QuoteScore
Methodology · V2.0 · May 2026

How we score every quote.

Every point allocation is published here. No company pays to influence their result. No quote receives special treatment. If you can read this, you can check our working.

Overview

What goes into a score

Each quote is assessed across five categories, each scored out of 100 points. The overall score is the unweighted average of all five category percentages — every category carries equal weight.

Grade thresholds

A
90 – 100
Excellent
B
75 – 89
Good
C
60 – 74
Weak
D
40 – 59
Poor
F
0 – 39
Avoid

Quality factors

Product, guarantees & installation

Glass & frame quality100 pts

The physical specification of the windows or doors themselves — the most lasting impact on comfort, energy bills, and security.

U-value (thermal performance)

≤1.4 = 18 pts baseline; each 0.1 below adds 1 pt up to 25; each 0.1 above deducts 3 pts (minimum 3). A U-value of 1.4 W/m²K meets current Scottish Building Standards minimum.

25pts

Frame sightline width

Narrower sightlines mean more glass and a cleaner look. <85 mm = 15 pts; 85–89 mm = 12 pts; 90–99 mm = 8 pts; ≥100 mm = 5 pts.

15pts

Frame material

Engineered timber composite = 15 pts; PVC-U or aluminium = 12 pts; Timber = 10 pts.

15pts

Glazing specification

Double argon, Low-E, warm-edge spacer = 15 pts; double argon Low-E = 12 pts; double argon = 10 pts; triple glazed = 12 pts; double basic = 5 pts.

15pts

Hardware quality

Named hardware with specification = 10 pts; named, no detail = 7 pts; generic reference = 3 pts.

10pts

Security accreditation

PAS 24 + Secured by Design = 10 pts; PAS 24 alone = 8 pts; other named standard = 5 pts; claim but no cert = 2 pts.

10pts

Energy rating (WER)

A-rated = 10 pts; B = 7 pts; C = 5 pts; D or below = 2 pts.

10pts

Guarantees & aftercare100 pts

A guarantee is only as good as the company standing behind it. We look at length, coverage, and the company's ability to honour it long-term.

Product guarantee (years)

≥20 years = 20 pts; ≥15 = 18 pts; ≥10 = 15 pts; 5–9 = 8 pts; <5 = 3 pts.

20pts

Installation guarantee (years)

≥10 years = 15 pts; 5–9 = 10 pts; 2–4 = 5 pts; <2 = 2 pts.

15pts

Guarantee coverage

Parts, labour, and workmanship = 20 pts; parts and labour = 15 pts; parts only = 5 pts.

20pts

Guarantee reliability

A composite score built from: years trading (0–10 pts), ownership stability (0–8 pts), and honour history (0–7 pts). Assesses how likely the company is to still exist when you need them.

25pts

Emergency callout

24/7, 365 days = 10 pts; business hours only = 5 pts; available at extra cost = 3 pts; not offered = 0.

10pts

Guarantee transferability

Fully transferable on house sale = 10 pts; transferable with conditions = 5 pts; not transferable = 0.

10pts

Installation quality100 pts

Even the best windows underperform if poorly fitted. We assess who does the work, how they are trained, and what the process involves.

Fitter employment model

Own employed fitters = 20 pts; mix of employed and subcontracted = 10 pts; subcontracted only = 4 pts. Employed fitters are accountable directly to the company.

20pts

Fitter training

Apprenticeship programme with named qualifications = 15 pts; named qualifications only = 10 pts.

15pts

Installation method described

Detailed description (full removal, no foam fill, fitted from inside, etc.) = 20 pts; basic acknowledgement = 10 pts; not described = 0. The method directly affects long-term performance.

20pts

Making good / finishing

Included with detail = 15 pts; included but no detail = 10 pts; extra cost = 3 pts.

15pts

Building regs certificate

Scottish building control completion certificate included in price = 15 pts; handled but no detail = 10 pts; extra cost = 3 pts. This certificate is legally required in Scotland and protects you on resale.

15pts

Manufacturing location

Scotland = 15 pts; UK = 10 pts; Europe = 5 pts; other or unknown = 0.

15pts

Value factors

Price & transparency

Value & price benchmarking100 pts

Price is not scored in isolation. A lower price on a weaker spec is not good value. A higher price on a comprehensively specified product may be fully justified.

Price vs market benchmark

Benchmarks are derived from regional Scottish market data and adjusted by product quality score. A quote scoring strongly on quality can justify above-average pricing. Significantly below market with good spec = 18 pts; at market with strong spec = 25 pts; above market without justification = 5 pts.

25pts

What's included

Seven items checked: survey, product supply, installation, building regs, making good, finishing/cleaning, and VAT. All 7 = 25 pts; 6 = 20 pts; 5 = 15 pts; 4 = 10 pts; fewer = 5 pts.

25pts

Payment terms

Small deposit (<25%) or none = 15 pts; 25–50% deposit = 8 pts; >50% deposit = 3 pts; full payment upfront = 0. Large upfront payments increase consumer risk.

15pts

Finance options

Interest-free finance offered = 10 pts; finance with interest = 7 pts; finance available (no detail) = 4 pts; none = 0.

10pts

Specification clarity

Every product fully specified = 15 pts; most products specified = 10 pts; basic descriptions only = 5 pts; no product descriptions = 0.

15pts

Exclusions clearly stated

Nothing excluded (everything in price) = 10 pts; exclusions clearly listed = 7 pts; buried in small print = 2 pts; likely excluded but not mentioned = 0.

10pts

Where the benchmarks come from

Price benchmarks are derived from Scottish market data covering typical window and door installations. They are segmented by product type (casement, sash, bifold, composite door, etc.) and adjusted for quantity.

Critically, the benchmark is spec-aware: a quote scoring ≥75% on product quality is assessed against a higher price band, reflecting the reality that better-specified products cost more to manufacture. This prevents penalising quality suppliers and rewards transparency.

Trust factors

Company credibility

Company trust & credentials100 pts

Third-party signals that indicate a company's legitimacy, longevity, and commitment to quality.

Trustpilot score

≥4.8 = 25 pts; 4.5–4.7 = 20 pts; 4.0–4.4 = 15 pts; 3.5–3.9 = 8 pts; below 3.5 = 3 pts.

25pts

Trustpilot review volume

≥5,000 reviews = 15 pts; 1,000–4,999 = 12 pts; 500–999 = 9 pts; 100–499 = 6 pts; <100 = 3 pts. Volume validates that a score is statistically meaningful.

15pts

Years established

≥50 years = 20 pts; 25–49 = 15 pts; 10–24 = 10 pts; 5–9 = 5 pts; <5 = 2 pts.

20pts

Ownership type

Scottish family-owned = 15 pts; private single ownership = 12 pts; UK group = 8 pts; overseas parent company = 5 pts.

15pts

Industry certifications

BSI, BBA, or ISO accreditations — multiple = 15 pts; single = 8 pts. We do not score FENSA or Certass here as they are legal minimum requirements in England, not Scotland, and do not represent additional quality.

15pts

Scottish presence

HQ and manufacturing in Scotland = 10 pts; office only = 6 pts; operates in Scotland but based elsewhere = 3 pts.

10pts

What "Not stated" means

Where a quote does not mention a parameter, it receives zero points for that criterion. Omission is treated as a signal: a company confident in its product will state the specification. One that doesn't is either unsure, or hoping you won't ask.

The result page always shows which criteria were not stated so you can use this as a starting point for questions before signing anything.

Sources & references

Where the logic comes from

  • Scottish Building Standards — Technical Handbook (Domestic), Section 6: Energy
  • British Standards: BS EN ISO 10077 (thermal performance of windows), PAS 24 (enhanced security)
  • BFRC (British Fenestration Rating Council) — Window Energy Rating classification
  • BSI, BBA, and ISO 9001 accreditation frameworks
  • Scottish market pricing research — anonymous survey of quotations, 2024–2025
  • Consumer Rights Act 2015 — guidance on guarantee and warranty obligations
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