Age and type of house
Are original steel windows a defect just because they are the original windows?
No. Steel windows, often called Crittall whether or not that firm made them, are a window type. Age is not a condition rating. The survey should describe rust, failed putty, cracked glass, and whether they open and close. Replacement is a choice, and on a listed building it may need consent.
Last reviewed 24 October 2026. Written for buyers in England and Wales unless this answer says otherwise. No named surveyor has signed this page. It is general guidance, not a report on your house, and not legal advice.
What is the fuller explanation?
A sound steel window with intact paint is not the same finding as a rusted frame that has swollen and lets rain onto the cill. Condensation on single glass is a comfort and ventilation point. It is not proof the frame has failed. The survey does not cost a full replacement, and it does not specify double glazing.
If the house is listed, or in a conservation area, ask your solicitor before you assume the windows can be swapped for plastic. Historic listing and planning constraints are not condition ratings. A survey can say the frames are rusty. It cannot grant consent to replace them.
What should you ask your surveyor?
- Which windows are rusted through, and which are only due for paint?
- Did you see failed putty or only old decoration?
- Are you treating the windows as a type, or as a defect?
What are the typical next steps?
- Get a joiner or a metal-window repairer to look at the frames the survey marked, not at every window in the house.
- Ask your solicitor if listing or a conservation area limits replacement.
- Do not deduct a full-house window budget from the price because the report named the window type.
Costs vary with the building and with who you instruct. Where this page does not cite a published figure, ask the surveyor, a relevant specialist, or your solicitor for a written quote. Do not treat a forum average as the price.
Also asked about this
Does single glazing make a window rating 3?
No. The rating follows the defect, if there is one. Single glass is a type. A frame that is falling out is a defect.
Is every metal window a Crittall?
No. Crittall is one maker. The survey should describe the window, not rely on the brand.