New Windows - ATOZ (Part 3 of 3)

The Window Saga: Lessons from a Costly Renovation (Part 3 of 3)

Before I dive in, I want to make something clear — this isn’t a vendetta. It’s simply my account of what happened, shared in the hope that it helps someone else avoid the same stress. I’ve been in the industry long enough to know that things go wrong — but what matters is how people handle it. Unfortunately, in this case, it was a masterclass in how not to.

Missed part 1 - Read here

It seemed to take forever to get the order over the line. I felt buried in PDFs — every time I spotted an error and sent back corrections, another version would appear with something else wrong. It was exhausting, and my nerves were fraying. To protect myself, I made sure the order said “subject to site survey.”

Eventually, I received the final confirmations — still with mistakes. The back-and-forth continued, with Vlad admitting to several errors along the way. I’ve printed out all the emails in date order because, at one point, I genuinely thought it might end up in court. You can see the exasperation building in every exchange.

When the patio doors finally arrived, they were the wrong size. My builder had to close the aperture just to keep things moving. Then two more windows came, also wrong. Vlad kept blaming me — even though he did the site survey.

In the end, I had to outsource and buy new windows for the openings we had. They were made in the UK and took three weeks. Vlad’s windows took three months. His lead times were never clear, and the whole experience dragged on for six months — and nearly cost me my sanity.

I’d paid nearly £30,000 and still owed £5,000 for installation. I suggested we call it quits — that I keep the balance and we move on. I simply couldn’t deal with him any longer. He agreed.

I then hired Prime Aluminium to make the two remaining windows, and they were brilliant — fast, clear, helpful communication. Couldn’t recommend them more highly. The only catch: they don’t install.

So I called one of Vlad’s original fitters, who’d already installed most of the house and had even turned up once to fit doors that hadn’t arrived yet (Vlad told him everything was there). He came straight over to help — and told me that Vlad had never paid him for the previous work.

Looking back, it’s hard to believe how much time, energy, and stress went into something that should have been so straightforward. Between the stairs, the windows, and the endless finger-pointing, it’s been a brutal reminder that communication and accountability matter more than anything. I’ve learned that charm means nothing without integrity — and that “managing it all for you” often translates to “managing to make it your problem.”

If you’re planning your own renovation, please take this as a cautionary tale: get everything in writing, use companies that design, manufacture, and install, and trust your gut — it’s always right. I would also use local suppliers, so if something goes wrong you can visit and discuss. These windows being made abroad, meant that Vlad had no control over lead times and he was effectively in the middle.

As for me, the house is finally coming together, and I’m trying to focus on the beauty that’s emerged from the chaos. Maybe, one day soon, I’ll open the windows and walk up the stairs without thinking of the drama behind them. But for now, at least it’s done — and if sharing this helps even one person avoid the same nightmare, it was worth writing.

This post reflects my personal experience with these suppliers; others may have had different experiences.

The following PDF contains factual email correspondence from my own project. Personal details have been redacted for privacy. Download the PDF