To replace my old sash windows with replica upvc?

[emsa1]

As above. My sash windows are original and our house is freezing. The windows get covered in condensation. Every morning. Mould is an issue in some rooms and ice has been known to form on the inside of some of the windows. Today I was told that it’s possible to get UPVC windows which look almost identical and are likely to not need planning permission, even though I’m in a conservation area. Has anyone gone for these and will you pleased with the results?

Not me, but my neighbour has, and they look lovely. I don't think you can tell, they've come a long way in the last few years and look really good. I'd definitely go for upvc rather than sit in the cold and have ice!

We've got uPVC sliding sash and we love them, the house is so much warmer and they're maintenance free

I’d check the rules for your conservation area. The window companies like to say they won’t need planning when they very often do

I think you'll devalue your house, to be honest. Maybe check with an estate agent?

Someone did that near me, they had to have them all removed. You need to check what you're allowed to do

Check with planning.

but we are in a conservation area and while we need planning a lot of people have replaced wood with upvc and the newer ones look very good. We are going to planning this year to do the same as I’m fed up of draughts and condensation.

A house around the corner has really good quality uPVC wood grain sash windows. I enquired about them, and although they look good from the outside they're boxy, plain and boring on the inside. Which is a shame, because our wooden sash windows are in a bad way despite trying to fix, fill and paint every other year.

Hello! Do you mind me asking who supplied them - and do they look unattractive from the inside as another poster has said?

I replaced mine with pvc, had to get permission from local council. Good job it was granted as would have struggled to afford replacement wooden sashes. The pvc windows had to look as if they were the original. They are easier to clean and no maintenance but lack character

You'll need to check with your conservation officer but yes, they are pretty good. We have these: https://www.roseview.co.uk/products/ultimate-rose/
Buying the best I could afford was a compromise for me as I don't like plastic windows - but neither do I like maintenance. And they're a lot better than what was there before.

We replaced our about 30 years ago, and they look good, although some of the “horns” have come off. But you couldn't get good quality double glazed wooden sash windows back them. Nowadays you can

Yes, we had some from Bygone Windows, don’t know whether they’re still going though. You have to get really close up to see that they’re not wood, and all the catches and fittings are in keeping. Quite a bit more expensive of course, but worth it IMO.

Former original wooden windows had Georgian-type small panes, and TBH just painting the inside of the double sash one in our bedroom was more than enough for me - and it would need doing again in 3 years max, not to mention the outside, too. A major job and costs a fortune if you have to pay a decorator to do it.

I’ve just been looking at these! I too would like to compromise in this way.

Secondary double glazing can be very good and not visible from outside. Please keep your original windows if you can - new ones never look as good.

No, they look awful, secondary glazing is much better, also if you have condensation you need to ventilate the house every morning. I know it is cold but all the fresh air will reduce the moisture. You could also get a dehumidifier.

If you think about it the sash windows have lasted a very long time and upvc (even the new ones) only last about 10 years before you need to think about replacing them. Keep the old ones, if the glass is original it was made in a different way and throwing it away would be awful as it will be lost forever. It can be so beautiful. Look at the SPAB website for information, they are really helpful and want to make houses warm and liveable without losing the history.

We have these! They've been in for a few years and are good. Ours replaced awful casement UPVC though and we aren't in a conservation area (Edwardian house) so whatever we put in would have been fine and would have been a big improvement. They were about 1.5K each window so not cheap. You can get the originals repaired and secondary glazing put in if you decide to keep them but I think that looks crap from the inside usually

we have plastic sliding sash windows, they are lovely, but each one (5 of them) cost more than my 2016 car at the time... it was a pricey choice, all of the back of the house cost less than one of the front windows.

Previous owners did this in our house
£100k to put them back
It massively devalued the house as well

We had our original sashes refurbished and double glazing retrofitted in them. This is the first warm winter we’ve spent in the house. It’s bliss.

I kept our old ones, I couldn't bear to get rid of them even though they had condensation, rattled when lorries and buses drove by (down a different road!) and were cold. One didn't open and one could only be wide open or closed.
We got brushes around the edges to make them less draughty and got the cord fixed. I think you can do more. We don't live there anymore and now someone has replaced the windows with UPVC ones like you mention and I feel sad about that but they look nice!

My house built 1600.
So basically very pretty but freezing.
Had all windows including 4 sash ones replaced 2 years ago. I LOVE my windows. They are double glazed PVC custom made to be like for like.
Each window is a piece of art in made to look like wood finish
Definitely best thing I did. Helps with heating. They actually open too.
And no more painting or rotten wood. They look beautiful.
Can't help with conservation area bit. My house not listed.

It’s worth getting a quote for getting them fixed plus putting in secondary double glazing.

Cheaper probably and will look better

… having said that, what did you get @Caroparo52

I got our old pvc windows replaced as they were falling apart after 30 years. I got plastic sliding sash windows and the period (not listed) house looks much better. They move beautifully and look great inside too. They let in some street noise though and my biggest complaint is that the plastic is a grey white, rather than white white which I hadn't realised.

But, if we'd still had the original windows I would definitely have got them reconditioned and double glazed where possible, and added secondary glazing. Then we could have had working shutters and a more beautiful authentic result. The pvc is great but very much second best.

@Couldntgiveafunk May I ask the name of the glass you had added to your windows please and how old your sashes are? Did you have to add more lead weights to deal with the added weight of the double glazing?

@emsa1 Removating existing sashes can make a huge difference even without changing the single glazed panes. If you are going to change the windows, have new double glazed wooden ones installed, please no UPVC sashes.