Rip off glaziers?

[A.T.]

Dear all,

I need to replace a misted DG unit in a wooden frame. The unit is fairly small (550x500mm) and, unless I'm missing something, the job appears simple, namely:

o remove beading o remove old pane o set sealed unit in silicone o replace beading

Am I missing something? I ask because of the prices being quoted for the job - c. £200 and each glazier I've spoken to has quoted within £20 of this price. I was quite stunned - so I assumed that the unit itself is expensive. But I've just been told that I can get one for about £20. Last single pane I had replaced of a similar size cost about £60 including the glass and the job took the glazier about 30 mins. So, £180 for about an hour's labour incl measuring up. Even call it 2 hours - £90 an hour. Hmmm.

Why such a difference in price between single and double glazing in a wooden frame? I rather suspect rip-off Britain at work.

TIme to do the job myself I think. Unless someone can tell me there's more to it than I think.

Assuming I do it myself, what tolerance is prudent to allow in the measurements for the unit - is it simply measure the frame (less beading) and subtract 2 mm all round?

A.

[David W.E. Roberts]

Where abouts are you? I could point you to a specialist double glazing maintainer in Suffolk who does this a lot cheaper. I would expect you to pay nearer £80 for this - you should get a complete new window for £200. [Check on this - just for info. - if you can get a complete new window for the same price then this may be a bargaining point] Disclaimer - the sealed units we have had replaced have been in UPVC; don't know if the wooden frame makes it more difficult. Cheers Dave R

[Peter Crosland]

Sealed unit made of two panes of glass sealed together and filled with inert gas. The machinery to make it costs money.

[e-mail]

[A.T.]

West of Scotland.

That's what I was expecting. Perhaps they regard it as not worth getting out of bed for. I gave up on ringing round glaziers after getting my 6th £200 quote and asked the last one how much just to get the unit (£20) since I can't see anything complicated about the job or that needs specialised tools.

Thanks

A.

[A.T.]

I appreciate that but I've been quoted £20 for the sealed unit alone.

[Jimbo]

"Peter Crosland" wrote in news:bgdoqp$n7k$ [e-mail]:

except it's rarely inert gas, usually just workshop air. if you want argon it's £50 a window more...

[David W.E. Roberts]

One final suggestion - as it is summer (hah!) you could save yourself some potential grief on the sizing if you took out the old unit, (or at least removed the retaining strips etc.) and measured up exactly. If you expose or remove/refit the old unit this will give you exact measurements, a trial run at replacing a unit, and hopefully not too may problems with a potentially less than weather proof window.

HTH Dave R

[Nozza]

Hi A.T.

I've just had two replacement sealed units fitted, s the originals had misted up. Windows were each about 100cm x 45cm. Total cost was £90 including fitting - that's 45 quid per unit.

Received advice in this group - read thread on google

Watched glazier measure up, and noted he measured the depth of the glass as well - using a "scissor-like" device.

HTH

Noz

[Essjay001]

Yes but production cost are about £20 a sq mtr for a double glazed unit.(non gas filled)