How Long Does Double Glazing Take to Install?

Installation-Only and Labour-Only Fitting Teams

Designed for homeowners, self-builders, and developers who purchase windows and doors directly from independent fabricators, trade counters, or online suppliers (such as Origin, Express Bi-folds, Quickslide, or Solidor). Directly employed, CSCS-certified 2-man glazier teams are available on fixed day rates of £480 to £580 per day or transparent per-unit fitting rates. Fitters arrive with laser levels, glass suction lifters, and specialized tooling to install client-supplied products strictly in accordance with British Standard BS 8213-4, eliminating retail markup. Learn more about our dedicated labour-only glazing services and hire qualified professional window fitters.

Sourced Trade Supply with Professional Installation

In this collaborative procurement model, our surveyor conducts a comprehensive on-site technical survey, taking three-point aperture measurements, confirming lintel bearings, and calculating structural expansion gaps. We order frames and high-performance sealed units directly from trade extruders and fabricators at wholesale trade prices, passing direct savings of 30% to 50% on to you compared to high-street retail quotes. Our teams manage delivery, frame assembly, toe-and-heel glazing, and perimeter weathersealing. Compare options in our guide to supply and fit versus supply-only and review our trade frame supply services.

Complete Supply and Installation Packages

A single-point contract taking full responsibility from initial laser survey and CAD approvals through factory fabrication, delivery, on-site fitting, Local Authority Building Control sign-off, FENSA self-certification, and a 10-year insurance-backed guarantee. This route is preferred by clients seeking single-contractor accountability and guaranteed building regulations compliance without managing multiple suppliers. Request a fixed quote through our online quote request portal or browse our full glazing installation services directory.

8:00 AM: Arrival and Property Protection

The team arrives on site, reviews the room-by-room sequence with the homeowner, and establishes safe working zones. Heavy-duty protective floor runners and clean dust sheets are laid along all internal access paths, stairwells, and furniture to safeguard flooring and interior furnishings throughout the working day.

8:30 AM: Aperture Verification and Unit Check

Fitters apply the essential window-by-window verification rule: the new frame and insulated glass unit are physically checked and laser-measured against the existing masonry opening before any old frame is touched. No window is ever uninstalled until the corresponding replacement unit is confirmed correct on site.

9:00 AM: Controlled Frame Extraction

Glaziers de-glaze the existing opening by carefully popping internal glazing beads or removing external putty lines. Frame side jambs are cut with reciprocating saws, allowing the old profiles to be collapsed inward cleanly without pulling plaster from interior reveals or chipping external brickwork.

10:00 AM: Frame Positioning, Leveling, and Anchoring

The new outer frame is positioned on the sub-cill, levelled in three axes using precision laser levels, and shimmed with non-compressible horseshoe packers. Direct masonry fixings are driven 150 mm from corners and at maximum 600 mm centres. Low-expansion elastic polyurethane foam is injected around the perimeter cavity to eliminate thermal bridging.

11:00 AM: Glazing, Toe-and-Heeling, and Hardware Tuning

Sealed glass units are installed using diagonal toe-and-heeling geometry, bracing load-bearing bridge packers from the bottom hinge corner to the top lock corner. Friction stays, espagnolette gearing, and multi-point shootbolts are adjusted for smooth sash closure and positive gasket compression. Learn more about premium fittings in our guide to window and door hardware.

12:00 PM: Perimeter Sealing, Trims, and Handover

External joints receive a continuous bead of low-modulus neutral-cure silicone over an open-cell backer rod. Internal colour-matched trims are pinned and neatly caulked. The team vacuums debris, polishes glass panes, removes waste for recycling, and demonstrates window operation and egress safety catches to the homeowner before moving to the next aperture.

1. Technical Laser Survey (Day 1)

A qualified fenestration surveyor visits your property for 45 to 90 minutes. Aperture widths and heights are recorded at three separate points, diagonal squareness is verified, lintel load bearing is inspected under Approved Document A, finished floor heights are measured, and background trickle ventilation is calculated under Approved Document F. Read about our technical checks in our survey process guide, understand ventilation standards in our trickle vents guide, and inspect statutory rules in our building regulations guide.

2. Factory Fabrication Lead Times (2 to 5 Weeks)

Manufacturing lead times depend on material choices. Standard white uPVC casements and composite doors require 2 to 3 weeks for profile extrusion, corner welding, and sealed unit assembly. Custom architectural aluminium casements, bifold doors, and vertical sliding sash windows typically require 3 to 5 weeks for extrusion, polyamide thermal breaking, polyester powder coating (such as RAL 7016 Anthracite Grey or RAL 9005 Jet Black), and custom hardware assembly. Explore our anthracite grey windows, review energy efficiency in our window energy ratings guide, and check thermal benchmarks in our window U-value guide.

3. On-Site Installation (1 to 2 Working Days)

Our dedicated 2-man glazier team arrives with all pre-checked frames, double-glazed units, fixings, and sealant consumables. Windows are removed and replaced aperture by aperture, ensuring every opening is weather-tight, fully insulated, and structurally secure before the team departs each evening. Learn more about our glazier workforce in our window fitting team overview and window installation services guide.

4. Commissioning, Building Control, and Guarantee

Once all units are fitted, all friction stays, child restrictors, and locking mechanisms undergo final functional testing. Old timber, glass, and uPVC waste is collected for 100% recycling under our Environment Agency Waste Carrier Registration (CBDL650268). The completed installation is registered with FENSA or Local Authority Building Control (LABC), and an official Building Regulations Compliance Certificate and 10-year insurance-backed guarantee are issued. Explore our building control inspections guide, FENSA versus building control overview, compliance certificates, and 10-year guarantee.

Concealed Structural Defects and Rotten Lintels

In older Victorian and Edwardian properties, extracting original timber frames may expose hidden structural defects such as rotten timber lintels, decayed wall plates, or dropped brickwork arches. Under Approved Document A, temporary Acrow props and Strongboy needles must be erected to support upper masonry while a replacement Catnic steel or prestressed concrete lintel is installed before new frames can be fitted. Discover our restoration approaches in our residential glazing guide.

Severe Weather and External Sealant Curing

While windows can be mechanically anchored and foamed during showery conditions, external low-modulus neutral-cure silicone requires a clean, dry masonry substrate to achieve a reliable watertight seal under Approved Document C. Driving rain, high winds, or freezing temperatures below 5°C may require external sealing to be completed on a subsequent dry morning to guarantee weather tightness.

Aperture Access and Working at Height

First-floor windows can typically be fitted safely from internal reveals or external ladders with standoff brackets. However, upper-floor installations in three-storey townhouses, properties with conservatory obstructions below, or high-level glazed gables require PASMA-certified mobile aluminium scaffold towers or full external scaffolding, adding setup and inspection time. Review our safety protocols in our CSCS qualifications guide and on-site safety measures.

Out-of-Square Openings and Period Sash Frames

Traditional box sash windows built into solid masonry pockets require careful extraction to preserve internal decorative plaster cornices, timber architraves, and stone sills. Extracting heavy lead weights, cleaning out decayed timber liners, and squaring out-of-plumb apertures naturally adds 1 to 2 hours per opening compared to modern cavity wall installations. Read more in our sliding sash windows guide.

1. Clear a 2-Metre Internal Work Zone

Move furniture, sofas, desks, televisions, and freestanding lamps at least 2 metres away from each window aperture. This clearance provides the 2-man glazier team with unhindered space to maneuver heavy frames, position glazing steps, and handle large glass units safely.

2. Take Down Blinds, Curtains, and Pelmets

Remove all curtains, roller blinds, vertical tracks, and pelmets from window reveals prior to installation morning. Storing window dressings in another room prevents accidental plaster dust accumulation and gives fitters immediate access to window head fixings.

3. Clear External Walkways and Garden Access

Trim back overhanging shrubs, climbing ivy, or tree branches around exterior ground-floor windows. Move garden furniture, planters, and wheelie bins away from external walls to allow clear footing for ladders and protective external sheeting.

4. Provide Van Parking and Electrical Access

Reserve dedicated parking space on your driveway or arrange visitor parking permits directly outside your property. Glaziers require continuous access to their commercial vehicle for tooling, and need a standard 240V internal power socket for battery chargers and industrial HEPA vacuum cleaners.

5. Coordinate the Room Sequence on Arrival

Agree on the fitting order with the team leader during the morning briefing. If you work from home or have young children, fitters can prioritize bedrooms or home offices first, enabling your household routine to continue with minimal disruption. Review transparent pricing in our installation cost guide and explore current discounts on our special offers page.