How to replace the glass in a uPVC window?

It’s not too difficult to replace the glass in a uPVC window, so if you’re a confident DIYer you could have a go at this yourself. We’ll go through the main steps on how to replace the sealed unit in a uPVC double glazed window: Using a rubber mallet and a strong pallet knife, remove the beading around the window. You might think they’re part of the frame, but they’re actually separate on the inside of the frame and can be taken out by using pallet knife to prize them out. Start with one of the longest beads first and leave the top bead until last. Give the glass a little tap to loosen it if it doesn’t come out straight away, then the whole unit should slide out easily. Just make sure it falls towards you and not back out onto the ground below! Clear any debris that has found its way into the frame with a brush. Add spacers at the bottom of the frame – these could be pieces of plastic. Get your new sealed unit (make sure you measure the glass before you buy one so you know which size to get) and carefully take it out of the packaging. Look for the British Standard mark – that shows you the bottom of the glass. Lift the glass into the frame, starting with the bottom first, and make sure that it fits square in the frame before taking the spacers out. Use a little washing up liquid to spread along the beads to make it easier when you slide them back into the frame. If they simply push and clip back in, you can use something like a block of wood to help you push them in correctly. Put them back in reverse order to how you took them out. And there you go! If you’re feeling confident you can have a go at replacing the glass in your uPVC window yourself. But if you’ve got any worries, leave it to a window installer who will be able to do it in less than an hour.

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How much do Window Installer services cost?

How much do Window Installers cost? Prices for Window Installers in 2025 can differ relying on the kind of task that you require to have performed in your house. It's the inquiry we get asked a whole lot "how much do Window Installers charge?". It's generally very good to have an idea of how much a Window Installer are going to likely charge for their services. Prices will probably rise and fall based upon the products and also the tradesman selected. The table reveals the sorts of service that Window Installers typically do and also the typical cost range of these jobs. Some tasks take longer to complete than others so prices do fluctuate by task.

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The average price
of a Window Installer is:

£2,071

Window Installer job	Window Installer cost in 2025
Double glazing	£1,211-£5,921
Upvc double glazing units only	£550-£1,267
Triple glazing	£1,211-£5,921
Aluminium windows	£2,258-£4,135
Wooden window	£1,450-£2,634
Aluminium windows supply only	£948-£1,763
Upvc or wood porch	£3,688-£7,005
Sash window	£1,236-£6,005
Glaziers	£92-£452
Secondary glazing	£1,211-£5,921
uPVC Single Window	£251-£783
Wooden sash windows	£1,450-£2,634
Wooden windows supply only	£1,237-£3,247
Aluminium repair	£240-£360
Window repair	£156-£384
Wooden window repair	£190-£577

Window Installer service qualifications and accreditations

Window Installers credentials as well as accreditation's: Getting the right training and mastering exactly how to do your profession is key for any tradesperson including Window Installer s. View the online profile of each Window Installer you are considering to see what accreditation they hold and also what trade associations they belong to. Some trade associations that Window Installers may likely be a member of include: FENSA, Glass and Glazing Federation, Federation of Master Builders. Equally Window Installers may also have the following accreditations: Elecsa, Certass, SAFEcontractorInsurance for Window Installers: Any person that works on your house, including Window Installers, should really have valid public liability insurance, which protects you the homeowner and likewise the Window Installer should regrettably anything happen while they are doing the work. Planning permission for Window Installers A number of the tasks that a Window Installer will provide for you will not require planning permission unless its a listed building. Definitely discuss with the Window Installer if planning permission would be needed for the project you are doing, they can advise the steps that need to be taken.

Services offered by Window Installer

What solutions do Window Installers normally offer? There are a variety of work you could certainly employ a Window Installer for, as well as several of the most usual tasks that Window Installer are asked to accomplish consist of:

Window Installer FAQs

It’s not too difficult to replace the glass in a uPVC window, so if you’re a confident DIYer you could have a go at this yourself. We’ll go through the main steps on how to replace the sealed unit in a uPVC double glazed window:

Using a rubber mallet and a strong pallet knife, remove the beading around the window. You might think they’re part of the frame, but they’re actually separate on the inside of the frame and can be taken out by using pallet knife to prize them out. Start with one of the longest beads first and leave the top bead until last.
Give the glass a little tap to loosen it if it doesn’t come out straight away, then the whole unit should slide out easily. Just make sure it falls towards you and not back out onto the ground below!
Clear any debris that has found its way into the frame with a brush. Add spacers at the bottom of the frame – these could be pieces of plastic.
Get your new sealed unit (make sure you measure the glass before you buy one so you know which size to get) and carefully take it out of the packaging. Look for the British Standard mark – that shows you the bottom of the glass.
Lift the glass into the frame, starting with the bottom first, and make sure that it fits square in the frame before taking the spacers out.
Use a little washing up liquid to spread along the beads to make it easier when you slide them back into the frame. If they simply push and clip back in, you can use something like a block of wood to help you push them in correctly. Put them back in reverse order to how you took them out.

And there you go! If you’re feeling confident you can have a go at replacing the glass in your uPVC window yourself. But if you’ve got any worries, leave it to a window installer who will be able to do it in less than an hour.

Sometimes accidents happen, and that leads to you needing to replace just a single window. Luckily, most window fitters are happy to replace just one window if you need to. But how much a single window costs will depend on a few factors. Firstly, do you need the entire window, including the frame, replaced, or just the sealed unit? If the frame is still in good condition, glaziers and some window installers can replace the sealed unit and this will set you back around £250. If your window frame is damaged, don’t try to get away with not replacing it. Having a broken window frame can let heat escape your home, increasing your energy bills, and you’re likely to hear more traffic noise. Plus, if the frame is broken you might have trouble closing the window properly, stopping you from keeping your home secure. So how much is a single window if you need the whole thing replaced? You should expect it to cost between £400-£550, but it could cost more or less than this depending on your location, the size of the window and how tricky it is to replace. There are other factors that will impact the cost of replacing a single window. Do you want the window to have plain, leaded or Georgian bar glass? Maybe it will be a casement window, or a bay, bow or sash? The cost will increase if you want more than one opener if it’s a large window, and if you want it to have locks. Also, the standard white uPVC frame colour will probably be included in the price, but if you want a woodgrain look or a different colour uPVC this will cost more.

uPVC is unplasticised polyvinyl chloride. It is a favourite amongst homeowners and manufacturers for its cheap production cost and excellent benefits. uPVC is used for window frames, conservatories and doors. In fact, uPVC can be three times cheaper than wooden frames and is also the most energy efficient option.As well as this, uPVC is now available in a range of colours other than the typically seen bright white finish. It can also be recycled, is durable and resistant to changing weather conditions.

After fitting your new windows, your installer should take away and dispose of your old windows. If you want to keep them, just let your installer know before they start work. The UPVC frames are melted down and used on the unseen parts of new windows. Aluminium frames are re-smelted and wooden are broken down and used as chipboard.

Most installers will not need you to be at home while they are fitting your windows. It is a good idea to be present though, just in case they have any questions for you and perhaps for your own peace of mind. If you cannot be there, you will need to arrange access to the property and/or agree securing the property at the end of the day.

You can end up with a cracked glass window in a few ways. The most common one is when a rogue stone in the lawnmower hits the window or someone’s cricket or tennis game goes wrong and you end up with a ball through the window. Youi often end up with a ‘bullseye’ type crack that expands out from the point of impact. You can also get pressure and stress cracks from intense fluctuations in pressure and temperature. Unfortunately, there’s no way you can permanently fix cracked windows without replacing the entire sealed unit. An installer can replace a cracked glass window in less than an hour simply by taking out the sealed unit (the two panes of glass in double glazed windows) and replacing it with a new one. It costs an average of £110, but you could try to do it yourself for around £55. But what if you can’t get an installer to fix your window straight away? There is a DIY method you could try. As a temporary fix for your glass window, you can use a solvent-based adhesive like epoxy which will keep the glass intact and prevent further damage. You’ll also need:

Washing up liquid
Glass cleaner
A lint-free cloth or rag
A putty knife
A paper plate
Acetone

First, you’ll want to clean the glass using the washing up liquid and a damp cloth to remove any dust or oils. Leave it for a few minutes to dry, then create a mixture of epoxy by combining the hardener and the resin and stirring it on a paper plate. Using the putty knife, spread the mixture on the cracks, making sure you press gently to fill them. Leave it for at least 5 minutes to dry, then get rid of any excess by using some acetone on a dry cloth. Clean the window using some glass cleaner and another dry cloth, and you should have a temporary fix!

How long your aluminium windows will last depends on their quality. They should last 20 -30 years at least, but have been known to stay in good condition for up to 45 years. This is considerably longer than uPVC and wooden double glazing.

Some properties are unable to have double glazing, especially those in conservation areas or listed buildings. To counter this problem and still benefit from a warmer home and cheaper bills, secondary glazing is an option. Secondary glazing is a second pane fitted inside your original window. Secondary glazing will still save you around £105 yearly.

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Window Installer FAQs

Window Installer help and advice

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