Cheap replacement windows

Cheap replacement windows are easy to find, and a low price is not a warning on its own. A quote far below the others usually has something missing, though. The price guides we use put a fitted uPVC casement at £350 to £700 per window, and supply-only windows at £150 to £400. If a quote comes in well under those figures, ask what it leaves out before you accept it.

What cheap replacement windows cost

For a whole house in white uPVC casements, fitted and including VAT, the lowest figures in the guides we use are:

• £1,200 for a flat;
• £2,500 for a 2-bed terrace;
• £4,000 for a 3-bed semi;
• £5,500 for a detached house.

Those are the bottom of each range, not the typical price. Each page shows the typical figure and what moves it. Replacement window prices puts every home type side by side.

How to pay less for new windows

The cheapest route is a plain one. Choose white uPVC casements, which cost less than sash, tilt and turn or bay windows. Coloured and woodgrain foils add 10% to 20% to the price of a window, according to MyJobQuote and BestBuilders, so a white frame saves money. Fewer opening sections also help, because each one has its own hardware.

Then compare properly. Which? advises getting at least three quotes and making sure each company prices exactly the same products and materials. It also says a reputable firm gives its best price first time, so a discount offered only after you turn the first quote down should make you ask why.

What a very cheap quote may leave out

Citizens Advice says a quote should include a fixed total price, a breakdown of the work and materials, whether VAT is included, and how long the price is valid. It warns that a price a lot lower than other quotes may mean the trader is not quoting for the same work. On windows, the usual gaps are:

• removal and disposal of the old windows;
• scaffolding, if upper windows need it;
• making good the plaster and the reveal;
• the certificate that shows the work meets the building regulations;
• the guarantee, and who stands behind it.

Our guide to window installation cost puts figures on the first three, and the replacement window regulations explain the certificate. A quote that omits any of them can end up costing more than a dearer one that includes them.

Deposits, guarantees and cancelling

A cheap price can still be a bad deal if the terms are poor. Citizens Advice suggests avoiding deposits where you can, paying by card, and agreeing to no more than 25% if a deposit is unavoidable. Which? says the final payment should not be due until the work is finished and you are satisfied.

Which? describes a reasonable guarantee as 10 years on the frames, 5 to 10 years on the glass and at least 2 years on the other parts, backed by an insurance-backed guarantee that lasts 10 years and still stands if the installer stops trading. Ask for that in writing.

You normally have a cooling-off period of at least 14 days if you sign at home. Made-to-measure windows are the exception, so Which? says there is no right to cancel them once you have ordered. Read the contract before you sign.

Pressure to sign

Which? calls time-limited deals a selling tactic, and advises never agreeing to something on the spot or using a cold caller. A fitter who is confident of the price will give you time to compare. Use the quote checker and the compare tool to line quotes up, then get free quotes from fitters who cover your area.

Sources: Which? on getting the right quote, Which? on your rights and Citizens Advice on getting work done.