Fabco Sanctuary Reviews 29

Fabco frames do not have a thermal break in their design which means that in cold weather you will get heavy amounts of condensation on the frames. Unlike the double glazed windows, which do not get condensation, our frames are dripping with water through out winter which is now causing water damage to the window sills and walls around the frames. Fabco claim there is not issue and that it is our fault we have too much moisture in the air in our kitchen. They only suggested to open trickle vents, but they make no difference at all and the door has no trickle vent. Very disappointing and a waste of money. Fabco have not been helpful at all and gave no advice before installation that the situation of our kitchen (at the top of a Victoria building) is not a suitable for their windows.

Review based on site team feedback on major project. Good communication with team on site, excellent quality of work/product – Great!

Their doors are nice to look at and incredibly expensive but the fitting process was a nightmare from start to finish. Although months later they’re still not actually finished.

They were initially installed badly, someone else came to fix that but then another panel didn’t turn up, then they swapped out the wrong one. Then they left a gap down the side of a window that they plugged with expandable foam.

Our builder has to come back and finish the job for them.

I wouldn’t use them again, go elsewhere even if more expensive. Because what you might save on price you will have to pay someone else to fix anyway.

Some things you ought to know if you are thinking of purchasing steel doors from Fabco Sanctuary:

There are two options for the door openings: restrictors which do not allow the doors to open more than 90 degrees, or cabin hooks which you attach to the doors when you want them open wide. The cabin hooks cost £200 for a set of two. Similar ones can be purchased from B&Q for a tenth of the price, however we were told if we installed these it would invalidate our warranty.

We went for the cabin hook option because we wanted to be able to open the doors wide, however this means that every time someone opens the doors they need to remember to attach the cabin hooks. If they don't, even a slight gust of wind will blow the doors back against the glass panels on either side of the doors, causing the door handles to break the glass. I contacted Fabco to ask if they could offer a solution and was told that they couldn't.

Our doors were installed in October. By February the external handles had large spots of corrosion. I contacted Fabco and they informed me that they had emailed me care instructions detailing that the handles need to be waxed 'regularly' (I emailed them for a more specific recommendation but they did not reply). It turns out that they had indeed emailed the care instructions... several months prior to the installation date. It would have made a lot more sense to send care instructions immediately after the doors had been installed.

We decided to take the plunge and go for the beautiful design of the Fabco black doors. We completed a rear extension and had them put in across the back of the house. We have had nothing but problems and now despite them finally being fixed, the room is constantly cold. First they were fitted incorrectly and we had drafts blowing across the room and terrible condensation every morning. After numerous site visits and constant follow ups from myself, Fabco finally (after much debate!) admitted they were fitted incorrectly and they had to be completely taken out and re-fitted. However, the cold and condensation continued. Again after much debate, they finally came back and properly sealed them from the outside after realising that this had never been done. The doors are now fitted properly but in the winter it is unbearable and the whole room is so cold we have had a log burner fitted. My advice? Don't use Fabco.

I decided to use Fabco for my window project rather than the more standard bi-fold option because I really liked the look of their windows, and spent a long time looking at photos of various completed projects on Facebook. I also visited the factory when I was in the area, which was useful. My project has now been completed, and I really am delighted with the result. I could no doubt have got a lot more white plastic for a lot less money, had I wanted to, but to be honest, I would rather have fabulous than cheap, and my glorious new windows really are fabulous.

But more than that, my experience with Fabco was really positive at every step, and at no point did I have to worry that they would let me down, or that the result would be a disappointment. I understand that my little project is very small fry for a company like Fabco, but everyone made me feel that it was just as important as the boutique hotels and corporate headquarters. Everyone I dealt with was really professional, and it all worked completely seamlessly. There was no drama, nothing went wrong, nothing didn't fit properly, everyone turned up exactly when I was told they would, and it was completed with no irritating little issues to be fixed.

That really doesn't always happen, and having experienced the opposite in the past, it has been delightful and surprising to find that a project can be designed and installed without problems, and without the relationship between the company and the customer breaking down and descending into bitter recriminations. That is definitely worth paying for, and I am very glad that I asked Fabco to undertake my project, rather than going for the cheapest or the closest.

Look nice but would not recommend for external windows and doors when considering comfort as well as style. Sound insulation and thermal insulation are terrible for such an expensive system.

I needed corroded windows and balcony door replaced in a Grade 2 Listed building where the double-glazed replacements had to match the original appearance exactly and satisfy the stringent requirements of Council approval and Building Control. Fabco gave realistic timescales for manufacture and installation and stuck to scheduled dates precisely. I had to delay finishing because of problems with scaffolding (needed for safe exterior access) which meant a month delay, apparently because of Pandemic backlogs (hence 4*). Fabco proved flexible enough to fulfil a special requirement - specifically pivot hinges on windows - which they first said was not available. Staff on site were totally competent. Products appear solid and precisely manufactured. Price was expensive, but similar to that charged to another leaseholder by another company. Time will tell, but so far I am very satisfied.

I could’ve given all five stars, but they once mis-stepped. So as an penalty, I am giving four. Apart from that, I loved their professionalism and work throughout. If I need another work in the future, this is the company I will look for first. I also recommend Fabco to whoever asks.