How to Read an Itemised Aluminium Window Quote

A window quote can be a single line with one total at the bottom, or a detailed breakdown of every opening. The first is easy to read and very hard to judge. The second takes a few more minutes, but it tells you exactly what you’re paying for — and makes it possible to compare two quotes fairly.

We believe in honest, itemised pricing: you should see what the aluminium costs, what the glass costs and what the hardware costs. This guide explains what a good itemised quote for aluminium windows and doors should contain, and what to ask when something is missing.

Start with the list of openings

A good quote begins with a list of every opening. For each one, you should be able to see:

• Where it is, for example “Bedroom 2, road side” or “Living room to balcony”.
• The size, width and height, from measurements taken on site.
• The type: sliding, casement, tilt & turn, fixed, French, sliding door and so on.
• The number of panels or sashes, and which of them open.

If the sizes come from drawings rather than a site visit, ask whether they’ll be checked before fabrication. Openings on site are rarely exactly what the drawing says, and a window made to the wrong size is expensive to fix.

The aluminium: section and finish

The section is the aluminium frame profile itself. Sections come in different sizes and weights, from slim systems to heavy-duty ones for large spans.

Look for:

• Which section or system is being used for each type of window.
• Why it suits the opening. A large sliding door needs a stronger section than a small bathroom window. Sections should be chosen to the span and wind load, not to whatever’s in stock.
• The finish: powder-coated or anodised, and the colour — a named RAL shade, for example, or a wood-grain finish.

A quote that just says “aluminium window”, with no section or finish, leaves too much open.

The glass

Glass is often a large part of the cost, and its specification matters for safety, comfort and price. For each window, the quote should state:

• The type of glass: clear, tinted, reflective or frosted.
• Whether it’s safety glass: toughened or laminated. Safety glass belongs where people could walk into or lean on the glass — doors, low-level glazing and glass partitions — as well as in railings and overhead glazing.
• Single glass or a double glazed unit (DGU), and which windows have DGUs.
• The thickness, or the make-up of the DGU.

If two quotes differ a lot in price, the glass is one of the first places to look.

The hardware

Hardware is what you touch every day: rollers, locks, handles, hinges and friction stays. It decides whether a window still slides smoothly and closes firmly years from now.

The quote should say what hardware is included, ideally by type and brand. Be wary of a vague line such as “standard fittings”. Poor rollers and locks are one of the most common reasons a window starts to stick or rattle.

Sealing

Sealing is easy to overlook in a quote, because you can’t see it once the window is in. It’s also what decides whether the window gets through the monsoon.

Ask which gaskets are used — EPDM gaskets hold up well to heat and sun — and how the frame will be sealed to the wall. Structural silicone should be applied neatly at the joints, not smeared on as an afterthought.

Extras and related work

If you’re doing more than windows, each item should appear separately:

• Insect screens and mosquito nets.
• Doors — sliding, entrance and toilet doors. We quote aluminium doors opening by opening, just like windows.
• Partitions, railings, louvres or cladding.

Listing them separately lets you add or drop items without asking for a whole new quote.

Installation: what’s included

Make sure the quote is clear about installation:

• Is fitting and sealing included in the price?
• Will the frames be aligned and adjusted so every sash closes properly?
• If there are old windows, is removing them included?
• Is access equipment needed for upper floors, and who provides it?
• Will the site be left clean afterwards?

Missing answers here are how a cheap-looking quote turns into an expensive job.

After-sales service

Windows occasionally need adjusting as a building settles, and rollers may need servicing after a few years. Ask what happens after the job is finished. Will the company come back for adjustments and repairs? Will they still answer the phone a year later?

A company that expects to stand behind its work is usually happy to answer that question clearly.

Comparing two quotes

When you have more than one quote, line them up opening by opening:

1. Are the sizes and window types the same?
2. Are the aluminium sections comparable for each opening?
3. Is the glass the same — type, thickness, safety glass, DGU?
4. Is the hardware comparable?
5. Are sealing and installation described in the same detail?
6. Are the extras listed in both?

Only when these match does the total tell you something useful.

Warning signs

• A single lump-sum price with no breakdown.
• No mention of the glass specification.
• “Standard hardware”, with no further detail.
• Sizes taken from drawings, with no site measurement.
• No clear answer about installation or after-sales service.

How we quote

Our quotes start with a free site visit, usually within 48 hours, where Hitesh measures every opening himself. You then get a written, itemised quote — typically within 48 hours — setting out the section, glass and hardware for each opening, with the aluminium, glass and hardware priced separately. Where a choice is worth making, such as single glass or a DGU on a road-facing bedroom, we show you both options.

See our aluminium windows, or book a free site visit and we’ll put together a quote like this for your home or office.

General guidance — every opening is different, so ask us to look at yours before you decide.