Have you had sash windows refurbished? How much did it cost?

[headfairy]

Ours are in varying condition, some with flaking wood and black mould growing around the edges, some in much better nick... I'm just trying to get an idea of costs. I'm in Surrey so I may as well add 30% to any price :(

We got them done in our last flat, about 15 years ago and it cost about a gazillion pounds. Seriously - I can't remember exactly how much, because I've blanked it from my mind, but it was a huge amount. It was in Glasgow. Realise my post is of no practical use whatsoever to you, but at least you know I can empathise with you.

AP. it can't be more than replacing them surely? I replaced ours in our old flat and replacing 6 sash windows with new hardwood frames cost me £8,500

Hmm, I had them done about 10 years ago too and I don't remember it being that bad...it was in London. The windows weren't in that bad a shape, though, just bloody draughty and they really helped with that.

Am trying to remember name of the company....they replaced all the cords and the bits the cords go in they put some plastic thingies with little brushes in to help insulate.

Erm, that's about what I can remember.

How many windows need doing? We had ours done 2 years ago, was pricey but nowhere near what it would have been to replace them with double glazed sashes and it was SO worth it, they are draft free and so lovely now.

I think we can get away with doing just five, the bay window in our living room isn't too bad,.

We did 8 windows and I think it was about £600 per window on average, some were much worse than others

I did our bedroom two - re-weighted - and scraped and re-painted them myself (3 layers - primer and 2 top) and he only charged 250 per window. May be a way to save if you have time to do it?

I guess it depends where you are in the country though - my friend's gardener does a week's work for what mine charges per day!

Worst thing about refurbing sash windows is the fecking chancers who do it.

The wood was OK on ours, I did a bit of filling/sanding/restaining myself. We had someone do the draughtproofing on them and replace the cables, and the catches - it was £280 per window. That's in Devon btw. I did ask him for an approx price before inviting him to see them and quote, as I didn't want him to come if it was too expensive, and he said about 300 per window. Then when he saw them he commented on how the wood was much better than he thought, so possibly he would have done more than he actually did for the same price?

I think you just need to get someone to give you a price. I went for a local chap who used to work for the national company that comes up on Yell.com and was about half the price of them.

roughly prices across the country actually seem to be the same as london. about £500 per window for basic refurb & draughtproofing. about £1000 for replacement sashes in double glazed softwood. up to £2000 for a full thermal shield double glazed timber secondary glazing/shutter overhaul/internal insulatiom panelling. decorations are extra. window companies charge £200 per window but you could get a decorator for less.

we had ours draughtproofed for £500 per window in our current house and painted ourselves. have been really happy but will go for double secondary glazing in a theoretical future forever house!

i am not keen on replacement dg sashes as the wood nowadays is not as good and there is still a draught issue (albeit reduced).

good luck

Checkatrade have been good to me as a single lady living alone - recommend trying on there for a few local companies :)

Many years ago I had some windows done by

www.ventrolla.co.uk/

It was about £1,000 for 3 windows but it must have been nearly 20 years ago. They did a good job and the fact they are still in the same business now is a good sign

I don't mind painting them myself, but I think they do need a pro to do the rest of it. The putty's falling out of a couple. I don't have a massive amount of time, a couple of hours on Wednesday afternoons while both ds and dd are t school/nursery, a couple of evenings a week and weekends. I could do one window a week.

I will have to go through Checkatrade I think. Can't bear the thought of being ripped off. I think I was ripped off last time I replaced sashes as the guy claimed they had Pilkington K glass in them but I'm sure they didn't!

We paid £2375 to have our windows overhauled. We didn't need any new panes of glass, but have had 9 sash windows done - all have been stripped back to wood,draughtproofing system installed, new cords put on and weights sorted out, any rotten wood & 2 sills replaced in hardwood, new putty on all panes and a coat of primer applied to waterproof all work. It took them approx 3 days to do, with minimum mess. If you're in East Midlands I can recommend www.tradsash.co.uk/sash-window-renovation.html

Ignore my earlier post. I didn't read yours properly. I did get mine replaced, and that's why it cost a gazillion pounds. I just see the words "sash windows" now, and instantly think of the cost. It was so much, it blinded me to the rest of your sentence!

Just thought I would add the sum we have been charged... 7 sash windows 2m high, re threaded cord replaced, 1 lower window replaced, all re painted £5500. We are leasheolders with L and Q and have just been presented with this bill which I think is high...

I think it's high too!

We did ours the winter before last (top tip, don't get them done in winter) and it was a gazillion pounds. We have lots of them though and some of them were in baaaad shape. It was a gazillion squared times worth it though. Now our house actually feels warm! And satisfyingly draught-proof. I can get the cost per window if you're interested. Then, if you can afford it, go for it.

yes all they did was re thread 7 windows, replace 1 lower window (single glaze), paint all 7. £5500! where do they get their sums from??

Just bought 5 new big entire box sashes for about 11k,in Woking, Surrey.

This website edinburghsashandcase.co.uk/sample-quotes/
has sample quotes. It's in Edinburgh (obviously) but it's quite good in terms of separating and comparing prices eg painted and unpainted, so you can see what the actual renovation might cost for different types of window. I didn't go with this company but the prices were helpful.

Ours was about £500 per window, 7 years ago. They need doing again and am debating putting UPVC in, as our living room is so cold. But, they look lovely and the top ones are arched.

Depend what needs doing - cords and draught proofing you need a professional

Our wood is a bit soft/blackened so I'm thinking of trying to do it myself. You can buy wood hardener and filler and I'm sure there is a You Tube video. Then I'm thinking magnetic secondary glazing.

I have found keeping the windows open in the bedroom in the winter at the top has eliminated our condensation problem.

I have a 17 original hardwood sash windows from 1894. Many have the original glass (pre tin-float). All are stripped on the inside and glossed on the outside (25 years ago). I recently repainted, revarnished, re-corded them and fitted "Scots Style" simplex hinges on the upper floors, so the windows can be cleaned inside and out without any trouble. The simplex kits cost about £7.00 a window, and even a semi-competent DIY person (like myself) can fit them. I'm retired, so I have time on my hands while paint dries, but it cost me a lot less than £400 a window and only took a few days (about 9) to do the lot.

I have my own sash restoration company in Glasgow and to to overhaul a sash window and draught proof it should cost between £280-£330