New windows - what to choose!

Frith

Hello!

I have just had a small tax rebate and want to put the money towards improving the house. I've had some work done already this year and (in my mind) the dodgiest bits now are the window frames.

They are wooden with 6 small panes in each. They can't be improved much because they don't make such thin double glazing anymore. (Water/condensation has got between the 2 panes of glass). It is not possible to buy individual panes to fit as they are 6mm thick and the minimum made now is 15mm.

Anyway, could anyone give me just a rough idea of what a window frame would cost in both wood and PVC? The windows vary slightly (old cottage) but are all around 100x120cm.

2 lounge windows (good to replace these as this is where we spend most of our time), 1 kitchen window, 1 tiny window over the stairs (30 x 40cm), 2 bedroom windows then a tiny square bathroom window.

The kitchen window is the ropiest, followed by the bathroom then the lounge.

Back in the summer when I had some re-building work done, I was quoted £700 for the 2 lounge windows in wood but just couldn't run to that at the time.

Thank you!

P.S If you think windows are a low priority, let me know! Bathroom fair, kitchen is just a cooker, washing machine and a square of work surface.

McKneff

We haveself cleaning glass in the double glazingwindows we had put in last year and they are absolutely brilliant, only need a good
cleaning from the window cleaner once a year.

sashman

you can buy units that are 12mm thick (4.4.4) there is a product called slimlite which is excellent, there is even a pilington product called spectra that is the same thickness as a laminated sheet of glass (6.8mm vacumn units....£400 pm!!!!!)

You can now repair blown units. There is a specialist company that drills a hole, sprays inside with a special fluid, allows them to dry and then plugs the holes. Never as good thermally was gas will be lost but some people say its greener than replacement as you keep the original units

Frith

That sounds good, Sashman - I wonder how they'd clean the inside before re-sealing. Some the panes you can hardly see out!

The frames aren't a lot of cop either, though and the sills outside are completely rotten.

sashman

Theres a company called, "Get the fog out" and crystal clear, never seen it in action first hand but this video explains the process

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFKUhc1j1SY&feature=related

however if frames and cills rotten, no point retaining, go for replacements