Britannia double glazing windows

Britannia Windows is a family-owned and operated business based in Clevedon, near Bristol, specialising in double glazing windows. The company manufactures its own window units to size, using glass that has at least an A+ rating for energy efficiency, as well as triple glazing. While the factory and headquarters are based in Clevedon, there are showrooms across Bristol, West Sussex, Somerset and Hampshire.

Customers can choose from an impressive colour palette. The standard range of window frames is available in white and two woodgrain effect options – cherrywood and golden oak. Britannia’s premium range includes fine woodgrain finishes that resemble real timber frames very accurately. Options include woodgrain white, cream, rustic cherry, Irish oak, red, blue, Chartwell green, and grey.

Despite its growth and success in the South of England, Britannia has retained the hands-on approach of a friendly family business, offering advice and consultative home visits to draw up accurate quotations.

Britannia Windows also offers low-cost monthly financing, “buy now, pay later” plans and a 0% APR on purchases over £3,000.

On the downside, we’ve seen several poor reviews about Britannia Windows on Bark, Trustpilot, AllChecked and Yell. It seems that customers’ experiences vary dramatically depending on the installer, as is often the case with double glazing window companies. However, compared to other window providers, Britannia has relatively few reviews, so bear this in mind when you make a decision.

Britannia offers uPVC and aluminium double glazing windows in a range of styles, including casement, heritage and tilt and turn. You can select from a range of colours, including woodgrain finishes. The replacement window range is also available in triple glazing, and the company only installs windows with a minimum A+ rating for optimum noise insulation and energy efficiency.

• Guarantee options: 10-year transferable guarantee
• Price range: from £250 per window
• Energy efficiency rating: A++ on certain windows, and A+ across the rest of their windows
• Secured by Design (SBD) rating: Britannia Windows are SBD-accredited

• Highlights: Britannia offers uPVC and aluminium frames, double and triple glazing  across a range of styles. Customers have a lot of variety to choose from.
• Key benefit: The company offers a wide range of payment and financing options to aid affordability. Another key benefit is the personal attention you can expect from a family-owned and operated business.
• Memberships and certifications: Enjoy peace of mind with Britannia’s numerous certifications, including Certified British Made, ISO 9001, Secured by Design, CERTASS, SABIK Marine and QA National Warranties.
• Styles: Casement, flush casement, bay and bow, tilt and turn, French, heritage and sash.

Choosing a company can be a difficult decision as the windows you choose can affect your home’s comfort and energy efficiency. Plus, installing replacement windows is an expensive process, so you want to ensure you get it right. Always consider the pros and cons before making a final decision.

Pros:

• Energy efficiencies: Britannia Windows offers windows that are rated A+ to A++ for energy efficiency. These windows can help maintain a comfortable temperature in your home all year round. The option of triple glazing appeals to many customers for increased security and energy efficiency.
• Security features: Britannia Windows are fitted with high-tech multipoint locking mechanisms to keep your home secure.
• Weatherproofing: Weatherproofing is particularly important for homeowners in the UK, and customers can be confident that Britannia’s windows are 100% weatherproof and weather-resistant.
• Choice of styles: There are several sleek and contemporary frames to choose from, with ultra-slim sightlines and numerous customisation options.
• Online design tool: While there are several showrooms to visit, tech-savvy homeowners can also visualise their project and style options using Britannia’s online design tool.
• Wide range of finance options: There are several payment and financing options to choose from so that you can conveniently purchase your windows upfront or through monthly instalments.

Cons:

• Location: The company is based in Clevedon and only serves Bristol, West Sussex, Somerset and Hampshire.
• Guarantee: The company offers a standard 10-year warranty, which is not as generous as other companies offer. Elsewhere, you could get a 15 or 20-year warranty, or a lifetime guarantee.
• Materials: Britannia Windows do not offer wooden window frames as an option, but you can choose wood-effect finishes.
• Reputation: The company holds an average 3.6-star rating on Trustpilot, and several other review sites (Bark.com, Google) noted poor service delivery or low-quality installation as the reason for poor reviews. However, it’s worth noting that this company has considerably fewer online reviews than other companies.

Britannia double glazing windows are made to measure and offer bespoke options, such as these in gorgeously stylish Chartwell green. (Image credit: Britannia)

A Britannia consultant will visit your home and discuss the various options available before preparing an no-obligation windows quote. This step in the process is free of charge, allowing you get to grips with the company’s products and prices before parting with any money.

Britannia also has an online tool where customers can experiment to their heart’s content with colours and styles to truly visualise the end result.

Britannia Windows is an affordable option for buyers seeking flexible finance, high-quality products and a vast customisable choice. However, the company only operates in the south west regions of England, so if you live further north, you will need to consider alternatives.

Britelite is a good alternative and offers competitive pricing (from £160 per window, excluding installation). Like Britannia, this company offers different colours as well as triple glazing and a 10-year transferable guarantee. Britelite operates in Kent, Sussex, Essex, Surrey and London, so it may suit customers in different areas who are outside of Britannia’s catchment area.

Homeowners considering a premium brand should look no further than Everest. This company is particularly appealing due to its generous range of warranties. Everest windows come with a 10-year standard guarantee on all parts and materials, while the uPVC Exclusives range is covered by a 20-year guarantee. You can also consider buying a lifetime guarantee for complete peace of mind.

Everest isn’t cheap, however, and you may pay twice as much as you would have had you chosen Britannia Windows instead.

Providing an exact estimation of what you could expect to pay for your new double glazing windows from Britannia is difficult. The cost will ultimately depend on the window style and finish you select and how large your windows are. However, online comparison sites can give you an estimation of what you might pay:

Britannia double glazing windows are easy to maintain, only requiring occasional cleaning. (Image credit: Britannia)

Britannia says its windows are very low maintenance. If you’ve opted for aluminium frames, you can rest assured that they are rust-proof. You simply wipe down the frames and vacuum away any debris and dust to extend their lifespan.

uPVC windows should be wiped down twice a year with soapy water and dried with a soft cloth. Glass must be cleaned with clear liquid glass cleaner and not with paste or cream cleaners. 

“Brittania windows were fantastic from start to finish. From the no-pressure quote to the great price without needing to haggle to keeping us informed along the way until installation. The fitters were polite and did a fantastic job; we’re really pleased with our windows and would be more than happy to recommend you to others.”

• Jennifer D, Trustpilot

“Absolutely terrible customer service, they fitted my uPVC using double-sided tape, so when it fell off, and I called customer services for repairs to be made, they sent a fitter who made a complete bodge job, and I am still waiting for them to respond to me to come and put the repair right. . . .”

• Sarah P, Trustpilot

“Excellent front door and two big bay windows. Wrong glass was ordered for the surround of the front door, but this was rectified fairly quickly, and we weren’t asked for final payment until it was. The installation team was excellent over three days, polite, friendly, hard-working, precise, punctual, friendly and informative. Bay windows were replacing windows fitted over 20 years ago, not by Britannia, and it’s only now we realise how bad that installation was.”

• David, Trustpilot

Britannia offers a variety of design and colour options, enabling homeowners to find the style they are looking for. Online design tools, home visits and a number of convenient and beautifully laid-out showrooms make it easy for homeowners to visualise and choose their window products.

The company only offers aluminium and uPVC replacement windows, but its premium uPVC woodgrain finishes are particularly appealing, as the fine details can offer the attractive look of timber, without the cost.

The windows are highly energy-efficient, and triple glazing is on offer as well if you would like extra insulation.

Britannia is a good option for homeowners in the South West of England who require flexible financing. The company’s products are wide-ranging and high-quality, yet cheaper than companies like Everest.

To put together this Britannia Windows review, we read hundreds of customer reviews, professional opinion pieces, forums and technical documentation to understand what the company offers homeowners.

We created a 100-point scoring system to rate Britannia Windows and other window companies that assesses the features and characteristics homeowners care about most when buying new windows.

• The type of double glazing material (uPVC, wooden, aluminium), for a total of 20 points;
• The number of styles on offer, for a total of 10 points;
• The energy efficiency rating held by the company, for a total of two to five points;
• The level of security offered, for a total of 10 points;
• The warranty period, for a total of two to five points depending on its length;
• The company’s years of experience, for seven to 10 points;
• The number of payment options, for a total of 15 points;
• The total rating score of the company held on Trustpilot, for a total of one to 10 points; and
• Additional benefits (including FENSA certification, design options, customer support and the inclusion of trickle vents), for a total of 15 points.

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