uPVC or Hardwood Windows for a 1960s Home?

[cathbath]

We have a detached 1960s property in the suburbs - it's a pretty standard design. We are renovating it throughout and we are also trying to make the house as eco-friendly as possible. I don't really like uPVC so we were thinking of hardwood windows (I like the look of the oiled ones).

However I've just had a window salesman tell me that hardwood may devalue the house, as most people would prefer uPVC. Most of our neighbours in similar properties do seem to have white uPVC windows...

We are planning to be here for the long term, so want to do what's right for us, but obviously don't want to make an expensive mistake either.

I have also wondered about steel windows which Sarah Beeny was recommending...

Which windows to choose?!

I think the window salesman was talking bollocks.

What are the original windows like? I would go for as close a match as possible. We had steel windows in our 1930s house and they are very pricey. A friend had very good quality aluminium (I think) windows installed and they looked very good, clean and modern without being cheap white plastic.

I'd always always go hardwood. uPVC is nasty stuff.

Definitely timber or aluminium clad timber. Nordan are good.
www.nordan.co.uk/UK/index.php

I'm a big fan of the steel windows from an aesthetic pov.... Crittal do them. Not cheap, and don't know what your house aesthetic is like, but they do look fa. lalalonglegs is right I think....

Am having the same issue, and have been told to check out 'timber-look' uPVC... haven't seen any examples yet though so no idea how it looks.

Ah thanks. I knew I'd get some helpful replies on here!

I wish I knew what the original windows were like, but the previous owners had uPVC fitted 20 years ago. They are 'timber-look' uPVC (dark brown) and don't look too bad, but are not in good shape, don't close properly and we are getting lots of draughts. So I'm thinking we need to get new windows before we do anything else. Also we are not planning to move again, so would like the new windows to last more than 20 years if possible.

In terms of aesthetics, we like the mid-century, retro-modern kind of look. We are lucky enough to have found the original parquet floors underneath the carpets (which I'm very excited about!). So it would be nice to put something in which complements the house's original character (as much as a 1960s box can have character!).

In the longer term we are also thinking of giving the exterior a facelift, so the windows would be part of that. We have white plastic cladding across the front and back of the house, which doesn't look great (thinking of replacing with cedar wood cladding, or render?). We also have quite a bit of land to the side of the property which gives us lots of potential to extend... It's just a bit overwhelming making these decisions!

i would put in whatever the surroundng houses has simply because it will look really odd otherwise

I've gone for Aluminium - they have a finer profile, don't fade or discolour and are stronger than uPVC - I couldn't be doing with window maintainence

Either wood or aluminium, I think aluminium might look best in a 60s house.
I dont agree that you need to follow the lead of surrounding houses, if you want to make your house an eco house, which I'm sure will be a good selling point, then why not make it stand out a little, also IMO upvc isnt going to cut it style-wise.
I would never take advice from a window salesman btw, they're not generally known for their aesthetic finesse...

We have a 60's house and we are about to rendor it as part of a big refurb, the original bricks are awful - we'll be the first in the row to do so...it's going to look good enough to eat!
Most of our neighbours replaced wood windows with uPVC - big mistake imo...and I won't be copying them.

Our house is on its own on a corner plot, so could probably stand out without it looking too odd. The houses opposite and in the surrounding area are all a bit different from each other (a mixture of different styles from the 50s and 60s).

I think some kind of facelift is definitely needed. I nearly didn't bother looking round the house because of how it looked from the outside! But we fell for the house's potential.

Anyway I'm coming round to the idea of aluminium or steel windows now... can any of you helpful people recommend which makes to go for?

UPVC is defintiely the work of the devil I have just moved in to a major renovation I have been doing but the carpenter has been unable to do the windows this year so we have the pvc and it is so so warm we are shocked!Bills are going to be a lot lower.Still getting rid though.60s houses with metal windows i think

I agree that uPVC is the work of the devil! :) Although ours no longer shut properly so are draughty as well as ugly!

I am sold on the metal windows and am now trying to decide between aluminium or steel. Can anyone advise whether there any advantages with one above the other? Thanks!

Help... we've just had a guy round who has convinced DH to go for UPVC. I'm feeling rushed now as DH is ready to sign on the dotted line and get all the windows done before Christmas!

It's difficult for me to convince DH otherwise, as the steel windows companies I approached never got back to me, despite me chasing them. Very strange. I hadn't even started looking into aluminium properly.

We have just uncovered the beautiful original parquet floor throughout our downstairs. I'm trying to imagine putting white plastic windows against it and it seems wrong somehow... DH can't see it though .

We've been quoted £5.5K (plus VAT) for UPVC - 12 windows and 3 external doors. Would aluminium be much more expensive? And would it look so much better?

Do not under an circumstance fall for the limited off scam - do not be pressurised into signing a contract due to a very limited offer. Trying to get something done before Xmas is crazy unless you have seriously poor glazing atm.

Take your time - you are spending a lot of money - ask around at school. Aluminium is more expensive - I've been told up to 25% but then uPVC is expensive too if you are scammed and lets face it double glazing sales people don't have a fantastic reputation.

Tell your dh to chill and do your research properly and then make a decision.

On the quality issue - I would have gone down the uPVC route if we couldn't afford Aluminium, the frame is chunkier, they don't last as long, you can probably live with these things but I would never ever choose a uPVC door, that's just wrong. Wood is the only thing that looks good on a door.

any circumstances

Thanks Disparity. DH is just so in favour of UPVC. It doesn't help that all the neighbours seem to have it and his colleagues are telling him that was a really good quote.

I agree with you on uPVC doors. Our front door is incorporated in a wall of glass panels (nearly 3m wide across our hallway). It's a feature of the house, so I think mixing materials might look a little odd. I can see it all looking good in sleek aluminium - perhaps in dark grey or brown.

I have found some local firms who do aluminium, plus Everest, so have arranged for some quotes and hope to convince DH.

What should be asking the salespeople when they come round? All I know about aluminium windows are that the decent ones have a thermal break.

Remember to ask for a trickle vent in the quote. Ask to see some of their past client's work - if they are not happy to do this then I'd walk away. Ask about openings - will they make it easy to escape in the event of a fire. Also making all panes open helps the look of the windows - you don't get that odd uneven profile - same goes for uPVC though.

Are the windows bespoke/ made to measure your windows - or do they make them fit by adding fillers (this is cheaper but doesn't look as good). I know a few people who have had to replace their double glazing - due to badly fitting/rubbish quality units....so don't be too taken in by a cheap quote.

Everest will charge you an arm and a leg!

I wonder if the reason that the salesman was trying to put you off hardwood was because they were from a company that doesnt offer it.

Hardwood is nicer than uPVC, but people will tend to go for uPVC because it is cheaper.

Everest are very expensive - The quote that I had from everest (for uPVC) was 3 times what I eventually paid for Hardwood from a local independant firm.

Okay - here's a compromise.

The reason people love uPVC despite the fact that it is VERY unpretty is that it is maintenance free. With hardwood you still need to oil/paint every 3-5 years. It depends whether you regard clambering up ladders balancing paint pots as fun...

Now there are a few companies around who do "heritage" windows - in other words they are uPVC but don't look like uPVC. Now obviously you aren't going to put Georgian windows in a 60s box, but you can get hardwood look-a-likes.

In terms of what you've been quoted though, that's a cracking price.

Don't get why you'd put "heritage" windows on a 60's house...that's just wrong imo. uPVC looks bad because it is thick setted and the plastic degrades and discolours - there were/are plenty of style disasters with wood too.

DisparityCausesInstability - of course you wouldn't - it would look HORRIBLY naff, but if you search under "heritage windows" you'll find the people who do hardwood lookalikes in uPVC - much thinner frames, you can have dark coloured frames so no discolouration and they even have the spinning frames so you can clean them.

Darker uPVC will fade, white PVC will yellow. People are suckers for associating the words "heritage" and "tradition" with meaning & quality but they mean nothing in reality or legality.

We have dark wood-effect uPVC at the moment and they actually don't look too bad! I imagine the colour has lasted better than white uPVC would after 20 years. However, they have been fitted badly, the panes have misted, the hinges have gone and they are a nightmare with all the gaps. We want the next windows to last a lot longer.

The uPVC salesman gave us a half price quote (I know, I know...) as he wants to feature our house in their new brochure. They are a local firm so sound pretty good and didn't give us the hard sell. His company also quoted for wood, but he was trying to convince us that uPVC would be best...

However, DH was googling for aluminium windows last night and came across this thread... I think he is starting to agree with me now (hi DH!).

PS Disparity, thanks for the tips on what to ask the salespeople. The current windows have been fitted badly so we are definitely getting the next ones made to measure! That's a good idea to have all the panes open to make it look balanced.

I like the clean, balanced look of these windows - here

Our house is similar to this in shape and style (just without the wood cladding) - here