uPVC glazing a benefit?

dominoman

I have seen several adverts for houses with the list of benefits including uPVC double glazing.

That always surprises me. uPVC double glazing is one of my pet hates on a house. It would put me off even viewing it.

What do others think?

pinkteapot

For modern houses, it's a benefit because of the maintenance involved with wooden window frames. On a period property, it doesn't look as good!

Does depend on the quality of the installation as windows vary massively. The house we bought has had replacement UPVC put in. It's dark wood-effect and looks really good - you have to look up close to see that it's not wood. Big bonus for us as the house as 20 windows - imagine re-staining that many frames!

donfanatico

dominoman wrote: »

I have seen several adverts for houses with the list of benefits including uPVC double glazing.

That always surprises me. uPVC double glazing is one of my pet hates on a house. It would put me off even viewing it.

What do others think?

do you not like any kind of double glazing or just plastic ones?

I am not english and have never understood the obsession over here with inefficient wooden high maintenance sash windows (character over function) that don't open properly nor can be cleaned form the inside by yourself. Funny

benjus

I currently live in a flat in a lovely period (early Victorian) house. We have big, tall wooden sash windows with internal wooden shutters that look lovely. However, they are totally impractical - they don't open well, they leak heat like anything, are very draughty and the outside is impossible to clean without big ladders.

uPVC double glazing may not be the most attractive type of windows, but when I move to the place I'm buying I will look forward to having windows that keep the heat in and open/close properly. I don't think they look bad at all, and are designed to be in-keeping with the building's original windows.

If I were putting in new windows and could choose anything, I'd probably go for Scandinavian triple glazed timber framed windows.

dominoman

donfanatico wrote: »

do you not like any kind of double glazing or just plastic ones?

I am not english and have never understood the obsession over here with inefficient wooden high maintenance sash windows (character over function) that don't open properly nor can be cleaned form the inside by yourself. Funny

You're right. It does seem to be a bit of an English thing.

I have nothing against double glazing, but it is just that it nearly always looks worse and lets in less light than good old fashioned single glazed sash windows.

The maintenance and draughts are a bit of a pain, but I'd take character over function any day.

ognum

dominoman wrote: »

You're right. It does seem to be a bit of an English thing.

I have nothing against double glazing, but it is just that it nearly always looks worse and lets in less light than good old fashioned single glazed sash windows.

The maintenance and draughts are a bit of a pain, but I'd take character over function any day.

I agree I hate UPVC windows in period properties. It also do not understand the obsession with sealing up our homes so no air exchange is possible and then there are complaints about damp from condensation.

homes need to breathe and old leaky windows are good for this!!

MrRee_2

I refuse to put uPVC windows in my house ...... mine is the only house in the Avenue without them.

Yes, I need to paint them every 8 years - buts that's no great hardship really...

rosyw

I'm another one that really doesn't like UPVC windows and they have put me off a few properties in the past. I have wooden double glazed windows and patio doors, and don't mind having to apply another coat of preservative once in a while.

bouicca21

Depends on how well done they are - I hate them if they don't have equal sightlines, and if they don't mimic what was there before. I don't think you should be able to tell that a house has double glazing until you look very closely. But for older houses with sash windows I'd go for refurbishing them. I have yet to see double glazed sash windows that look ok.

Davesnave

bouicca21 wrote: »

Depends on how well done they are - I hate them if they don't have equal sightlines, and if they don't mimic what was there before.

I agree. I used to live in an avenue of 1930s houses and only a few out of the 40 properties actually maintained the original look when converting to plastic.

Luckily, thanks to the old biddy who had it before us, ours was one of those true to type. The rooms were still extremely well-lit, despite there not being one huge picture window, as on our neighbours' houses. To me, theirs just looked like shop fronts.

Out,_Vile_Jelly

Sash windows keep rooms much cooler in summer when opened at top and bottom for airflow.

I find pvc doors (front and back) really off-putting. No matter how expensive they were they look cheap and nasty.