Windows and Double Glazing in La Chaux-de-Fonds

Are you looking for windows and double glazing in La Chaux-de-Fonds? Replacing windows here comes with constraints you do not meet by the lake: lasting cold, snow, large rental buildings and an urban fabric recognised by UNESCO. This page explains what these particularities change, which procedures to check, and how to compare quotes for window replacement in La Chaux-de-Fonds.

The most common window work in chessboard-plan buildings

La Chaux-de-Fonds is a watchmaking town in the Neuchâtel mountains, built on a chessboard plan. Its regular streets are lined with large rental buildings, and this is where most glazing work is concentrated: a façade has many openings, often of similar size from one floor to the next.

The most frequent jobs are the following:

• replacing old windows with double or triple glazed models;
• changing only the glazing when the frame is still sound;
• redoing the seal between the frame and the masonry, where air and damp get in;
• replacing or adding roof windows in converted attics;
• choosing the frame material: wood, PVC, wood-aluminium or metal.

In a rental building, this work is often planned by façade or by stairwell rather than flat by flat. This makes it possible to keep the exterior appearance consistent and to group the interventions, which also makes it easier to compare offers.

Long, snowy winters: what the cold changes about glazing choices

The climate of the Neuchâtel mountains is cold and snowy, noticeably harsher than that of the lakeside, which is mild. For a window, this has very practical consequences. Poorly insulated glazing gives a cold surface, draughts near the windows and condensation in winter. A worn seal lets in cold and damp where snow builds up.

A few points are worth discussing with the company:

• the glazing composition: double or triple, depending on the orientation of the façade, the weight the frame can carry and the budget;
• the frame material and how it behaves in frost and temperature swings;
• the quality of the installation, because a good window badly fitted loses most of its benefit;
• the condition of the window sills and ledges, exposed to snow and frost.

Noise is a further consideration: if your building overlooks a busy road or the railway line, say so. A different glazing composition may be considered to better reduce noise. Mention it in the request and the company will adjust its proposal.

Windows and the watchmaking heritage of La Chaux-de-Fonds

The watchmaking heritage of La Chaux-de-Fonds and Le Locle is listed by UNESCO. This gives the town a special status, and it affects owners who want to change their windows. On a protected building or in a sensitive area, the material and design may be imposed: proportions of the sashes, slimness of the profiles, colour, presence of glazing bars.

In practice, never assume that a standard model will be accepted. Before ordering:

1. ask the municipality whether the building is subject to protection or to specific requirements;
2. tell the company whether the windows face the street or a courtyard, as the requirements may differ;
3. keep the answers in writing, as they will help you if any doubt arises after installation.

If the building is protected, like-for-like replacement, with high-performance glazing in a frame that matches the original design, is an option to explore, to be confirmed with the competent authority.

Procedures for your windows in La Chaux-de-Fonds

In the canton of Neuchâtel, building permit applications are submitted to the cantonal SATAC office, with the decision made by the municipality. Not every window modification needs a permit, but a change visible from the street, a new opening or work on a protected building may require one. The only sure way to know is to ask the municipality before starting work.

On the energy side, the cantonal energy and environment service manages the cantonal subsidy programme. Replacing windows is often eligible only as part of a wider renovation under this programme. Check the conditions before signing: some grants require a prior application and cannot be claimed once the work is finished.

Then there is the question of consent:

• owner-occupier: you decide alone, within the rules of the municipality;
• co-ownership: windows often affect the façade, and therefore the common parts. A decision by the owners’ meeting is generally needed, at least for the exterior appearance;
• tenant: the landlord’s agreement is essential. You can report the defects you have noticed to them in writing.

Preparing your quote request and comparing offers

The more precise the request, the more comparable the offers. For window replacement in La Chaux-de-Fonds, state:

• the type of building (rental building, house, co-ownership) and your floor;
• the number of windows concerned, their approximate dimensions and their orientation;
• the current material and the one you are considering, or your openness to advice;
• your expectations: protection from the cold, noise reduction, low maintenance;
• any protection of the building or heritage area;
• accessibility: upper floor, narrow courtyard, need for scaffolding or a goods hoist.

A good quote itemises each item: supply of the windows, glazing composition, removal of the old ones, installation, sealing, interior and exterior finishes, waste disposal. It also states what is not included. Compare offers drawn up on the same basis, otherwise the gap between two amounts tells you nothing.

Several factors affect the cost: the frame material, the glazing composition, the number and size of the openings, site access, the condition of the window reveals, and any heritage requirements. Only a quote tells you what this means for your building. You can request a quote free of charge and with no obligation by describing your windows; your request is passed on to tradespeople and companies in the region, who will contact you.

Useful pages about your windows in La Chaux-de-Fonds

To go further, here are a few pointers:

• the trade in general: windows and double glazing;
• the town: works in La Chaux-de-Fonds;
• the canton: canton of Neuchâtel;
• other work in the municipality: plumber in La Chaux-de-Fonds, roofing in La Chaux-de-Fonds and bathroom renovation in La Chaux-de-Fonds.

If you have a wider renovation in mind, for example the roof at the same time as the roof windows, mentioning it in your first request helps companies coordinate the work.