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What are the costs attached to government retrofit ambitions for housing?

Words:
Nicola Sharkey

As the new administration lays out its decarbonisation agenda, Nicola Sharkey, UK insights and research lead at Gleeds, advises on costs for doors and windows

Central to the new government’s ambitious agenda to decarbonise the UK’s housing stock is the Warm Homes Plan, which aims to retrofit five million homes within five years, slashing domestic emissions to meet net zero targets. In the commercial sector, demand is rising for buildings with strong sustainability credentials as investors and owners seek to avoid risks associated with less energy-efficient properties. This ‘flight to quality’ is generating a robust pipeline of upgrading projects.

Double glazing is now a standard feature in the industry and is a key part of retrofits, while triple glazing is gaining traction.

When specifying doors and windows, factors such as thermal efficiency (U value), solar gain (G value) and air leakage (L value) must be considered. Acoustic performance and aesthetics should not be overlooked. These rates cover supply and installation of doors and windows, including frames, architrave, standard medium-quality ironmongery and finishes.

The following rates are based on the UK average and represent typical prices at Q3 2024

 

Doors

Softwood external doors
Standard with hardwood frames; doors painted; including ironmongery
Matchboarded, framed, ledged and braced door, 838mm x 1,981mm 680-830
Flush door; cellular core; plywood faced; 838mm x 1,981mm 750-925
 
Heavy duty solid flush door
Single leaf / single leaf; emergency fire exit 1600-1,950 / 2,250-2,750
 
Steel external doors
Standard single external steel door, including frame, ironmongery, powder coated finish 1,225-1,600
Standard single external steel security door, including frame, ironmongery, powder coated finish 2,500-3,500
 
Bullet resistant doorset
Single 1,000mm x 2,100mm steel clad in decorative ply veneer 5,000-6,250
 
Overhead doors £/m2
Single skin; manual / electric 225-275 / 375-450
Electric operation standard lift, 42mm thick insulated sandwich panels 300-350
Rapid lift fabric door, external, electric operation 1,150-1,500
 
Dock shelters £ each
Curtain mechanical shelter; extruded aluminium frame; two side and one top curtain; double-layered high-quality polyester, coated both sides 1,600-1,850
Inflatable mechanical shelter; hot dipped galvanised surface treatment, polyester painted, top bag with polyester fabric panels; side bags with polyester fabric  panels; colour from standard range 5,000-6,250
 
uPVC external doors £ each
Entrance doors; residential standard; PVCu frame; brass furniture (spyhole/security chain/letter plate/draught excluder/multipoint locking)
Overall 900 x 2,100mm half glazed 625-800
Overall 900 x 2,100mm half glazed; WER A rated 625-825
Overall 900 x 2,100mm half glazed; coloured 700-900
 
Automatic glazed entrance doors £ each
Automatic revolving door; 2.1m diameter, 2.2m high; clear laminated glazing; 4nr wings; glazed curved walls 45,000-60,000
 
Internal doors
Including the supply and hang of doors, complete with all frames, architrave, typical medium standard ironmongery set and appropriate finish
 
Standard doors £ each
Cellular core; softwood; softwood architrave; aluminium latch only
Single leaf; moulded panel; gloss paint finish 400-500
Single leaf; sapele veneered finish 450-600
 
Purpose-made doors £ each
Soft or hardwood doors; aluminium, brass or stainless ironmongery (latch only); painting and polishing
Softwood / hardwood panels, lining and architrave; 
double leaf; four panels; mouldings 1,250-1,500 / 2,375-3,000
 
Fire doors £ each
Standard fire doors; cellular core; softwood lining; softwood architrave; aluminium ironmongery (lockable, self-closure)
Single leaf; oak veneered; 30 min fire resistance; polished 725-850
Double leaf; oak veneered; 60 min fire resistance; polished 2,000-2,750
 
Ironmongery sets £ each
Stainless steel ironmongery; euro locks; push plates; kick plates; signage; closures; standard sets
Office door; non locking; fire rated 400-500
Standard bathroom door (unisex) / accessible toilet door 350-450 / 225-275
Fire escape door 2,250-2,750
 
Windows
 
Standard softwood painted; double glazed; up to 1.50m² 750-1,000
Standard softwood painted; double glazed; 1.50m²-3.20m² 650-850
 
Purpose made windows
Painted; double glazed; up to 1.50m² / over 1.50m² 850-1,050 / 775-950
 
Hardwood windows £/m2
Standard; stained double glazed 1,750-2,250
Purpose made; stained double glazed 1,650-2,000
 
Steel windows £/m2
Standard double glazed; powder coated 775-900
Purpose-made double glazed; powder coated 950-1,150
 
uPVC windows £/m2
Standard ironmongery; sills and factory glazed, low-e 24mm double glazing
WER A rating 300-400
Secured by Design accreditation 275-375
Extra for colour finish to uPVC 75-100
 
Composite aluminium/timber windows £/m2
Purpose made windows; stainless steel ironmongery
Fixed windows up to 1.50m² / 1.50m²-4.00m² 350-450 / 325-425
Outward opening pivot windows up to 1.50m² 875-1,000
Outward opening pivot windows over 1.50m²-4.00m² 375-475

 

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