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?

I would get the original windows renovated and then do secondary glazing. It's not as warm as proper double glazing but much cheaper. My husband fitted it last winter and it made a huge difference. We removed it for the summer and stored it under the spare bed. We've just put it back up for the winter again.

Upvc sash windows are popular where I am - Victorian terraces, zone 2 London. The new ones are indistinguishable from timber ones. I wish we had them. We have wood sash windows, which we put in to replace out-of-keeping aluminium double glazing, and really regret them - the upkeep! But it’s worth remembering that if you get double glazed, which we did, the weight of the glass is much heavier, and most of the sash ropes in ours have now snapped. In both types, you will eventually get the issue with condensation between the panes when the seal goes, and they’ll need to be replaced.

We're currently facing the same issue and my plan is to refurbish the windows but replace the glass for the ultra thin double glazing. I just don't love uPVC. We're pre quotes though so if anyone can recommend someone in the Midlands...

Round here quite a lot of houses have the darker greyish windows as it ties in with some of the dark greyish navy bricks and looks really smart so I don't think it's a deal breaker.

Thanks @TheBeesKnee. Anglian’s sales pitch didn’t put me off. The consultant almost got me to consider uPVC.

and yes, I’m with you on the anthracite timber windows looking smart. Here’s our inspo. But our house is different to this one so…

No, single original (I think) glass

Who says it devalues the property? Have you asked an estate agent? I could imagine if done properly it would add value?

Thank you! Have you had that done?

Thank you @ILoveAnnaQuay @sweetsardineface for the suggestions of repairing the original and secondary glazing. So tricky to get old craft to work to our modern standards.

That's what I would have thought as you're making the property more economical and generally warmer...

But it was an Estate Agent that told us that by replacing the original features the property would lose value. Mind you, that was about 20 years ago, way before the COL crisis where people want to save as much as they can on their fuel bills...

The new ones are indistinguishable from timber ones.

I’d love to see an example of this latest uPVC. I’ve seen lots of houses with them now I can recognise the difference.

Snapping chords ahhhhhh 😂 never ends does it

Yay another one for dark grey windows. I realised that our house colour may not suit that dark grey though.

Thanks for tip: refurbish windows and ultra thin double glazing.

Ok that makes sense. Why don’t you refurbish the frame and add ultra thin double glaze? But then you’d still have to discard any frosted glass panels etc. I understand where your wife is coming from

There was a hilarious thread on windows here a couple of months ago. I went with Upvc- significantly cheaper and without the faff or regular upkeep. Upvc hasn't devalued our house- the recession and several incompetent governments have!

Well, perhaps they are distinguishable if you look hard enough! But so what? They add value where I am, definitely, but in London prices for tradesmen are so high, so paying for continuous renovation of windows is to be avoided. Perhaps in other parts of the country it would be better.

The cords snap because the lead weights were not replaced when the heavier glazing was added - it is basic during any renovation process of sash windows to check the correct weights are used.

@McCheck yes. It was our only option because our house is listed. It looks beautiful and has made a huge difference but obviously not quite as warm as new windows would have been. The other benefit is that it is a lot cheaper than replacing and the wood is amazing quality, better than you can get now. We have added magnetic secondary glazing to reduce heating bills a bit after someone posted on here about it. This was very easy to fit and relatively cheap.

Interesting. Ours weren’t renovated, though. They were new wooden sash windows from scratch.There were no original lead weights.

Just slto mention, you can get chains installed instead of cords if the weights are too heavy

As others have said, there are now thin double glazing which can be fitted to existing sash windows. It normally requires routing of new grooves on the wood for them to fit into, then the parting beads are replaced. New weights will need to be added to compensate for the heavier weight of the glass. If replacing or adding weights (you can purchase very small lead weights to add to the existing in situ weights), at the same time new cords should be added.

What about black, aluminium?
We recently renovated what had been a derelict property. The windows (mostly smashed) were single glazed and crittal. To keep the thin framed look, we went with aluminum, double glazed ones in black.

We started the renovations over 3yrs ago, and even then, were told that anthracite grey was on its way out- having been popular for the preceding 10yrs.

Yes this.

Please do not put anthracite grey on a red brick period house.

It’s too modern for a period house and I think it looks awful with red bricks as it clashes with the bricks and also makes it all look a bit prison like. It’ll also date quickly (rather like the brown UPVC has done).

Very interesting thread with lots of food for thought. Some new materials I wasn't aware of.

I work for a window company..go for Residence 9 windows they are excellent. Steer away from Anthracite Grey it's becoming dated and will look out of place on a red brick property and especially on the styles yoj want ie bay and sash windows. Avoid companies like Anglian and use your local installer who you can find on the FENSa website or the residence 9 site

😂 👏👏👏👏👏

Do you have aluminium sash windows?