To cry over PVC window

[Dongdingdong]

I’ve just had to replace a very old aluminium window in my bathroom, as it was in poor condition and the double glazing was completely shot. I’d wanted to replace it with a new aluminium window but when we were given quotes, the aluminium was almost double the cost of the PVC (about £1K more expensive!)

DH refused to spend that much extra on a window and so we decided to go for the PVC option. It has just been installed last week and admittedly they’ve done a very good, neat job. However, I can’t get past the fact that it’s horrible PVC.

The house is a Victorian terrace with wooden windows at the front and aluminium (plus the new PVC window) at the back.

AIBU for crying about the new window, feeling we’ve made a terrible mistake and wishing we’d gone for aluminium as it’s a better and more historic material than plastic?

I can fully understand your position. It would upset me too.

To be fair, aluminium is pretty horrid too.

A Victorian house would have had all wooden windows originally. Your aluminium windows would have most likely been added in the 60s or 70s so they're not really 'historic' or authentic to the property.

Aluminium windows are not really in keeping with a Victorian terrace either tbh! I don't know anyone who has installed aluminium windows for years. Did you look at installing a wooden window?

Do you get this upset over other issues as well, OP, as your reaction seems a little out of proportion here to something you knew was happening?

I would have loved to go for wood, but a wooden window was even more expensive than the aluminium option. We were also advised that wood might be problematic as the window is so close to the bath (although it's at the opposite end to the shower, so doesn't exactly get covered in water!)

I prefer aluminium to PVC aesthetically because it's completely flat and doesn't have that slightly thick look that PVC has. It's also just a nicer material.

I'm really regretting my choice - I'm worried we've "vandalised" the house by installing PVC!

Thanks @TheFaerieQueen - glad someone does, lol.

We have an 1840s cottage, we replaced the windows three years ago with UPVC ones (they were wood). We chose a style that was in keeping with their he property and they look great!

PVC is ugly but it's ubiquitous and doesn't really get noticed in the average property. I'd love aluminium too but the main thing (unless you've got the money to spare and a house where it's worth investing the extra) is that the house is warm and free of draughts.

ffs get a grip
upvc is a great material for window frames.
it can look really good and is incredibly low maintenance.

PVC is awful, but agree with a PP that it's so ubiquitous that it doesn't really get noticed any more.

There are plastic window frames which can be given a 'wooden effect'.

I've seen dark and light brown frames with a fake wood grain.

But as you're crying over the loss of aluminium frames, which had nothing to do with the original Victorian house, you're being a little bit unreasonable.

PVC windows only last 15 years. If you start saving now you can replace it with a wooden one when the time comes.

Lucky you op. Our lounge has original sash windows that allow our curtains to billow to the theme of most tv programmes!!

I'm really regretting my choice - I'm worried we've "vandalised" the house by installing PVC! No, it's not permanent, it can easily be replaced once you or a future owner has the funds. Don't worry about it. Just be pleased you're not having to repaint it regularly.

Oh no Snowwontbelong! I lived in a rented property like that and got some thermal clip on linings from Dunelm which did a surprisingly good job. Also used window film (fixes with a hairdryer) on a different window

PVC windows only last 15 years

they can last a lot longer than 15 years without looking shit or losing effectiveness.

I have original wooden windows in my Victorian house and I love them. However two windows rotted at the back of the house and we replaced them a couple of months ago. Much as I love wooden, the upc was a more sensible decision and they only get seen by us and our immediate neighbours

We were also advised that wood might be problematic as the window is so close to the bath as an aside that is total and utter rubbish. We have two original 120 yr old wooden sash windows in our bathroom. They are perfectly fine.

I think you have to get a bit of grip. The aluminium ones weren't in keeping anyway.

I'm really regretting my choice - I'm worried we've "vandalised" the house by installing PVC

If you're looking at it that way you vandalised it when you installed aluminium rather than wood double glazing.

I can totally sympathise op. We blew the majority of our renovation budget on replacement period windows. It meant we had to wait years to do the rest of our renovation while we waited for funds to be in place, instead of getting everything done at once, but for us it was worth the wait to do things properly. But if you and your Dh are not on the same page with that, it’s more difficult. Not everyone is bothered about window frames, so it’s just about priorities.

If they're old aluminium windows they're probably terrible for heat loss.

I know how you feel but I would only get that way if I'd replaced an original window with PVC. The house was already vandalised.

Aluminium???!!!

Aluminium windows are crap and nothing to do with the Victorian era! If PVC had been around I'm sure the Victorians would have used it. If you wanted period authenticity, then you should have gone for rattly wooden single glazed.

Why did you go for white pvc? why not grey? or woodgrain?