How Much Does it Cost to Fit a Bay Window?

Job	Description	Labour
1	Replace an existing window with a flat roofed “square” bay which will have a lead roof and PVCu windows. The foundation will not be problem and a new gulley isn’t necessary. The inside will be finished ready for decoration and carpeting, with an insulated concrete floor. This will take 2 men 5 days.	£1375
	Plus materials, tipping, professional fees etc for the above	£2000
1a	If you want a pitched tiled roof add	£400
1b	If you want an angled or semi-circular bay add	£250
2	To construct job 1 where no window currently exists. This will take 2 men 8 days and will need a structural engineer’s services.	£2200
	Plus materials, tipping, professional fees etc for the above	£2350
3	Remove an existing bay and fit a new “normal” UPVc window. This will take 2 men 5 days.	£1375
	Plus materials, tipping, professional fees etc for the above	£900

“Labour” at £175 a day (tradesman) £100 (labourer), includes incidental fixings etc. and tipping charges. “Materials” if mentioned, are larger things (a boiler) and stuff only you can choose (tiles etc). Also VAT must be added all round.

Information Sheet on Fitting a Bay Window

My house has a bay window. I live in a smallish house and it nearly fronts right up to the road. At the back it has a big, old barn in the garden with a view to die for. It’s all located in a quiet and friendly little stone village which is a considerable distance from my ex-wives. The bay window is the best feature of all because it allows me to stand in its wonderful field of vision and see what’s going on in the world. And I’m very pleased to say that’s not very much! Oh, and incidentally, the bay window also adds space and light to the room.

If you want a bay window, think about the following…

Will it be downstairs only or will you go the whole hog and include a similar window upstairs? Of course, the two storey option will come with consequently increased cost. Perhaps double? Other cost considerations include the type of roof you choose. For example, will it be pitched or flat? Likewise the shape of the bay window which could be semi-circular, angled or “square”?

To a certain extent, aesthetics will also affect cost. For example, do you want it’s windows match the rest of the house? Do you want the new masonry/brickwork to match the rest of the house?

The job will involve removing an existing (front) window and the masonry beneath but you may be able to re-use the existing lintel, thus saving a bit of money. However, if you want a wider opening, fitting a wider lintel will cost a fair bit. It may need planning permission and it will have to be overseen by a building control surveyor. The result of the combined cost for these two services may add around £400 to your total bill.

If you have a flat roof consider having it leaded. It costs more of course but lasts forever. If a pitched roof, try and match it to the main roof covering. Almost certainly, Building Control will want the new roof’s rainwater to end up in a gulley (drain) and not just empty onto the garden. If you have to fit a new one it could be expensive.

We have an article on this very subject!

FAQs 'traffic light' guide

What's easy about this job…
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Easy enough for a specialist firm.

What's tricky about this job…
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Supporting the floor /bricksabove.

Potential problems with regards to this job…
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I've seen the wall above a removed bay collapse because a team of amateurs didn't support it.