Window Problems, Diagnosed Honestly
What's actually wrong, what fixes it, and what it costs — repair, respray or replace. Town-specific fault guides across Devon, Cornwall, Dorset and Somerset.
Most window faults are cheaper to fix than to replace
A blown sealed unit is a glass problem. A draught is usually a gasket. Faded frames are a finish, not a failure. Below, each common fault has its own guide covering causes, the fix we'd recommend, what to check yourself first, and typical cost — written for individual towns rather than as a generic template.
Misted Double Glazing
Cloudy, milky glass with moisture trapped between the panes.
Typical cost: £95–£260 per sealed unit swapped, frames retained · Usual route: repair · See also Double glazing
Draughty Windows
Cold air tracking around the frame, curtains moving, rooms that never hold heat.
Typical cost: £120–£380 per window to re-seal and re-gear; £650+ if replacement is the right call · Usual route: repair or replace, decided on site · See also Window replacements
Faded uPVC Windows
Chalky, yellowed or patchy white frames that no longer clean up.
Typical cost: £45–£95 per window sprayed on site; whole-house packages from around £1,400 · Usual route: on-site spraying · See also Window spraying
Rotten Timber Window Frames
Soft, dark or crumbling timber, usually at the cill and bottom rail.
Typical cost: £180–£450 per splice repair; £950–£1,900 per opening for a like-for-like new timber window · Usual route: repair or replace, decided on site · See also Timber windows
Sticking & Jammed Windows
Sashes that bind, need forcing, or won't line up with the frame.
Typical cost: £95–£280 per window for hinge, gearing and alignment work · Usual route: repair · See also Window replacements
Broken Window Handles & Hinges
Spinning handles, snapped espagnolette drives, corroded or seized hinges.
Typical cost: £65–£190 per opening for handle, keep or hinge replacement · Usual route: repair · See also Window replacements
Condensation on Windows
Water running down the inside of the glass, damp cills and mould at the reveal.
Typical cost: £0 for ventilation changes; £150–£320 to add trickle vents; replacement priced per opening · Usual route: repair or replace, decided on site · See also Double glazing
Salt-Damaged Coastal Windows
Pitted hardware, white bloom on frames, corroded hinges on seafront elevations.
Typical cost: £45–£95 per window for marine-grade spray refinishing; hardware upgrades from £65 per opening · Usual route: repair or replace, decided on site · See also Window spraying
Rattling Sash Windows
Sashes that knock in the wind, cords that have snapped, sashes that won't stay up.
Typical cost: £220–£520 per sash for cord, parting bead and draught-seal overhaul; £1,100+ per opening for replacement · Usual route: repair or replace, decided on site · See also Sash window replacements
Dated Brown & White Window Frames
1990s brown woodgrain or flat white frames that date an otherwise updated house.
Typical cost: £45–£95 per window sprayed; typical semi-detached whole-house £1,400–£2,200 · Usual route: on-site spraying · See also Window spraying
Common questions
- Do you repair windows as well as replace them?
- Yes. Most of the faults on this page — misted units, draughts, sticking sashes, failed handles — are repairs. We only recommend replacement when the frame itself has failed.
- Is the survey free?
- Every survey is free and carries no obligation. You get an itemised written quote covering the repair route and, where relevant, the replacement route so you can compare.
- Which areas do you cover for window problems?
- Devon, Cornwall, Dorset and Somerset, working out from our Cranbrook base near Exeter.
Not sure which fault you're looking at? Send a photo or book a free survey.