Are anthracite window frames passe?

[Bramleyappletarts]

DH and I need to replace the windows in our redbrick bay window1930s house. The current ones are from the 1970s and have condensation in them and leaky to boot! We have a quote for new pvc double glazing (can't afford aluminium or wood), just need to decide colour. We both quite like the look of anthracite (dark grey) window frames, but I'm worried they're a bit of a passing trend and might date horribly. We're probably only going to be in the house for another 5 years or so.

It's also worth mentioning that we're in a terrace, majority of which have white double glazing (only one with the original crittal windows).

I don't love the look of the white particularly, but wondering if it's a better investment. What do people think?

What do you think when you see brown framed uPVC windows that were similarly very popular a few decades ago?

There's your answer

go for white. Anthracite can look great and I don't think they are passé. But if everyone else has white it'll look crap if you have grey.

If all the others are white, I would go for white too.

Go for white mainly because the rest of the street has it. We recently put in ones that are white on the outside (conservation area) but grey on the inside so match the read bi-fold. That works for us. Definitely white on the outside though.

As I understand it window frames are white to reflect more light into the room

White won't date. My MIL on a small 1980s housing estate has dark brown (actually wood) along with all the neighbours. When replaced everyone chose the dark brown fake wood double glazing. It looks OK.

Ivory window frames look lovely with reddish brick. Anthracite wouldn’t really go-white is fine but quite contrasty. Ivory is softer.

Or cream like this

Our street is all white upvc, except next door. They have grey upvc, they just look like painted wood even though they aren’t.
Do what you like, but I suspect that if you do want to sell relatively soon, white would be better. A bit like painting everything white/magnolia rather than having statement walls etc.

Seems the majority view is to stick with white, which is what I was leaning towards. Thanks for the viewpoints!

Can I join in . We've just bought this house . I hate the brown so we are repainting the frames . I'm not convinced about the white .
OP are these the same as your windows ?

I don't think so - we're replacing silver grey aluminium frames with pvc, and our house is redbrick, but I can see why you're not a fan of the brown! DH and I have been walking around the local area to find inspiration from similar houses (which is why he came up with the anthracite idea), perhaps that might help decide on the colour? If you're painting then you have more scope!

We live ina street with mostly all white windows. We had anthracite fitted 2 years ago - but white internally. I think they look fab!

There's a beautiful between-the-wars bay fronted semi just up the road from us that was completely renovated last year. If you ever needed a reason to not install grey window frames, that house is it. The whole thing looks absolutely appalling.

Please - for crying out loud - don't do that to a 30's house.

We had new windows with anthracite frames installed last year. I must admit I was a bit meh when DH suggested it. Then I spent a week thinking that the house stood out like a sore thumb in out street. However I have now got used to them, and many people admire them.

The grey wave has definitely crested

I think grey will date the property in time (although nice now) and unless you can paint them I’d stick with white.

windows are one of those things you really don’t want to replace unless you have to.

I think we might go with light Oak and white on the inside

I think it may be better to stick with white. I have just bought a traditional red brick house which has white PVC windows that are a few years old. The Google street view image still shows the old brown window frames and the house looks so much better for the white frames.

If you're looking to save money, have you thought about getting the windows supply only and fitting yourself? Someone I work with recently went that route to fit their own bi fold doors (I think they used essextradewindows.co.uk/), but they said going direct saved a lot of money. They're not a builder or anything by trade but still managed to do a great job themselves. It could also be a way to get wood or aluminium frames if you're up to the challenge.

A house round the corner is a 1950s red brick terrace. Last year they had anthracite frames. They look terrible. Stick with white.