Brown or white replacement windows?

[Springforward]

We're buying a house on a street where the houses were originally built with dark-brown stained wooden window frames and fascias. We're going to be redoing the windows once we've bought it as most of the panes are misted, and we're probably going to replace with uPVC.

Most of the houses on the street still have brown-framed windows, except for just three which are white. I think white are cheaper, and I would prefer them really, but DH disagrees.

So - what would you do - stick with brown, or go for white?

It depends if you plan on having dark wood on the interior. My parents house has dark wood windows and dark oak doors and dark wood window sills. As a result they can't really go white as it would mean replacing all the interior as well. So I would say if there is a dark wood interior then stick with dark outside, if there isn't go white n bright.

I had dark wood in a previous house - very expensive frames but I felt it made the house and rooms dark. I replaced with white and loved it. It made such a difference. I would personally always go for white.

My parents have UPVC frames in their home. They kept the dark brown exterior in order to look like all the other houses on the street however, they have white frames on the inside so their interiors are bright and airy looking. I didn't even know this was possible until they did it.

Not quite the same as we have wooden windows, but we have dark wood on the outside and white on the inside. Best of all worlds really if you can do the same in UPVC.

plastic windows you say?

Most likely if you get brown ones, they will be made of white plastic with a brown plastic film applied to the outside. IMO it does not look like wood, and it can crack, chip or peel exposing the white underneath.

You can probably tell I am not keen.

Aluminium windows are stained and lacquered, and I prefer them, but if you have an older house and the originals are timber, that would be my preference. No doubt it would cost more. Can your old windows not be restored?

PigletJohn, we're getting a quote on having the misted units replaced in the current frames, too. T

Though if we do that, we'll be painting the interior sides white!

Fine by me!

we've got brown upvc windows and doors, we had the option of having the inside of the frames white, but decided to keep with the brown as our skirting boards are stained brown, also we live in a wooded area, so it was more in keeping with the surroundings, though I will say it was very expensive compared to the quote we had for white upvc.

Brown windows don't show the dirt like white ones, and you can have brown on the outside and white internally. No idea of the cost though.

Thanks all. So, whatever type of window we end up with, we're having brown on the outside and white on the inside. I can live with that .

But a red front door!

I am looking for brown windows out and white in - where can I get them??!! I don't want wood as there is too much maintenance involved. What company does these windows please?