Windows and double glazing in Sion

Replacing windows in Sion is not quite the same exercise as in another town in Valais. The capital of the canton, set in the Rhône valley at the foot of the hills of Valère and Tourbillon, combines an old town, residential blocks and villas, under a dry, sunny climate. If you are looking for windows and double glazing in Sion, or any other renewal of your openings, these particularities weigh on the choice of materials, on the formalities and on the content of the quote.

Windows in Sion: the most common types of work

The most common job remains replacing old windows with double-glazed models, sometimes triple-glazed. It applies equally to a villa whose frames have aged and to a flat in a neighbourhood block whose single glazing lets in air and noise.

You will also find:

• replacing the glazing alone, when the frame is still sound and its geometry allows it;
• replacing frames in wood, PVC, timber-aluminium or metal, depending on the style of the building;
• redoing the seal between the window and the masonry, often the real cause of a feeling of draught;
• fitting roof windows in an attic being converted or restored.

In a villa, the decision often covers all the openings, facade by facade. In a co-owned building, it is first taken collectively, because the exterior appearance is shared.

Sun, heat and noise: what Sion changes in the choice of glazing

The climate of the Rhône valley is dry and sunny, with hot summers. For a window, this shifts the question: the aim is not only to keep heat in during winter but also to avoid overheating in summer. A large south-facing window is not treated like a small north-facing one. Ask the company to explain what it proposes for the facades most exposed to the sun: type of glazing, external solar protection, existing blinds or shutters that the new window must be able to accommodate.

Noise is the other local criterion. Depending on your address, you may be close to a main road, the railway or an area under a flight path. Thicker or differently built glazing can bring an acoustic gain, provided the installation seal keeps up: the best pane is useless if the perimeter joint lets sound through. State in your request the nuisances you suffer and at what times.

The resorts and side valleys of the canton are colder and snowier; if you also own a home at altitude, do not simply reuse the specifications chosen for Sion: the sizing of a window depends on where it will be installed.

Sion’s old town and protected buildings: material and design sometimes imposed

In the old town, or on a protected building, the exterior look of a window is not left solely to your discretion. The material, the design of the frames, the colour and even the division of the glazing may be set by the protection rules. Painted wood may be required where PVC would be easier to maintain, and a slim frame may be requested where a wider one would be more usual.

In practice:

1. check with the municipality before requesting quotes, to find out whether your building is affected;
2. mention this constraint in your request, so that the companies price the right type of window;
3. keep your exchanges with the municipal department in writing; they will be useful for the permit and in case of doubt about the compliance of the work.

Even outside the old town, some buildings or groups of villas follow their own facade rules. A co-ownership may also impose a common colour or model in its regulations.

Permit, subsidies and landlord’s agreement in Sion

In Valais, the building permit is issued by the municipality within the building zone, and by a cantonal commission outside it. A simple like-for-like window replacement does not always need the same treatment as a facade alteration, but changing the material, shape or colour, or working on a protected building, is a reason to ask the question before starting. The answer comes from the municipality of Sion, not from a company or a site like this one.

On the energy side, the cantonal energy and hydropower service is the contact for the cantonal subsidy programme. Window replacement is often eligible only as part of a wider renovation, under this programme. The conditions evolve: read them up to date and submit the application before the work begins rather than afterwards.

If you are a tenant, the landlord’s agreement is essential, because the window belongs to the building. If you are in a co-ownership, check what the regulations say: windows are often a common part as regards appearance, and private for the rest. A decision by the owners’ meeting may be necessary.

Preparing your window quote request in Sion

The more precise your request, the more comparable the quotes. Gather these elements:

• the type of building (apartment block, villa, old or protected building) and its neighbourhood;
• the number of windows, their location, approximate dimensions and orientation;
• the current material and the one you are considering, or the constraint imposed by the municipality;
• the noise nuisances and the problems noticed: draughts, condensation, damaged glazing;
• the condition of the existing shutters, blinds and window sills;
• whether the replacement is part of a wider renovation, which may count towards a grant.

A good written quote details the frame material, the glazing, the dimensions, removal of the old windows, installation, the connecting seal, interior and exterior finishes, waste disposal and what is not included. If masonry or painting work is needed around the openings, check that it is included or clearly excluded.

What makes the cost vary: the frame material, the type of glazing, the size and number of openings, the difficulty of access (upper floor, scaffolding, street-side facade), any obligation to reproduce an old design and the condition of the masonry once the old windows are removed. Compare several quotes on the same basis rather than on an isolated total. To start the process, you can request a quote free of charge and without obligation: your request is passed to tradespeople and companies in the region, who will contact you.

Useful pages about windows in Sion

• The trade in general: windows and double glazing
• The municipality: work in Sion
• The canton: canton of Valais
• Other work in Sion: plumber in Sion, roofing in Sion, bathroom renovation in Sion