What drives the cost up for sash window refurbishment?
The most common reasons prices increase are:
- Condition of the existing windows: Heavy rot, missing components, or previous poor repairs will all require more time and specialist work.
- Rotten windowsills on the existing box frames: If the sill is rotten, we’ll need to cut out the damaged timber and rebuild it on site. This adds time and materials.
Typical extra cost: £700 – £800 per sill (Sill fully replaced in hardwood and primed) - Glazing: Broken panes of glass that need replacing can add an additional cost.
- Listed building requirements: Extra care, specific materials, or traditional joinery methods may be required for conservation compliance.
- Access & disruption: Dormer windows (Scaffolding) or rooms with fitted shutters, panelling, or secondary glazing can add to labour time.
- Extras or upgrades: Sash Stops add security and child safety.
What brings the cost down?
Good news: not every job needs the full work.
- Sound timber = simpler repair: If your frames and sashes are in decent shape, we can often refurbish and draught-proof without additional joinery replacement.
- Group savings: Doing multiple windows at once can reduce the cost-per-window, fewer site visits, shared labour setup, etc.
- No glazing changes: No broken panes, no additional charges.
Why are some companies more expensive?
Let’s be honest, sash window refurbishment isn’t a regulated industry. Pricing can vary wildly.
Here’s what often drives higher quotes:
- Replacing joinery (even if they’re not needed)
- New glazing for broken panes
- Fully painting the windows
- Premium branding for bigger companies
Sometimes it’s worth it. Sometimes it’s just margin padding. We encourage you to compare what’s actually being done, not just the headline price.
Why are some companies so cheap?
We hear it all the time: “You were double the price of the guy on Checkatrade.”
But here’s the truth: sash window refurbishment done wrong often leads to worse problems later, warped sashes, cold draughts, or rotten timber repairs failing in less than a year.
Lower quotes may mean:
- Using generic plastic brush seals (instead of proper routed-in brushpile)
- Skipping essential timber repairs just to save time
- Replacing your sashes with cheap imitations rather than repairing what’s there
- No aftercare
- No written estimate supplied
If you’re comparing quotes, ask for photos of similar work, check Google reviews, and clarify exactly what’s included.
Where do Novells’ prices fall (roughly)?
We’re not the cheapest, and we’re not trying to be.
But we are consistently chosen by homeowners who care about period detail, want to avoid full replacements, and need a trusted team that shows up on time, does the job properly, and leaves everything neat.
Here’s a ballpark idea:
Refurbishment & Draught Proof (per window)
£677.00
New Box Sash Window Replacement
£2,880.00
Optional Extras (e.g., Sash Stops)
From £60.00
For accurate pricing, we’ll always provide a written quote after a site visit, no pressure, no pushy sales.
Got Questions?
Call us, email us, or just send a few photos. We’re happy to give you a rough idea on price before booking a visit.
Call: 020 8036 3470
Email: sales@sashrepairs.com