Windows in Old Tenement Buildings – Kraków and Warsaw: Repair, Restoration or Replacement?
Old tenement buildings in Kraków's Kazimierz and Warsaw's Praga combine architectural beauty with real window maintenance challenges: heritage restrictions, nineteenth-century wooden frames, and the question of whether PVC is even legal. Here is what you need to know before calling anyone with a drill.
A tenement on Kraków's Kazimierz. A building on Warsaw's Praga. 1895 construction, stone portal, wooden frames with glazing bars. Beautiful — and failing. Rotted bottom rail, stuck sash, glazing putty crumbled away, pane replaced carelessly thirty years ago. What to do? The answer depends on one key factor: heritage protection status.
Two Types of Heritage Protection in Poland
Buildings in the heritage register (rejestr zabytków): the strictest protection. Any intervention in the historic fabric — window replacement, façade changes — requires approval from the regional heritage inspector (WKZ). Windows must maintain historical appearance: original bay divisions, glazing bars, wooden or carefully approved aluminium profiles. PVC is effectively excluded from street-facing or courtyard-facing windows due to its distinct profile appearance. Unauthorised replacement triggers an order to restore the original at the owner's expense — which for a heritage window means a custom wooden replica costing several thousand PLN each.
Buildings in municipal heritage inventory (GEZ) or conservation zone: lighter protection. Works affecting exterior appearance require a building permit or notification, assessed by the local building authority against the local spatial plan (MPZP). White or anthracite PVC with proportions close to the original is often acceptable. Each municipality has its own MPZP — check with the local architecture department before any work.
Common Wooden Window Problems in Tenements
Rot in the bottom rail: the most exposed element, collecting condensation and rain. Rot progresses invisibly from outside in for years. Repair: removal of damaged wood, epoxy consolidant (e.g. Remmers Epoxy Filler), filler paste, priming, painting. Cost: 150–350 PLN per rail, no sash replacement needed. Sash warping: timber absorbs seasonal moisture asymmetrically in large single-glazed sashes. Minor warping: hinge and hardware adjustment. Permanent warping: new wooden sash (600–1,200 PLN) or aluminium replacement with heritage approval. Failed glazing putty: traditional oil-based putty dries, hardens and falls away over decades. Loose pane, draught, rattling. Repair: remove old putty, reset pane, apply new putty. Cost: 30–80 PLN per glazing bay. Broken glazing bars (szprosy): thin and fragile. Hairline cracks can be glued and filled; broken bars require replacement by a specialist in historic joinery.
When PVC Replacement is Legal
Despite all restrictions, PVC windows in a tenement are legally possible in specific circumstances: buildings in GEZ without strict local plan conditions (PVC acceptable if colour and proportions match original); courtyard or internal façade windows (heritage protection often does not extend to rear elevations); basement windows, stairwells, ground-floor commercial units if not visible from public space; buildings with no heritage protection at all (full freedom of materials). What you cannot do without WKZ approval in a registered building: replace street-visible or courtyard windows, change bay divisions, install PVC in any visible position, or remove historic glazing bars.
Restoration vs Replacement – Cost Comparison
Restoration pays off when: the profile is structurally sound (no deep rot, no permanent warp). Full restoration — consolidant, filler, putty, paint, new hardware — costs 300–700 PLN per sash. A restored window should serve 15–20 more years with repainting every 5–7 years. Replacement is better when: rot affects more than 50% of rail thickness, the sash is permanently warped, or a double-glazed sealed unit is needed and won't fit the existing wooden rebate. New wooden sash with double glazing: 800–1,500 PLN; aluminium (with heritage approval): 1,200–2,500 PLN — but sealed argon units deliver real heating savings.
What Can Do Without Heritage Formalities
Most typical tenement window repairs are maintenance works — not interventions in historic fabric — and require no heritage approvals. carries out: seal replacement and draught-proofing on wooden windows; adjustment of steel or brass period hinges and hardware; handle replacement with period-accurate replicas (brass, cast iron); glazing putty repair and replacement; early-stage timber consolidation and surface repair; single pane replacement; frame-to-wall joint resealing internally and externally. What we do not do in registered buildings without heritage consultation: full sash or frame replacement, glazing division changes, or new profiles in different materials. In such cases we can assess window condition and prepare technical documentation for WKZ approval.
Living in a tenement and not sure where to start? Contact. We assess wooden window condition, advise on what we can repair immediately without formalities, and flag what needs heritage status verification first. We work in Kraków (Kazimierz, Stare Miasto, Podgórze) and Warsaw (Praga, Żoliborz, Wola, Śródmieście). See our wooden window repair service and book a free on-site assessment — no obligation, full information on what is possible in your building.
Having a problem with your window or door?
Our technician will come, assess and fix it. Free call-out.
Window and Door Repair Services
Professional solutions for all your window and door needs
What Our Clients Say
Real feedback from our satisfied customers
"Incredibly professional and fast service. The technician fixed our window in under an hour. Highly recommended!"
"Great communication and transparent pricing. The quality of work was excellent. Very happy with the result."
"The team was punctual, polite, and very knowledgeable. They explained the issue clearly and fixed it efficiently."
"Fantastic service from start to finish. I will definitely use them again for any future window or door repairs."
Why Choose Us?
The advantages of working with our team of professionals
FREE Diagnostics & Visit
No-cost initial assessment to identify the problem.
Work Guarantee
up to 5-year guarantee on completed work. Manufacturer or supplier warranty on replaced components – depends on the specific part used.
Fast Arrival
Our technicians arrive promptly to address your needs quickly.
On-Site Repairs
99% of repairs can be completed during the first visit.
All Profiles & Brands
We work with all types of window and door profiles and manufacturers.
Convenient Payment
Pay by card, cash, or we can issue an invoice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about our window and door repair services
Yes, the initial diagnostics and our technician's visit to assess the work are completely free. No hidden costs and no obligations. If you decide to proceed with the service, the technician will provide a clear quote on site, explain all the details, and if needed – can start work immediately and complete the repair during the same visit.
Absolutely! We provide a warranty for both the services performed and the materials used – in accordance with applicable regulations.
We cover all of Poland, with a particular focus on major metropolitan areas: Warsaw and surroundings, Kraków and Małopolska, Łódź area, Poznań and surroundings, Katowice and all of Silesia (Sosnowiec, Gliwice, Chorzów, Bytom, Zabrze, Tychy and 30+ cities). Call us – we'll call back within 15 minutes to arrange a visit.
The price depends on the type of window, the nature of the issue, and the materials needed. Upon arrival, the technician will provide an exact quote on site with no hidden fees, and you decide whether you want to proceed with the work.
Booking a free diagnostics is very simple. Just call our contact number or fill in the registration form – either way it only takes a few minutes.
In most cases, repair is sufficient: replacing seals or hardware, sealing, adjustment, cleaning and lubricating the mechanisms. This is a much cheaper solution than installing new windows.
Repair is cheaper because you don't need to buy a new window, remove the old one, dispose of it, or carry out finishing work after installing a new unit. Repair saves both time and money, being a significantly more cost-effective solution.
We service windows from all major manufacturers, including: Rehau, Veka, KBE, Schuco, Salamander, Aluplast and many others. Our technicians undergo training on the specific mechanisms of each manufacturer.
Yes, we accept all major payment cards, bank transfers and cash. Payment is made after the work is completed.
Yes, we provide services all year round. During winter, we carry out window servicing using special methods to avoid cooling down the rooms and ensure maximum comfort.
Balcony door adjustment for PVC or aluminium doors starts from 80 zł. It includes precise 3D adjustment of hinges and fittings, eliminating sagging, draughts and closing issues. Free on-site diagnostics – the technician will quote on arrival.
Yes. We specialise in sliding and HST terrace door service for all major systems: Schüco ASS 70/77, Aluprof MB-77 HS, Aliplast Imperial. We replace load rollers, repair tracks, adjust closing pressure and service drive mechanisms. From 150 zł.
A window ventilator (trickle vent) is a ventilation device fitted in or above a window frame, providing a constant supply of fresh air without opening the window. Since 2021 (Polish building regulations WT 2021), ventilators are mandatory in new buildings. We install pressure-controlled, humidity-sensitive and acoustic ventilators – from 80 zł each.
After your enquiry we call back within 15 minutes and agree a time. In most cities (Warsaw, Katowice, Łódź, Poznań, Kraków) a technician arrives the same or next working day. For urgent cases such as a fallen hinge or jammed door, we aim to arrive within a few hours.