Can I ask for a PH reality check on some replacement window prices please?

[iantr]

I'm looking to replace 2 bay windows and 4 normal windows in my 1930's house. They're all decent sized - roughly 2400mm x 1600mm with the usual casement style openings.

I have (or had!) chosen a product called http://www.residence9.co.uk which is a premium quality uPVC window with a textured finish.

The first quote I've had is for nearly £22k. This is a lot more than I was expecting! There are no particular issues or complications as far as I'm aware. The installer suggested 2 people on site for 4 days to do the job.

I'm more than happy to pay a proper price for a quality product and good workmanship, but my house is in Surrey and - frankly - I have had many experiences of people just trying it on. I'm hoping to draw upon the experience and wisdom of the HG&D forum to tell me whether £22k for 6 windows is utterly ridiculous or quite possibly in the ballpark.

Thoughts/reactions/observations all welcomed!

Thank you in advance.

Edited by iantr on Tuesday 8th September 14:01

[ndg]

4 days seems like a long time. We had 14 windows (1 a bay) and a new front door replaced recently and it took two guys 5 days. We're Midlands and paid ~£7.5k for supply and install, although they were fairly normal windows and a composite door. Really neat job too.

[hornetrider]

FWIW we got a quote from a recommended local supplier for new windows to our house a few months ago. White UPVC with a small pattern in them with colour, two bays comprising 5 windows each, 4 bed house (can't remember how many windows in total). Came in just under 7k for the latest heat thingy glass, argon filled whatevers.

[andy43]

Sounds like the bays (or possibly all the windows) might be structural at that price? 1930s bays could be a can of worms if there's no bay poles or lintels. Have you asked them what they think is involved?

[JustinP1]

I got my house of 8 good sizes windows done for £2500.

The quote for the two bays came in at £2000 additionally due to the fact they were load bearing and more work.

This was a decent company. I daresay that there may be circumstances in your case which might make it more expensive, but £22k?

Get two more quotes!

[iantr]

Thank you all for your thoughts.

The second firm I asked to quote have now come back with a price just under £16k. Frankly that's a long way from £22k for exactly the same product. It's no wonder that the retail glazing industry has a questionable reputation is it!?

Further contributions / thoughts on this would be most appreciated...

[jon-]

Get more quotes. You'll probably get it for under 10.

[Prizam]

10 windows. 1 Bay and 1 french double door for about 5k i think. And that was in Berkshire. 2 guys 2 days.

Keep shopping... some company's take the mick.

I had Everist round for a laugh and they came in at 24k for the same job.

[gifdy]

Prizam said:

10 windows. 1 Bay and 1 french double door for about 5k i think. And that was in Berkshire. 2 guys 2 days.

Keep shopping... some company's take the mick.

I had Everist round for a laugh and they came in at 24k for the same job.

Similar to our quote. About 10 windows and one set french doors for about 7K, textured uPVC. There were three standards we saw when shopping around. Real shoddy stuff, what we went for and then 'premium' quality which were really, really nice. The 'premium' were 50%-60% more than the ones we went for. I would have preferred them but the extra cost wasn't quite justified.

We chose the supplier based on the good things we heard about their fitting guys. Not the cheapest overall but we heard some horror stories about some of the others. Bit more money for piece of mind..

[andy43]

I had 13 done for 3.7k last year. But they were what the trade call kick ins - it's dead easy replacing timber developer spec windows that fell out when pushed, newish house with no render, plasterboard that won't fall to bits, good solid lintels and decent brickwork surrounding them.
OPs quote is a 30s house with bays - it's not comparing apples with apples. Our last house was 1936 - the bays had steel poles in the corners to hold upstairs up so replacement (diy) was fairly easy apart from wobbly pebble dashing and loose plaster. Some houses don't have the steel poles and rely on the timber window frames that they built into the structure 80 years ago. Swapping them would cost £££.

[worsy]

The Residence 9 is a lovely window but very expensive. I looked at them for my self build but went real wood in the end. I did track down the manufacturer though, and was quoted 11k for my windows (22 of them).

http://www.dekkowindows.com/

They have a trade shop at Swindon, but I went and viewed them at the factory in Manchester. They had no issue supplying direct to me.

You'd need to find a builder/window fitter of course.