Single glazed timber windows - how will we stay warm?!

[NaturalBaby]

We moved into a Victorian cottage a few weeks ago and most of the windows are timber frames with secondary glazing. Most of the curtains are threadbare or have been taken by the vendor. They are covered in condensation most mornings so I'm starting to think about what they're going to be like through the winter and wondering if there are any hints and tips that would help?

I would love to have Roman blinds put up but we have a set of thermal plus blackout lined curtains so think that might suit better to insulate round the frame during the day? We can't decide whether to replace or refurbish them.

If you're getting condensation now, you're right to worry about them.

What have your neighbours with similar properties done?

I would replace. Doesn't sound like refurbishing is going to cut the mustard, and you can replace them with appropriate windows. We have dreadful dreadful double glazing - even thick curtains didn't do anything for it. In the end, we had shutters installed, which really made a lot of difference to the temperature (when closed of course) but I think we'll still have to have them replaced.

The neighbour's windows are different as the properties are different ages, but mostly double glazed upvc which I'm reluctant to get because we can't afford proper, good looking windows at the moment. We were thinking about putting double glazing into the timber frames but think the time and expense wouldn't be worth it. In an ideal world we'd replace with modern timber double glazed A rated windows!
I love the idea of shutters but want as much light as possible - our old house had massive windows facing east and west so the house was full of light all day and this house is the total opposite.

Ah yes. Shutters aren't an especially cheap option, but you do get to keep them if you replace the windows down the line. Our shutters are plantation ones, and I think they actually increase the light in our house. You can of course fold them back against the wall, but we never do, just leave the louvres open.

Sorry, was a bit unclear - they increase the light because they're white painted wood, and the louvres seem to bounce the light around the room.

I wouldn't bother spending out on refurbishing the existing windows or on shutters if that isn't what you want.

Perhaps sit out one cold and damp winter and see how the finances are looking for good quality replacements next year. Get a good dehumidifier to help control the condensation in the meantime.

We've got a listed house, so cant replace our single glazed windows.

We looked at the house as a whole and improved all insulation - roof, free cavity wall, drafty floorboards, lagged pipes, tank jacket, new efficient boiler, best value gas supplier, timing and automatic thermostat....and then the windows. We replaced the secondary glazing which was useless (and ugly) with a magnetic system which sits flush on the window -
stores.ebay.co.uk/diywindowfilms?_trksid=p2047675.l2563

Filled gaps with sealer, then thick curtains on external doors and insulated roman blinds in windows (dont think they worked very well though).

A larger 4 bed cottage, it cost about £2k in all. Would definitly have replaced instead though if it were possible.

I'm thinking of sitting out one winter to see how bad it is, and hoping the secondary glazing will be enough. I love the idea of shutters, especially white ones, so am thinking of a mix of those and roman blinds. Will shutters really help insulate?
We're working on the central heating and the roof needs a lot of work so I'm hoping replacing the windows can wait a bit so I can keep the gorgeous monkey tails for a bit longer!

Ours certainly did. Just like curtains, you make sure you close them at dusk to keep the heat in. They build a sort of wooden frame around your window, then build the shutters into that, so it helped our badly fitted window frames as well as the crappy double glazing units that did fuck all.

We sat out one winter. I don't even want to tell you what our gas bill was, but we cracked and had a woodburner installed in January. I bloody love our woodburner.

Ooo we have a woodburner already, just paid a fortune for a chimney sweep to clean it out and get it ready! I'm determined not to use the central heating too much.

Our house is freezing and we only have the heating on for a couple of hours a day, even in the dead of snowy winter. When the woodburner only goes in the evening, it only really warms the room it's in and the room above, but if we've had it going all day, then the whole house gets toasty. You've reminded me that I need to get it swept before winter though!