Leicester has a good number of independent window and door companies, several of them family-run, with showrooms in Aylestone, Syston, East Goscote, Blaby and the city itself. Choosing a local firm means you can often visit a showroom, meet the people who will survey and fit your windows, and get help nearby if anything needs attention later.
How we put this list together: we included independent firms based in Leicester or Leicestershire (not national chains), and used only facts published on each company's own website, such as ownership, years trading, showroom location and registration schemes; firms are not scored or rated.
National brands advertise widely, but many homeowners prefer dealing with a smaller local team. If you are comparing quotes for uPVC windows in Leicester, aluminium frames or a new front door, the firms below are a useful starting point.
Independent window and door firms in Leicester
1. URG Windows & Doors, Leicester
URG Windows & Doors Ltd is a Leicester-based independent installer of uPVC, aluminium and composite windows and doors. Its website names its team, including an operations manager, a sales manager and an installation manager, and says customers deal with the same people from the first survey through to the finished job. Its uPVC windows are A-rated for thermal performance as standard and come in white, cream, black, anthracite grey and woodgrain foils, in casement, flush casement, sliding sash, bay and bow, tilt and turn and shaped styles. The company is a FENSA approved installer (registration 45069), and every job is covered by Home Improvement Protection, which includes deposit protection, an insurance-backed guarantee and independent dispute resolution. It offers free surveys and written quotes, 0% finance through a credit broker (subject to status), and opening hours of Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5.30pm and Saturday 9am to 5pm.
2. Phair Windows, Aylestone
Phair Windows describes itself as a family-run business and has traded since 1998. Its showroom is on Clifton Road in Aylestone, and it offers a 10-year insurance-backed guarantee. As well as windows and doors, it fits conservatories, orangeries and roofline products.
3. Harveys Windows & Conservatories, Empire Road
Harveys is a family-run firm that says it has been an uninterrupted local business for over 30 years. It has a fitted showroom on Empire Road, open on weekdays and Saturday mornings, and covers windows, doors, conservatories and orangeries.
4. Kettell Windows, East Goscote
Kettell Windows has been a family-run business since 2005, with a showroom at The Warren in East Goscote. It is FENSA registered and stocks composite doors from the Comp Door and Solidor ranges.
5. Verdi Home Improvements, Blaby
Verdi calls itself a local, family-run business and has been installing since 2011. Its head office and showroom are in Blaby, and its range runs from uPVC windows and composite doors to conservatories, porches and verandas.
6. Custom Trade Systems, Leicester
Custom Trade Systems is a family-run company working across Leicester and Leicestershire. It states it is Certass accredited and a Which? Trusted Trader, and its range includes composite doors, aluminium bi-folds and smart locks.
7. Leicester Window Supplies, Syston
Leicester Window Supplies has a showroom on Melton Road in Syston and says it has over 20 years of experience. It is Certass registered and supplies uPVC and aluminium windows, doors, bifolds, conservatories and roof lanterns.
8. Peak Windows, Graham Street
Peak Windows was established in 1996 and has a showroom on Graham Street in Leicester. It is a Certass approved installer and, alongside new windows and doors, repairs misted glass, locks and handles.
Why choose an independent local firm?
Independent firms vary just as much as national ones, but there are some practical advantages to dealing with a business near you:
- Showroom visits: you can see and handle frames, door furniture and colour samples before you commit.
- Continuity: smaller teams often mean the person who surveys your home is involved through to fitting.
- Local knowledge: a Leicester firm is likely to be familiar with the city's Victorian terraces, 1930s semis and conservation areas.
- Aftercare: if an adjustment is needed, a local firm can usually get to you more easily.
Questions to ask at your first visit
A home visit is your chance to judge how a company works, not just what it charges. Useful questions include:
- Who will carry out the technical survey, and who will fit the windows: your own staff or subcontractors?
- Which frame system and glass will you use, and what is the energy rating of the whole window?
- Which windows will have trickle vents, restrictors or fire escape hinges, and why?
- How will you deal with plaster, sills and making good inside after the old frames come out?
- How long is the lead time from survey to fitting, and how long will the work take on site?
- Who do I call if something needs adjusting after the job is finished?
Write the answers down for each company. Comparing them side by side often tells you more than the price alone.
How to choose a window and door company
- Confirm registration: check FENSA or Certass membership on the scheme's own website, as both are government-authorised competent person schemes for replacement windows and doors.
- Read the guarantee: ask what it covers, how long it lasts and whether it is insurance-backed if the firm stops trading.
- Protect your deposit: ask whether deposits are protected and keep the amount reasonable.
- Compare like for like: make sure every quote includes the same frames, glass, colour, locks and finishing work.
- Check finance terms: if you use finance, look at the lender, the APR and the total amount repayable.
- Check planning: listed buildings, flats and conservation areas can have extra rules.
Frequently asked questions
Is a family-run firm better than a national company?
Not automatically. Both can do excellent work. What matters is registration, the product specification, the guarantee and how clearly the firm explains the job. Compare a few quotes and ask the same questions of each.
How do I check if a window company is FENSA registered?
Use the "Find an installer" search on the FENSA website, which lets you search by postcode, company name or registration number. Certass has its own member search.
Do I need planning permission to replace uPVC windows in Leicester?
For most houses, like-for-like replacements do not need planning permission. Listed buildings, conservation areas, flats and properties under an Article 4 Direction may be different, so check the Planning Portal or ask Leicester City Council.
What documents should I keep after my windows are fitted?
Keep the Building Regulations compliance certificate, your written guarantee and any insurance-backed guarantee certificate. You will usually need them when you sell your home.
Sources
- FENSA: find an approved installer
- GOV.UK: competent person schemes
- Planning Portal: doors and windows
General information only; check details directly with each business.
