We'll buy from CR Smith again

Planning to knock through from our dining room to the kitchen and fit a new kitchen, we realised just what a bad mismatch the 1980s pine double glazed kitchen window would be for our new oak units, with the central bar not quite centred too. We had spotted the CR Smith stand at B & Q in Perth and already had a good look at the oak effect windows, so when there was a rep there we asked about a quote for replacing the kitchen window.

The rep who came to measure up was great, with helpful suggestions re changing the window opening to top hung, so I can reach the latches and open them without having to get on a step to reach over the sink! Having recently bought another UPVC window for an extension in another house a few years ago, I knew the quote was good value for what we were getting.

The window fitters were great. Initially I'd put off replacing the window until spring, but they did it in January and the old window was out and the new one in very quickly. They put down all the boards and cloths needed to protect the old kitchen and cleared up everything afterwards. The job was far less messy than I expected. The guys also dealt very expertly with the somewhat unexpected wall construction - we'd thought our kitchen was a post-war cavity wall building, but it turned out to be earlier double brick with an internal cavity behind the plasterboard skin. This meant there wasn't much to attach the window to at the sides, but they managed fine. The whole job took less time than I anticipated.

The quality of the oak trim around the windows was one of the points that sold us on CR Smith's product and this looks great - and will be a good match for the new kitchen doors. Getting the window done first, before fitting the new units, tiles and worktops, was definitely the best way to do it.

We are planning to add French windows at the other end of the house, so we will be back for a quote for that next year.