The 'Fully Fitted' Price Is Only Half the Story: Decoding a Window Quote

Three quotes land on your kitchen table. All say 'fully fitted'. One is two grand cheaper. It is tempting to pick the lowest number and move on, but a window quote is not a single price — it is a collection of promises. Some of those promises are written down. Some are quietly left out.

Here is how to decode a quote before the deposit goes down.

'Supply' is not the same as 'supply and fit'

Start with the basics. A quote may say 'supply only' and leave you to find a fitter. It may say 'supply and fit' but exclude removal of the old windows. It may say 'fully fitted' and still class making good, scaffolding or certification as extras.

The phrase 'fully fitted' has no legal definition. It means whatever the installer wants it to mean. Your job is to make it mean something specific.

The line items that make or break a quote

Ask for an itemised breakdown, not a single lump sum. The quote should show:

• Removal of existing windows and doors. Who takes them out, and who repairs any damage caused during removal?
• Disposal. Old uPVC, glass and timber need to go somewhere legal. Ask for the waste carrier licence number if you want to check.
• Making good. This is the big one. Does the price include plastering, rendering, sealing and internal trim? Or does it stop at 'install only'?
• VAT. Is the price inclusive or exclusive? A quote that looks cheap before VAT can jump by 20% at the bottom.
• FENSA or Competent Person Scheme registration. Replacement windows and doors normally need to comply with Building Regulations. Ask who registers the work and who pays for the certificate.
• Scaffolding. For upstairs windows, scaffolding or a tower may be needed. Is it included, or is it 'if required' at extra cost?
• Window boards and cills. Are these included, and what material? MDF, hardwood and uPVC have different costs and finishes.
• Trickle vents. Many replacement windows need background ventilation. Check they are included and not added later as an extra.
• Handles, locks and ironmongery. Standard handles may be included; colour-matched or security upgrades may not.
• Access and parking. If the fitter needs a permit or cannot park nearby, who pays?
• Warranty. How long is it, what does it cover, and is it insurance-backed?

Phrases that should make you pause

Some wording is normal. Some wording is a warning light. Slow down when you see:

• 'From £X' — a from price is not a quote. Ask for a fixed price for your actual property.
• 'Standard installation' — ask what standard means. It often excludes anything awkward, high or old.
• 'Making good not included' — fine if you know it, expensive if you do not.
• 'VAT excluded' — always compare the VAT-inclusive total.
• 'Scaffolding if required' — ask who decides if it is required, and what it will cost.
• 'Subject to survey' — surveys are normal, but ask whether the price can change after the survey and by how much.
• 'We will beat any quote' — a promise to beat a number is not the same as a like-for-like quote.
• 'Deposit required upfront' — check what protection you have if the company stops trading.

The comparison list to send to every installer

Before you accept any 'fully fitted' price, ask each company for the same five things:

1. An itemised quote that separates supply, fitting, removal, disposal, making good, scaffolding, VAT and certification.
2. Their VAT number and FENSA or Competent Person Scheme number. Check them.
3. Public liability insurance and waste carrier licence details. A legitimate installer should not mind being asked.
4. A sample contract and payment schedule. Avoid paying the full balance before the work is complete and signed off.
5. The warranty terms in writing. Check the length, what is covered, and whether it transfers if you sell the house.

A five-minute check before you sign

Put the quotes side by side and compare the totals including VAT. Check that each quote includes the same glass specification, the same number of windows, the same handles and the same making good. A cheaper quote is only cheaper if it includes the same work.

Also check who is responsible for Building Regulations compliance. FENSA registration is not a magic wand — it is one route to showing the work complies. Ask for the certificate and keep it with your house papers.

A good installer will welcome these questions. A bad one will get defensive. Either way, you learn something useful before the deposit leaves your account.