How Much to Replace a Window Sill?
Window sills are a staple feature in all British homes. Not only do window sills protect the wall underneath the window, but they can also add a stylish feature that can add value to your property.
In this guide, we will take a look at the average cost of replacing a window sill in the UK. We will go over the overall costs of the job, the supply costs for a window sill replacement, the labour costs for this type of work, and any additional costs that may be required with this work.
Additionally, we will take a look at the timescales that you can expect for this type of work, the costs of removing a window sill, as well as some information on the different types of window sills.
If your window sill has become rotten or damaged, this should be replaced as soon as possible. Replacing a standard internal window sill is typically straightforward.
We would recommend hiring a professional to complete your window sill replacement. This is especially true if you have stone window sills or period windows, as these will require specialist tools and skills to complete the work properly.
The average window sill replacement cost in the UK is around £140-£220. This price includes the cost of materials and labour. The overall price you pay will depend on a range of factors, including the size and type of window sill being replaced and your location in the UK.
Those based in the London area can expect to pay more for the work than those based in the North or other parts of the UK.
Whether it’s an interior window sill replacement or an exterior window sill replacement, the price will depend mostly upon the size of the window sill, the materials used, and your location in the UK.
Window Sill Replacement Prices
Below is a table showing the average window sill replacement prices for various types of window sill:
| JOB DESCRIPTION | AVERAGE COST |
|---|---|
| Standard window sill replacement | £140-£220 |
| Severely rotted window sill and frame replacement | £250-£500 |
| Sash window sill replacement | £150-£340 |
| Bay window sill replacement | £160-£280 |
| Edwardian bay window stone sill replacement | £3,000-£4,500 |
| Concrete window sill replacement | £120-£220 |
- How Much to Replace a Window Sill?
- What are the Supply Costs for a Window Sill Replacement?
- What are the Additional Costs of Replacing a Window Sill?
- Tradesmen Costs for Window Sill Replacement
- How Long Does It Take to Replace a Window Sill?
- Types of Window Sill Materials
- How Much Does It Cost to Remove a Window Sill?
- FAQs
What are the Supply Costs for a Window Sill Replacement?
If you are interested in replacing your window sill as a DIY project, then you may be wondering about the costs of the supplies only, without the cost of labour for the project.
The cost of supplies will depend mostly on the type of window sill material used and the size of the window sill.
The table below shows the average prices for replacing an average-sized window sill based on various materials.
| SUPPLY MATERIAL | AVERAGE COST |
|---|---|
| PVC window sill replacement | £20-£80 |
| Wooden timber window sill replacement | £60-£130 |
| Concrete window sill replacement | £30-£100 |
| Stone window sill replacement | £800-£2,500 |
Most people will opt to replace their window sill with a new sill in the same material as the old one.
This is because most people will want their new window sill to match up with the other window sills in their home.
Plus, it’s also much easier to replace a window sill with a like-for-like window sill.
What are the Additional Costs of Replacing a Window Sill?
When it comes to replacing your window sills, there are several additional costs that you may need to budget for with this type of work.
Below is a list of the additional costs you may need to consider when getting your window sills replaced.
Replacing Window Trims
When replacing a window sill, the surrounding trim, both inside and out, can often be affected. In many cases, the existing trim may not align properly with the new window sill or could be damaged during the removal process. Older trims might also be brittle, warped, or secured in a way that makes it difficult to salvage without breaking.
To ensure a neat and professional look, it’s often necessary to replace or re-cut the trim to match the new sill. This helps to create clean lines, hide any gaps, and blend the sill seamlessly into the existing window frame and wall.
Double Glazing Windows Installation
When you get your window sills replaced, this might also be a great time for you to have the windows in your home replaced with new double glazed windows.
This should definitely be considered if your window frames or glass panes are damaged. New windows would not only improve the look of your property but also improve its energy efficiency.
The average cost of replacing all of the windows in your home with new double-glazing windows is around £250-£900 per window.
Replastering Walls
Wall damage around the window is quite common during a sill replacement, especially in older homes where plaster may already be fragile or cracked. Removing the old sill or trim can expose issues such as:
- Uneven Edges
- Chipped Plaster
- Small Holes
To restore your wall to a smooth finish, patching the plaster is often necessary. This may involve filling gaps, sanding the area, and blending the repair with the existing wall surface.
A patch repair job completed by a plasterer would on average cost between £70 - £130.
Painting and Decorating
If you are replacing the interior window sills in your home, you may wish to consider painting and decorating some of the rooms in your house to improve their appearance.
The average price for painting a room is usually around £180-£600. If you would prefer to add wallpaper to your walls, this will usually cost around £180-£600.
Tradesmen Costs for Window Sill Replacement
If you have already purchased the materials or if you would prefer to source the materials yourself, you may be curious about the cost of hiring a contractor alone without the expense of the materials.
The price you pay for a contractor to come and replace your window sills will depend mostly upon your location in the UK. For a typical window sill replacement, you can expect to pay a contractor around £60-£80 in total for the job.
If the job is more complex or if it requires work with heavy materials such as concrete, the work may take longer, and so the labour costs will increase according to the additional time needed for the work.
If you are based in London, you can expect to pay around 10-25% more for the cost of labour than those based in the North or other parts of the UK. This is true for any type of work that you have done on your home in this area.
If you are replacing stone windows, you will need to hire a stonemason to complete the work for you. This will cost much more than a typical replacement. A stonemason will typically charge around £150-£300 per day for their work.
How Long Does It Take to Replace a Window Sill?
When you need to get your window sill replaced, you may also be curious about the length of time this work will take. The timescales will vary depending on two major factors:
- The type of window sill that is being replaced
- The number of window sills that need to be replaced
On average, you can expect it to take around 1-2 hours to complete just one window sill replacement. If the window sill is made from very heavy materials such as stone, the timescales may increase as these sills can be much more difficult to install.
If you want to replace all of the window sills in your home, this will usually take around 1-3 days, depending on the size of your home, the number of window sills to be replaced, and the materials being used.
Types of Window Sill Materials
When it comes to replacing window sills, most people will choose to replace their current window sill with the same type, since that will most likely match up with the other window sills in the home.
However, if you’re interested in replacing multiple or all of the window sills in the home, you may be interested in choosing a different window sill material.
Below, we will take a look at the different materials that you can choose for a window sill and the pros and cons of each type.
Wooden Window Sills
If you prefer the appearance of traditional timber windows, you will most probably like a wood window sill replacement.
Modern wood window sills have long-lasting waterproof layers that help to protect them from moisture. However, these are best used on internal window sills rather than on the outside of the home.
Pros
- Traditional appearance
- Waterproof layers for long-lasting protection
- Great for internal windows
Cons
- Not a great option for external windows
Tile Window Sills
In some older houses and cottages, you may find tile window sills. These types of window sills are stylish and most commonly found in kitchens and bathrooms.
One of the main benefits of tile window sills is that you can choose from a range of tiles, and you have the freedom to choose various colours and designs to suit your needs and to help increase the aesthetic appearance of the room.
Pros
- Great for bathrooms and kitchens
- Choice of various colours and designs
- Very stylish
- Very protective and waterproof
Cons
- It may not look great in other rooms of the home
- Not really suitable for outdoor window sills
Stone Window Sills
Many older brick and stone buildings still have natural stone window sills. These are very durable and long-lasting. Plus, they nicely blend in well with the whole interior and exterior of the home.
They also don’t require any special maintenance or repairs. The only issue with these window sills is that they tend to be very expensive in comparison to other window sill materials.
Pros
- Very durable
- Long-lasting material
- They blend in well with the interior and exterior of the home
- Low maintenance option apart from occasional resealing
Cons
- Very expensive option
Metal Window Sills
Aluminium is very affordable, so this is one of the reasons why metal window sills are very popular these days. They're durable and quite easy to install.
Many modern metal sill systems now include noise-dampening features, especially in residential installations, to reduce the noise made when raining.
Pros
- Very affordable option
- Popular option
- Great for exterior window sills
- Quite easy to install
Cons
- Drumming sounds from raindrops may become irritating
PVC Window Sills
Plastic PVC window sills are great because they can come in various styles and colours. During the production process, PVC window sills can achieve a marble, natural stone, or wooden appearance, so you can easily find a window sill that suits the appearance of your home.
At the same time, these window sills are very resistant to mould and scratches. Plus, they have waterproof protection, making them great for both internal and external window sills.
Pros
- Various styles and colours to choose from
- Can imitate marble, natural stone, or wood
- Resistant to mould and scratches
- Waterproof properties
- Great for both internal and external windows
- Easy to install
Cons
- Can warp and discolour over time
How Much Does It Cost to Remove a Window Sill?
If you are not happy with the appearance of your window sills, you may be interested in the costs involved with removing a window sill.
While internal sill removal may be manageable as a DIY task, external window sills or structural sills should be removed by a professional to avoid damage.
Hiring a professional will ensure that the work is completed correctly and the removal is completely clean.
Most contractors will also take care of the waste removal for you as part of the overall price for the removal.
The average cost to hire a contractor to remove your window sills is around £20-£30 per hour. The overall price will depend on the number of window sills that need to be removed.
On average, it takes around one hour to remove one window sill, so if you are planning on having all of the window sills in your home removed, you can see how the labour costs for this can add up.
FAQs
Q: What is the best window sill material?
A: This will depend entirely on your aim. Natural stone is the best, most durable, and longest-lasting type of window sill.
However, this is also a very expensive option, so if you're planning on replacing all of the window sills in your home, the overall price for stone window sills can be extremely high.
If you are looking for cheap, reliable window sills, the best option here would be to choose PVC window sills as these are waterproof, easy to install and maintain and come in a range of styles and colours.
Q: Can I install stone window sills myself?
A: If you have natural stone window sills in your home that need to be replaced, you will have a very costly job on your hands. You can't simply complete this as a DIY project. You will need to hire a stonemason to carry out the work for you, and this type of work doesn't come cheap.
Q: Can you repair a rotted window sill?
A: This will depend upon how extensive the rot is. If there is just a small patch of localised rot, you can usually fix this up with an epoxy repair kit. However, if more than 10% of the window sill is rotting, then you will have to replace the entire window sill.
Q: How do I know if my window sill needs to be repaired or replaced?
A: The first thing you will need to do is to check whether there are any signs of rot on the window sill.
This may indicate some damage that needs to be repaired or replaced. If you have water or damp problems inside your home, this can also be a sign of problems with your window sills.
Q: What is involved with a window sill repair?
A: There are several different methods of repairing a damaged window sill. The method used will depend on what the problem is. A skilled repair specialist will cut the rotten face of the wood back.
Where possible, repair specialists may use wood splicing or filler to restore minor damage, though full replacement is often necessary for extensive rot. The corners of the window sill can be strengthened using angle brackets made from stainless steel.
If there is a problem with the joints of the window sills, these can simply be re-glued as needed.
Q: How long does it take to complete a window sill repair rather than a replacement?
A: The length of time that it takes to complete a window sill repair will depend on what the problem is with your window sill.
Plus, it will also depend on whether the window sill can be repaired where it is or whether it will need to be removed and repaired off-site.
If you just need some small repairs on the window sill, these repairs may take anywhere from 30 minutes up to one hour. The more extensive the damage is, the longer the repair job will take.
