Refurbished Sash Windows - Building Regs

rugbyleaguefan

Hi everyone,

I hope I am not repeating an old thread here however I have had a search around and could not see this specific query. I would greatly appreciate your thoughts!

Our property has old single-glazed sash windows, some of which are in poor shape, and we are looking to try and improve these. After speaking to a number of contractors, our options at the moment appear to be:

• Full replacement of window and frame with UPVC
• UPVC "inserts" into the timber frames
• Refurbishing and double glazing the existing timber windows

We are really interested in the third option, however we have been told that due to the limitations of this process the double glazing that would be installed would not have a large enough "void" to sufficiently lower the U value, and therefore despite "improving" the efficiency of the windows, would not meet buildings regulations.

Has anybody experienced this situation before - is our only option to go down the UPVC route (in which case we may look at the second option)?

Thanks for your help

SailorSam

Have you thought about secondary glazing, that would give a big gap.

leveller2911

If you have the existing sash windows overhauled as opposed to replacing them then you can fit whatever glass you choose because its only when you replace the whole window that you need to comply.

Just to add a caveat to that . If your house is Listed or in a conservation area you may well need planning permission , even to replace the existing glass.

I'm slightly biased as I make timber sash windows but if you fit Upvc ones you may actually reduce the value of the house because more and more people want timber sash windows.

davidmcn

Doesn't matter. If you're doing a "like for like" refurbishment, you're not obliged to bring the item up to current building regulations.

missbiggles1

rugbyleaguefan wrote: »

Hi everyone,

I hope I am not repeating an old thread here however I have had a search around and could not see this specific query. I would greatly appreciate your thoughts!

Our property has old single-glazed sash windows, some of which are in poor shape, and we are looking to try and improve these. After speaking to a number of contractors, our options at the moment appear to be:

• Full replacement of window and frame with UPVC
• UPVC "inserts" into the timber frames
• Refurbishing and double glazing the existing timber windows

We are really interested in the third option, however we have been told that due to the limitations of this process the double glazing that would be installed would not have a large enough "void" to sufficiently lower the U value, and therefore despite "improving" the efficiency of the windows, would not meet buildings regulations.

Has anybody experienced this situation before - is our only option to go down the UPVC route (in which case we may look at the second option)?

Thanks for your help

Option 4
Refurb the windows but leave them as single glazed - what we did.

Doozergirl

I don't think that refurbing the existing windows needs to meet building regs. They do refer to replacement glazing, so perhaps even changing the glass needs to comply - although that makes no sense as you would certainly be allowed to replace a single pane of glass for another.

Either way, if you are going to pay for double glazing, you really should opt to have the better performing glass - that being the point of double glazing.

Why not replace them with new wooden sashes? That isn't on the list.

Option 2 sounds very strange indeed.

leveller2911

Doozergirl wrote: »

Option 2 sounds very strange indeed.

I've seen Option 2 a few times and can only assume that the homeowner has been fed a load of rubbish about structural problems with replacing a timber box-frame with a Plastic one so they were sold plastic inset frames. The problem being that the frames rot before the plastic does.


Each time I've seen this done its always been on Bay windows.

New_Me

We had new upvc sashes fitted.

pleasedelete

The former owner of my house removed the perfectly good sashes and wooden windows and doors - almost £100k to replace them without the stained glass and much more with. This is the 3rd period house we have had to get the UPVC windows replaced. Having UPVC massively devalues your house if it is a substantial period property.

t0rt0ise

I rent a listed home and they have refurbished most of the windows and added secondary glazing. It works brilliantly. Sounds like the OP has been given some dodgy reduced options.

AdrianC

There are companies who offer BR-approved renovations of sash timber windows - a friend of mine runs one.