How Much Does Timber Window Repair Cost in Melbourne's Inner North?

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What Actually Drives the Price

Three main factors determine the cost of any timber window repair: the labour involved, the extent of any timber damage, and whether glass replacement is part of the job. A simple sash cord repair is a very different job to a full restoration with rot repair and new double-glazed units fitted into the existing frame.

Typical Cost Ranges by Job Type

Minor repairs (sash cord and balance issues, sticking windows, hardware adjustment)
These are usually the most affordable jobs, since they don't involve significant timber work or glass. Expect costs in the low hundreds per window, depending on how many windows are affected and how accessible they are.

Draught proofing and weather sealing
Fitting draught seals to an existing frame to cut down on air leakage and noise is a moderate job, typically priced per window and scaling with the number of windows treated in one visit.

Minor to moderate rot repair
Where there's localised rot — commonly at the sill or lower rail — repair involves removing the damaged section, splicing in new matching timber, and refinishing. This is more labour-intensive than a cord repair and the cost reflects the additional joinery work involved.

Full sash or frame restoration
For windows with more extensive damage, or where multiple elements need attention (timber repair, re-glazing, hardware, painting), costs increase accordingly. A full sash restoration is a more involved job, generally taking several hours of skilled labour per window.

Retrofit double glazing into existing frames
If you're upgrading to double glazing as part of restoration, glass is priced by area. Standard-spec insulated glass units (4mm Low-E glass, 10mm cavity, 4mm clear toughened) typically run in the order of $500+ per square metre once supplied and fitted, on top of any timber repair the sash itself needs. Larger or more complex sash sets bring the overall cost per square metre down somewhat, but also bring proportionally larger gains in comfort and energy efficiency.

Why Repair Costs Vary Between Quotes

If you've had multiple quotes come back wildly different, a few things are usually behind it. Some companies quote for a full frame overhaul as standard, even when your windows only need targeted repair. Others use lower-grade glass specs without making that clear, which lowers the headline price but also the performance. And labour rates do genuinely vary between tradespeople with different specialisations — heritage-specific carpentry skills aren't the same as general handyman rates.

Repair vs Replace: A Quick Cost Reality Check

It's worth noting that full window replacement isn't automatically cheaper once you account for removal, disposal, making good to surrounding render or plaster, and — in heritage overlay areas — the time and cost of a planning permit application. Repair and retrofit costs are often genuinely comparable to replacement once the full picture is considered, without the loss of original character or the planning risk.

Getting an Accurate Number for Your Windows

Ranges are useful for budgeting, but the only way to get an accurate cost is a proper on-site assessment, since timber condition and the number of affected windows vary so much from house to house.