Windows and doors

Window replacement

Replacing windows in uPVC, aluminium or timber.

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Whether this needs a licence in Ireland

Ireland

No licence required

Taken from the statute below; not yet reviewed by a lawyer

Irelandwww.cru.ieChecked 14/10/2026

Window replacement: what the job involves

Replacing a house’s windows with new made-to-measure uPVC, aluminium, timber or alu-clad frames, usually double or triple glazed. It is a survey, an order with a lead time of several weeks, then a day or two of fitting, and it can be grant-aided by SEAI.

Also asked for as: new windows · replacement windows · double glazing · triple glazing · uPVC windows

How the job is usually done

Survey: the fitter measures every opening, checks the reveals, sills and lintels, and notes which bedroom windows must be escape windows.
Agree the specification: frame material, colour, glazing, U-value, opening style, trickle vents, restrictors and handles.
Sign off the order and drawings; for an SEAI grant, the grant offer must be in place before this point.
Manufacture, usually several weeks.
Fitting day: remove one window at a time, fit and fix the new frame, seal it with an airtight membrane or tape and expanding foam, and fit the sill.
Make good the inside reveals and outside seal, glaze, adjust the sashes and check every window opens, locks and drains.
Hand over keys, guarantees and the U-value and declaration needed for the grant and BER.

Window replacement: what is included

Usually included

Survey and measuring
Removal and disposal of the old windows
Fitting, fixing, sealing and new external sills
Silicone or trims inside and out
Adjusting and showing how to use the windows

Usually not included — agree it separately

Re-plastering and painting reveals that are damaged when old frames come out
New window boards inside, unless agreed
Blinds, curtains and reinstating alarm contacts
Structural repairs such as a failed lintel
The post-works BER for a grant, which a BER assessor does

Materials and who supplies them

Made-to-measure frames and sealed units — supplied by the window company
Fixings, expanding foam, airtightness tape, sills and trims
Safety glass (toughened or laminated) in low-level panes and next to doors, as standard practice

How long it takes

One to three days to fit a typical house, after a lead time of several weeks; bay windows, large panes, upper-floor access and damaged reveals add time.

When to book

Order in spring or early summer to fit before winter; for an SEAI grant, apply first, because nothing ordered before the grant offer is covered.

Window replacement: the rules in Ireland

What the official sources say, checked against them on the date shown. A summary, not legal advice — follow the link to read the rule itself.

Replacement windows, external doors and roof lights should have an average U-value no worse than 1.4 W/m²K. Replacing only the glass, a sash or a door leaf counts as a repair, not a replacement.
Applies to: the installer
Building Regulations Part L — Technical Guidance Document L, Dwellings (2019), paragraph 2.1.1.2 and Table 5 · gov.ie · Checked 9 October 2026
When windows are replaced, bedroom windows should still work as escape windows as far as practicable: an opening section of at least 0.33 m², at least 450 mm high and 450 mm wide, its bottom no more than 1,100 mm above the floor, and fastenings that open without a key.
Applies to: the installer and the homeowner
Building Regulations Part B — Technical Guidance Document B Volume 2, 1.3.7.1 and 1.3.7.2 · gov.ie · Checked 9 October 2026
Like-for-like replacement generally needs no planning permission, but a protected structure, a house in an Architectural Conservation Area, or a change that alters the look of the front so it is out of character with its neighbours can. Check with the council planning office first.
Applies to: the homeowner
Planning and Development Act 2000, section 4(1)(h) — explained by Citizens Information · citizensinformation.ie · Checked 9 October 2026

Grants

SEAI windows and doors grant
Up to €4,000 for new windows as a complete upgrade (€4,000 detached, €3,000 semi-detached or end of terrace, €1,800 mid-terrace, €1,500 apartment) and €800 per external door, up to two doors (€1,600). New windows and doors must reach a U-value of 1.4 W/m²K or better.
Who qualifies: Homes built and occupied before 2011 that already have good attic and wall insulation (or are upgrading it first or at the same time), replacing inefficient single- or double-glazed windows or draughty doors. Use an SEAI-registered contractor, get the grant offer before ordering, and have a post-works BER.
seai.ie · Checked 9 October 2026

What window replacement costs, and why

What jobs on Talqero came to

Not enough comparable jobs yet to publish a range here. Talqero shows a price range only once at least five comparable jobs, agreed prices or offers exist — a range from fewer would describe a handful of jobs, not the market. Post your job and compare the offers you get.

What affects the price

Number, size and shape of the windows, including bays and arched heads
Frame material: uPVC, aluminium, timber or alu-clad timber, and colour
Glazing: double or triple, acoustic, obscure or laminated security glass
Upper-floor or awkward access, and whether scaffolding is needed
Making good reveals, sills and plaster inside and out
VAT: supply-and-fit windows and doors are usually charged at the reduced 13.5% building-services rate, but if the materials are more than two-thirds of the price Revenue’s two-thirds rule applies the standard rate to the whole job
VAT: building work on a home is charged at the reduced rate of 13.5% by a VAT-registered business — unless the materials come to more than two-thirds of the price, when Revenue’s two-thirds rule applies the goods rate to the whole job. Ask whether a quote includes VAT.

What window and door upgrades cost: SEAI’s median figures

What window and door upgrades cost: SEAI’s median figures
Upgrade and home	Median cost
Windows, detached house	€10,453
Windows, semi-detached or end of terrace	€7,110
Windows, mid-terrace	€4,650
Windows, apartment	€4,196
Doors, detached house	€4,300
Doors, semi-detached or end of terrace	€3,800

Median cost of grant-supported upgrades completed January–June 2026, as reported by contractors to SEAI — before the grant is deducted.

SEAI — median costs of individual energy upgrades, January–June 2026

Paperwork to ask for at the end

The manufacturer’s guarantee on frames, sealed units and hardware
The installer’s workmanship guarantee
The U-value of the windows, in writing, for the BER
For an SEAI grant: the declaration of works signed by the contractor and you, and the post-works BER

Safety

Fit restrictors on upstairs windows where children sleep, but keep escape windows openable without a key.
Large panes and glass near the floor or beside doors should be toughened or laminated.
New windows make a house more airtight: keep trickle vents open and ventilation working to avoid condensation and mould.

Window replacement: before you hire

Questions to ask a tradesperson

What is the U-value of the window you are quoting, as a whole window?
Are you on SEAI’s list of registered contractors, if I want the grant?
What is the lead time from order to fitting?
What guarantee covers the frames, the sealed units, the hardware and the fitting?
Who makes good the plaster and paint around the frames?
Is VAT included?

What you can do yourself

Fitting windows is not a DIY job; measuring for quotes and checking which bedroom windows are big enough to escape from is useful preparation.

What to put in your task

How many windows need replacing?
What frames would you like?
Double or triple glazing?
What type of home is it?
Are you applying for the SEAI windows grant?
Are there any special windows?

Photos that help

The front and back of the house showing every window
One typical window close up, inside, with the reveal and window board
Any bay, arched or unusually large window
Any rot, condensation between panes or damaged sills

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Questions about window replacement

Does window replacement need a licence in Ireland?

No licence is required for this work in Ireland (source: www.cru.ie). Ask instead for references and photographs of similar jobs.

Can I get a grant for new windows?

Yes, SEAI’s windows and doors grant is available for homes built and occupied before 2011 that already have good attic and wall insulation. You must use an SEAI-registered contractor, get the grant offer before ordering, and have a BER done afterwards. The amount depends on the type of house.

Do I need planning permission to change my windows?

Usually not for a like-for-like replacement. A protected structure or a house in an Architectural Conservation Area is different, and so is a change that alters the look of the front noticeably, such as replacing timber sash windows with a different style. Ask the council planning office if unsure.

Why do I get condensation since the new windows went in?

New windows stop the draughts that used to ventilate the house, so moisture from cooking, showers and drying clothes stays inside. Keep the trickle vents open, use extractor fans, and open windows briefly each day. Persistent mould needs a look at the ventilation.

Double or triple glazing in Ireland?

Good double glazing meets the building regulations and the SEAI grant’s U-value. Triple glazing loses less heat and is quieter, but is heavier and dearer, and pays back best in a well-insulated house. Compare whole-window U-values, not just the glass.

Often booked with window replacement

Window and door fitters

Locks, handles and hinges