Home & Property guides
Typical costs, the rules that apply and how to compare quotes for windows, doors and other home improvements.
What these guides cover
Home improvements are some of the biggest purchases most households make, and the paperwork matters as much as the product. Replacement windows and external doors in England fall under building regulations, safety glazing rules apply in certain places, and the guarantee is only as good as the company behind it. Our home guides set out typical prices, the standards to look for and the questions to ask before you sign.
- Windows and doors: uPVC, composite and aluminium compared, with security ratings explained.
- Rules and certificates: building regulations, competent person schemes and why you need the certificate when you sell.
- Quotes: how to compare like for like, and what a fixed written quote should include.
- Protection: deposit protection and insurance-backed guarantees.
Typical uPVC window prices (2026 guide)
The Federation of Master Builders publishes national guide prices for double-glazed uPVC casement windows. Local prices vary with size, style, glass and access, so use these as a starting point and get written quotes.
| Home | Windows | All windows | Installation (listed separately) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flat | 4 to 5 | £2,065 to £3,355 | £415 to £1,550 |
| Terraced house | 6 to 10 | £3,200 to £6,930 | £850 to £2,065 |
| Semi-detached | 11 to 15 | £5,865 to £10,070 | £1,240 to £3,100 |
Source: Federation of Master Builders, Doors and windows costs, 2026.
Front and back door guide prices
- Composite front door: about £725 to £2,580
- uPVC back door: about £360 to £1,135
Most of the gap between cheap and expensive quotes comes from the locks, glazing, finish and fitting, so compare like-for-like specifications.
Rules that apply to replacement windows and doors
- Building regulations: replacement windows and external doors are covered. A FENSA-registered installer can self-certify the work and you receive a certificate, which buyers' solicitors usually ask for when you sell.
- Energy standard: replacement windows in existing homes in England must reach a U-value of 1.4 W/m²K or a Window Energy Rating of band B.
- Safety glass: needed in a door up to 1,500mm from the floor, and in side panels within 300mm of a door edge.
- Escape windows: some rooms need an openable area of at least 0.33m², at least 450mm wide and high.
- Listed buildings and conservation areas: check with your local planning authority before changing the style or material.
Door security standards in plain English
- PAS 24: the British standard a whole doorset is tested against for forced entry.
- TS 007 3-star: the target rating for the lock cylinder and handles (a 3-star cylinder, or a 1-star cylinder with a 2-star handle).
- Sold Secure Diamond (SS312): cylinders tested to the same high level.
Before you sign a quote
- Is it a fixed written price that includes fitting, finishing and removal of the old frames?
- What is the U-value or energy rating of each window?
- Which glass goes where, including safety and obscure glass?
- Is the installer registered with FENSA or another competent person scheme?
- Is the guarantee insurance-backed, and is your deposit protected?