The full timeline
| Stage | Typical duration | Your involvement |
|---|---|---|
| Initial enquiry to survey | 3–7 days | Confirm a slot 7am–8pm, seven days |
| Survey on site | 45–90 minutes | Be available to discuss spec |
| Written quote returned | 24–48 hours | Read, ask questions, accept or decline |
| Manufacture (PVC) | 2–3 weeks | None |
| Manufacture (aluminium) | 4–6 weeks | None |
| Installation on site | 1 day per 4–5 windows | Allow access to each room |
| Certass certificate | 14–30 days post-install | None — arrives by post |
Stage 1: Survey
Free, on-site, no deposit, no pressure. The surveyor takes accurate measurements of every opening, photographs each window inside and out, and discusses specification — frame system, colour, glass type, opening configuration, and trickle ventilation. We bring physical samples so you can see and feel the difference between systems.
If your project involves a structural change (widening an opening, removing a wall) we'll flag it and recommend a structural engineer — that's a separate workstream that needs to be cleared before we order frames.
Stage 2: Quote
You receive a written, itemised quote within 24–48 hours. Each window is priced individually, with frames, glass, fittings, removal/disposal, Certass notification, and workmanship guarantee broken out clearly. The number on the page is the number you pay — no "extras discovered on day three" surprises.
Stage 3: Manufacture
Once you accept the quote and pay a 10% deposit, frames go into manufacture. PVC turnaround is typically 2–3 weeks; aluminium runs 4–6 weeks. We confirm an install date when frames arrive at our yard — never before, because manufacturing slippage is the most common cause of slipped install dates and we'd rather book accurately than optimistically.
Stage 4: Installation day(s)
Our in-house fitting team arrives between 7:30am and 8am. Process per window:
- Protect the room: dust sheets down on floor and surrounding furniture, plastic sheeting over carpets and bedding
- Remove the existing window: beading out, glass out, frame cut and removed, brick reveal swept clean
- Inspect the opening: check the cill detail, the lintel above, and the brickwork around — flag any structural issues
- Dry-fit the new frame: check level, plumb and square before fixing
- Pack and fix: compressible packers in the right places, fix to the brickwork with appropriate fixings (concrete screw or expansion bolt depending on substrate)
- Foam and seal: low-expansion foam fills the perimeter; external sealant goes on once foam is cured
- Hang sashes, fit hardware, test: opening, locking, trickle vents, drainage holes
- Finish externally: render or brick reveal made good, sealant struck off neat
- Final clean: hoover the room, remove all waste, frame given a final wipe
Each window takes 60–90 minutes start to finish. A 4-window install is comfortably one day. A 9–12 window full-house install is two to three days.
Stage 5: Sign-off and Certass
On the final day we walk every window with you, demonstrate operation, and hand over the warranty pack. We submit Certass notification within 5 working days — the certificate arrives at your address by post within 14–30 days, and counts as building-regulations sign-off. You'll need this when you sell the house.
What you need to do to prepare
- Move furniture away from the immediate window area (we'll help if needed, but a 1m clearance helps)
- Take down curtains, blinds, and anything mounted to the frame
- Confirm parking access for our van — most Essex houses are fine but tight CM2 streets sometimes need a parking dispensation
- Have someone on site to grant access; you don't need to be there the whole time
Mess and disruption — the honest version
It's a building job, so there's some dust. We mitigate it heavily — dust sheets, plastic film over beds and sofas, hoovers in and out of every room — but you should expect to need a quick clean once we're gone. There's no skip on the road; we take all waste with us in the van. Heating works as normal during the install (we don't disconnect anything), and you can stay in the house throughout.
For full pricing and configurations, see our window installation service in Essex. The wider glazing category covers specialist options like aluminium windows and roof lanterns.