Crittall Window Repair: Glass, Handles and Hinges on Steel Windows

Crittall-style steel windows have very slim frames and a lot of character, and most of them are worth keeping. When something goes wrong it is usually the glass, a handle, a stay or a hinge rather than the steel itself. Mark repairs the glass and hardware in existing steel windows, so the window keeps its original look and starts working properly again. We work on the windows you already have; we don't make or fit new steel frames.

Cracked and broken panes reglazed
Handles, stays and fasteners replaced
Stiff hinges freed and adjusted
Fixed price confirmed before any work starts
Send a photo or call

Older steel windows were usually single glazed, with the glass bedded in putty against the steel rebate and held with small clips. A cracked pane is taken out, the old putty cleared, and new glass bedded and puttied back in. It's slow, careful work, because the slim steel sections leave little room and the old putty can be very hard. Some steel windows from later years have thin double glazed units held with beads instead, and these are replaced in the same way as any other sealed unit, provided the unit fits the rebate depth.

Handles and stays wear out on steel windows just as they do on any other. Cockspur handles, the lever fasteners that pull the casement tight, can snap, work loose or stop gripping. Peg stays and friction stays, which hold the window open, bend or lose their grip. Replacement handles and stays are fitted to the existing fixing points where possible, so you don't end up with extra holes drilled into old steel.

Steel hinges are often the reason a window won't open or close. Years of paint and a bit of rust can lock a hinge solid, and forcing it can crack the glass or bend the casement. Freeing a seized hinge means cleaning it out, working it carefully and lubricating it, so the casement swings freely again. Where a casement has dropped and catches the frame, the hinges and fasteners are adjusted so it closes evenly.

Some steel windows have gone too far. Rust that has eaten through a section of frame, or a casement bent badly out of shape, needs a steel window specialist to repair or replace the steel itself. Mark will tell you plainly if that's the case, rather than reglazing a frame that won't hold. For wooden windows and single panes in timber, see our timber window repairs and single glazing repairs pages.

Getting a steel window repaired starts with a couple of photos. Show the whole window and a close-up of the problem, whether that's a cracked pane, a snapped handle or a hinge that won't move. Mark will say whether the part can be matched, whether the glass can be reglazed in place, and give a fixed price confirmed before any work starts. Steel windows covered include casements, fixed lights and fanlights across Central London and out to the M25.

How the repair works

1. Send a photo A photo of the whole window and a close-up of the broken glass or handle helps Mark judge the job.
2. Fixed price You get a fixed price confirmed before any work starts.
3. Repair Glass reglazed, hardware replaced or hinges freed, then the window opened and closed to check it.

Frequently asked questions

Can old Crittall windows be repaired?

Often, yes. Broken glass, worn handles, bent stays and stiff hinges can usually be repaired while keeping the original steel frames. If the steel itself has rusted through, that needs a steel window specialist.

Can you put new glass in steel windows?

Yes. Single panes are reglazed in putty, and beaded double glazed units can be replaced where the rebate has room. Mark checks the frame first and confirms what will fit.

Are you connected to the Crittall company?

No. We are an independent glazier and repair the glass and hardware on existing Crittall-style steel windows, whoever made them.