Home Q&A: Your guide to  replacing windows, and grants available to help pay for it

Kya deLongchamps advises on whether you should replace your windows and what funding is available towards costs

Replacing windows is not just an energy-efficient upgrate but provides a security boost and aesthetic refresh too. File pictures

Following the introduction of valuable window and door grants to the SEAI’s Independent grant awards, it’s difficult to turn on the radio without someone touting an aluclad wonder window or double-glazed glory. The grants are retroactive, maxing out at €4000 for a replacement in a detached home, and offering €800 for each of two replacement doors. 

In some instances, your supplier (from the SEAI’s registered supplier list of one-stop-shop — OSS — or registered contractors) will clip the grant off your up-front costs and redeem the grant to their firm. At Home, we’ve had a number of contacts from readers regarding whether or not to replace the old, double-glazed units with new, so here’s an introduction to whether replacement is worth consideration and how to shoulder the expense where it is.