Reading · Berkshire
uPVC Windows in Reading
Want warmer, quieter rooms in Reading? New uPVC windows with modern double or triple glazed units can cut draughts and outside noise compared with older frames.
- RG1
- RG4
- RG30
- Guide from £565
Reading: uPVC windows
The price of uPVC windows depends mainly on size, the number of opening sashes, frame colour, glass specification and hardware. Bay windows, openings that need a tower or scaffold, and difficult removal of old frames add labour. See the guide prices for typical ranges; your written quote fixes the exact figure.
In England, Approved Document L sets the standard for a replacement window in an existing home: a U-value of 1.4 W/m²K or better, or a Window Energy Rating of band B or above. The new window should also be no worse than the one it replaces. The other UK nations set their own figures.
Modern uPVC casements use multi-point espagnolette locks that engage keeps along the frame, internally beaded glass so units cannot be removed from outside, and key-locking handles. PAS 24 is the security standard expected for easily accessible windows in new homes in England, and it is a sensible benchmark for ground-floor replacements.
Windows are replaced room by room, so each opening is only exposed for a short spell. A single window is usually changed within a day, and a typical house takes a few days depending on the number of windows, bays and access. Inside, reveals are finished with trims, sealant or filler.
What you get
- Survey and measurement of every opening
- Removal and disposal of the old windows
- Made-to-measure frames with sealed double glazed units
- Written guarantee terms and advice on building regulations sign-off
About Reading for this job
- Postcodes covered
- RG1, RG4, RG30 and the surrounding area, including Earley, Henley-on-Thames and Wokingham
- Coast
- Reading is well inland, around 67 km from the nearest coast, so salt exposure is not usually a factor.
- Daylight and sun
- In Reading the midwinter sun reaches about 15° above the horizon at noon, with roughly 7.6 hours of daylight, rising to about 62° and 16.4 hours in midsummer. uPVC frames are bulkier than aluminium, so they take a little more glass area from small windows. On south and west elevations, solar-control or neutral low-E glass limits overheating, while north-facing rooms benefit from high light-transmission glass and warm-edge spacers that reduce condensation.
- Access and setting
- In terraced streets and flats, old frames are usually removed and new ones fitted from inside to avoid scaffold. Parking for the van, access through communal areas, leaseholder consent and the lack of permitted development rights for flats all need checking before ordering.
- Rules in England
- Approved Document K requires safety glass in critical locations in England: glazing in doors and in side panels within 300 mm of a door, up to 1500 mm above floor level, and any glazing in walls or partitions up to 800 mm above floor level.
Guide prices in Reading
| Typical job | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| Casement window, 900 × 1050 mm | £565 – £725 |
| Casement window, 1200 × 1200 mm | £665 – £855 |
| Large window, 1800 × 1200 mm | £805 – £995 |
| Anthracite or woodgrain, 1200 × 1200 mm | £785 – £995 |
Get a guide price for your size
Approved Document B covers escape windows. Where an existing window is an escape route, typically in first-floor bedrooms, its replacement should give at least the same escape opening as before.
Options to choose between
Woodgrain and colour foils
Grey, black, cream or woodgrain foils on one or both faces, so the frames can match a door or suit an older house.
Georgian or astragal bars
Bars set between the panes or applied to the faces of the glass for a traditional divided-pane look.
uPVC sliding sash
Vertical sliders that mimic traditional box sashes, using spring balances instead of weights, where planning rules allow uPVC.
uPVC Windows in Reading: questions
Can I fit uPVC windows myself?
You can, but the work still has to meet building regulations. In England and Wales, without an installer registered with a competent person scheme you need building control approval and inspection. Accurate measuring, correct packing, fixing and sealing all affect weather performance and how the locks work, and mistakes are hard to put right because frames are made to size and cannot be returned.
How much do uPVC windows cost?
The cost of uPVC windows depends on the size and number of windows, how many sashes open, the frame colour, the glass and the access. White casements with standard double glazing sit at the lower end, while foiled colours, triple glazing and bay windows cost more. See the guide prices for typical ranges; the written quote fixes the price for your specification.
Do I need building regulations approval for replacement uPVC windows?
Yes. In England, replacement windows are controlled fittings, so the work must meet building regulations. An installer registered with a competent person scheme such as FENSA or Certass can self-certify the work and you receive a certificate; otherwise approval comes from building control. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland run their own systems, and we explain which route applies before work starts.
How long does it take to fit uPVC windows?
Most single windows are changed within a day, and a typical house usually takes a few days. Bays, large picture windows and openings that need a tower or scaffold take longer. Manufacturing comes first, because every frame is made to the survey measurements, and the lead time is confirmed with your quote.
Do you cover Reading for uPVC windows?
Yes. We can quote for uPVC windows across Reading and the surrounding Berkshire area, including postcode districts RG1, RG4 and RG30, and nearby Earley, Henley-on-Thames and Wokingham. Start with your postcode on the quote form and a glazier will arrange a free survey before giving you a written quote.
Get a written quote in Reading
Free survey for new glazing, clear guide prices and one point of contact for every glazing job.