Cottage windows options - pvc or wood?

[hangoninaminute]

I know there have been lots of threads on the subject but can't seem to find my magic answer!

We have moved in to a 1870 cottage which needs everything doing to it. We're on to the windows at the front of the house and need to decide what to do with them. I've always said NO to plastic ones as I believe they are the original windows. We have 4 windows and they are 4 panes on top and 4 panes on bottom. We have had 3 quotes done and all say different advice. Ventrolla found out that we only have a working sash on the bottom and the top sash could be sealed shut or keep it in working order but it will not be supported by any cords etc. I don't like the idea of sealing the window shut but if we don't it would mean we couldn't open the bottom sash without opening the top (because of the catch in the middle locking the windows together). A local company said they could put a sash in the top but I'm wary of this incase they are the original windows.

Fast forward to now where family members have been shocked that we are even bothering to renovate the windows we already have and are strongly advising us to go for plastic. My thoughts are I can make do with the maintenance of them over adding character to my home and potential house value.

We have windows at the back of the house which are plastic but I've always said we would replace with wooden when we get round to it. Even double glazed wooden seeing as though we have lost any original windows that may have been there.

Looking back at Ventrolla website I see there are windows that look like wooden and have the grain and all the other details just like a wooden one would but I haven't seen these in the flesh. Has anyone? Can you tell?

For anyone who does have renovated wooden sash windows and have been draught proofed how do you find condensation in the winter?

We come from a modern townhouse and are very reluctant to seal up our house and loose a big part of what made us fall in love with the house to begin with - but I don't want to make the wrong decision and have people say 'I don't you so!' It's our forever house so even if it did cost ££££ it's all for us :-)

We live in a terraced workers cottage and it was built in 1870. There is no way I would out UPVC in, we are going to have each sash renovated. The sashes are original features of you home, think carefully before replacing them and keep in mind UPVC can need replacing every 15 years or so.

No please don't replace with plastic. It will just look wrong.

We have a Georgian house with original sash windows (and ridiculously thin hand made glass in many of the panes). Ventrolla "rescued" the windows about 15 years ago. They were very good at patching rotten bits on the originals, though one of the sashes did get completely replaced.
I think we painted them as soon as they were renovated and we repainted them again last year. I call that pretty maintenance-free.

Do we get condensation? We DID in certain rooms, but we now put secondary glazing up in the winter and it is no longer a problem.

My parents (stupidly) replaced all their wooden windows with UPVC about 25 years ago. They have had to replace several of these. What also slightly freaked us out was that the police managed to remove and replace the whole kitchen window to gain entry to the house when my mother's mobility/panic alarm developed a fault and she and key holders were out.

It has just occurred to me that one of our windows is "single sash" The bottom window opens with a sash and the top one is propped up on the outside by 2 hinged bits of wood (so it can drop about 20cm when the hinged pieces aren't holding it up).

Our house is a 300 year old farmhouse with cottage windows in a conservation area. When we bought it it had new ish pvc windows in the original style. Four panes to each window with vertical openings.

A friend is a historic buildings consultant and said they were the nicest non wood windows he had ever seen.

I would have probably gone for wood if I had replaced them myself BUT PVC can be ok if done sympathetically, i.e. don't scrimp on cost and have each side of each window looking the same even if it doesn't open. Ours have quite delicate glazing bars on each individual window.

It can be done in something other than wood, you will probably pay the same as wood though for the right design/quality.

Will try to find a photo.

Try Residence 9 windows. They are plastic, but really truly don't look it. I have had more than one workman/builder/odd job person ask me if I am sure the windows are plastic...

Unless you're on the seafront or the cottage is worth peanuts, then definitely no to plastic.

We have plastic because our house is worth peanuts. If it had any intrinsic value or character, I would avoid it like the plague.

We refurbished our windows - condensation wise they are fine (but if you are getting lots of condensation, it can be a ventilation issue which is made obvious by the windows).

I'm also anti PVC windows for all the reasons stated above. I also really dislike the products which are better quality uPVC- at the end of the day they are still plastic and really bad for the environment.

You can also paint wood pretty colours!

Pandas - ours are from Residence 9 too - very nice for Pvc.

We have these and are really pleased with them.

We had new wood windows made by a local carpentry company for our 1920s house. Double glazed, proper lead patterning on both sides of the outer pane etc etc.

They were more expensive than UPVC but surprisingly not excessively so, and considerably less than refurbishing the original windows while giving all the benefits of double glazing, fitting well etc etc. they will need rerpainting every 5-10 years or so, but look FABULOUS!

Wood. And keep the originals.

Don't fuss about a half-sealed sash: it doesn't stop you opening the window, just the top half which is not exactly a big deal.

I've managed to restore Yorkshire sash and Georgian sliding sash windows in various houses and this can be done by getting in a good local carpenter to help, who can usually sort things out without the kind of expense that specialist windows firms will insist upon

In terms of draught proofing, if sash windows fit properly you don't need much else.

For ventilation they should work fine - just open your windows for 20 minutes every morning.