Maintenance with hardwood window frames?

Possom

What maintenance, and how often, would be associated with new hardwood window frames?

Babbawah

Is the whole frame hardwood or just the surround?

How is it currently finished? Painted or varnished?

Possom

I don't have them installed, but was considering them dependent upon what maintenance is required.

Say the full frame was hardwood.

Babbawah

If you're considering going to the expense of full hardwood frames then it would be rude to hide the beauty of the wood underneath a few layers of paint.

Varnish. A good quality and oil based external varnish. Some of the 2 pack stuff they use in the Scandinavian countries is very VERY good.

Plan on fully re-coating every 4-5yrs. The bottom bead and sill I'd plan on every 2yrs.

Possom

Any ideas, as a percentage, roughly how much more one would expect to pay for hardwood frames as opposed to uPVC?

Babbawah

Possom wrote: »

Any ideas, as a percentage, roughly how much more one would expect to pay for hardwood frames as opposed to uPVC?

With hardwood it is probably best to read the quotes when sitting down !

Every installation is going to be different, no one can say for sure or put it down to a narrow percentage.

If money were no object, to me hardwood would win everytime.

leveller2911

I agree with Bubba and would also just add that there are different types of hardwood .

The best ones for windows are European Oak ( prices will be through the roof),Sapele (Mahogony pretty durable,stable) Iroko (very durable but can twist,warp and leach oils), Idigbo (cheaper hardwood and durable) and more. The one to steer clear of , some people use Meranti which is not very durable compared to the above. Its easily damaged too so I would not entertain any quotes using Meranti.

leveller2911

Possom wrote: »

Any ideas, as a percentage, roughly how much more one would expect to pay for hardwood frames as opposed to uPVC?

Impossible to say but good hardwood windows,regularly maintained will outlast Upvc by decades.... The glass units will need replacing before the windows do but its common in Upvc windows for the glass units to fail before the frames.

The advantages of Upvc are they are cheaper and low maintenance.....In older properties they look dire, nothing gives a house more character than wooden doors and windows.

brightontraveller

First year expect a lot of tinkering? Ditto long dry, wet spells etc apart from painting etc Having spent fortunes on many “Timber“windows I’d never put them in unless I had too, They last you 60 years is the cry (some might) but do I need a window to work when I’m dead ?, You can repair them easy if you can do it yourself but most end up relying on others , Timber being natural your forever tinkering/or paying someone else too… If you want upvc to look like wooden there are some very good ones on the market e.g http://www.sashwindowsuk.com/index.php/photo-gallery/ but plenty others never been able to get timber made for less than 2/3times more than upvc and if it’s a little different than standard sizes, shape etc 5 x plus and don't be surprised if they leak ?
If you want even more authentic timber looking upvc splash paint on edges of the glass like nearly every timber one has after a few years lol Most of us look out the glass in the window not at the frame ?

Possom

brightontraveller wrote: »

If you want even more authentic timber looking upvc splash paint on edges of the glass like nearly every timber one has after a few years lol

....:p.....

leveller2911

brightontraveller wrote: »

First year expect a lot of tinkering? Ditto long dry, wet spells etc apart from painting etc

That can indeed happen but mostly on Softwood pine (Redwood pine) whereas Hardwoods like Sapele and the only decent softwood Douglas Fir are far more stable than Redwood pines. I make hundreds of windows and doors a year and have to go back and ease probably 1%. If they are hardwood ,decorated properly with good quality paints there tends to be very little,if any problems.

They last you 60 years is the cry (some might) but do I need a window to work when I’m dead ?,

Fair point, I always ask if the client intends to live in the property long term or just a few years and sell on. Good hardwood windows will last 60 years plus. Cheap softwood ones ,even ones that have been pressure treated won't. There is a product now called "Accoya" which is a trade name but its "Radiata pine" which has been pressure treated with Acetic acid and they will guarantee it for something like 60 years, again ist very stable with little movement from season to season. The downside is its as expensive as European Oak and you are limited with choice of fixings,ironmongery etc.

never been able to get timber made for less than 2/3times more than upvc and if it’s a little different than standard sizes, shape etc 5 x plus and don't be surprised if they leak ?

Bespoke timber windows are more expensive but the more you make the cheaper they are per window,economy of mass production kicks in.
Why shouldn't people be surprised if they leak?. No more reason timber windows should leak any more than Upvc ones especially with modern draught/weather excluders.

If you want even more authentic timber looking upvc splash paint on edges of the glass like nearly every timber one has after a few years lol Most of us look out the glass in the window not at the frame ?

Then your windows haven't been painted by a good decorator. A decorator should take his paint just onto the glass ( its called "cutting in") as this seals the joint between the glass and putty/glazing tapes. For the DIYer Its an easier job to re coat the windows every 4-5 years using a stain rather than paint.When people say painting is easy ,its not and a job carried out by a good decorator will stand out and look great.

There are some nice looking Upvc "sash windows" and in many instances are fine and its good that the industry is making the effort to make Upvc look authentic. Where they fall down is in the conservation areas where Local authorities want the mouldings,profiles to match the existing and also many won't allow double glazing. We could spend ages discussing the pros and cons of Upvc,timber ,Alluminium etc..:D