11 Simple Ways to Save Money when Buying Windows

1. Do you need every part of every window to open?

A very common request for us is a side opening casement with two sections, both of which are able to open. But is this really necessary?

For bedrooms, probably yes (to achieve a wide fire escape route). But most other rooms will never need more than one half opening at a time. Fixed windows are cheaper to manufacture than opening casements.

Similarly, our sliding sash windows can be slid open from both top and bottom by default. However, most people will only choose one or the other in every-day use. Let us know if you can’t foresee needing to open half of the window.

2. Is a fixed sash essential, or would a fixed frame be sufficient?

A sash refers to the part of the window that opens, and the frame is the part that stays in place. Often, for symmetry or to help line-through with other windows, we make fixed windows look like they can open. However, this is slightly more expensive to manufacture.

We go into lots of detail in our fixed lights vs dummy sashes explanation here, goes into more detail. If you don’t mind the ‘step’ between opener and fixed section, feel free to let us know.

3. Could you switch to a standard colour?

Every factory has their own set of standard colours, almost always from the “RAL” range. Perhaps you or your architect have chosen a specific RAL colour but, if it is non-standard, you will see a surcharge on your quote.

Always ask if we can provide a similar colour, without having that additional cost.

4. Would your house really benefit from triple glazing?

Is triple glazing better? Better insulation and better airtightness? Well, it actually depends.

Depending on the age of your home, and how well the whole building is insulated, you may decide that triple glazing is not worth the price upgrade. For the vast majority of renovations, we find that the current standard of double glazing is more than sufficient.

Critically, the main consideration is whether triple glazing will be excessive of the insulation provided by the rest of the house. This is a great way to save money when buying windows to potentially spend elsewhere on a renovation.

5. Are decorative glazing bars essential?

Glazing bars can look attractive, and can make a very modern window appear more traditional.

However, as well as reducing the amount of light coming into your home, decorative bars add a surprising amount of cost.

Traditionally, glazing bars separated independent panes of glass. However, nowadays, the whole window is one glass section. Our manufacturers place the decorative spacers within the glass to achieve much better airtightness.

If you don’t require these bars, feel free to ask us to remove them.

We priced up some example units to see how different bar combinations affect the price. The results are below.

6. Do you need so many sections in one opening?

We combine the ideas about whether you need a lot of opening windows and decorative bars, in order to reduce the overall number of sections in one window.

For example:

Below is a window sized at 1m x 1m. We can configure this in an infinite amount of ways, but we’ve shown just three examples below.

Every choice has an almost identical opening area, but more sections almost always means more cost. Could you reduce the number of sections and still have all the functionality that you need?

7. Have you requested an expensive mechanism?

Not all ways of opening a window are equal. As a rough guide: tilt and turn is usually the most expensive, followed by guided systems (easy-clean), while visibly hinged casements are the most cost-effective. You’ll always receive an explanation of the cost-implications for different mechanism choices.

All have their benefits and drawbacks, and not all are suitable for every size of opening. If you’re looking to save money when buying windows for your home, it may be worth “downgrading” to an opener that does 99% of what you would ideally have.

A good example is our popular tilt and turn options, as seen in the image below. To have the same-size opener in the same material, but with a standard hinge, will almost always be cheaper.

8. Have you asked for one of our higher-end products?

Our product range is very large, so we do not display everything on our website. Hence why we have a chat with every customer to make sure you receive the best option.

We let customers know when they have chosen one of our top-end systems before they receive the price. We can then discuss other options if required.

9. Is being low-maintenance a Must-Have?

Aluminium-clad timber windows are our most popular product. They offer the best of both worlds, and it’s very easy to see why they are fantastic for many projects. Here’s an example of why we think composite windows are fantastic.

However, they are not perfect for everyone. If the idea of taking care of a timber window doesn’t concern you (some of our customers even look forward to it), or perhaps you would welcome a more traditional appearance, then a Danish timber-only window is a very viable, sustainable and cost-effective choice.

10. Do you have any other windows that you would like to order at the same time?

As with other industries, order quantity does matter. If you ask for twenty windows, then you will likely receive a better price than if you asked for two.

Not only that, but extra orders, at a later date, will require an additional delivery cost. In most cases, asking for one window from a factory in Europe can incur the same transport cost as asking for a full pallet – as they take up the same amount of space in the delivery vehicle.

A common choice is whether to renovate one floor at a time, or do the whole house at once. If you wish to save money in the long-run, fewer orders means a lower cost-per-window.

11. Are you exploring all the options?

Ultimately, we are here to provide you with the best possible solution according to your needs. Combining all of the ideas outlined above, you can be sure to save money when buying your windows.

Every order that we place will have gone through many iterations to find the perfect solution in terms of quality, functionality and price.

Book a virtual appointment with one of our consultants today or contact us directly on 01608 684 607.