Q: i am in the porcess of buying a flat that needs upvc windows and doors we are fitting these ourselves and would like some help and advice please - Kelly

It's a fairly hefty job, and a lot of the fine details depend on what kind of walls and windows you have, but I can offer some general hints and tips;

• Get the right tools for the job, windows are really one feature of your house you want to stay in place. This includes the proper fixings for your wall, good sealants etc. Check what the supplier of your windows recommends.
• Check planning permission rules in your area, changing windows counts as a external change to your property that can be a problem in conservation areas or with listed buildings.
• Check building regulations in your area. If your current windows have trickle vents you may also need new windows with trickle vents. If you're changing doors any fire doors they will have to be replaced with another fire door (and they tend to be considerably more expensive than a basic door)
• Measure up as exactly as humanly possible - you really want the new windows to fix exactly with the minimum of structural changes.

If you have any more specific questions though, please do let me know.