How Much Does It Cost to Replace Window Springs
Window repair can extend the life of windows, delaying the need for replacement. How much does window repair cost? There are many potential repairs, and they all come with a unique price range. Below is an overview table showing you the average cost to repair windows, examining different aspects of the window repair cost. However, please note that on occassion a window replacement is more cost effective than repairing and in this instance you should view our house window prices page for a full breakdown of prices by type and by brand.
| Repair | Pro Cost | DIY Cost | DIY Difficulty 1-5 |
| Pane Replacement | $115 – $600 | $23 – $97 | 2 |
| Replace Window Locks | $75 – $200 | $7 – $40 | 1 |
| Repairing Window Seal | $50 – $150 | $10 – $25 | 3 |
| Replacing 2-pane Assembly | $135 – $350+ | $225 – $485 | 4+ |
| Replacing Window Sash | $250 – $500+ | $100 – $400+ | 2 |
| Installing Sash Kit | $225 – $400+ | $150 – $300+ | 3 |
Typical Window Repairs
Let's look at common window repairs, what they entail and the cost factors for each.
Cost of Replacing a Broken Windowpane
This is the most common repair. It is not a surprise because there are so many ways to break a window – balls, wind-blown objects and even the settling of a home can cause window glass to break.
Cost: Window broken glass repair cost is $115 – $475 for a window and up to $600 for a sliding glass door. Breaking it down:
- Single pane of a window: $115 to $235
- Two panes of a window: $190 to $360
- Replacing Low-E glass: $335 to $475
- Adding argon gas to a double-pane window: Extra $100 to $150
- Large fixed/picture window: $300 to $435
- Sliding glass door: $425 to $600
Factors Affecting the Cost
Size: The larger the window, the more the repair will cost. This is especially true if a second person is required to handle a very large piece of glass.
Location: Second-story window repairs, if they are done onsite rather than by taking a window sash to a repair shop, cost more than first-floor glass repair.
On-site on in a shop: If you remove the window sash and take it to the repairer, the cost will be lower than if the repair technician comes to your home.
Glazed windows: Glazing is the term often used for the glass itself. However, we're talking about the hard putty that holds the glass panes in place on older windows. These windows are easier to repair, so cost is lower, than when the window glass edges are concealed inside the frame.
Wood windows with molding: A few older windows use wood molding strips to hold the glass instead of putty. The molding is glue and/or nailed. Once the molding is removed, the broken glass is easily taken out. Damaging the molding – or it is rotted – will require replacement of the molding and a higher cost.
Windows with glass edges concealed in the frame: On a wood window, the corners are joined – often glued and nailed or stapled. On a vinyl window, the corners are fused, as you can tell by the thin bead.
Costs for window glass repair when the glass is concealed is 25% to 33% higher because the repair is more time-consuming. There's quite a lot of disassembly and reassembly required.
DIY Option and Cost
Repairing a window with putty/glazing or wood molding is easier than repairing a window with concealed pane edges.
Premixed glazing compound costs $5-$7.50 per tube. A putty knife goes for about $3 for plastic or $6-$10 for metal. The glass pane will cost $15 to $80 depending on its size. Protective gloves, thick boots and eye protection should also be worn.
This video shows vinyl window repair including the techniques and tools needed.
We recommend that you hire a pro for window repair when the glass edges are concealed. If you watched the video, you'll understand why we make this suggestion.
Cost of Replacing Window Locks
Locks, aka latches, wear out over time. Or, you might simply want to update the look of your windows and sliding glass door with contemporary hardware.
Cost: Here are the costs when hiring a window specialist or handyman when you supply the lock:
- $75-$200 for the first lock, with a national average of $65
- $35-$100 for each additional lock, with a national average of $44
DIY Option and Cost
This is a relatively easy repair. Most locks or latches are screwed into place. Remove the screws and the latch, and install the new one. The job is slightly more difficult if the holes for the new latch do not line up with the existing holes. The holes should be filled with wood putty. Once the putty hardens, new holes can be marked.
Pro Tip: It is recommended that you drill pilot holes for the new screws. Pilot holes reduce the risk of the wood frame or vinyl cracking or splitting when the new screws are installed. The drill bit diameter should be slightly smaller than the diameter of the screw.
Window latches range from a few dollars to more than $200 for solid brass, high-end options. That's not a joke! Most window locks range from about $8 to $15 per lock. Latches for a sliding glass door cost $18 to $40 depending on the style and quality.
Cost of Repairing a Seal / Cost of Defogging a Window
The seals on window glass can fail. Moisture creeps between the panes, bringing moisture with it, and the window fogs up.
There are gimmicky ways to do this, such as using a Dremel tool to drill small holes through one pane of glass, one near the top of the window and one near the bottom. You then use a blow dryer and heat the glass, causing the moisture to evaporate and exit the two holes. Once the fog is gone, the holes are sealed – or should be. This might be a short-term fix, but it doesn't repair the seal. We share this technique, because you'll surely see it if you look for a how-to video on defogging a window.
Cost: The best approach is to remove the window sash and take it to a window specialist, or for a higher cost, have the specialist come to your home.
- Take the sash to a shop for repair: $50-$90 per window
- Have a specialist come to your home to do the repair: $80-$150 for the first window. $65-$125 for additional windows.
- Replacing the double-pane assembly (see below): $225-$485
Older windows: The repair is made in older windows by taking one pane of glass out using the techniques mentioned above for broken glass. The moisture between the panes is dried, and the inside of the panes is cleaned. The pane is re-installed, and the window is sealed with silicone or other sealant.
Newer windows: They often have a two-pane glass assembly that is simply replaced as a unit.
Factors Affecting the Cost
Size: The larger the window, especially if two people have to handle it, the higher the cost.
Re-sealing vs. Replacing: As you can see above, if the window can be resealed, cost is lower than if the double-pane assembly is replaced, as shown in this video.
DIY Option and Cost
Most homeowners don't want to touch this job for fear of doing more damage to the window rather than effectively repairing it.
Sealing an older window using the technique described is time consuming, but costs as little as $10 for a tube of silicone sealant and a putty knife.
Replacing a double-pane assembly involves taking the window apart, switching out the assembly and re-assembling the window. It's more difficult and can lead to a damaged frame and the need for complete window replacement. Assemblies range from $135 to more than $350.
Cost of Replacing a Window Sash
If the frame of a sash breaks, it is possible to replace the sash. This is actually an easy repair. Order a new sash. When it arrives, switch out the broken sash.
A more difficult repair, but one that might save money if you DIY is to replace the sash using a sash kit. They are not available for all windows .
Cost: Here's what you'll pay for the sash and professional installation.
- Complete sash replacement: $250-$500 for common window sizes.
- Sash kit installation: $225-$450 or more for the first one. Additional kits installed during the same visit will cost 10% to 25% less.
There's not much difference in total cost due to the higher labor cost of assembling a sash kit.
Factors Affecting the Cost
They are similar to those for the other repairs – Window size, window type (single or double-hung, casement, sliding, etc.), whether the repair is made in a shop or onsite.
DIY Option and Cost
Removing a sash and installing a new one takes as little as 10 minutes. A sash kit will require an hour or more the first time you do it, less when you have experience.
Sashes cost less than $100 to more than $400 based on the cost factors mentioned. Window size and type are the primary factors.
Sash kits aren't made for very small windows, so starting cost is higher. Expect to pay $150-$300 for sash kits for the most common window sizes.
The biggest issue is whether a sash or sash kit is available for your window. If not, a custom sash might be required for a wood window. If the window is vinyl or fiberglass, replacement of the whole window is necessary.
How Much Does It Cost to Replace Window Springs
Source: https://windowpriceguide.com/prices/window-repair-cost