uPVC vs timber for sash windows

[McCheck]

which one to choose?

We’re after anthracite grey windows for red brick period house.

Front of house needs doing: bay window on ground floor, first floor, second floor windows.

Met with an Anglian homes consultant who recommended uPVC windows and quoted about 33k for the whole job.
Local window guy swears by timber, awaiting his quote.

Does uPVC devalue period property?
What else do I need to understand about windows.
What did you do?

How period is period? I presume you're not in a conservation area or anything like that? Historic buildings specialist here - I'd very strongly recommend timber. They can last for hundreds of years if taken care of, rather than having a limited lifespan like UPVC. The proportions of jambs and sash bars are also totally off in UPVC (much thicker than timber) so they look really 'off' in period properties. I'd also avoid grey but that's probably more down to personal taste! Another good thing about timber is that they're far easier to paint if you change your mind on colour in the future.

If you can afford the cost then timber every time but it should be a durable wood (accoya or other hardwood) not softwood.

Please don’t put in anthracite grey on a red brick period house.

Are you talking double or single glazed? Can I also ask how many windows in total?

We have original single glazed sash windows, we've had them regularly serviced etc. Was always told if you replace an original feature you'd lose value. I'm not so sure now. The condensation at this time of year is immense, and it's just not economical. I'd love to have them replaced with sash style double glazing.

We put in R9 UPVC windows, apparently the creme de la crème of wooden effect windows used in lots of period properties around here. They are in a completely different league to our old 90s upvc windows. But still not as good as wood. They feel slightly cheap / clunky when you are opening and shutting them, and still look very slightly plasticky even though they have wood grain effect and a Matt finish. We also went for a green colour which I thought would be paler and more sagey than what turned up, and obviously now can’t repaint the desired colour because they aren’t wood. On the other hand we couldn’t afford wood because they were an extra 30% or so…

In my area upvc would devalue a period property. The grey has been in fashion for a while, so if you are looking to sell in 10 years, it will look dated. If you go for wood, you can enjoy the colour you like for as long as you like. Then paint to white, or whatever is fashionable by then, when you go to sell. You wouldn't have that option with upvc.

@Newbie887 are they easy to open and close? That is the thing which annoys me he most about the uPVC sashes is that because they have the springs rather than weights they are really hard to open and close.

I used Anglian. Once. Never again.

This.

White. Ideally painted wood. Its period, be kind to it.

They aren’t sash, they are French casement. But they stick a bit and def don’t open seamlessly like wooden ones do. The mechanism inside them jams a bit unless you get them in exactly the right place

What windows do you have at the moment? If they are the original try and keep them. You can get them thermally improved by adding brush strips etc.

Upvc does devalue a house in my opinion. Plus all the plastic, it's not actually that environmentally friendly in manufacture. They don't last long as well so usually 'energy saving' new windows is just greenwashing....

Period (late Victorian) but not in a conservation area. I get what you say about sash bars.

why would you avoid grey?

Another vote against grey… please tell me why

We’d like double glazed.

I think the windows are still original with Queen Anne style (?) with grille pattern on the top sash. Some glass panels are frosted.

I am told that the cheaper timber version would not include individual glass panels fitted into the frame but it would be more like one single glass panel sandwiched between the front and back frame.

are you going to replace yours with double glazing?

Thanks for your review of the uPVC windows. The price does make a big difference. My eyes were watering when I heard the quote...even for the uPVC version. I saw quite a few houses with those in. They’re popular.

Thanks! What colour would you recommend for windows? I’m finding white a bit boring.

Would love to hear more

I think the original windows are still in albeit coated in many layers of bubbly paint. They’re drafty, some don’t open and are generally in disrepair. Will look into keeping them and repairing.

True about the uPVC manufacture. Puts me off.

@McCheck please do not put upvc windows in a Victoria property. Why can the existing windows not be renovated? Some sash windows do have springs instead of cords and weights, but they can be renovated.

If you really want new windows, forget big companies, go to a local joiner or window manufacturer for wooden replacements.

Edited to say, sort the wooden windows first before worrying about the colour of the paint to use! I wouldn't use grey with red brick but it is a minor detail.

@schloss yes I also spoke to a local tradesman and he went down the replacing route rather than all new. The sashs we have have weights and ropes. Well, some of those are missing

Happy to do whatever but it needs to be well insulated.

Going to go against the grain here and say that I've seen period properties round here in Wimbledon with anthracite grey windows, front door and trim painted all the same. They look smart. But they're wood, so easy to paint.

I think cream looks nice, if you're trying to get away from the pale colours then something along the lines of a sage/olive green or Dix blue would be nice.

I hate uPVC windows with a passion.

I had a quote from Anglican and I was really turned off by their sales tactics of quoting you an outrageous figure then knocking off 5% if you post on social media, 10% if you book right now, 15% after "speaking to the manager". Gave me the absolute ick.

Are the sashes you have double glazed?

I'd like to get double glazing, but my wife is against it, because "it will devalue the house."

So instead we'll continue to get condensation and heat loss through our single glazed sash windows until she's fed up of cleaning the mould, and us paying out to have them repainted every other year...

You can get thin heritage style double glazed panels fitted into original wooden frames. They can also be made less drafty by fitting a ventrolla system. It does make a big difference in terms of insulation and noise reduction.

We had a mixture of new wooden double glazed sashes and two original sashes repaired. The repaired ones are so much nicer and sturdier. White is always best on a Victorian property,