Repair guide
Window Will Not Open or Close Properly: What Is Jamming It
A window that fights you is one of the few faults people put up with for years, usually because they assume the whole unit is finished. It very rarely is.
In almost every case the sash has moved a few millimetres out of position, and something cheap and replaceable is the reason.
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Replacement only when a repair is not possible
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In person, with photo estimates sometimes possible
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over 10 years of repair experience
Where the sash is catching tells you the cause
- Catching at the bottom corner on the handle side: the friction stays have worn and the sash has dropped
- Tight all round in warm weather only: seasonal expansion revealing a stay that is already tired
- Handle turns but the sash will not release: a locking point is jammed in its keep
- Sash swings shut or will not stay open: the friction in the stays has gone
- Will not pull in tight anywhere: the keeps need resetting to restore compression
- Grinding noise as it closes: metal locking gear rubbing the frame out of line
What not to force
Do not lean on a jammed sash or lever it with a screwdriver. The hinge arms bend easily, the frame marks permanently and a bent stay can crack the glazing bead or the corner weld. If the window is your fire escape route from an upstairs room, treat it as urgent rather than something to live with.
How we free a stuck window
We take the sash off where necessary, check the stays, keeps and gearing, clean and lubricate the moving parts and replace whatever is worn. The sash is then rehung, the keeps are reset and the compression is adjusted so it closes with one hand.
Where a window is an upstairs bedroom we can fit egress hinges at the same time, so it opens wide enough to climb through in an emergency.
Guidance on cost
Typical price ranges
The ranges below are guidance only, based on the sort of repairs we carry out across the North East. Prices vary with size, specification, access and the condition of the frame, so we confirm the price after inspecting the fault. In-person quotations are free.
| Work | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Adjustment and service of a stuck sashKeeps reset, gear cleaned and lubricated, no new parts | around £60 to £110 |
| Pair of friction stays replacedEgress and easy clean stays sit at the higher end | around £60 to £130 fitted |
| Window locking mechanism replacedWhere the gearing itself has seized or broken | around £90 to £180 fitted |
| Several windows serviced on one visitUsual where all the hardware is the same age | lower price per window |
Related repairs
Services covered in this guide
Where we carry out this work
Questions
Frequently asked
Why has my window suddenly gone stiff in hot weather?
Warmth expands the sash and shows up a hinge that had already worn. Replacing the stays and adjusting the sash puts it right for good.
Can a jammed window be freed without taking it out?
Usually. The sash comes off its hinges at most, and the frame, glass and cill stay exactly where they are.
My upstairs window will not open wide enough to escape from. Can that change?
Yes. Egress hinges can be retrofitted to most uPVC windows so the sash opens far enough to climb through.
Is a window that will not shut tight worth repairing?
Yes, and it is one of the cheapest repairs we do. A sash that will not pull in is losing heat and will damage its own locking gear in time.
Do you carry hardware for older window systems?
We carry a wide range of stays, handles and gearing, and parts for older uPVC systems remain widely available.
Need it sorted today?
Tell us what the window or door is doing and we will arrange a free in-person quotation. Clear photographs can sometimes help us estimate sooner.