Straight answers before you buy.
Short, plain guides to the questions people ask us most. Each one starts with the answer, and the general facts link to official sources.
- Buying guide
10 questions to ask any window and door company
Ask every company who makes the product, who fits it, when you get a written quote, what the guarantee covers and how secure the locks are.
- Doors compared
Composite vs uPVC front door: which is better?
A composite door has a tough GRP skin over a solid, insulated core, so it is heavier and feels more solid. A uPVC door is lighter and usually more affordable.
- Energy ratings
Do new windows improve my EPC rating?
They can. An EPC rates your whole home from A (best) to G (worst). Windows are one part of that, along with insulation, heating and hot water.
- Composite doors
How long does a composite door take to fit?
At AWR it usually takes 3 to 6 weeks from survey to fitting, and sometimes quicker. A surveyor measures your opening, the door is made to that exact size in our Doncaster factory, then our own installers take out the old door and frame and fit the new one.
- Roofline
How to tell if fascias and soffits need replacing
Look up at the roof edge. Watch for flaking paint, soft or rotten wood and gutters that sag or overflow. Damp stains on the walls below, mould under the eaves and birds or wasps in the roof space are signs too.
- Conservatory roofs
Tiled vs glass vs polycarbonate conservatory roof
A tiled roof is the warmest and quietest, because it is solid and insulated. It lets in less light and usually needs building regulations approval.
- Before you buy
What happens at a home improvement survey?
A surveyor visits your home and measures each window, door or roof area you want to change. They check the walls, frames and openings, and talk you through styles, colours and options.
- Warm roofs
What is a warm roof, and do I need building regulations?
A warm roof replaces a conservatory's glass or polycarbonate roof with a solid, insulated, tiled roof and a plastered ceiling. You will usually need building regulations approval.
- Door security
What is an anti-snap lock, and is my door safe?
An anti-snap lock is a euro cylinder built to resist "lock snapping", where a burglar breaks the cylinder to open the door.
More reading on our advice pages and FAQs.
Ready to make your home a castle?
Book a free, no-pressure survey. A local AWR surveyor measures up and leaves you a written quote on the day.
- We bring our showroom to your home
- Written quote on the day
- Our own fitters, never subcontractors
- Doors made in our Doncaster factory
- No hard sell