How Timber Windows Are Installed

Timber windows are made to measure for every opening, so installation starts long before the fitters arrive. Knowing the sequence helps you plan around it and makes it easier to judge whether a quote includes everything it should.

This is how we install timber windows across Devon, Cornwall, Dorset and Somerset, working from our base near Exeter.

1. Survey and measure

Every opening is measured in person, including the depth of the reveal, the condition of the cill and the direction each sash should open. We also note access, scaffold needs and anything that suggests hidden decay behind the old frame.

2. Specification and quote

Timber type, glazing, opening style, hardware and colour are agreed and itemised in writing. On listed or conservation area homes this stage also produces the drawings needed for consent.

3. Manufacture

Standard timber windows are typically made in three to six weeks depending on colour and specification. Bespoke listed joinery takes longer, usually eight to twelve weeks. Frames arrive factory finished so they are protected from the first day.

4. Removing the old windows

Old frames are cut out carefully to limit damage to plaster and stonework. Once they are out, the opening is checked for rot in sub cills and timber lintels. Anything found is reported before it is covered up.

5. Fixing, sealing and glazing

• Frames set level and plumb, packed and fixed into the structure
• Damp proofing and weather seals installed around the frame
• Glazing units fitted and beaded or puttied
• Sashes adjusted so they close evenly on the seals

6. Making good and handover

Internal plaster and external pointing or render are made good, waste is removed, and every window is demonstrated. You receive the building regulations certificate and our 10 year guarantee. A typical whole house takes two to four days on site.

Preparing your home for fitting day

Clear a metre or so inside each window and take down curtains and blinds. Move fragile items off nearby shelves. Let us know about alarm sensors on the frames so they can be refitted. Pets are best kept away from open rooms. We lay dust sheets and protect floors, and the old frames and packaging leave with us at the end of the job.

Questions people ask