do new sash windows really cost this much?

[MadamNoo]

we really need to do the lot (georgian property in need of tlc) but the two in the kids room are the worst - it looks as though panes are going to start falling out if we don't deal with them soon. the timber is rotten and it doesn't seem possible to patch and repair, we need to replace them completely.
Latest quote is £3,827 for two windows replaced with double galzed sashes, boxes and sills repaired, including VAT.
The first quote I got was basically £3k EACH window, so this is looking better, but is this really what it costs? would be a fortune to do the entire house.
thanks!

I'm afraid that's probably about right if you are talking about proper wood replacement sashes - you can get PVC ones cheaper, but they obviously look horrible in old houses.

I have a victorian house with large bay windows front and back, upstairs and downstairs, all with sash windows in poor condition. I haven't got quotes yet, but from talking to neighbours who have had windows replaced recently, I am probably not going to get much change from £20k if I get them all done.

We had our wooden victorian sashes replaced last year with double glazed wooden sash windows. We had 9 windows done, all sashes (one is a very small window though) including 2 bay windows for around about £14k. We got 3 quotes, this was the cheapest. We live in SE. Let me know if you want more details and I'll pm you.

I am in the process of getting quotes at the mo for the same to replace my bedroom sash window. It is an arched window (with an arched upper sash, not a square one in an arched hole IYKWIM, so perhaps more work). New Frames,Double glazed units, new window bars, new pulleys, cords, weights, new sill, but keeping the original boxes, and including painting - three quotes have come in at about 1800, 1750, and 2500 inc VAT.
So if you need new boxes too, your quote is in the same ballpark I suppose, so yes !

wow. thanks all. this company (Core) comes locally recommended - in E London - and have been very pleasant to deal with. at least I can feel I'm not getting done over then. hope the rest can wait a bit!

I was going to say 2k a window. So it sounds right :/.

Sounds about right. Try Ian Foster Windows too - he did a good job on ours for a similar price.

We were quoted by a local timber company for 14 windows (well 28 as each sash is two really.....3 large bays and 2 flats. They wanted 12k. Worcestershire. This was to replace the boxes only with double glazed units, the main outer frame would stay. He said to rip the whole timber frame out and rebuild would be double that. Obviously if you only replace the box you can't get a fully compliant (with today's heat standard) double glazed unit but it would be much improved on single paned glass.

Yes, give or take

Get someone round in the joinery trade just to take a look.
You might be surprised at what they can repair.

I echo the last poster- try repairing first. I've seen miracles worked. Do you need a full new box or is it just the actual sashes and the sill in bad condition?

New windows are good but the quality of the modern woods is far poorer than that of original windows (if they haven't gone past the point of no repair).

Are you listed? If you repair the VAT is 5%, rather than 20%.

If anyone is in or near west London, could you pm me any recommendations please?

Definitely have a sash restoration company round to have a look - we thought a couple of our sashes were beyond repair but this company assured us that they weren't. We had the most needy windows overhauled about 7 years ago and the remaining ones done last year. I can't recall the prices off the top of my head because we also had some bespoke doors and long, horizontal windows made by them. We were pleased with the result though.

Definitely repair rather than replace where possible. In most cases it’s possible to draughtproof and double glaze the existing windows, still not as effective as brand new plastic windows but a massive upgrade on what you currently have.