Old georgian window frames repair or replace?

Toiletduck

Hi,

I have an 1890's mid terrace which has quite attractive wooden Georgian window frames. The ones at the back are beyond repair and I will be replacing them with UPVC double glazing. The ones at the front are in much better condition, the living room window has a little rot at the base of the frame but it looks like I could fill and paint good for a few more years. The front bedroom window is the tricky one, the frame itself looks ok but the opening section is rotten, is it possible to get a carpenter to repair it? Is is worth it? Or should I resign myself to full replacement. The only thing with replacing them all is that the Georgian windows do look attractive from the front and I dont know how cheap these would be in upvc.

So is repair possible and economic?

Cheers

Andy

rdpro

If I had the money, I'd never fit uPVC anything - economical in the short term, but rarely lasts more than ten years and is a landfill timebomb.

A friend in the trade worked out that, although his wooden framed DG cost about 25% more than uPVC, it would last up to 5x longer than uPVC if properly painted every 3 years. Oh, how I wish I could afford it!

I suspect our local wood butchers (*cough* sorry, skilled craftsmen) will be along shortly to provide sound advice on repairs

Toiletduck

rdpro wrote: »

If I had the money, I'd never fit uPVC anything - economical in the short term, but rarely lasts more than ten years and is a landfill timebomb.

A friend in the trade worked out that, although his wooden framed DG cost about 25% more than uPVC, it would last up to 5x longer than uPVC if properly painted every 3 years. Oh, how I wish I could afford it!

I suspect our local wood butchers (*cough* sorry, skilled craftsmen) will be along shortly to provide sound advice on repairs

Thanks, I should ad that Im trying to do this as cheaply as possible as I probably will move on in a few years and I dont think Id recoup the expense in lower gas bills during that time.

The back windows are in a bad way really and I dont think they could be repaired, I was thinking of just replacing them with the cheapest white UPVC as I can get. For the front however they really do make the house look attractive and I want to keep that look if repair is economical. If not Id want ones that suit an old house and I guess these dont come cheap?

travis-powers

I repair loads of rotten windows the main cause is lack of regular painting, anything can be repaired but there is a cut off point where labour is more than the cost to replace,
the last thing you want is lots of splicing as this will open up over time, I believe fitting upvc to period houses reduce the value, your upstairs sash could be remade contact a recommended carpenter/joiner for a quote

Toiletduck

travis-powers wrote: »

I repair loads of rotten windows the main cause is lack of regular painting, anything can be repaired but there is a cut off point where labour is more than the cost to replace,
the last thing you want is lots of splicing as this will open up over time, I believe fitting upvc to period houses reduce the value, your upstairs sash could be remade contact a recommended carpenter/joiner for a quote

Thanks, I agree about lowering the value with of a period house with UPVC, although these arnt the original sash windows theyre replacement push open Georgian ones. Ill try and find a joiner. What do you usually charge for an average repair?

These the the ones:

http://picasaweb.google.com/andy.simm/MyHouse/photo#5097860148666313538

You can just about see a bit of rot to the bottom left hand side of the bedroom window opening part.

cheers

andy

travis-powers

TBH I charge as much as I think I could get away with :rolleyes:
It doesn't look that bad I would replace bottom rail, I've been charging about £75 to do that around here, If your not that bothered you could cut rot out and put in some 2 pack filler if it's only a small area, you used to get grants to help with replacement windows.
do you have a pic of back windows?

Toiletduck

travis-powers wrote: »

TBH I charge as much as I think I could get away with :rolleyes:
It doesn't look that bad I would replace bottom rail, I've been charging about £75 to do that around here, If your not that bothered you could cut rot out and put in some 2 pack filler if it's only a small area, you used to get grants to help with replacement windows.
do you have a pic of back windows?

Thanks sounds like its a good idea then, here are the back ones:

Kitchen: (beyond repair?)

http://picasaweb.google.com/andy.simm/MyHouse/photo#5202160561025664258

Upstairs:

http://picasaweb.google.com/andy.simm/MyHouse/photo#5202160445061547250



andy

travis-powers

Just by looking at pics Kitchen window isn't too bad just rotten beads can't see a lot with top one I seen a lot worse.
They need prodding with a bradawl / screwdriver to properly assess how bad they are. When you get them repaired repainted it pays to have it done when they is a spell of good weather so moisture isn't sealed in (good luck with the weather part).

Toiletduck

travis-powers wrote: »

Just by looking at pics Kitchen window isn't too bad just rotten beads can't see a lot with top one I seen a lot worse.
They need prodding with a bradawl / screwdriver to properly assess how bad they are. When you get them repaired repainted it pays to have it done when they is a spell of good weather so moisture isn't sealed in (good luck with the weather part).

Cheers for the advice, Ill try and find a joiner to look at them. Sounds alot cheaper than replacing and will look alot better than UPVC.

andy

sashman

First off, technically you dont have sash windows, your front windows are mock sash, ie they are top opening timber casement windows made to simulate sash windows.

True sash windows slide vertically.

So replacement will be cheaper as casements are a fraction of the cost of sash windows (timber or PVCu).

My question is, was the property originally fitted with sash windows that someone has replaced with cheap casements. We've done thousands of real sash windows and your property will be enhanced with real sash windows ....but they are more expensive.

As for that landfill nonsence, PVCu is becoming more green these days because the better companies use recycle it, and make underground pipes (a great land fill solution, as PVC pipes carry liquids efficiently for years), try asking the question of what happens to painted timber at the end of its life, cannot be recycled or burnt as the paint gives off toxins, and when it decomposes gives off meathane, thats far worse than carbon.

Oh yes, I am NOT PVC bias, we offer wooden sash windows and PVC types, but the world is full of misinformation

Happy to answer any direct questions please pm me.

sash man

Toiletduck

sashman wrote: »

First off, technically you dont have sash windows, your front windows are mock sash, ie they are top opening timber casement windows made to simulate sash windows.

True sash windows slide vertically.

So replacement will be cheaper as casements are a fraction of the cost of sash windows (timber or PVCu).

My question is, was the property originally fitted with sash windows that someone has replaced with cheap casements. We've done thousands of real sash windows and your property will be enhanced with real sash windows ....but they are more expensive.

As for that landfill nonsence, PVCu is becoming more green these days because the better companies use recycle it, and make underground pipes (a great land fill solution, as PVC pipes carry liquids efficiently for years), try asking the question of what happens to painted timber at the end of its life, cannot be recycled or burnt as the paint gives off toxins, and when it decomposes gives off meathane, thats far worse than carbon.

Oh yes, I am NOT PVC bias, we offer wooden sash windows and PVC types, but the world is full of misinformation

Happy to answer any direct questions please pm me.

sash man

I didnt say they were sash windows, i said theyre replacement push open ones. I assume they were put into replace the old sash ones, only a couple of houses on the street still have these. I agree installing them would enhance the house but Id never recoup the expensive when I sold on.

My question was is it cheaper to repair or replace them with UPVC mock sash or georgian which several neihgbours have, now your suggesting replacement is cheaper?



andy