Before you order aluminium windows in Leicester, check seven things: a thermally broken frame, the colour and finish, the sightlines, building regulations for escape and safety glass, conservation-area rules, the installer's registration and the guarantee. URG Windows & Doors, a Leicester installer on Belgrave Gate, publishes clear answers to most of these, which makes it a useful benchmark when you compare quotes.
Aluminium has moved a long way from the cold, thin frames that some older Leicester extensions still have. Modern systems are designed to keep heat in, carry large panes of glass and come in almost any colour. But the price gap with uPVC means it is worth knowing exactly what you are paying for before a salesperson arrives.
We used one local installer as a worked example throughout, because its specification is published in plain language. Its page on aluminium windows in Leicester lists the features we refer to below. Whoever you invite to quote, ask them the same seven questions and write the answers down side by side.
1. Is the frame thermally broken?
Aluminium conducts heat well, which is a problem in a window frame. The answer is a thermal break: a strip of low-conductivity material running through the middle of the profile, so the inside and outside of the frame are not one continuous piece of metal.
URG Windows & Doors says its aluminium frames use a polyamide thermal break through the profile. If a quote does not mention a thermal break at all, ask. Then ask for the U-value of the whole window, not just the glass. The Planning Portal says replacement windows must meet limits on heat loss set out in the building regulations, and that the U-value should not be exceeded.
2. Which colour and finish will you actually get?
Colour is one of the main reasons people choose aluminium. Most systems are powder coated, and many offer any RAL colour, which is the standard reference chart used across the building trade. URG states its aluminium windows come with a powder-coated finish in any RAL colour.
Check whether the inside and outside can be different colours, whether there is any extra charge for non-standard shades, and whether handles and hinges are colour-matched. Ask to see a physical sample. A RAL number on a screen rarely looks the same as a coated frame in daylight.
3. How slim are the sightlines, and does that suit the house?
Aluminium is strong, so the frames can be slimmer than uPVC for the same size of opening. That means more glass and more daylight. URG describes its aluminium windows as having ultra-slim sightlines and being well suited to large openings.
Slim frames suit modern extensions and wide rear elevations. On a Victorian terrace, the question is whether the new window matches the look of the street. URG says its aluminium range suits modern extensions and period restorations alike, so ask any installer to show you a finished job on a house similar to yours.
4. Will the new windows meet escape and safety glass rules?
Replacing a window is building work, and some rules catch people out. The Planning Portal sets out the main ones for replacement windows:
- a replacement window should give at least the same escape potential as the one it replaces;
- escape windows need an opening at least 450mm wide and 450mm high, with a clear openable area of at least 0.33m²;
- the bottom of the opening should be no more than 1100mm above the floor;
- safety glazing is needed in any glazed panel up to 800mm from floor level.
Ask the surveyor which windows in your home will have escape hinges, restrictors or toughened glass, and why. A good survey answers this room by room.
This matters most on upper floors and in loft rooms, where an escape window may be the only way out in a fire. Large aluminium panes can also fall inside the safety glazing zone more often than you might expect, especially low windows in bay fronts. Getting it right at the survey avoids a costly change once the frames are made.
5. Is the house in a conservation area?
For most houses, like-for-like window replacement does not need planning permission. Conservation areas are the main exception in Leicester. Leicester City Council says most of its residential conservation areas are covered by Article 4 Directions, which means planning permission is needed for external alterations, including replacing windows.
If you live in or near one of the city's conservation areas, contact the council before signing anything. Changing from timber to aluminium may need a careful design, or may not be approved at all. A local installer should raise this at the survey, but the responsibility sits with you as the owner.
6. Is the installer registered, and will you get a certificate?
Installers who belong to a government-authorised competent person scheme can self-certify that replacement windows meet the building regulations. FENSA says its certificate confirms the work meets building regulations and has been registered with the local council, and calls it essential when selling a property. Without one, you may have to arrange a building control inspection yourself.
URG Windows & Doors is a FENSA Approved Installer, registration number 45069. Do not rely on a logo for any firm: search the name or postcode on the scheme's own website.
7. What does the guarantee cover if the firm stops trading?
A written guarantee is only as strong as the business behind it. An insurance-backed guarantee covers the installer's written guarantee if the company ceases to trade, according to FENSA. Deposit protection is a separate safeguard for the money you pay up front.
URG says every installation is covered by Home Improvement Protection, which includes deposit protection from order to completion, an insurance-backed guarantee and a free independent dispute resolution route.
The seven checks side by side
| Check | What to ask every installer | What URG Windows & Doors publishes |
|---|---|---|
| Thermal break | Is the profile thermally broken? What is the whole-window U-value? | Polyamide thermal break through the profile |
| Finish | Which colours, and is dual colour available? | Powder coated in any RAL colour |
| Sightlines | How much frame will I see compared with my current windows? | Ultra-slim sightlines, suited to large openings |
| Escape and safety | Which rooms need escape openings or safety glass? | Discussed at the free survey |
| Planning | Is my home in a conservation area or under an Article 4 Direction? | Check with Leicester City Council |
| Registration | Which competent person scheme are you in? | FENSA Approved Installer, reg. no. 45069 |
| Guarantee | Is it insurance-backed, and is my deposit protected? | Home Improvement Protection on every installation |
What we checked
We used guidance from the Planning Portal, FENSA and Leicester City Council, and the published aluminium window specification of one Leicester installer as a worked example. We did not compare prices, because aluminium window costs depend on size, style, colour and glazing, and only a survey can give a reliable figure.
Getting a like-for-like quote
Ask each firm for a single written price that includes the frames, glass, colour, hardware, fitting, making good and removal of the old windows. URG says its quotes work this way, with a free survey, no obligation and no pressure to sign on the day. If you are considering finance, check who the lender is: URG offers 0% finance subject to status and affordability as a credit broker, not a lender. Its office hours are Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5.30pm and Saturday 9am to 5pm.
Frequently asked questions
Are aluminium windows warmer than they used to be?
Modern aluminium windows usually have a thermal break that separates the inner and outer parts of the frame. Ask for the whole-window U-value so you can compare it with other quotes.
Do I need planning permission for aluminium windows in Leicester?
Usually not for a house outside a conservation area. Many Leicester conservation areas have Article 4 Directions, so check with the city council first if you live in one.
Can aluminium windows work on a period house?
They can, if the design respects the original look. Ask to see examples on similar homes, and check conservation-area rules before ordering.
What paperwork should I keep after fitting?
Keep the building regulations compliance certificate, the written guarantee and any insurance-backed guarantee policy. You will usually need them when you sell.
Sources
- Planning Portal: Doors and windows, building regulations
- FENSA: Information for homeowners
- GOV.UK: Competent person schemes
- Leicester City Council: Article 4 Directions
General information only; check details directly with each business, and with the linked official sources for your own home.
