Plastic UPVC sash windows - anybody got them?

[Mammonite]

I am getting quotes (not yet received) for sash windows for my house. I am weighing up between timber and uPVC, I know the PVC will be cheaper but I really did want timber ones for sustainability reasons and well, snob value to be honest. It's a traditional house but not a conservation area or anything. I like the fact that we could paint timber different colours if we wanted in the future.

Has anybody got modern double glazed sash windows of either sort and are you happy with them?

Don't do it!
Yes UPVC cheaper but as you say you can paint timber
and yes Snob value
Also you may struggle to sell with UPVC even though you're not in a conservation area, others may agree with us on the snob value...
hth

I think the snob thing depends where you live - round here (Lancashire) people love uPVC windows & very few old houses still have sash.

We have ancient tilt & turn & I am planning to replace them with uPVC sash when we can afford it.

Mammonite, if you got timber would you be planning to paint them yourself or get someone else to do it? Because all window painting is fiddly but sashes are the fiddliest by far...

It is in-between - medium sized village, complete mix of houses and windows. I doubt the sort of buyers around here would be too put off either way.

I have painted sash windows before and would do it again, we are pretty DIY competent. I could bore for England on durable microporous finishes so I'm not expecting maintenance to be too much of a problem as long as some erk doesn't use Dulux non drip gloss.

oh I would be that erk if it was my windows - please do bore about durable microporous finishes for me!

eg are windows fitted ready-painted? & how long before they need doing again?

I am not that much of an expert but have used this Profilan Opac on windows before. They were initially painted in normal Dulux gloss which peeled off after about 2 years, we had about another 2 years of the Profilan before we moved house but I believe it lasted fairly well afterward. It came well recommended. There are various Sikkens products as well, basically you are as I understand it looking for an opaque "woodstain" rather than a paint.

I have vaguely heard of Sikkens - the Profilan sounds brilliant.

Thank you!