House question - are we throwing good money away?

[katierocket]

Live in semi detached 1930s style house. Not our 'dream' house by any means but it served a purpose when we moved her 2 years ago (lots of space, nice garden etc).

We want to move within 6-9 months but the windows really need sorting out. Personally I can't stand UPVC but I appreciate that lots of people like the practicality of them. The back windows are all UPVC but the front are still the original wood and they really need replacing. If we were going to stay here then I would definitely pay for wooden double glazed with the original stained glass in but it's really expensive.

Question is - are windows a deal breaker?
do we have to replace them and if so should be just go for UPVC?

if you are going to replace them - go the upvc route - no point in wasting money if you are not going to benefit.

Maybe get a quote from estate agents - with and without new windows - if the value is more than the cost do it, if not then don't.

No, I would just have them repaired if they are really terrible, otherwise just paint them. Wooden windows are surprisingly cheap and easy to repair if you get someone who knows what he is doing. if you put in UPVC I think you limit your market a bit. If the next buyer wants UPVC then they can put them in, but many buyers won't these days. I wouldn't.

Also UPVC is incredibly environmentally unfriendly!

I just wonder if it will put buyers off.
Good idea to get an idea from estate agents.

If it was a victorian property there is no way I'd even consider upvc but I think it's more common in 1930s properties - certainly 99% of the other hosues on our street have upvc. So I was thinking that's what the target market for this type of house will want.

That's interesting fio

I'm trying to buy a 30's semi which has upvc front windows, and they were definitely a minus point for me, and the offer we made took account of the money we will spend putting in replacement windows in due course! If you're going to spend any money, 'original' windows in the front may earn their keep, especially if there are / were any coloured bits or the house retains other period features.

Oh, we were/are in same position. All wooden sash originals but one really needs repalcing. We just got quotes from a "joinery manufacturer" (not a joiner or window place) so have that to refer to if need to bargain about it. Was a lot cheaper than we feared. I, personally, just couldn't bring myslef to put in a upvc one here.

Definitely try and fill and paint them though. I wouldn't be put off by original windows needing a bit of TLC. But, like you, am finding everyone else seems to have put in upvc

Tinker - is the joiner local to you? would you mind giving me his details so I could see if he could repair them. I think you have my email?

I think it's such a shame when people rip out the original features in a house.

As a buyer I'd love to see original stained glass windows and think it would be a shame to lose them especially at the front. However our experience as a seller (of a 1980's characterless house with original secondary glazed windows) is that it does put many potential buyers off. They just see "Work" even though it only takes a day or so and doesn't cost that much relatively, reflected in the selling price anyway. tbh if we don't sell soon it will be the first things we'll consider doing. As your lends character to the property if that is the only major thing which needs doing I'd patch them up and leave them.

Keep them if they are pretty and get the frames fixed and repainted. Maybe some cheap secondary glazing to banish queries about drafts or noise from lack of double glazing. Doesn't make replacement such an urgent thing for potential buyers and gives them options.

We had mahogany single glazing in our sun room and last year decided to double glaze them. Get a glazier to come in and have a look at them, they were able to fit double glazed units into the original mahogany frames for us.

And it worked out much cheaper than replacing all with upvc

Do you reckon I should just call some joiners then?

id def go for upvc, i much prefer them and ours actually incorpoarte the original leaded/coloured glass.we actually refused to 2nd view many houses round here because the windows were in great need of repair..it costs about £2000 to replace a big bay window here and i would def be knocking that of asking price(the house in question had 3 huge bays and a triple width door, so £££££££££££££££££!!)

It just seems criminal to take out lovely wooden windows and put ugly UPVC.

Think I will get estate agent round, see what they think then ask joiner if he thinks they can be fixed so they look OK and if all else fails go for the UPVC option. Bloody house, it's like a money pit.

Obviously realise it's totally personal preference and some people do prefer UPVC.

If I had wooden windows, I'd probably replace with wooden.

I have aluminium monstrosities, so UPVC looks bloody lovely to me!

aluminium? - how unusual. Tres post modurn though hunker

I think they are anyway. Metal frames (albeit wedged into the wooden frame in the bay windows), look like shit whatever they are.

Definitely patch them up if you can - better to drop the price a bit after survey if you have to - and you might not have to. UPVC always puts me off, especially on a period house.

Lots of people want period houses and period detail - that's a character property you've got there with original stained glass etc (make sure your estate agent is marketing it as so.) Is the front door original or at least 30s style?

If you paint the aluminium white it looks much better.