talk to me about windows (upvc and others)

[Innat]

i get the feeling that soon there is going to be a backlash against upvc windows...although this is mainly based on reading self build mags and watching grand designs!!

we have just bought a house with original crittal (steel framed) windows made of up of smaller panes in an almost art deco style. the house was built late 40s/early 50s.

i love the style of the windows but they need replacing as many of them have large gaps to the outside world! there's no way we can afford to replace them with new crittal windows (i expect) so what are the alternatives. the other half of the semi has gone for standard upvcs, most of the other houses on the street still have the originals. one house has replaced with upvc with the fake bars on them that mimic the original style. i'm not sure about these bars though, i think close up they look a bit naff.

anyone any opinion or am i the only sad enough to think about windows int his much detail!?

[pushmepullyou]

My house is Victorian and still has the original sash windows. Whilst they're not the warmest I really am not keen on uPVC and they were a real selling point for me when I bought the house.

I think we are in the minority, given the dominance of uPVC these day, but I would agree that there is or will be a backlash against uPVC in the near future. I have a friend who makes wooden sash windows and he had a big upturn prior to the recession and his business is picking up again now, so it's obviously not just us!

[Innat]

The trouble is it would look daft if we put in wooden sash windows as they wouldn't suit the style of house. i just can't really think of any alternative to upvc for the house really but it seems a bit sad to lose an original feature...

[Doozle]

Not sure what Crittal windows are? But I recently saw the Heritage Window Company in our road doing someone's windows. Apparently, they do metal windows for period properties. If you check out their website, it might be what you're looking for.

[Doozle]

Are you windows like these ones?

www.theheritagewindowcompany.co.uk/grand-designs.htm

[Innat]

crittall windows are steel framed windows, so the frame tends to be thinner as it is strong. ooh i wish our windows were like that doozle! they're more like this www.citylibraries.info/pictures/Photos/Pic02/01207.jpg in fact the house is pretty similar to that. crittal still exists and here's a replacement of similar style windows www.crittall-windows.co.uk/casestudy/sector/3/19/ropers-field-estate.html but i think they would be out of our budget. they are also apparently quite poor for condensation etc.

[daisydotandgertie]

crittal window website is here.

I think they're reasonably easy to find second hand - perhaps a trawl through salvo.com would do the trick. I've helped my father replace crittals with other old crittals with no real problems.

[Innat]

daisy does your father get on well with his crittals? i've heard they can be drafty and cold etc

[Innat]

hey pushmepullyou we are not alone check this out! www.btinternet.com/~coltdesign/house/windows.htm

[daisydotandgertie]

They can be drafty - before they were replaced, the draft used to make the curtains in my old bedroom billow to almost horizontal sometimes!

But, once they were replaced it was fine.

We also have them in our house, but they're in good order and not drafty at all. We don't have them double glazed either.

And we live at the top of a hill in a very 'exposed to the elements' position. There are times I have to double peg the washing to stop it flying off into the trees .