Window Frame Repair in London: Beads, Corners and Sashes Put Right

A damaged window frame doesn't always mean a new window. Many frame problems are in parts that can be repaired or replaced on their own: a split glazing bead, a sash that has pulled out of square, a cracked corner on an opening sash, a worn section of timber, or damage around the lock after someone has tried to force the window. Mark repairs existing uPVC, aluminium and timber frames so the window keeps working, and tells you plainly when a frame is past repair.

Glazing beads replaced and refitted
Sashes reset square and rehung
Worn timber parts repaired
Fixed price confirmed before any work starts
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Beading is the most common frame repair. Glazing beads are the strips that hold the glass or sealed unit in the frame. On uPVC windows they clip in, and they can crack, warp or go brittle with age and sunlight, especially if they have been levered out carelessly in the past. A split or missing bead lets water in around the glass and makes the window less secure, because beads are what stop the glass being pushed out. New beads are cut to length and clipped in to match.

A sash that has pulled out of square no longer closes evenly. It may be because the glazing packers have slipped, the hinges are worn, or the sash has been forced. Resetting the packers under the glass and replacing worn hinges brings the sash back into shape, so it seals and locks properly again. On timber casements the corner joints can open up, and these can often be re-secured where the timber is sound.

After a forced entry, the damage is usually around the handle and locking points: torn keeps, a bent sash edge, a cracked bead or a shattered pane. The glass is made safe first, boarded if needed, subject to availability. Then the damaged hardware and beads are replaced and the sash checked for distortion. Where the sash or frame has been bent too far, Mark will say so before any money is spent.

Some frames can't be saved. A uPVC frame cracked right through a main section, an aluminium frame that has corroded through, or timber with rot running deep into the frame are beyond repair. Replacing a whole window is a job for a window installer, and Mark will be straight with you about that rather than patching something that won't last. Our guide on whether to repair or replace your windows explains how to weigh it up.

How the repair works

1. Photo of the damage A close-up of the damaged area and one of the whole window helps Mark judge the repair.
2. Honest assessment If it can be repaired, you get a fixed price confirmed before work starts. If not, you're told.
3. Repair Beads, hardware or timber sections repaired, the sash squared, and the window tested.

Frequently asked questions

Can a cracked uPVC window frame be repaired?

It depends where the crack is. Cracked beads and damaged opening sashes can often be repaired or their parts replaced. A crack right through the main outer frame usually can't be repaired reliably.

Can you repair a frame damaged in a break-in?

Often, yes. Damaged keeps, handles, beads and glass are replaced, and the sash is checked for distortion. If it has been bent too far to seal and lock, Mark will tell you before work starts.

Do you fit new windows if the frame can't be repaired?

No. We repair existing windows. If the frame is past repair, a replacement window is the job for a window installer, though we can make the opening safe in the meantime.