Double Glazing - PVCU v WOOD?

Leftynick

Hi,

We 're in the process of buying a house which has dark wooden double glazed windows. They dont look that old (maybe 5 years?) but my partner thinks we should get them replaced with PVCU before we move in as because they're wood they'll rot etc..

I know nothing about windows really so would appreciate some expert advice on the pro's and con's of both types of window and the best way to get a good deal if we do replace them. Also any recommendaions of reputable firms would be good.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks

adr0ck

this is from housebuilders update:


Windows: plastic v timber
The initial costs are pretty similar. However timber needs redecorating every five years or so, if it is to last. But well-maintained timber windows will last for centuries. Not so plastic, which has to be ripped out and replaced every 20 or 30 years. Such is the high cost of labour in this country that it’s actually cheaper to rip out and replace plastic windows three times a century than it is to install timber ones once and then repaint them 19 times. But will that relationship between low material costs and high labour costs persist for a century?

Volcano

My parents have had wooden double glazing for over 20 years. They re-stain them every few years and there is no sign of rot at all.

As long as you like the appearence then I can't see any reason to replace them, especially if there could be 10-15 years+ life left in them.

Leftynick

Thanks for the advice. There is definitely an element of what it looks like to take into consideration as well so may still end up getting them replaced as not that keen on the look. Anyone had any good or bad experiences with firms? Any rough ideas on costs?

eilz

I have a similar issue. I current have very old timber frame windows. Is it possible to replace the current very thin windows with double glazed windows into the existing timber, rather than pay an absolute fortune for double glazing?

herbal

You can get PVC windows that look like wooden windows, so if it's the look you are after that might be an option.

RedOnRed

We got new wooden windows last November. The important thing is that the windows are hardwood.

Ours come with a 10 year insurance backed guarantee and with the right treatment should last forever.

IMHO UPVC should be banned on houses older then 40 years. The amount of pre 50's houses i've seen that have been ruined by plastic windows. It should be a crime.

eilz

Who, did you get the wooden windwows from, and what are the costs vs UPVC?

Yes, this is the reason I dont want UPVC, because it would ruin the look of the house.

I realise you can get PVC to look like wood, but there either too light or too dark and still lose the character of the house.

Can double glazed windows be put into wood, and would it be beneficial to do this, in terms of keeping warm, and keeping costs down?

mancitychick

Our house is 16 years old. Neighbours one side have the original wooden double glazing that was put in the house when built and it is fine as they have maintained it well. Whereas in our house (we only bought it in sept) the windows were rotting away and we have just replaced them with pvc windows. The previous owner bought the house in 1998 and had not cleaned the windows, never mind painted the frames since he bought the house. So all the stain/varnish had come off and the weather had just caused the frames to rot. So I guess if he had looked after the frames like next door has, the originally wooden windows in my house would still be going stronger.

adr0ck

if you want wooden windows:

http://www.nordan.co.uk/

i really couldn't rave about these windows enough......they are fantastic

RedOnRed

eilz wrote:

Who, did you get the wooden windwows from, and what are the costs vs UPVC?

We got our windows done by the Traditional Window Company.

I'm not an expert on price comparisons between UPVC and hardwood, but it wouldn't surprise me if wood is roughly double the price.

We had Safestyle Windows give us a rough quote for UPVC windows, not that I had any intention of every buying them, but they probably would have set us back about £4,500 - £5,500. Wooden ones were roughly double the lower figure.