Cost of replacing window frames: what should you expect?

What is the cost of replacing window frames per material?

The material is the biggest lever you can pull. uPVC is usually the most affordable to buy and needs little maintenance. Timber is more expensive, suits older homes and is easy to repair. Aluminium is slim and strong and is often chosen for large glazed areas and sliding doors.

If you want the cost of uPVC broken down further, see uPVC window frames cost.

• uPVC: roughly €550 to €950 per m²
• Timber: roughly €700 to €1,250 per m²
• Aluminium: roughly €800 to €1,400 per m²
• Front door with frame: often €2,500 to €5,000

What extra work comes with replacing window frames?

Fitting a new frame is more than taking the old one out and putting the new one in. The connection to the brickwork must be watertight, the inside needs finishing and sometimes there is rot in the surrounding timber. In wood rot in window frames you can read how to recognise it.

Allow a few hundred euros per frame for plastering or painting indoors. Scaffolding for the upper floor quickly costs several hundred euros per week. Ask whether these items are in the quote.

• Disposal of the old frames
• New weather bars or sills
• Repairs to brickwork or pointing
• Plastering, trim work and painting indoors

When is replacement needed and when is repair enough?

Not every old frame has to go. With a sound timber frame that has local rot, repair with new sections is often cheaper. Replacement pays off mainly when the frame is soft in several places, keeps letting in draughts, or is too narrow for the insulated glazing you want.

If you live in a listed building or a protected townscape, there are often rules on material and profile. Read more in renovating a listed building.

How do we approach replacing window frames?

We fit window and door frames in uPVC and in traditional styles. In a no-obligation conversation we look at the condition of your frames and discuss what replacement or repair will give you. One project manager arranges the work from measuring to completion, including plastering and painting through our network of specialists.

One example is the project in which an aluminium frame made way for a new frame with two French doors. Read more about this service under window and door frames.

Frequently asked questions