Window Friction Stay Replacement Singapore

What window friction stay replacement involves

A friction stay is the stainless steel scissor arm along the edge of a casement or top-hung window. It carries the weight of the open sash and provides the friction that holds it in place against the wind. When a stay wears, corrodes or cracks, the sash drops, binds against the frame, or in the worst case loses its restraint — which is why this is treated as a safety repair, not a comfort one.

Key facts
Typical Singapore market range	S$80 to S$180 per window
Typical windows affected	Aluminium casement, top-hung and awning windows
Usual visit length	Single visit; stays are normally replaced in pairs per sash
Part matched by	Photos of the full open arm, its length and its fixing points
Common complication	Corroded fixings that must be drilled out, or a sash that needs realignment after fitting

Signs the part may be faulty

The window drops or swings when you let go of it.
The sash no longer holds a chosen opening position.
The top corner of the sash catches on the frame as it closes.
The stay arm is visibly bent, pitted, rusted or cracked.
The window has become heavy or stiff at the start of its travel.

Likely causes

Salt and humidity have corroded the stay arm or its rivets.
The friction pad inside the stay has worn out.
The stay was undersized or mismatched for the weight of the sash.
Fixing screws into the frame have loosened, so the arm carries load unevenly.
The sash has been forced open beyond the stay travel, bending the arm.

How the repair is handled

Send a full-window photo, a close-up of the stay arm along the frame edge, and note whether the sash drops.
The contractor identifies the stay length and hand, and confirms whether both stays should be changed.
You receive a quotation covering the stays, fixings and any corrosion work found.
On site, the sash is supported, the old stays removed, fixing points made good, and new stays fitted.
The sash is realigned and tested through a full open and close cycle, including its hold at partial openings.

What this repair costs in Singapore

Typical Singapore market range S$80 to S$180 per window

Stays are normally replaced in pairs per sash, and stainless steel is the standard specification in Singapore's humidity.

Higher when fixings have corroded and must be drilled out, or the sash needs realignment after fitting.

Your own quotation comes from the assigned contractor, after they have seen the photos, and it states what is included, what is excluded and whether GST applies. Use the range above to sanity-check that number rather than as a substitute for it. What moves it:

Part cost and availability. A current, widely stocked part costs less than an obsolete profile that must be matched or adapted.
How many windows. Several windows in one visit share the travel and setup cost, so the per-window cost falls.
Access and height. A window that needs external access, or work at an awkward height, takes longer and needs more precaution.
Whether a measure is needed. Glass and some frame work need a site measure before ordering, so the job runs over two visits.
Diagnosis certainty. Leakage and intermittent faults are normally inspected first. An inspection fee is quoted up front.

See the full window repair price guide for every service, the charges that sit alongside the repair, and how to compare two quotations.

Who is allowed to do this work

Repairing or replacing parts on an existing window is maintenance. HDB states that flat owners or occupants are responsible for maintaining existing aluminium windows. Installing or replacing a whole aluminium window in an HDB flat is different: HDB states that it must be carried out by a BCA-approved window contractor listed in HDB's directory, and BCA defines an approved window contractor as a firm registered under workhead RW01. Where your job falls into the regulated category, we assign it to a partner holding that registration and listing. Read the contractor rules guide.

Warranty

HDB's terms for approved window contractors listed with HDB set a minimum three-month warranty on replaced parts and a one-year warranty on a total window replacement. We require partner terms that meet the current official requirement, and the applicable warranty must appear on both the quotation and the invoice — not be described verbally. If a repair fails inside its warranty period, tell us and we handle it with the partner rather than leaving you to chase it.

The three things we need

One full-window photo taken from inside, showing the whole window and its surroundings.
One close-up of the faulty part or the damage, sharp and well lit.
A short video — only if the problem involves movement, sticking or noise. Ten seconds is enough.

Photos with the window both open and closed help. Please do not lean out of a window or climb to take a photo — send what you can safely reach.

Send Photos for a Quote WhatsApp us

No account needed. Photos are shared only with the contractor partner assigned to your job.

Frequently asked questions

What is a window friction stay?

It is the hinged stainless steel arm that connects an opening casement sash to its frame. It does two jobs at once: it acts as the hinge that guides the sash open, and it applies friction so the sash stays where you leave it instead of swinging in the wind. It is a load-bearing safety part.

What is the difference between a hinge and a friction stay?

A plain hinge only pivots — it carries the sash but does not hold it at a chosen angle. A friction stay both guides the sash along a track and grips it, which is what lets a casement window stay half open. Many Singapore aluminium casement windows use friction stays rather than plain hinges.

Should both friction stays be replaced at the same time?

Usually yes. The two stays on a sash wear together and share the load. Replacing only one commonly leaves the sash carried unevenly, which shortens the life of the new stay and can pull the sash out of alignment.