Independent double glazing companies

We spoke to more than 3,000 people who bought double glazing in the past 10 years, and half of them said they used a local independent firm. We reveal why they didn't choose a household name and how the independent firms' service compares.

Independent and local double glazing firms offer a wealth of different service standards so we don't have customer scores for each one. 

Similarly, we have not rated Independent firms as a group in our results table, as this category incorporates a huge variety of local companies and traders of different formats and sizes, and a single score for the group won't be able to reflect this.

However, not only did we find that independent firms are a common choice for consumers (with half of those who answered our survey opting to use one), but we also found that their customers are often very satisfied and happy to recommend them.

Which? members can log in to see how independent firms compare with the big double glazing brands, plus the pros and cons of choosing a small local firm. If you're not already a member, get instant access by joining Which? today.

Why choose an independent firm for your double glazing?

With half of customers opting for a local or independent trader to fit their double glazing, and another 26% buying from a fairly small firm, we asked them to tell us why.

Their reasons were different from those who chose big brands, including Anglian, Everest and Safestyle, whose top motivations included them selling windows or doors they liked, a good reputation and offering a discount.

Which? members can log in to see the top reasons people chose independent brands, compared with bigger chains. These are based on our survey of 3,409 people who bought double glazing in the past 10 years.

Double glazing near me

If you’re keen to employ someone local to make and install your double-glazed windows and doors, rather than opting for a national chain, use our Which? Trusted Traders search tool below to find reliable traders near you. 

Every Which? Trusted Trader is independently vetted so you can be confident in their service. You don’t need to be a Which? member to contact traders using the service.

Before a double glazing company can use our logo, we carry out extensive checks. We look at:

• their background - how long they have been trading, whether they have been liquidated at any point, and whether they're financially sound now;
• whether they have the right qualifications and accreditations for the job they do;
• their website and paperwork to ensure it gives the right amount of information and contact details;
• whether they have adequate insurance for the work they undertake.

These checks all help to protect you against rogue traders. All our assessors are ex-Trading Standards, so have years of experience in spotting reputable traders and discounting the dodgy ones.

All Which? Trusted Traders must also agree to our code of conduct, which means no cold calling, giving customers fair and appropriate contracts, and being signed up to an Alternate Dispute Resolution service in case there are any difficulties.

Take the stress out of finding a recommended trader in your area by visiting Which? Trusted Traders.

Independent firms vs big brands: which are best for double glazing?

One person in our survey of 3,409 double glazing customers who bought it in the past 10 years said: 'I like local companies because they are local and they have their reputation to maintain, plus there is no up front pressure to buy.'

Our analysis reveals whether this is true across the hundreds of independent firms customers told us about.

A quarter of customers who bought their double glazing from an independent or local firm also considered Anglian, and a fifth considered Everest.

To help you find the best double glazing firm for your project, we asked customers to tell us how satisfied they were with the brand they chose, and how likely they would be to recommend it to others. We also found out about other aspects of companies' products and services including sales, delivery, customer service, installation, how well the double glazing has lasted, and value for money.

Which? members should log in to see what customers thought of independent brands. If you're not a member, you can join Which? today to access all of our double glazing results.

What do we mean by independents?

Independents mainly include:

• local double glazing companies;
• small firms, rather than nationally or regionally recognised brands.

It may also include local builders and joiners, which people are more likely to have used if they're having a home renovation, such as an extension.

If you want to find out more about using an independent glazing company, the process of buying double glazing and the different types, visit our page on choosing the best type of double glazing..

Top problems with independent double glazing companies

79% of customers of independent companies said that they had no problems with either buying, delivery or having their double glazing installed. It was a similar impressive result for a couple of bigger brands. But two firms had almost three in 10 customers experiencing problems and one had over half of their customers reporting an issue.

Which? members can log in to find out which firms those were, and which problems were most common with independent double glazing firms.