How to Check Whether a Window Quote Includes Making Good
Making good is the plaster, trim and sealant work that finishes a window installation. It is the most commonly excluded item on a quote, and the one most likely to annoy you afterwards.
Key takeaways
- Making good covers internal plaster and trim, and external sealant and pointing.
- Expect £300 to £800 across a house if it is excluded and added later.
- Reveal linings, sills and architraves are often excluded even when “making good” is mentioned.
- Ask for the exact scope in writing, room by room if necessary.
Removing an old window always damages the surrounding wall to some degree: plaster cracks, trim comes away, sealant lines are left behind. Making good is the work that puts the opening back to a finished standard. It is cheap when planned into the job and expensive as an afterthought.
What making good actually includes
| Element | Internal or external | Typical cost if excluded |
|---|---|---|
| Plaster repair around reveals | Internal | £60 – £150 per window |
| Replacement architrave or trim | Internal | £40 – £120 per window |
| Sill and reveal lining | Internal | £50 – £200 per window |
| Sealant lines and finishing beads | Internal | Usually included |
| External pointing and mastic | External | Usually included |
| Rendering or brickwork repair | External | £80 – £300 per window |
| Repainting disturbed decoration | Internal | Rarely included |
The wording to look for
- “Making good included”: ask what, specifically, and to what standard.
- “Minor making good included”: normally plaster patching only, no trim or linings.
- “Decoration not included”: you will repaint the surrounding wall yourself.
- “Reveal linings by others”: you are supplying and fitting the internal linings.
- No mention: assume excluded, and price it in your comparison.
Why installers exclude it
Plastering and joinery are different trades, so many window firms subcontract the making good or leave it to the customer. That is a legitimate business model, but it should be stated clearly. If it is excluded, get a price from the installer for it before signing, or line up a plasterer so the rooms are not left unfinished for weeks.
Questions to ask
- Will the plaster around each opening be repaired, and by whom?
- Are the internal reveal linings and architraves included?
- Is external pointing and sealing included?
- Will I need to redecorate afterwards, and if so which rooms?
- What standard does the finished work meet: plastered and ready to paint?
The bottom line
Making good adds £300 to £800 across a typical house, and it is the item most often missing from a quote. Get it defined in writing, or add the cost to the quote before you compare it with another.
Frequently asked questions
Repairing and finishing the wall, plaster, trim and sealant around each opening so the installation looks complete and weathertight.
Often only basic plaster patching is included. Linings, architraves and full plastering are frequently excluded, so confirm in writing.
Usually yes, at least touching up around each opening. Fitters minimise damage but some disturbance to the reveal is unavoidable.
Roughly £300 to £800 for a whole house, or £60 to £150 per window if priced individually. Exterior sealing and pointing are usually included in the installation.
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