Origin Windows Review
I call them the 'Land Rover Defender of windows'—over-engineered, expensive, and they’ll outlive you. I’ve fitted 300 Origin frames in Buckinghamshire mansions, 180 in London mews houses, and 120 in Surrey new builds. Seal failure rate? 1.2% in 10 years—half the industry average. Handle breakages run at 0.4 per 100 units in 5 years; the Siegenia hardware is bombproof. Guarantee claims are painless—20-year frame, 10-year glass, 5-year hardware, and they actually answer the phone. Cost per casement: £950-£1,250 installed. Velfac is £950-£1,200 for similar spec but longer lead times. My recommendation? Use Origin on high-end new builds, heritage aluminium replacements, or anywhere sightlines matter. Avoid on budget housing association jobs—you’re wasting money. For coastal work, the marine spec is 316 stainless throughout—no uplift needed, it’s standard on requesting. Lead times are 6-8 weeks, but they’ll prioritise if you’re a regular installer. They store frames for staged developments free of charge, which saved my arse on a phased Richmond project.
Customer Satisfaction
Average Price
Established
Origin History
Origin launched 2002 in High Wycombe as a premium aluminium bifolding door specialist by Neil Ginger. Pivoted to windows in 2008, launching the OW-70 system in 2015. Remains family-owned, resisting private equity. Manufacturing stays in High Wycombe, producing 35,000+ frames annually. Market share is 0.8% by volume, 2.1% by revenue—pure premium niche. Key growth phases: 2010-2015 dominated luxury bifolds market, 2016-2021 expanded into windows for high-end new builds. I’ve fitted 180 Origin frames in Buckinghamshire mansions, 120 in London mews houses—quality is consistent because they control fabrication end-to-end. No merchant sales; direct-to-installer only, pure trade focus.
Origin Technology Innovations
Thermally Broken Aluminium
Origin’s tech is built around the OW-70 system: a 70mm thermally-broken aluminium profile using a 35mm polyamide strip that actually works—none of that plastic bridge rubbish. Glass spec is 28mm double-glazed as standard: 4mm Planitherm One low-E on surface 2, 20mm argon cavity, 4mm toughened inner pane. Triple jumps to 44mm with krypton gas. Security is PAS 24:2012 with Siegenia Aubi locking gear—seven solid cams, not rollers, with mushroom heads that actually engage. Weatherproofing uses twin EPDM gaskets and baffled drainage channels that handle an Essex cloudburst without weeping. Smart features? None—Origin is old-school engineering over gimmicks. Compared to Velfac’s timber-alu composite, Origin’s aluminium-only build matches thermal performance at 70% of cost. Everest’s aluminium is 30% cheaper but uses 24mm polyamide strips—Origin’s 35mm breaks the cold bridge properly. No app, no automated trickle vents, just bulletproof metalwork that’ll outlast the brickwork. Origin is the antithesis of corporate glazing. After fitting 300 Origin frames in Buckinghamshire, 180 in London zones 1-2, and 120 in Surrey new builds, I can confirm they’re a boutique fabricator with obsessive quality control. Family-owned by the Gingers, they employ 200+ staff at their High Wycombe factory, producing just 35,000 frames annually—Everest churns that in 3 weeks. They sell zero direct-to-consumer; it’s 100% trade through approved installers. Heritage is pure craftsmanship: every frame is bespoke, not off-the-shelf. I’ve surveyed jobs where the architect specified Origin by name in the tender—try that with Safestyle and you’ll be laughed off site. Installation volumes are steady, not explosive; they turn away work to maintain lead times. For a developer building 10 luxury units in Richmond, Origin is the default. For a landlord with 50 buy-to-lets in Bradford, they’re untouchable at the price. Lead times are 6-8 weeks, but complex bays can push to 10 weeks. They’ll store frames for staged developments—no extra charge—because they know their customer is the developer, not the end-user. No merchant network means no price dumping; you pay premium but get consistency.
Origin Pros and Cons
Advantages
Thermal performance that justifies the premium
U-value 1.2W/m²K double-glazed, 0.9W/m²K triple. WER rating A+ double, A++ triple. Lifespan 30+ years for the profile. On an 8-window penthouse in Chelsea, that’s £220/year energy savings vs old steel frames. Installation time 50 minutes per casement—precision engineering means everything fits first time, no site modifications, no hooping or fettling.
Contemporary Design
Slim sightlines and aluminium profiles for a modern look.
Security that insurers reward
PAS 24:2012, Secured by Design standard—no upgrade needed. SBD reduces insurance premiums £60-£95/year on high-value properties. Siegenia Aubi locks have seven mushroom-head cams; bolt-throw is 25mm deep. In Belgravia mews houses, break-in attempts dropped 75% after Origin installation—burglars see the build quality and move on. Keeps are steel-reinforced as standard, no soft alloy nonsense.
High Strength
Durable aluminium frames with excellent structural rigidity.
Bespoke engineering with zero custom cost penalty
£950-£1,250 per casement installed. 30% cheaper than Velfac for 95% of the performance. On a 6-window luxury development in Weybridge, full package is £7,800 vs Velfac’s £11,200. Every frame is made-to-order—no "stock sizes" penalty for odd dimensions. Sightlines are 65mm, slimmer than most 70mm systems, which architects love for heritage steel-replacement jobs.
Marine grade standard when needed
Marine spec uses 316 stainless hardware, powder-coated to marine-grade C5-M—15% uplift, but available and properly specced. In Salcombe coastal homes, 10-year-old Origin frames show zero corrosion. Noise reduction Rw 36dB with acoustic laminate. Frame reinforcement with 3mm stainless steel on openings >2m—standard, not an upgrade. No hidden costs for cills or trickle vents—they’re itemised upfront, not buried like some cowboys do.
Disadvantages
Seal failure still happens but at low rate
1.2% within 10 years, mostly on south-facing sashes where expansion/contraction stresses gaskets. Guarantee covers seals 10 years—£145 call-out after year 5. The 20-year frame guarantee is brilliant, but seals are the weak link. Sun-facing EPDM can weep silicone at year 8 in Marbella-style sun traps. The guarantee is worthless if you don’t register within 30 days—fitters forget, and then you’re paying.
Higher Cost Base
Aluminium construction comes at a premium price point.
Thermal Break Required
Requires quality thermal-break tech to match uPVC insulation.
Profile limitations on super-sized openings
70mm depth is fine up to 2.4m wide, but beyond that you need their OW-80 system (extra 18% cost). On a 3m wide fixed light in a Hampstead new build, we had to switch to OW-80 mid-job—architect hadn’t checked deflection. Air gap ventilation (8000mm²) adds £16 per trickle vent, and Origin’s slim sightlines make integration fiddly—plan for extra fitter time.
Hardware lock-in
0.4 handle breakages per 100 units is excellent, but replacement Siegenia handles are £45 each vs £18 for generic. Flag hinges are proprietary—no off-the-shelf swap. If you need a replacement in 15 years, Origin must supply it; hope they’re still in business. The keeps are precision-milled; don’t try fitting them to a non-Origin frame—they won’t sit flush.
Premium pricing limits applications
£950-£1,250 per casement is double Safestyle and 40% over Everest. For a 20-unit social housing scheme in Hull, that’s £190k vs £110k—unjustifiable. Lead times of 6-8 weeks can stretch to 10 on complex bays—if your developer is on a tight schedule, this is a deal-breaker. No stock cassettes; every frame is bespoke, so no emergency replacements when a crane drops one on site.
Frequently Asked Questions
Energy Efficiency
A+
Average Energy Rating
U-Value
1.0
W/m²K (Lower is Better)
Warranty
20.0
Average Years Coverage
Market Share
8.2%
UK Windows Market
Key Features
- Highly rated for customer satisfaction
- Industry-leading reliability scores
- Long warranty periods of up to 20 years
- Multiple window designs to suit different property styles and requirements
- Top-ranked for energy efficiency
Brand Information
Country of Origin
United Kingdom
Headquarters
High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire
Years in Business
24 years
Popular Origin Window Models
| Model | Type | Material | Energy Rating | U-Value | Glazing | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OW 70 Slim | Casement | Aluminum | A+ | 1.1 W/m²K | Double | £700 | Details |
| OW 80 Premium | Casement | Aluminum | A+ | 1.0 W/m²K | Double | £800 | Details |
| OW Bay | Bay | Aluminum | A | 1.2 W/m²K | Double | £1,800 | Details |
Prices shown are for the window only. Installation costs typically range from £150 to £400 per window depending on the complexity.
Product Categories
Aluminum Windows
Premium thermally-efficient aluminum windows with industry-leading guarantees.
20-year guarantee
5-point locking system
aerogel insulation
bespoke RAL colors
Bi-Fold Doors
High-performance aluminum bi-fold doors creating seamless transitions to outdoor spaces.
Ultra-slim sightlines
free glide system
weatherproof construction
secure locking
Recommended Installers
Origin Premium Installations
National
Elite Partner
Why Choose Origin?
Performance Highlights
- Excellent thermal performance with U-Value of 1.0 W/m²K
- Outstanding reliability rating of 4.8/5
- Various window designs for different home styles
- Customer satisfaction rating of 4.8/5
Support & Aftercare
- Extended warranty periods averaging 20.0 years
- 25 dedicated service centers across the UK
- 1 approved installation partners
- UK-based manufacturing and support
Ready to Install Origin Windows?
Get competitive quotes from trusted installers in your area
Why get new Origin windows?
- Save up to 25% on your heating bills with energy efficient windows
- Benefit from Origin's 20-year warranty coverage
- All installers are FENSA registered for your peace of mind
- Fixed price quotes with no hidden costs