Quote to replace wooden window

[Bitstreams]

We've just had two wooden windows made and fitted. We always planned to paint them and had assumed they'd be softwood but our carpenter's mate made them out of oroko (did I spell that right) which I tend to describe as modern hardwood. They are both casement windows with floating mullions and are double glazed.
Cost for the windows, unpainted and unglazed, but including locks etc was £1000 plus VAT. Fitting (one was opening up a bricked up window and making good, though I lime plastered the rough surround) was about £250 plus the cost of the glass (which I forget, but wasn't horrendous).

 

[Penners]

oroko (did I spell that right)

Not that I'm pedantic you understand, but it's iroko. :wink:

Sadly, much of the iroko that is sold as "sustainable" isn't. Or rather, it would be sustainable if someone replanted a new tree for every one that was cut down... but they don't.

 

[middi]

the realities of making a traditional bespoke casement or any other window and related production costs

( We wiil disregard the type of wood used in this instance )

Making a window as described above is relatively easy for any coordinated woodworker with the minimal of woodworking machinery in an adequate working area. The major stumbling block this woodworker will be faced with is the amount of time he/she requires to produce such a window due to limited amount of tooling at his/her disposal.The more the tooling the less time is required to complete the task. This example can be applied pro rata all the way through to the latest commercial production establishments where they, more or less, feed a tree trunk at one end of the line and a primed window appears at the other - every couple of minutes, all day long-.

The obvious question now is which is the cheapest. Well, the latest commercial example is not an option as there is no way they will be resetiing their production line tooling to make YOUR window, if they did I assume they wil be charging you a few thosands of pounds for that window.
That now leaves you only with woodworking shops that are willing to make that single window, the faster they can produce such a window is relative to their tooling investment, site rents, employees and so on.
Once you have exhausted all available possibilities all the way down to our originally mentioned capable woodworker you will be faced with a set up where your window can be relatively easy to produce will little overheads. The fact now remains, the poor sod will take a week to make that window, time for which has to be paid for.
You objective is to obtain the cheapest you can of good quality construction.
SHOP AROUND is the answer then you will get a true idea as to how much it costs to make a single window, as no maker is geared to produce an individual bespoke window below a cost that is unsustainable to them.
Middi

 

[Pford75]

I've PM'd the OP already, but on reflection, thought that others in the Norfolk area might also be looking for a quality joiner.

We have used Martin Watts in Attleborough http://www.wattsinwood.com and can recommend him. He will make bespoke windows, doors etc. in softwood or hardwood and will not use rainforest timbers.

we are totally against the use of uPVC in the manufacture of replacement windows and doors. Apart from the depreciating affect on older property, in our opinion plastic windows and doors are damaging to the environment and offer little aesthetic appeal.

 

[Penners]

I broadly agree with Middi's analysis above, but in my experience there's no shortage of smallish joinery companies who tread the middle line between the economies of mass production and the higher costs of bespoke work.

The company from whom I bought softwood windows (for a listed building) most recently was: http://www.chiltonjoinery.co.uk/

I found their prices reasonable and their quality good. Sudbury, Suffolk, is obviously a bit of a trek from Cambridgeshire/North Hertfordshire, but not impossibly far.

 

[cazzz]

Thank you all for your really helpful comments and advice. Very much appreciated. I am now waiting for some more quotes - not from Rocky I may add! Watch this space.................

 

[d49xc]

Another reason to get a selection of quotes:

When a company has a lot of work on and receives a quotation request, it will often bid up the quote to a much higher price.
This is not always because it doesn't actually want/need the work but can be because it needs to get in additional "assets" - be they people or equipment on a temp' basis to do the job and the cost of doing this is factored into the price.

Sometime of course they bid up because "if the customer is stupid enough to pay this price then of course we'll do it": seen a made to measure simple garden side gate quoted in the high hundreds on this basis.
For those who live in an area known to be "not short of wonga" it's also known for local trades to price 'up' on the basis of "with that address they can afford it" mentality. This is where email is wonderful as you can email off quotation requests without having to reveal your address

 

[MdB]

<geek joke mode on>

 

[Penners]

:lol: :lol:

 

[biffvernon]

I ought to nick that picture, MdB

 

[Penners]

Just right-click on it, Biff, and it's yours! :wink:

 

[LadyArowana]

Just right-click on it, Biff, and it's yours! :wink:

Which just goes to show that the evil empire will tempt everyone eventually.