What happens at a window survey

A window survey is a short visit — usually 30 to 60 minutes for an average home — during which a surveyor measures your windows precisely and inspects the surrounding structure. It’s the point in the quote process where guesswork ends and a genuine, standable-behind price begins.

What the surveyor actually checks

• Exact measurements of every opening, top to bottom and side to side, allowing for walls that aren’t perfectly square.
• The condition of frames, sills and lintels — any rot, movement or damage that affects fitting.
• How the windows open now and how you’d like them to open in future.
• Access and safety — upstairs windows, awkward corners, scaffolding needs.
• Building Regulations points such as ventilation, fire-escape openings and glazing near doors.

How to prepare

You don’t need to do much, but a few things help. Clear access to each window, move blinds or heavy curtains aside, and jot down anything you’ve noticed — draughts, condensation, a latch that sticks. If you’ve already had an online estimate, have it to hand so you can see how the surveyed price compares.

Good questions to ask on the day

• What frame material and glazing spec are you recommending, and why?
• Is the fitting covered by a FENSA or CERTASS registration?
• What guarantee comes with the windows, and is it insurance-backed?
• How long from order to installation?
• Will you make good the plaster and finish around the frames?

Jotting the answers down makes it far easier to compare installers later. For a broader primer on the language you’ll hear, this guide to what to expect from a window quote, jargon and all is a handy companion.

Once the survey is done, you’ll receive your written quote. Our guide to understanding a window quote line by line helps you read it with confidence.