The Window Replacement Process in Adelaide, Step by Step

What does the window replacement process involve in Adelaide?

The window replacement process in Adelaide runs in six stages: an on-site measure, a written itemised quote, an approvals check, manufacture of the new windows, the install itself, and a final handover. For a full home, plan on a supply lead time of around 4–8 weeks and an install window of about 5–7 days.

Most homeowners only replace windows once or twice in the life of a house, so the steps can feel unfamiliar. This guide walks through what happens at each stage, what you need to decide along the way, and where the timeline can stretch. It’s the same sequence we follow on every replacement job across Adelaide metro and the Adelaide Hills.

Step 1: The enquiry and on-site measure

It starts with a conversation. You tell us which windows you want to replace, what’s bothering you about the current ones (draughts, heat, noise, security, sticking sashes, rotten timber) and roughly what you’re hoping to end up with.

Then we measure on site. A proper measure matters more than most people expect, because window frames are made to order and every opening is slightly different. Brick openings in older Adelaide homes are rarely perfectly square, and a villa’s timber sash openings can vary by several millimetres from one room to the next.

During the measure we look at:

• The exact opening sizes, inside and out
• The wall construction: double brick, brick veneer, rendered, sandstone or weatherboard
• The existing frame and how it’s fixed, which affects removal and making good
• Access: ground floor or upstairs, garden beds, verandahs, steep blocks
• Orientation: west-facing glass in Adelaide takes the full afternoon sun, which can change the glazing you’d choose
• Anything that triggers approvals or special requirements, such as a heritage overlay or a bushfire-prone location

Step 2: The written, itemised quote

After the measure you receive a written, itemised quote. It should set out, opening by opening:

• Frame material and colour (aluminium, uPVC or timber)
• Window style (sliding, awning, casement, double-hung, fixed)
• Glazing specification (single, double, Low-E, laminated, toughened)
• Hardware and locks
• Removal of the old windows and disposal
• Making good: reinstating brickwork, render, architraves and sills
• Any access equipment, such as scaffolding

An itemised quote lets you see exactly where the money goes and adjust the spec before you commit. For example, you might keep double glazing on the bedrooms and living areas but choose single glazing for a laundry. As a typical guide for Adelaide homes, single-glazed replacement windows run $700–$5,500 per opening fitted and double-glazed replacements $1,500–$8,500 per opening, with a full-home replacement typically landing between $35,000 and $110,000. Our cost guide breaks those ranges down.

Step 3: Checking approvals before anything is ordered

Many like-for-like window replacements don’t need development approval, but some do. Before ordering, it’s worth checking three things.

Heritage and character overlays. If your home is a State or Local Heritage Place, or sits in a Historic Area or Character Area Overlay under the Planning and Design Code, changes to street-facing windows may need approval. You can check a property’s overlays through the SA Property and Planning Atlas on PlanSA or by asking your council. Our guide to replacing windows in heritage and brick homes covers this in more detail.

Bushfire-prone areas. Parts of the Adelaide Hills and the metro fringe sit in bushfire hazard overlays. A property’s Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) sets what new windows must meet under AS 3959 for new building work. Whether replacement windows in an existing home must meet a BAL is something your council or certifier confirms. See our guide to BAL-rated windows in bushfire areas.

Strata and changes to openings. Units and townhouses usually need strata approval for external changes. Making an opening bigger, or adding a new one, can involve structural work and building approval.

We flag anything we notice during the measure, but the approval decision belongs to your council, certifier or strata, not to us.

Step 4: Manufacture and lead time

Once you accept the quote and the spec is locked in, the windows go into manufacture. Every frame is made to the measured sizes, and the glass units are made to suit.

For a full-home job, plan around a 4–8 week supply lead time. Things that can stretch it:

• Custom colours or non-standard frame profiles
• Specialty glass (laminated acoustic, tinted, obscure)
• Heritage timber joinery
• Busy periods before Christmas

This is a good window to prepare: clear furniture away from the windows, take down curtains and blinds you want to keep, and sort out access for pets and cars.

Step 5: Install day

Install is where the planning pays off. A typical sequence for each opening:

1. Protect the room. Floors and furnishings near the window are covered.
2. Remove the old window. Sashes and glass come out first, then the frame, taking care not to damage brickwork or plaster.
3. Prepare the opening. Check it’s sound, square enough and dry, and deal with any rot or damaged lintels found once the old frame is out.
4. Fit the new frame. Set level and plumb, packed and fixed to suit the wall type.
5. Seal and flash. Weatherproofing around the frame is what keeps water out during Adelaide’s winter rain.
6. Glaze and adjust. Glass units installed, sashes adjusted, locks and hardware tested.
7. Make good. Brickwork, render, architraves and sills reinstated or finished as quoted.

Most homes are done one or a few openings at a time, so you’re never left with the whole house open overnight. A full home typically takes around 5–7 days, depending on the number of openings, the access and how much making good is involved.

Step 6: Clean-up and handover

At the end, we remove the old frames and glass, clean up, and walk you through the new windows: how the locks work, how to operate the sashes, and any care the frames need. You also receive the product documentation for what’s been installed, including any published performance figures the manufacturer provides.

How to replace a window yourself: why it’s rarely a DIY job

Plenty of people search for how to replace a window themselves. For a garden shed, maybe. For a house, we’d steer you away from it, for a few reasons:

• Safety glass rules. Glass in human-impact areas, such as doors, beside doors, low-level glazing and bathrooms, must be Grade A safety glass under AS 1288. Getting the glass type wrong is a real injury risk.
• Weatherproofing. Poorly sealed frames leak, and water damage inside a wall can go unnoticed for years.
• Structure. Removing a frame can expose a failed lintel or damaged brickwork that needs proper repair.
• Licensing. Building work in South Australia may need to be carried out by a licensed building work contractor, depending on the scope and value. Consumer and Business Services can tell you what applies.

Related services

Our replacement windows service covers old frames out and new windows in, with finishes made good. If you’re building or extending, see new build windows. For glazing upgrades, see double glazing, and for the full range of styles and frames, window installation. We work across Adelaide metro and the Adelaide Hills.

Frequently asked questions

How long does the window replacement process take in Adelaide?

From measure to finished install, a full-home replacement usually takes a couple of months, most of it waiting on manufacture. Plan on a 4–8 week supply lead time and around 5–7 days on site, depending on the number of openings and access.

Do I need council approval to replace windows in Adelaide?

Like-for-like replacements often don’t need approval, but heritage-listed places, homes in Historic Area or Character Area Overlays, and changes to the size of an opening can. Check with your council or PlanSA before ordering.

Can you replace windows without damaging the brickwork?

In most cases the old frame can be removed with minimal disturbance, and any brickwork, render or plaster that’s affected is reinstated as part of the job. The making-good scope is set out in the written quote so you know what’s included.

Will I be left with open windows overnight?

No. We work through the openings in an order that means each one is closed up and weatherproof before the end of the day.

What should I do to prepare for window installation?

Clear furniture back from the windows, take down curtains and blinds, and make sure there’s clear access around the outside of the house. Let us know about pets, alarms and parking before install day.

Can I replace windows a few at a time?

Yes. Many Adelaide homeowners start with the rooms that bother them most, such as west-facing living areas or bedrooms on a busy road, and do the rest later. Your quote can be split into stages.

Get a quote

The best way to see how the process would run on your home is a measure. Request a quote online or call 0468 038 136. We’ll get back to you within 24–48 hours to arrange a free on-site measure, then send a written, itemised quote for your windows.