Replacement Sash and Case Windows Edinburgh

Timber · Conservation-compliant · Fixed price

Replacement sash and case windows in Edinburgh are the right answer when more than 60% of the existing window has rotted, the box has gone, or you're starting from a previous owner's badly-fitted uPVC reversal. We replace like-for-like in seasoned softwood or accoya — matched sightlines, matched mouldings, modern argon-filled double glazing inside — and we handle the conservation prior-approval or Listed Building Consent as part of the project.

When restoration isn't viable, we replace like-for-like in seasoned softwood or accoya — same sightlines, modern glazing. Call 0800 193 1505 or request a fixed-price survey.

When replacement is the right call

We always quote repair or restoration first because it's almost always cheaper and keeps the original character. Replacement is the right call when the sashes and the box are more than 60% rotten; when a previous owner has installed uPVC and you want to put the property back to traditional; when the window has been so badly modified that the original sightlines have been lost; or when you want full-thickness double glazing (28mm units) rather than the slim-line 12–14mm units that fit an original sash.

Timber options — softwood, accoya and hardwood

Seasoned European redwood softwood with a breathable linseed-oil paint system is the heritage-standard option — the same material as the original, repainted every 12–15 years. Accoya (modified softwood) is the long-life option — 50-year above-ground rot warranty, dimensionally stable, takes paint beautifully, around 25% more expensive. We don't recommend hardwood sashes in Edinburgh because the heavier weight needs the cast-iron weights re-balanced, which adds cost without performance gain.

Glazing — slim-line or full-thickness double glazed

Replacement gives you the option to step up from the slim-line 12–14mm units that fit an original rebate to a full-thickness 24–28mm warm-edge unit with krypton fill. Centre-pane U-value drops to around 1.0 W/m²K — better than most modern casement windows. On conservation streets we still use slim-line because the deeper glazing bar changes the streetscape; on rear elevations we use full-thickness.

Conservation prior approval and Listed Building Consent

Since May 2024, replacing windows on the principal or road-facing elevation of any property in an Edinburgh conservation area triggers a £252 prior-approval application with the council. On a listed building (Category A, B or C) it's a full Listed Building Consent application. We handle both — including the drawings, the heritage statement and the case-officer correspondence — as part of the project, with no separate fee.

Edinburgh property types we replace most often

We replace sashes most often in New Town and Stockbridge Georgian terraces, Marchmont and Bruntsfield Victorian tenements, the Grange and Morningside Edwardian villas, Polwarth and Gorgie Edwardian colony houses, and post-war private estates in Corstorphine and Cammo where the windows have reached end-of-life. Each property type has slightly different glazing bar and sightline conventions; we draft a like-for-like specification before quoting.

Typical Edinburgh replacement prices per window (2026)

ItemPriceNotes
Softwood like-for-like replacement, slim-line double-glazed£1,895
Accoya replacement, slim-line double-glazed (50-yr rot warranty)£2,395
Softwood replacement, full-thickness double-glazed (rear elevation)£1,795
Bay window — pair of sashes in 3-pane bayfrom £5,295
Listed Building Consent / Prior Approval handlingIncluded

Frequently asked questions

Do I need planning permission to replace sash windows in Edinburgh?
On a listed building (Category A, B or C), yes — Listed Building Consent. In a conservation area on a principal or road-facing elevation, yes — prior approval (£252 application, 28-day decision) since May 2024. On a rear elevation in a non-conservation area, usually no consent is needed. We confirm the status before quoting.
Are uPVC sash windows allowed in conservation areas?
Almost never on a principal elevation in any Edinburgh conservation area. uPVC is sometimes accepted on rear elevations of non-listed conservation-area properties, but timber is the heritage-standard answer and what most case officers will approve first.
How long does a full replacement take?
From sign-off, expect 8–10 weeks for the windows to be made (longer for accoya), then 2–3 days per window on site. A typical 6-window flat is around 10 working days on site once the windows arrive.
Do you work across all Edinburgh postcodes?
Yes — every EH postcode from EH1 to EH17 plus EH28, EH29 and EH30. We also cover Midlothian, East Lothian and West Lothian for sash and case work.
Is Heatscape the joiner, or do you sub-contract?
Heatscape manages the project: we survey your sashes, write a fixed-price scope and the work is carried out by vetted heritage joiners, glaziers and window installers from our partner network. You always know who's working on your property before they arrive.

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