You may have noticed that we recently launched a double glazing repair course to teach the professional way to repair double glazing in windows and doors.
We understand that our UPVC window repair course is an investment of your time and money and that there are other similar courses out there as well, so I created this blog post to help you understand everything you need to know before applying for our window and door repair course.
We want you to make the right choice, so this article is an unbiased overview of the course for you to make sure it’s the right course for you.
What is the double glazing repair course?
The Window and Door Repair Academy course has been designed and developed to give students a solid level of learning in as wide a range of repairs, materials and skills as possible.
Why we created the double glazing repair course
All too often we have attended a property where a ‘repair guy’ has attempted to repair and, in most cases, just done a bad job leaving it no better than it was. In some cases an amateurish ‘bodge job’ has been done, leaving the window/door completely beyond repair.
We want to establish a base line of training that is of a very high standard, and from which a customer can expect a high quality repair and a high quality of service. Ultimately, this is why we created the window and door repair academy.
On researching a variety of courses we discovered that while some had various positive and relevant elements, there was not a course in existence that would provide graduate engineers with the ability, skills and confidence to establish their own businesses and carry out all the repairs and services that would be expected of them.
What is included with the course?
- Intensive training
Five days of intensive training in our purpose-built facility. - Comprehensive manual
A manual in both digital and printed formats covering the course and including printable templates and step-by-step guides. - Business advice
How to setup your business, including advice on what accounting software to use, marketing, POS advice, website, vehicle size and set out, suppliers, stock and pricing. - How to find business
How to find business opportunities for window and door repair, what works and what doesn’t, networking do’s and don’ts, strategic alliances – even how to get your competitors to recommend you. - Ongoing support and advice
Advice and support from Alan for after the course. We offer telephone/ WhatsApp/ email support for as long as you need it and at no extra charge. Stuck on a job? Video call Alan on WhatsApp and he’ll talk you through it.
You’ll learn how to:
- Handle Glass safely
- Glass regulations (what glass goes where)
- Measure for sealed units
- Measure for Georgian and Leaded
- How to Price for sealed units
- Identify how the glass is retained in the frame
- Remove and replace sealed units
- Learn how to remove glass from externally beaded windows
- Toeing and Heeling
- Recognise drive gears and know there uses
- How to recognise what type of failed mechanism is in the window even before you open it
- How to open a window with a failed mechanism (without marking the window)
- How to measure for replacements
- Window maintenance
- Fit retrofit drive gears
- Recognize keeps and retrofit keeps
- Friction stays. What goes where and why
- Removal and replacement of friction stays
- What is a Sashmate and how to use it
- Handle identification and replacements
- Identify where restrictors are needed and what type goes where and why
- Fit restrictors
- Adjust Tilt and Turn windows
- Repair tilt and turn windows
- Fit Tilt and Turn retrofit repair kit
- Bi fold door adjustment and repair
- Bi fold maintenance
- Sliding box sash operation
- Sliding box sash repair
- Sliding Box sash stripdown and rebuild
- Sliding box sash maintenance
- Identify UPVC door hinges
- Adjust UPVC door hinges
- Replace UPVC door hinges
- Identifying composite door hinges
- Adjusting Composite door hinges
- Measure Letter Boxes
- Replace letterbox
- Identify door handles Use of template
- What the terms split spindle, dual spindle, lever lever and lever pad mean
- Identify multipoint locks Use of template
- Lock maintenance
- What is a MPL gearbox
- How to identify MPL gearbox
- How to replace a MPL gearbox
- Use an overnight case
- Fit repair/retrofit multipoint
- Adjust doors (so that they stay fixed)
- Fit drip bars
- Fit trickle vents
- Measure euro cylinders
- Change euro cylinders
- Change patio door rollers
- Set up accounts with the best suppliers
- Know what stock to hold
- And, of course, how to use the tools in the tool kit supplied by the Academy
Why choose The Window and Door Repair Academy?
- Expert tuition
I have been running a successful double glazing repair company for over 20 years. I will give you all the knowledge and expertise I have accrued in that time. - The most comprehensive course on the market
The course has been designed to give you real ‘hands on’ experience of issues you will encounter on a day-to-day basis. No one covers more in their courses. Sliding box sash, tilt and turn, and patio door rollers are all covered in detail. - Low student to teacher ratio
To give you the best possible learning experience we have a maximum of four students on any course. This means you get the benefit of hearing questions from others that you might not have thought of yourself in addition to seeing others do each job as well as doing it yourself. - Practice
We believe that if you’re going to make a mistake it’s better done on one of our windows than that of a paying customer.
How much does it cost for the course?
The cost of the course is £1750.
I wanted to offer a course that’s affordable, and my intention is to get you up and running as a repairer and able to earn your money back within a few months.
When I was looking at pricing for double glazing repair courses I researched other courses similar to mine to compare costs and found nothing.
There is no comparable course available. We looked at some of the other courses that had good but limited content, all of which were charging between £300 and £350 per day.
Most of these courses had no facilities and were taking students out on ‘real jobs.’ As I stated, I don’t believe a student should be allowed to work on a real customer’s window until they have some good practice under their belt. None of these courses were giving their students a full toolkit included in the cost. And no one but the Academy offers ongoing support for as long as you need it.
The Academy is the only course that supplies its students with a manual in two formats, printed and digital, covering the entire course.
So while our price per day is in line with the other courses, we believe the value for money and end outcome make The Window and Door Repair Academy course not just the most comprehensive, but also the best value double glazing repair course on the market.
Is there a refund/guarantee policy?
The short answer is no.
The longer answer is that our course is not a product that you can return if it doesn’t fit or is the wrong colour. It is a sharing of over 20 years of expert knowledge.
Who is this for?
The double glazing repair course is not for everyone, and we only want you to take the course it if it’s right for you.
The course is ideal for;
- Locksmiths
Most locksmiths provide some double glazing repair, whether its changing door or window handles, multipoints, lock changes and door adjustment. However, instead of going to a customer’s home, seeing that they need a replacement window handle that you have to order in and return to fit, wouldn’t it be more profitable to measure the misted unit, fit that and the set of hinges as well as the necessary restrictors then service and adjust the rest of the windows? This would give you a much better return. - Window fitters
Like locksmiths, window fitters have some of the skills and knowledge that are easily transferable to double glazing repair. Many don’t do the measuring or know any other systems that the installer they work for uses, and although fitters are skilled tradesmen some find the switch to doing repairs difficult and come to realise there are large gaps in their knowledge. We can fill those gaps. - Landlords
Many landlords find that when they have a window or door issue they may struggle to find a convenient double glazing repair service, so they contact a locksmith or double glazing company. As explained above they may be able to solve the problem, but the landlord may have issues with the locksmith saying it’s not the kind of work they do, and the double glazing firm saying they can’t get the parts then quoting for brand new windows. Imagine how beneficial it would be If you could diagnose the problem, know where to buy the parts at a good price and know how to carry out the repair yourself. With the average single repair costing just over a hundred pounds, it won’t take very long to recoup your course fees. - Letting agents
Do you have someone already doing your repairs? If not, why not get your handyman or maintenance company to attend our course, get trained up and then offer this as a unique service to your landlords. - Housing trusts
With a large number of properties, it makes both logistical and financial sense to have your own maintenance team fully trained on how to look after and repair your double glazing. Haringey Council sent their repair team, who were all carpenters that had been carrying out the window repairs with no real training, onto our course to upgrade their skills. The council had a policy that if their team could not repair the fault it was referred to contractor. This resulted in delays in getting the work done and extra costs for outsourcing the repair. Now the team can fix it on the first visit saving both time and money. The course fees were recouped in the first two weeks. - Career change and retraining
Fed up working for someone else? Want to be your own boss? Had enough of the same thing every day? Maybe you’re about to be made redundant. This is the course for you. We have trained students that have never used a tape measure or screwdriver before, and we have turned them into skilled repair engineers with all the essential knowledge and skills. In addition to this they have learned how to set up and run a successful business. - Demobbing
We appreciate the service you have done for your country, and we offer a discount to serving or ex-service persons. Much like locksmiths and window fitters, we have found that ex-service persons have easily transferable skills that make double glazing repair a perfect fit for a viable career change.
Who is this not for?
This is NOT for you if:
- You think this is a get rich quick scheme. It’s a career that provides interesting, fulfilling, eco-friendly and financially rewarding work.
- This is physical work and not ideal for people without self-motivation or a solid work ethic. We will give you the tools and skills, but you need to do the work.
- Glass is heavy. This work is not suitable if you are not capable of physical hard work.
How long will it take to go through the course?
The course takes five days, 09:00 to 17:00 but offers ongoing support for as long as you need it at no extra charge.
What will I need to get started?
- Comfortable and suitable workwear
- The desire to achieve
- The willingness to learn
We will supply everything else. Safety wear, tools, notebook and pen, manual, lunch and unlimited tea, coffee and biscuits!
Who is your trainer?
Your trainer is myself, Alan Bain. I set up and ran a very successful double glazing repair company, initially on my own, then five years ago I was joined in the business by my eldest son. My son now runs the business and continues to operate it to the high standards that have established us as the No 1 in the region.
I have been training students at the academy for over two years and have had very positive feedback from all our graduates.
I try to make the course as informative as I can, but I feel that the course should be an enjoyable experience as well.
Where does the course take place?
The Window And Door Repair Academy is based in Hastings, East Sussex, 70 miles southeast of London with good access from the M25. There is a direct train line to London and another to Gatwick airport.
As a tourist seaside destination, we have plenty of accommodation for all budgets.
The local Premier inn is a short distance away. If you use public transport to get here, we will pick you up from your accommodation in the morning and drop you back after the training.
The Academy itself has been designed and built to cover as wide a range of window and door repairs as possible. With bi-fold, French, sliding and ordinary front doors. With top hung, side hung, fanlight, sliding box sash and tilt and turn windows, we have what it takes to teach you exactly what you need to know.
What results can I expect?
- If you follow our training and advice, you can have a successful, well paid, enjoyable, interesting and fulfilling career in a growing recession-proof industry.
- You’ll be confident in your repair skills.
- You’ll know how to measure up and quote.
- You’ll have a knowledge of good customer relations.
How do I sign up?
Now you know everything you need to know about double glazing repair course, you are ready to sign up.
Click the link below, and we’ll get started.
That is pretty much everything you need to know about my course. I hope this helped you.