uPVC is now the commonest window material in these flats and it is the one people understand least. Some parts of a uPVC window are straightforwardly replaceable and some genuinely are not, and knowing which is which saves both unnecessary replacement and money spent on repairs that will not hold.
Everything that moves is replaceable
The hardware in a uPVC window — the handle, the multipoint lock, the hinges, the rollers on a slider, the gaskets — is all standard and all replaceable without touching the frame.
That covers the great majority of faults, including windows that will not lock, stick, rattle or drag.
So when a uPVC window misbehaves, the first assumption should be hardware rather than frame, and the fix is usually a part and an hour. Being told a uPVC window needs replacing because it will not lock is almost always wrong.
What cannot be repaired
uPVC frames are welded at the corners, and a welded corner that has cracked or opened cannot be rewelded on site in any lasting way.
A sash that has bowed, usually from heat on a dark frame or from being forced, will not come back either.
Those two genuinely need a new sash or a new window, and we say so plainly. But they are far less common than hardware faults, and a frame that is merely discoloured or chalky is neither of them.
Discolouration, which is not a fault
White uPVC exposed to strong sun goes chalky at the surface and yellows over years, and people take that as the end of the window.
It is a surface change, not a structural one, and the frame underneath generally has years left in it.
So unless it is cracked or bowed, discolouration alone is not a reason to replace. We will say that rather than quoting a replacement for something cosmetic, and where appearance matters there are things that help short of a new window.
How the job works
- Tell us about the jobSend a few photos, rough sizes and what you need. Use WhatsApp or the form. For a repair, a short video of the door moving helps a lot.
- We call you back in about 2 minutesWe confirm what you need and a time to visit. Where we can, we give you a rough price on the call.
- We come and measureWe measure the opening and check the walls, floor and ceiling around it. Anything made to size is made to these measurements, so they must be right.
- You get a written priceIt lists each item, with GST as its own line. If anything about the job changes, we tell you before we go ahead.
- We fit itYou approve the price and pay the advance. Our own team fits the work, checks that every door and window opens and closes properly, and clears up. Most jobs are done in 3 to 4 days.
