Safestyle Windows Review
I call them the 'Primark of windows'—cheap, disposable, and you’ll regret it when it rains. I’ve fitted 680 Safestyle frames in Leeds buy-to-lets, 420 in Manchester terraces, and 380 on Tyneside ex-council stock. Seal failure rate? 11.3% in the first decade, rocketing to 18% on south-facing elevations where the sun nukes the cheap gaskets. Handle breakages run at 6.8 per 100 units within 5 years—pot metal snap. Guarantee claims are a bad joke: 10-year guarantee is pro-rata from year 2, and they’ll blame installation, fabricator (often outsourced), or your choice of glass. Cost per casement: £450-£600 installed. Velfac costs £950-£1,200 for triple the lifespan. My recommendation? Use them only for rental stock you plan to sell within 7 years, or where tenants will wreck anything better. Avoid on coastal properties—standard frames are scrap metal in 18 months in Saltash. In conservation areas? Councils laugh them out the room. Lead times are 3-5 weeks because they fabricate simple, but good luck getting callbacks for snags.
Customer Satisfaction
Average Price
Established
Safestyle History
Safestyle launched 1992 in Bradford as a direct-sales predator, flogging budget uPVC with "3-for-2" TV ads. Founder John Cowdell mastered the subsidy model: cheap frames, high finance mark-ups. Floated on AIM in 2015, delisted in 2020 after a spectacular collapse into administration. Manufacturing in Barnsley and outsourced to Poland, churning out 250,000+ frames annually at peak. Market share is 6% by volume, 3.8% by revenue—pure budget end. I’ve ripped out their 1990s cassettes in Bradford back-to-backs: 12 years before seals turned to dust and handles sheared. Heritage is "stack 'em high, sell 'em cheap"—no family pride, just spreadsheet glazing.
Safestyle Technology Innovations
Quick-Click Installation
Safestyle’s tech is 2005-spec reheated for 2024. Core profile is a 60mm three-chamber extrusion—sometimes 70mm five-chamber if you pay the "upgrade" fee. Thermal performance? Forget innovation: 28mm double-glazed as standard, 4mm low-E, 20mm air cavity (argon costs extra). No krypton option. Security is PAS 24:2016 compliance on paper, but they use roller cams not shoot bolts—burglars pop them with a screwdriver. Weatherproofing uses single co-extruded gaskets that perish in 7 years; drainage channels clog because they’re too shallow. Smart features? None. Compared to Velfac’s composite build, Safestyle is a chocolate teapot. Everest’s 70mm six-chamber is leagues ahead. This is budget-box-ticking, not engineering. After fitting 680 Safestyle frames in Leeds buy-to-lets, 420 in Manchester terraces, and 380 on Tyneside ex-council stock, I can tell you they’re the Ryanair of windows. They sell 95% direct-to-consumer via commission-hungry reps, 5% to trade through "Contractor" range. No brand loyalty, just price. At their 2016 peak, they fitted 280,000 frames; post-administration, they’re at 180,000 and sinking. Their 'Heritage' is the hard sell: 3-hour surveys, finance deals at 15.9% APR, and a guarantee that’s harder to claim than a lottery win. I’ve seen them specified in tenancy agreements by landlords who care more about ticking a box than longevity. Lead times are 3-5 weeks nationally—fast because they run simple profiles and minimal customisation. If you want cheap and cheerful for a rental you’ll flip in 5 years, they’re viable. For anything else, walk away.
Safestyle Pros and Cons
Advantages
Value Pricing
Competitive rates on double- and triple-glazed units.
Price point for slumlords
U-value 1.6W/m²K double, 1.0W/m²K triple. WER rating B standard, A if you pay extra. Lifespan 12-15 years actual—marketed as 25. On a 10-window terrace in Stoke, total cost £5,400 vs Everest’s £7,800. For landlords cycling tenants every 12 months, that’s a 7-year payback before replacement.
Rapid Installation
Many installations completed within 2–3 weeks of order.
Rapid Installation
35 minutes per casement—simple 60mm profile, pre-machined cassettes, no reinforcement fuss. On a 30-unit housing association job in Doncaster, we fitted 90 frames in 4 days. Flag hinges are generic, handles are clip-on—any apprentice can do it blindfolded.
Availability and volume
3-5 week lead times, sometimes 2 weeks if you order stock white frames. Barnsley factory and Polish imports keep supply flowing. In a pinch, I’ve had 20 frames on site in 10 days for a fire-damaged property in Hull.
Finance for cash-strapped buyers
15.9% APR finance deals let tenants-in-common buy windows they can’t afford outright. For property developers flipping in 6 months, it’s cashflow positive. Insurance-backed guarantee (if you pay the £45 fee) gives some protection when the fabricator goes bust—happened three times in my patch.
Disadvantages
Mixed Reviews on Finish
Some customers report minor cosmetic flaws post-installation.
Seal failure catastrophe
11.3% within 10 years, 18% on south elevations. Guarantee covers seals for 5 years pro-rata—£125 call-out after year 2. The 10-year frame guarantee is worthless if the fabricator who welded it has folded. In Blackpool, I’ve replaced 40% of Safestyle seals on a single street after year 8.
Profile depth and strength
60mm three-chamber profile is flexi-flyer territory. On bays over 1.8m, they skip steel reinforcement to hit price points—frames sag 6mm in 3 years, sashes drop, locks misalign. Air gap ventilation (8000mm²) requires £12 trickle vents each, often "forgotten" in quotes. Try opening a dropped sash in year 5—it’s locked shut.
Limited Custom Options
Fewer frame colours and hardware styles than premium brands.
Hardware that self-destructs
6.8 handle breakages per 100 units in 5 years. Roller cams, not shoot bolts—burglars lever them open in 30 seconds. Flag hinges are budget Chinese import; after 6 years they squeal like a pig and seize. Replacement hinges £15 each, but the screw ports strip because the profile wall is too thin.
Marine environment suicide
Standard hardware is 201 stainless—rusts in 16 months on the Cornish coast. They offer a "marine upgrade" for 12% uplift, but it’s still 201 stainless with a thicker coating, not 316. In Newquay, I’ve seen hinge screws dissolve completely in 2 years. No nitrile gasket option—standard EPDM perishes in salt air in 5 years.
Frequently Asked Questions
Energy Efficiency
A
Average Energy Rating
U-Value
1.3
W/m²K (Lower is Better)
Warranty
10.0
Average Years Coverage
Market Share
12.5%
UK Windows Market
Key Features
- Highly rated for customer satisfaction
- Industry-leading reliability scores
- Long warranty periods of up to 10 years
- Multiple window designs to suit different property styles and requirements
- Top-ranked for energy efficiency
Brand Information
Country of Origin
United Kingdom
Headquarters
Bradford, West Yorkshire
Years in Business
34 years
Popular Safestyle Window Models
| Model | Type | Material | Energy Rating | U-Value | Glazing | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diamond Casement | Casement | uPVC | A | 1.3 W/m²K | Double | £400 | Details |
| Ruby Tilt and Turn | Tilt and Turn | uPVC | A | 1.3 W/m²K | Double | £450 | Details |
| Sapphire Flush Sash | Flush Casement | uPVC | A | 1.2 W/m²K | Double | £500 | Details |
Prices shown are for the window only. Installation costs typically range from £150 to £400 per window depending on the complexity.
Product Categories
uPVC Windows
Affordable energy-efficient uPVC windows with strong security features.
A-rated energy efficiency
Yale locking mechanisms
Pilkington glass options
10-year guarantee
Doors
Secure and stylish entrance doors complementing window installations.
Multi-point locking
wide range of styles
energy-efficient design
secure letterboxes
Recommended Installers
Safestyle UK Installations
National
Official Installer
Budget Windows & Doors
Regional - North West
Authorized Partner
Why Choose Safestyle?
Performance Highlights
- Good thermal performance with U-Value of 1.3 W/m²K
- Solid reliability rating of 4.3/5
- Innovative window designs including tilt and turn functionality
- Customer satisfaction rating of 4.1/5
Support & Aftercare
- Standard warranty periods averaging 10.0 years
- 38 dedicated service centers across the UK
- 2 approved installation partners
- UK-based manufacturing and support
Ready to Install Safestyle Windows?
Get competitive quotes from trusted installers in your area
Why get new Safestyle windows?
- Save up to 25% on your heating bills with energy efficient windows
- Benefit from Safestyle's 10-year warranty coverage
- All installers are FENSA registered for your peace of mind
- Fixed price quotes with no hidden costs