Window repair

A window that is stiff to close, will not tilt open, lets in cold air or has a loose handle rarely needs replacing. Most of the time a window repair is enough: swapping a worn hardware part, the handle or the seal, and adjusting the sash.

What usually breaks in uPVC windows

• the handle misoperation lock: suddenly the window will neither open nor close;
• the stay arm and top hinge, which let the sash drop out of the frame when tilted;
• the bottom hinge, when the sash sags and rubs on the frame;
• a handle with a cracked mechanism or a worn spindle;
• a flattened, hardened seal that lets draughts and water through.

On site the handyman works out whether an adjustment will do or a new part is needed. Hardware from different makers, such as Roto, Winkhaus, Maco or Siegenia, is not always interchangeable, so a photo of the markings on the hardware helps a lot.

When repair stops making sense

If the frame is cracked, the double glazing has misted up inside, or the profile has warped in the sun, fixing the hardware will not achieve much. A sealed unit can be replaced on its own, but on old uncertified windows the bill can come close to a new window. The handyman will tell you straight before starting.

How to describe the fault in the job

• what exactly happens: it will not close, it sags, it is draughty, the handle spins;
• how many windows have the problem, and whether they are windows or balcony doors;
• photos of the hardware on the hinge side and of the maker’s markings on the profile.

Common questions