Thoughts on sash window costs & time

[markturner]

So I am making some sash windows from scratch for a neighbour and have completed the first three. Bearing in mind I dont have a professional workshop and did al the machining etc using a router table I wonder what you guys think of the costs and times so far. I ordered the cill section ready profiled and the other timber at approx size, so still had to do some machining to size. I am using sapele. There are 2 single sash windows approx 1m wide and one triple, approx 1.8m wide, which I counted as 2 windows, so 4 in total.

I have spent around £2,600 on timber, £900 on glass & glazing, and £1,200 on sash weights, cords, beads, weather seals etc. £200 on sundries Total just under 5K

Time wise, It took me 140 hours ro make the 4, so around 35 hours a window. I can improve on this next batch by pre ordering a lot more timber exactly machined, I reckon I can easily do the next batch in aroun 27 hours a window. So each window is approx £2,500. Should drop to £2,200 a window next batch I think.....

What do you guys think of those costs and times? I am charging him £35 and hour.

 

[Bingy man]

This is not my field as I’m not professional or do I make windows but I would say how does your customer feel about 2.5 k per window, given your time and effort how do you feel given the hours you have committed so far , if you are both happy with the arrangement then why charge less for the next batch -the fact you have got a little quicker is hopefully keeping you in profit. I’m assuming the cust has paid for the materials and you are now covering your labour .. just my thoughts as what tradesmen charge and what customers expect to pay are often miles apart ..

 

[Fitzroy]

If you search for made to measure sash windows there are online sites where a 1mx1.8m weighted box sash window in hardwood costs £2k incl Vat.

It took me about 20hrs to make three sash boxes including milling the sill profiles, I had previously made a single window and making three boxes only added perhaps 50% time above making a single box. There is lots of time-saving thinking about workflow and making the same parts all in one go.

The timber cost sounds high. My three windows 1.5x1 and 2 at 1.5x0.6 are coming in at £400 for redwood doubling for Sapele and doubling for window size is £1600.

I'm paying £85/m2 for glazing 4x4, softcoat internal, warmedge, argon filled. Which looks similar to your costs.

£1200 for weights, cords, beads, seals etc sounds a lot. I'm looking at about £150 per window without weights. Iron weights look much cheaper than lead, and I've found prices vary considerably online.

Fitz.

 

[Windows]

How does the £1200 on weights, seals, etc break down?

 

[meccarroll]

I would say if you are getting £35 an hour that's fine and if your neibour wants more made then he is also happy so just keep the charges the same so you can improve your facilities.