include the cost and fitting of the shutter but hopefully it won't add too much to the cost.

[Chancer]

I did a count recently of how many windows, doors, chassis abattants and volet roulants I have fitted to my property here and it was more than 60!

All have come from brico-depot and I have had no problems whatsoever excepting a couple of doors that I bought elsewhere (Sainthimat)

I have used predominately UPVC with some hardwood windows which were also excellent quality, these were fitted to my pied à terre in the UK.

I have cut to size 17 volet roulants and worked out a fitting method where the rails are glued to the window and the unit fitted above facing the inside (which they dont show on the instructions) the finished articles look and perform like the monobloc sur mêsure fenêtres/volets but at a fraction of the cost.

The oscillo-battants (tilt and turn) are particularly good value and work very well, they have a very good range of adjustment.

Things to remember/watch out for:

The suppliers change so make sure that the cill you are given is compatible with the profile on the bottom of the window

Overall dimensions are 6cm wider and 5cm higher than the "tableau" measurements.

The casements can be easily removed to aid fitting (mark them if doing more than one window) but if you do so keep an eye on the squareness of the frame when fitting and brace horizontally and vertically at mid span if using expanding foam.

If concerned about movement fit the window complete with the casements, the packing lugs will maintain the correct gaps.

Remember to remove the lugs or pastic packers after fitting.

All mine have been fitted "en tunnel" using foam only, if fitting "en applique" to be flush with plasterboard over insulation you will have to use the pattes de fixation but I advise you to source some more rigid ones.

[Simon]

Confirming the responses you have got so far, I have also bought and fitted doors, windows and french windows from Bricodepot and never had a problem.

[UlsterRugby1999]

WJT - I have been trying to respond to your question for a few days now but I kept getting a Script Error or some such thing. I also notice that the Sports threads are back working again.

I fitted two two door Porte Fenetres & two single door doors and 2 of them drop from top left corner to bottom right corner. They are fitted correctly and I have even had a local carpenter check them out for me just to assure myself and the client. It seems that the fixings within the  door are too weak for their weight. The owner bought them himself and spent in excess of 5000€.

All the rest of the windows and doors I have fitted, including chez moi, have all come from BricoDepot and none, without exception, have had a problem.

You also mention the PLASTIC looking finish of the oak Lepeyre doors. Nothing more to add to that except you are spot on. VFM - I dont think so. I'd sooner finish them myself.

[Gyn_Paul]

I fitted Brico UPVC windows as replacements to first floor walls made of terrcuite blocks, which means, of course, once you have widened the opening to fit the nearest size (no replacment window ever fits in the same size hole as a rotten 40-year-old wooden one) you are left with a jagged square of - basically - flower pot. I tried with no success to fit the replacements with screws and plugs, the special framing screws, and the supplied brackets. All useless. eventually I blocked and braced the frames and then set them in place entirely and soley with foam. 3 years on they are still as solid as a rock.

If you're doing this, however I would recommend putting H and V braces from the middle top/bottom, and side/side, to retain the square, and prevent the foam bowing the centres of the frame pieces. Either that, or hang the whole thing, windows and all. But that's easier said than done at and above 1st flor level.

I would recommend the pvc without question. I've also had the wooden ones fitted, which tended to leak in the worst of a westerly-driven downpour, but I may have just been unlucky.

p