Timber Windows Cost: Complete UK Pricing Guide for 2026

Timber windows are a repairable, long-established window material – and the only option approved by planning authorities for most conservation areas and listed buildings. But they come with higher upfront costs and an ongoing maintenance commitment that uPVC does not.

This guide covers everything you need to know before buying: verified pricing by window type and timber species, a 30-year lifetime cost comparison, the differences between softwood, hardwood, Accoya, and timber-aluminium composites, and what the planning rules mean if you live in a conservation area.

Use our double glazing cost calculator to get an instant estimate, or compare quotes from FENSA-registered timber window specialists below.

How Much Do Timber Windows Cost in the UK?

Installed timber casement windows cost £750–£1,100 each; sliding sash windows cost £1,500–£2,000 (MyJobQuote, timber species not split).

Timber window prices vary more than any other material because you are choosing not just a product, but a species, a manufacturing quality, and a maintenance commitment.

All prices below are installed (supply and fitting by a FENSA or CERTASS-registered installer). The sources do not confirm whether these ranges include VAT, so ask each installer to quote inclusive of it; VAT is charged at the standard 20% rate – double glazing and timber windows are specifically excluded from the 0% energy-saving-materials relief (GOV.UK VAT Notice 708/6, s2.23). London and the South East typically run 20–30% above these national averages.

Installation labour typically accounts for 30–40% of the total cost. The timber species you choose, the window mechanism, and any bespoke glazing requirements (heritage vacuum glazing, acoustic specification) drive the rest.

For a full breakdown of window costs across all materials, see our double glazing costs guide. To explore grants that may offset the cost, see our double glazing grants guide.

Timber vs uPVC vs Aluminium: Which Material Is Right for You?

Timber costs more than uPVC upfront (£750–£1,100 against £350–£550 per casement on MyJobQuote); whether it is financially competitive over time depends on lifespan and maintenance, which vary by installer and specification.

The comparison between window materials is rarely as simple as the upfront price suggests. A quality hardwood or Accoya timber window, properly maintained, can be repaired rather than replaced, so ask each installer for the guarantee term in writing.

For homeowners weighing up whether to replace existing windows at all, our should I replace my windows guide covers the decision in full. If energy efficiency is a primary driver, timber performs well – but the glazing unit specification matters more than the frame material.

Softwood vs Hardwood: Which Timber Should You Choose?

Softwood (pine/redwood) is the lower-cost species and needs regular repainting; hardwood (meranti, oak) offers better durability and is repainted every 5–7 years.

Most UK timber window manufacturers offer windows in a range of species, each with different properties, costs, and maintenance profiles. The key distinction is not simply softwood versus hardwood – it is the specific species chosen and how it has been engineered (finger-jointed, kiln-dried laminated sections are significantly more stable than solid sawn timber).

Scots Pine (European Redwood) is the industry standard for entry-level timber windows. When the heartwood is used – as George Barnsdale’s Redwood WoodHeart range specifically selects – it performs considerably better than general-purpose softwood. Heartwood has more natural resins and denser cell structure than sapwood, making it more resistant to rot and moisture penetration.

Dark Red Meranti is widely considered the best-value hardwood for windows. It machines well, is used as the standard hardwood option by manufacturers like Bereco, and costs significantly less than oak while offering comparable durability for most UK applications.

European Oak carries prestige and is often specified in conservation area applications where historic accuracy matters. However, oak tends to move more with moisture than other hardwoods – if it is not properly kiln-dried and laminated, this movement can stress and crack the coating system, leading to premature paint failure. Specify knot-free laminated oak variants for best stability.

What Is Accoya and Is It Worth the Premium?

Accoya modified timber needs repainting only every 12–15 years, saving £375–£525 per window in maintenance costs over 30 years.

Accoya is not a species of wood – it is a modification process. Radiata pine (a fast-growing, sustainably certified softwood) is impregnated under pressure with acetic anhydride, a vinegar derivative, which alters the cell structure of the timber at a molecular level. This is not a surface treatment: the modification goes to the core of every board.

The result is a timber that behaves completely differently from conventional softwood. It takes on the durability characteristics of the world’s most durable hardwoods while remaining FSC-certified and dimensionally stable. Accsys Technologies (the Netherlands-based company behind Accoya) offers a rot guarantee; check the current guarantee terms and what the installer’s own warranty covers.

The practical benefit for window owners is the paint system. Because Accoya absorbs almost no moisture, it barely moves with seasonal changes. Paint adhesion is dramatically better – repaint intervals extend to every 12–15 years instead of every 5–7 years for conventional timber.

George Barnsdale uses Accoya as standard for the most exposed components of their windows – external beads, linings, and cills – while using heartwood pine for the main frame sections. This hybrid approach captures most of Accoya’s maintenance benefits at a lower cost premium than full Accoya construction. Full Accoya windows are available on request.

For a 3-bedroom house with 10 windows, the maintenance saving from Accoya over 30 years – £375–£525 per window – amounts to £3,750–£5,250. That is a meaningful offset against the higher upfront cost, particularly when combined with Accoya’s superior rot resistance and the reduced disruption of less frequent decorating cycles.

Timber-Aluminium Composite Windows: The Best of Both Materials

Composite windows combine timber interior frames with aluminium exterior cladding, with virtually no exterior maintenance. Manufacturers state lifespans of up to 60 years (VELFAC) and 83 years (Rationel), and pricing is bespoke, so get quotes.

Timber-aluminium composite windows solve the central tension of the timber window debate: they deliver the warmth and aesthetic of natural timber on the interior – where you see it every day – while presenting a weatherproof aluminium face to the exterior. The aluminium cladding protects the timber core from rain, UV, and temperature cycling, eliminating the exterior repainting requirement entirely.

The interior timber surface still benefits from occasional cleaning, but no exterior painting programme is required. For homeowners who want timber aesthetics without the maintenance commitment, composite windows are the answer.

Rationel states an 83-year life expectancy for the Aura Plus and VELFAC states up to 60 years. These are manufacturer claims, so ask for the guarantee terms in writing.

Composite windows are specified for Passivhaus and low-energy new builds where thermal performance, longevity, and minimal lifecycle environmental impact are priorities. Prices are bespoke and installer-specific – use our quote service to obtain competitive estimates from approved composite window installers.

Timber Window Maintenance Costs and Schedule

Professional repainting costs £125–£175 per window; a full house repaint depends on access requirements and the number of windows, so ask for it quoted.

The maintenance commitment is the most important factor to understand before choosing timber windows. Neglect is the primary cause of timber window failure – rot almost always begins where paint has broken down and moisture has penetrated the wood. Maintained timber windows are repairable and long-lived; unmaintained ones can begin to fail early.

At minimum, timber windows need an annual wipe-down with a clean-and-care solution to remove dirt and debris from frame joints. At intervals that depend on species and coating system (5–7 years for traditional hardwood, 12–15 years for Accoya), a full repaint is required – preparation, priming, and topcoat.

Note: upper-floor windows require scaffolding or access equipment – this adds materially to the cost of a full house repaint. Winter painters (working November to March) often offer discounts of up to 30% because demand falls in the colder months, which can partially offset the access cost.

The 30-year lifetime maintenance comparison below shows why Accoya and composite windows change the economics of timber ownership significantly:

The 30-year maintenance gap between traditional hardwood timber and uPVC is £7,500–£10,500 for a 10-window house. This is a real cost that must be factored into any honest comparison.

However, it must also be weighed against the eventual cost of replacing uPVC windows, which depends on how long each installation lasts.

Timber Windows in Conservation Areas and Listed Buildings

In Scotland, since May 2024, front and road-facing window replacements in a conservation area go through prior approval; in England, check with your local planning authority before ordering, as uPVC is often refused in favour of timber.

In Scotland, the planning rules governing window replacement in conservation areas changed on 24 May 2024 (Planning Circular 1/2024): front and road-facing windows now need prior approval rather than full planning permission, while rear windows are simpler. That prior approval route is a Scottish rule and should not be assumed to apply in England. If you live in a conservation area, check with your local planning authority before ordering any replacement windows.

For listed buildings, the rules are more stringent and have not changed: Listed Building Consent is required for all work that affects the historic character of the building, and this includes window replacement of any kind. A listed building owner cannot replace windows without consent, regardless of whether the replacement is like-for-like.

Historic England’s position on material choice is unambiguous. The organisation identifies “unsympathetic replacement of windows and doors – usually PVC-U” as the main threat to the character of conservation areas. Proposals to replace original timber windows with uPVC double glazing are likely to be refused planning consent. Timber – or, in some cases, aluminium with very close visual match – is the required specification for conservation areas.

What planning authorities typically require in conservation areas:

• Replacement windows must closely match the appearance of the originals in material, proportions, and colour
• Timber is almost always required; very occasionally slim-profile aluminium is permitted where visual match is close
• Glazing bars must match original proportions if present in the original window
• For properties with traditional sash windows, sliding sash replacements are preferred over conversion to casement
• Article 4 Directions in some areas apply additional restrictions – check before proceeding

Energy efficiency in heritage buildings requires a different approach. Replacing single-glazed timber windows with double-glazed units is rarely approved in listed buildings, because the change alters the historic character of the building. The preferred routes to better thermal performance are:

• Secondary glazing – fitted internally, invisibly, without altering the historic window. Selectaglaze and specialist conservation suppliers provide conservation-appropriate units.
• Vacuum glazing – heritage-specification vacuum units as thin as traditional single glass (4mm–0.3mm–4mm) achieve double glazing thermal performance without the increased rebate depth of conventional double-glazed units. George Barnsdale offers this as part of their listed building service.
• Draught-proofing and weatherstripping – achieves approximately 30% of the thermal benefit of full window replacement at a fraction of the cost, and does not require consent.

Leading UK Timber Window Manufacturers

The leading UK specialist timber window manufacturers are Bereco (from £330 supply-only), George Barnsdale (est. 1884), and Mumford & Wood (est. 1954, bespoke pricing).

Unlike uPVC, where national installers such as Anglian and Everest supply the market, timber windows are predominantly supplied by specialist manufacturers with deep joinery heritage. The firms below represent the established end of the UK market and give a sense of what quality manufacture looks like.

Bereco is the most accessible of the three for homeowners wanting published pricing transparency. Their standard softwood casement starts from £330 supply-only – though installed prices, regional costs, and specification upgrades will move the final figure significantly. Their flush casement range is approved for use in conservation areas and listed buildings.

George Barnsdale, founded in 1884 and still family-run, has one of the most sophisticated timber specification approaches in the UK market. Their standard construction uses Redwood WoodHeart for main frame sections – specifically selecting heartwood – while using Accoya as standard for exposed components such as external beads, cills, and linings.

This hybrid approach captures most of Accoya’s maintenance benefits without the full-Accoya price premium. They offer a nationwide project management and installation service, making them viable for projects outside Lincolnshire.

Mumford & Wood operates at the premium bespoke end of the market, established in 1954. They specialise in sash and casement windows for heritage and period properties, and supply only via their own installation network. Pricing is by quotation only.

Anglian Home Improvements also offers timber flush casement windows as part of their national installer range, providing an accessible route to timber windows with the backing of a large company warranty programme. See our Anglian windows review for a full assessment, and our best double glazing companies guide for a broader comparison.

How to Get the Best Value on Timber Windows

Getting three or more quotes from FENSA-registered specialists helps you secure the most competitive price; never accept same-day offers or sign contracts at the first meeting.

Timber windows are a considered purchase. The decisions you make at the specification stage – species, mechanism type, glazing specification, factory vs site-applied coating – determine your costs and maintenance commitments for the next 50+ years. Take the time to get this right.

Define your specification before inviting quotes. Know whether you want casement or sash, softwood or hardwood, and approximately how many windows you need. Changing your specification mid-quote process makes it impossible to compare prices accurately. If you are in a conservation area, confirm planning requirements with your local authority before approaching manufacturers.

Get at least three quotes. Pricing in the timber window market varies considerably between manufacturers and installers. A quote from a national installer, a regional specialist, and a direct-from-manufacturer supply-only quotation will give you a genuine sense of the market. Comparing multiple quotes consistently secures better pricing than accepting the first offer you receive.

Check credentials carefully. Your installer should be FENSA or CERTASS registered – this is the legal minimum for replacement windows and ensures you receive the required Building Regulations compliance certificate. Ask to see examples of previous timber window installations and check manufacturer warranty terms in detail. A 10-year manufacturer warranty plus extended rot protection (Bereco offers this) provides meaningful peace of mind on a long-life product.

Timing matters. Window installation companies are typically busiest from spring through early autumn. Scheduling work in October to February, when installers are less busy, can often secure a better price, and winter painters may offer up to 30% off for decorating work booked in the quieter months.

Do not sign at the first meeting. UK consumer law requires traders to give you at least 14 days to cancel a contract signed away from business premises. Any installer who pressures you to sign on the day or offers a price that is “only available today” is using a sales tactic – not offering a genuine discount. Walk away.

If noise reduction matters too, see our guide to soundproof windows.

Laura Bennet

Home Energy & Sustainability Editor

Laura leads coverage on home energy, heating, and sustainable living. With over 12 years in the UK energy sector, she writes about boilers, solar panels, insulation, and eco-friendly upgrades that reduce household costs.

Reviewed by

Tom Reynolds

Business Energy Specialist