Finesse windows are 5 x more secure than British Standards – and that’s official!

We recently submitted our windows to an independent test centre to see just how much pressure the locking systems could take before finally breaking.

We are proud to announce that our products flew past the British Standard laid out in BS7950 for windows. This measure is recognised as the gold standard within our industry.

Our windows are so secure that they actually withstood attack for 15 minutes which is 5 times longer than is required to pass British Standard BS7950.

The main reasons our products are so secure are:

1) We insist on using police approved “secure by design” locking systems 2) We fully reinforce all of our UPVC profile with steel so that every locking point is firmly anchored into steel rather than just UPVC. 3) All our products are internally glazed

We know that our customers rate home security as extremely important. We are proud to manufacture and install windows that help to protect our customers from burglar attack.

Now that’s security you deserve in your home!

Quality award for Finesse

Following an assessment by an independent body, Finesse Windows Limited of Kings Norton has been awarded ISO 9001 certification. This certification has only been achieved by about 5% of all UK businesses and this prestigious award is supported by the Government and recognised world-wide.

A delighted Russell Bridge, Managing Director for Finesse, said We have always been proud of the service we offer our clients and the way that we conduct our business. Now with the award of ISO9001 certification, this has been confirmed by outside experts who are used to judging standards on a daily basis in a wide variety of trades and industries."

This certification is the latest in a long line of accreditations achieved by Finesse Windows in the last 12 months and complements their British Fenestration Certificates for Energy Ratings at A, B & C rating and their endorsement by the Energy Savings Trust. ISO 9001 is a prerequisite to obtaining and maintaining product and company approval from the Energy Saving Trust. Stephen Carter, who undertook the assessment for QMS Quality Management Systems, paid particular tribute to the investment in people and training that enables Finesse to provide an efficient service to their customers.'

Finesse win the first ever Award of Excellence from Fairtrades.

(Steve Turner and Joane Dignan from Fairtrades presenting the Award of excellence to Russell Bridge Managing Director, Finesse Windows Ltd.) Fairtrades stands for professionalism and consumer protection within the home improvement sector.

So when Fairtrades decided to award their first ever Award of Excellence they naturally headed straight to Kings Norton and to Finesse Windows Ltd. Finesse have a proven track record for outstanding products, installation quality and customer care and this achievement is the latest in a long line of accolades for this special family-run business.

We are so proud of this achievement because it is deserved recognition for the effort that our staff pour into their work every day. Andy Fitzgerald, Installations Director for Finesse Windows adds. We value Fairtrades opinion very highly because they represent high quality trade professionals throughout the country. To receive the first ever Award of Excellence is high praise indeed because it proves once again that we are at the top of our profession

Finesse's strength lies in its dedicated team of staff. They are committed to making the customer's experience a fantastic one and it shows in the comments Finesse get from their customers after completion of their work.

Finesse always encourage potential customers to research them before deciding to part with any of their hard-earned money. One of the best ways they can do this is by looking Finesse Windows Ltd up on the Homepro Fairtrades web-site and viewing the comments that previous customers have left there to describe their experience with Finesse.

Homes at risk with advice on internet

Thousands of Birmingham homeowners are at risk of being burgled because videos giving blow-by-blow accounts of how to defy door locks are being posted on the internet, it was claimed today.

Andrew Fitzgerald, Director of Kings Norton-based Finesse Windows, claims the videos teach fledging criminals how to make keys that can pick the locks of one of the UKs most common type of PVCu doors, leaving thousands vulnerable.

A Birmingham Mail investigation found more than 30 videos posted on social networking site YouTube explaining how to make so called bump keys to break into doors fitted with a cylinder lock.

Mr Fitzgerald said: The bumping method uses a skeleton key, widely available and bought cheaply over the internet, to gain access to the cylinder lock mechanism. He said a bump key can easily open a locked door without leaving a trace of damage.

This means theres a risk that a householders insurance wont cover the break-in as there will be no evidence that the householder hadn't simply left the door unlocked, he added.

He said another new method targeting the same kind of door uses a device to snap off the cylinder lock. The new trends in burglary were concerning and beginning to rival the number of burglaries in which thieves prey on homes and sneak in when doors have been left unlocked, he added. Whats worrying is that this is all being fuelled by social networking sites, featuring worrying and detailed footage of these methods, which make it easy for a new generation of burglars to learn the tricks of the trade, he said.

Paul Spencer, Sales Manager of Finesse said, advances are being made in technology in a bid to defy the burglars. We understand that experiencing a break-in is an unpleasant and distressing experience and we search for innovative and practical solutions that offer the latest security devices, ensuring homeowners dont have to deal with any unwanted visitors, he said.

while this latest trend is concerning, householders can defend their properties from becoming easy targets by fitting cylinder guard handles and anti-bump cylinders, which added to their overall security system, put yet more deterrents in a burglars way. In time we also hope insurers will stipulate the inclusion of an anti-bump cylinder on contents insurance, in the same way as they now do with five-lever mortise deadlocks, to cover householders even further.

Language School Enlightens Sixth Form Students

The school, which specializes in ten languages, from French to Arabic, has the fastest growing sixth form in the Midlands. To cater for this growth the students were consulted on what facilities could improve their education: and chose an impressive facility to unwind in. Sir Mark Grundy, Head teacher of Shireland Language College is equally impressed.

This is a very beautiful addition to the college, he said and the students that have watched the development of the conservatory build have been really excited and pleased with what they have seen. They didnt want something that gave an air of the classroom environment but something that was professional, exciting and mature. The Finesse Conservatory has achieved this!

Sir Mark was also pleased with the choice of Finesse Windows as the installers. We chose Finesse because of their reputation preceded them and we hit it off immediately, he explained, they listened to what we wanted and that was really important. We were comfortable with them and where there have been difficulties with the Council regulations they have always been more than helpful.