UPVC vs old wooden windows

devildog

If you decide to replace with wooden frames/double glazed glass opt for hardwood frames as opposed to softwood.All to often the softwood has not been given the time to season properly and the wood will split/crack easily. You will pay considerably more for hardwood (versus soft wood) but you will retain the look of the property but should get something that lasts pretty well.

sunshinetours

Also consider

- Secondary double glazing for winter months - I believe you can get removeable type ones that attach and detach for warmer months
- Having windows refurbed and then oiling them rather than painting. once you have built up a good base of oiling the ongoing maintenance will be far quicker and easier as you can just wipe future coats on with a cloth for instance
- just having the front replacedw with wood double glazing and then doing teh back/sides as money allows
- Also as someone else says ensure your roof insulation and draught proffing are done before anything as changing to double from single glazing on its own has a huge payback period as far as reducing heating costs

WhiteChristmas

Those windows aren't faithful to the originals anyway, twinkle - they're mock Georgian rather than Victorian - probably installed post-war when they became fashionable again. The Victorians went for large-pane sash windows.

bluesindy_2

Wooden all the way, I hate plastic with a vengeance! I'm currently replacing all the plastic in my '30s semi. My joiner made my back door as a copy of the original with dble glazed window and my French windows were exact copies with dble glazing the price for these inc. fitting and made in hardwood was £23OO which I thought very reasonable. If you intend to stay put for a while consider doing them one at a time, it's definitely worth it, I am maybe a little bias as I'm a conservation officer! but you are sooo lucky to be living in a period house, enjoy!

sashman

muskoka wrote: »

I've recently had UPVC wood effect windows installed - not cheapy ones either and I already regret it. Wish I had gone with my own gut instinct & had wooden ones fitted.

do what is right for you, and not what other people think

Were these casement types that hinge outwards or real sash?

sashman

twinkle_star wrote: »

Thanks for the replies everyone. I'm going to talk to my F.I.L. about it in more detail and we'll get a joiner to come and double check if the windows are ok (not rotted etc). I think I'd regret getting UPVC so I'll fight for keeping the wood as much as possible. Here's a picture of the house for those interested. I think it would be mean to put plastic windows in such an odd little house!

The house doesn’t have sash windows. They are cottage casements. The house on the right has cr*ppy PVC casements because nothing lines up.

If you chose PVC then get wood white foil, and dummy casements that means you will have equal Georgian panes and most people wont know they are PVC and your house wont be devalued like next door.

Also ask for “Plant on Georgians” otherwise you'll end up with bar inside the glass units like the house on the left which also looks like PVC but brown wood grain. There squares line up but they don’t have the top lights that you have.

You can also get PVC windows that have black frames and whites openers

All this makes it more expensive, so retaining the existing and painting is the cheapest option, however if you decide to change them you will feel warmer and doing it properly will retain your homes character.

There are lots of companies that offer dummy casements, most don’t offer white foil.

hope this helps
sashman