How To Get The Best Price on Sash Windows?

Hung sash window Sash windows are popular for their effortless style, low-impact profile, and high security.

However, if you are considering installing sash windows in your home, you need to know how much they will cost and what they offer to offset high pricing. If you’re like most homeowners, you’re probably concerned about cost, value, and durability.

We’ve put together a complete guide to sash windows in the UK to answer your questions and help you to make the right decision for your home.

A sash window will likely cost between £500- £1,848
UPVC sash windows start out at around £500 for single hung and £750 for double hung
Authentic timber sash windows typically cost above £1190, but add a great deal of value to your home
Sash windows are very popular for traditional homes
Double hung sash windows offer optimal ventilation in summer months by encouraging airflow

What do Sash Windows Cost

Sash windows are one of the most expensive window frames you can choose but they offer a great deal in terms of beauty, traditional style, and value. For example, most traditional period homes in Edwardian, Georgian, and Victorian styles feature these frames, and finding replacement windows that match the original style ensures that your new glazing does not take away from the value or aesthetic of your home.

Sash windows are priced according to style, material, and installation. You can expect to pay about 20-40% more for double hung sash windows. You should also expect to pay about 40-60% of total costs for installation including materials sourcing, transportation, labour, removal of old windows, and actual fitting.

In most cases, you can expect the following standard price range for sash windows.

Material	Single Hung	Double Hung
uPVC	£500- £700	£750 – £1050
Composite	£763 – £1150	£975 – £1365
Aluminium	£ 742 – £1000	£1170 – £1500
Timber	£1190 – £1540	£1428 – £1848

uPVC is the most cost effective material and timber or wood frames are the most expensive. However, each material has its own pros and cons.

For example, while uPVC is low-cost, energy efficient, and durable, wood or timber is long lasting and can greatly add to the value of your home should you choose to sell during the lifetime of the windows.

You now know how much you’re likely to pay for sash windows, but should you install them? Keep reading to learn more about features including pros and cons.

Sash Window Features

Sash windows and doors have a lot to offer in terms of features, and you should be familiar with them.

Any sash window will feature a multi-point opening mechanism, allowing you to either slide the window up or down in the frame or tilt it open. Single hung windows feature one moving pane, double hung feature two moving panes, and some speciality windows feature three or more moving panes.

Pros of Sash Windows

Easy Ventilation – Sash windows make it easy to ventilate your home, even in rough weather outside. The sash slides up or down or tilts out, allowing fresh air and light to enter your home without exposing the glass to rough weather. Double or triple hung windows are one of the best choices for ventilation because you can open the bottom pane and tilt the top pane up, allowing fresh air to flow in, while giving old air an outlet so that heat leaves your home.

Value – Sash windows are considered the most aesthetic window style and are extremely popular for traditional homes. If you own an Edwardian, Victorian, Georgian, or similar period home, installing anything else will actually detract from the value of the house.

Secure Openings – With small panes, tracks to prevent windows from being forced open, and multi-point locking systems, sash windows are very secure. Most also feature thicker and heavier frames, which are more difficult to break into.

Easy to Clean – Sash windows are designed to tilt inwards, allowing you to clean both sides of the pane from inside of your home. This is extremely convenient for most homes, but especially so for multi-story homes.

Energy Efficient – Sash windows feature large frames which makes it easier to install large gaps of 14-16mm between panes in double glazing. This ensures that glazed windows offer high thermal resistance to save you money on heating and cooling. Here, single hung sash windows are more efficient, but most double hung are fitted with weather strips to prevent heat and air loss around the second moving pane.

Cons of Sash Windows

Sash windows have some cons and if you are like most homeowners, those largely revolve around cost.

Price – Sash windows are the most expensive window option. Starting prices are nearly twice that of the most cost effective option, casement windows, which may cause you to reconsider the style. The following chart includes the average costs for uPVC frames in different styles.

Window	Average Cost	% Cheaper
Sash	£500-1050	–
Casement	£250-570	18-50%
Tilt & Turn	£400-675	15-20%
Turn Dial	£400+	20%

Thick Frames – While large frames offer numerous advantages to homeowners, they are not suited to every home. If you have thin walls, a very modern home, or inset windows, the heavy frames on sash windows may look out of place in the window box.

Single vs. Double Hung Sash Windows

Sash windows are sold with one, two, or more moving panes. While more cost effective, single hung sash windows are not the right solution for everyone, simply because they don’t offer the same advantages as double hung sash windows.

Single Hung – Single hung sash windows feature one moving pane and average at about 10-20% cheaper than double hung. Here, the bottoms ash moves up and tilts outwards, allowing medium ventilation. The top pane must be cleaned from the outside. For this reason, single hung sash windows are most suited to ground-floor level windows.

Double Hung – Double hung sash windows feature two moving panes or sashes that can be moved up or down and tilted inwards. Both panes can be opened to allow maximum ventilation, including allowing air to flow in and out of the home. Because both panes can be cleaned from the inside of the home, double hung sash windows are ideal for second and third-floor windows.

In most cases, choosing between single and double hung sash windows is personal preference. However, double hung windows do offer more convenience and more ventilation, especially on windows situated above ground.

Are Sash Windows Right for You?

Sash windows have a lot of pros and cons. You should consider them as well as the needs of your home when deciding whether to install sash windows or another type of frame.

In most cases, you should install sash windows if:

You have a traditional home in an Edwardian, Georgian, or Victorian style
You intend to sell your home and the windows will add value
You want to add value to your home for other reasons
You appreciate the style
You need to clean your windows from the inside on a top floor
You want maximum ventilation without exposing your windows to the elements
Your home requires additional security
You don’t have enough space to swing windows in or out
You want low-profile glazed windows with sliding panes

Getting a Good Deal on Sash Windows

Sash windows are one of the most expensive window styles, which makes it even more important that you get a good deal. In most cases, you can save money by shopping around, getting a better quote on installation, and doing your research in advance.

Compare – Take the time to compare at least 3 different quotes. While you won’t get a 100% accurate quote until an installer inspects your property, you can get a good idea of who is offering the most for the money. Pay attention to extras and make sure that costs like debris removal, disposing of old windows, travel, and insurance are included in the quote.

Research – You should know what you want, why, and what it should cost before you walk into any sales appointment. Many UK double glazing salesmen will use pressure tactics and other unethical sales practices because they are paid on commission. Know what you’re getting to avoid unethical upsells or price jacks. For example, you should know the style, whether you want double or triple glazing, and the material of the frame before you call a sales representative.

Getting a great deal on sash windows will allow you to cut costs and earn your investment back more quickly. If you’re ready to start pricing your windows, use our free tool to find and compare quotes from top rated installers in your area.

We’ll request competitive quotes on your behalf, and then send you the top 3. It’s completely free, no-obligation, and we delete your information from our system on your request.

How much can you save? Our users save up to 37.5% on sash windows. Fill in the form to see your own quotes.