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What happens at a window survey

The window survey is the visit that turns an indicative quote into a firm, guaranteed price. It usually takes under an hour, and it is the moment every measurement, colour and detail is nailed down before your windows are made. Here is exactly what to expect.

Why the survey matters

Your first quote is based on rough sizes and the styles you asked about. The survey replaces those estimates with precise measurements taken in your home, so the windows are made to fit your openings exactly — not a standard size forced into place. It is also your chance to ask questions, change your mind on finishes and understand the price before you commit. This step sits right after your quote in the wider window buying process.

What the surveyor checks

A good surveyor does far more than hold up a tape measure. Expect them to:

• Measure the width, height and depth of every opening, usually in several places, because older homes are rarely perfectly square.
• Check the condition of the surrounding brickwork, render, lintels and sills for anything that needs attention.
• Look at how each window opens now and confirm how you want the new one to open — casement, tilt-and-turn, sash or fixed.
• Assess access: whether upstairs windows need ladders, a tower or scaffolding, which affects timing and cost.
• Discuss glass options, trickle vents for ventilation, and any building-regulations points such as fire escape and safety glazing.

How long it takes

For a typical three-bed home, a survey runs 30 to 60 minutes. A single window can be measured in ten minutes; a full house with awkward access or heritage detailing takes longer. You do not need to do much beyond giving the surveyor clear access to each window inside and out — our guide to preparing your home covers the same access points that help on the day itself.

Getting your firm price

Once the measurements are done, the surveyor confirms your specification and gives you a firm price. Because it is based on exact sizes, this figure should not drift later unless you change the order. Ask what the price includes — removal and disposal of the old windows, making good around the frames, and the guarantee — so you are comparing genuine like for like. If you are still choosing between companies, this is the point to be vetting your installer first and to line up a wider home improvement quote comparison if windows are part of a bigger project.

Questions worth asking

Use the visit well. Ask which frame material and glass unit suit your home, how the new windows will improve draughts and noise, and whether any openings raise the problems new windows solve — condensation, cold spots or security. Confirm the lead time for manufacture and get the whole quote in writing before you agree anything.

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