Windows and double glazing in Lancy

Are you looking for a window and double glazing installer in Lancy? Between the apartment blocks of Grand-Lancy, the villas of Petit-Lancy and the proximity of central Geneva, needs vary a great deal from one home to another. This page helps you frame your window replacement project before you ask for quotes.

Replacing windows in Lancy: the most common jobs

The trade covers several situations that have little in common:

• replacing old windows, in timber, PVC, timber-aluminium or metal, with double or triple glazed models;
• changing the glazing alone, when the frame is still sound;
• redoing the weatherproofing: seals, sealing between the frame and the masonry, sills;
• fitting or replacing roof windows in converted attics.

In Lancy, this work mainly concerns residential blocks, where dozens of openings sometimes have to be dealt with at once, and then villas, where each window is decided room by room.

Grand-Lancy and Petit-Lancy: apartment blocks and villas

Lancy is a commune in the canton of Geneva, south-west of the city, made up of Grand-Lancy and Petit-Lancy. It has districts of apartment blocks, villas and parks. This mix changes how you approach windows.

In an apartment block, replacement is most often a collective decision. If the building is owned by floor, the assembly of co-owners decides anything that affects the façades. If it is rented, the owner or the régie places the order, and the consistency of the whole counts: same colour, same type of frame, same design across the entire façade. The work may then proceed flat by flat, with access to arrange with the occupants.

In a villa, you decide alone, but the choice is made window by window: large glazed openings onto the garden, small openings on the street side, a roof window in the attic. Orientations differ, so needs do too. A south-facing picture window raises different questions from a kitchen window facing north.

Noise: Lancy-Pont-Rouge station and busy routes

Lancy-Pont-Rouge station, served by the Léman Express, is a reminder that the commune is crossed by transport infrastructure. Depending on where your home is, a railway line, a busy road or distant air traffic can affect comfort.

In that case, glazing becomes an acoustic matter as much as a thermal one. A few points to ask the company about:

• the build-up of the glazing (thickness of the panes, spacer);
• the type of seals and the quality of the closing;
• the care taken over installation, since a high-performance window that is badly fitted lets noise in around the edges;
• the condition of the blind or roller shutter boxes, often a forgotten weak point.

If you are close to a noisy route, say so in your first request. This avoids a quote based on a standard build-up.

Mild winters, hot summers in town: what the Geneva climate changes

Geneva is a very urban canton, on the lake, with fairly mild winters on the plain and hot summers in town. Lancy shares this urban setting. In practical terms, the window has to cope with two seasons:

• in winter, limiting heat loss and draughts around the frame;
• in summer, preventing large glazed areas from overheating the rooms, especially on the south and west sides.

For summer, solar-control glazing, external blinds or suitable shading can matter as much as the number of panes. Talk to the company about it: a choice designed only for winter can make a top-floor flat uncomfortable during a heatwave.

Permits, energy and subsidies for your windows in Lancy

In the canton of Geneva, building permits are issued by the canton, through the Office des autorisations de construire. Replacing windows like for like is often treated differently from a change of design, material or proportions. As soon as the look of the façade changes, check what is required with the commune of Lancy or the competent cantonal service.

The canton also has protected districts and listed or inventoried buildings. For these buildings, the material and design of the windows may be imposed. Do not order anything before confirming whether your building is affected.

On the energy side, the cantonal energy law (LEn) and the Office cantonal de l’énergie (OCEN) frame the subject. The subsidies of the Programme Bâtiments in Geneva depend on the OCEN. Replacing windows often qualifies for a subsidy only as part of a wider renovation, under the cantonal programme. Conditions evolve: request the grant before signing the quote, and check the current criteria with the competent service.

Tenant, owner or co-owner in Lancy: who decides?

Geneva has many rental buildings managed by régies, and Lancy is no exception. A few pointers:

• Tenant: windows belong to the building envelope. Report any defect (condensation, damaged seals, a cracked pane) to the régie in writing, and wait for its reply before committing to anything.
• Villa owner: you decide, subject to the permit and protection rules mentioned above.
• Co-owner: the façade and the windows on the outside generally fall under collective decision. Consult the co-ownership regulations and the minutes of the assembly.

Keep a written record of every agreement: it protects everyone in the event of a dispute over the appearance or the invoice.

Describing your window project: what helps the company

The more precise your request, the more comparable the quotes. State:

• the type of home (flat or villa), the floor and the district;
• the number of openings and their type (window, French window, sliding picture window, roof window);
• the current material and the one you are considering (timber, PVC, timber-aluminium, metal);
• your priorities: thermal insulation, noise, appearance, maintenance;
• the condition of the walls around the frames, if you know it;
• whether there is any protection, a co-ownership regulation or a decision from the régie.

Add a few photos of the façades and the current windows, inside and outside. You can then request a quote describing this project.

Comparing glazing quotes without getting caught out

A good quote itemises the work rather than offering a single total. Check that it includes:

• removal of the old windows and disposal;
• the dimensions and build-up of each window;
• the frame material, colour and ironmongery;
• the finishing work: window boards, internal linings, repairs to render or paint;
• site protection in the rooms and communal areas;
• the installation conditions and the schedule announced by the company.

The cost varies with the number and size of the openings, the material, the build-up of the glazing, the condition of the masonry, access to the site (floor, lift, courtyard) and the finishes requested. Comparing two quotes only makes sense if they cover the same scope. If one offer looks very different, find out what it leaves out before concluding that it is better.

Taking your project in Lancy further

• The trade page: windows and double glazing
• The town page: works in Lancy
• The canton page: canton of Geneva
• Other work in the commune: plumber in Lancy, roofing in Lancy, bathroom renovation in Lancy