Can you replace windows in winter?

How long the opening stands open

This is the main worry, and the least serious one. Replacing one window takes an hour to an hour and a half on average: the old one comes out, the new one goes in, the foam sets. The opening is actually open for about twenty minutes of that, and only in one room, not the whole flat.

The door to that room is kept closed meanwhile, and the temperature in the rest of the flat barely changes. If there are several windows, they are replaced one at a time, not all at once.

What temperatures it can be done in

Installation foam and sealants are designed for a set temperature range, and winter formulations go well below zero. The limit is set less by the calendar than by the weather: hard frost with wind, or wet snow, is a reason to move the date, while minus five and dry is a normal working day.

In practice the fitter decides on site, on the morning of the day. If conditions are not right, the job is rescheduled. That is normal and does not affect the price.

What is done differently in winter

• Winter-grade foam and sealants are used.
• The frame and glass unit are allowed to warm up before fitting: cold PVC is stiffer and more brittle if knocked.
• The opening is kept open no longer than necessary, so preparation is done in advance, before the old window comes out.
• Interior finishing is sometimes left for a second visit if the material used needs to dry above freezing.

Why winter is not a bad time to order

Window replacement season in Estonia is spring and summer, and the queue is longer then. In winter the time from order to installation is usually shorter, simply because fewer people are asking.

There is a practical reason too: every problem shows up at once. In summer you will not feel whether a joint is draughty. In January you notice it the first evening, and you can raise it straight away rather than six months later.

We work all year round across Estonia. Measuring is free: +372 5555 1682.