Double glazing or new bathroom?

[crimsonlake]

Recently bought a new house following divorce so am on a budget. I knew the house needed the bathroom and kitchen updating but since I do not have the funds to do this I decided I would live with them as basically it was a spacious property. Problem is now as I live on a fairly busy road I have realised the double glazed windows do not offer the sound proofing I had hoped for. I think they are fairly old and do not seem to close properly at the seals, issue is really noticeable in the bedrooms. I have had a couple of quotes for the work, both close to 3K. Currently having a think about everything and need some help coming to a decision as to whether to go for the replacing the windows or spending the money on a new bathroom. Thinking longer term if I were to sell which would be the best option to add a little value and secure a quicker sale, - new windows on the front of the house or a new bathroom?

I’m in a similar position. But windows are single glazed sashes and really make the house so going for secondary glazing.

Might be worth testing a window with new seals and adjustment and see if that works.

Otherwise make sure you get new windows with laminated glass of difference thicknesses for the best result.

My sashes reduce noise by 15db (0 for low sounds haha) my old house had basic upvc but well fitted did 25-30db. Windows designed for noise reduction can do 45-55db.

10db is equalivant of halving a noise so a big step for each 10db

Also make sure you don’t get vents if you can. Most windows have a vent half opening function anyways.

But to answer your question for selling in future.
Unless it’s obvouis your windows are not up to the job or the new windows are real special ones or the current are yellowing upvc then a new bathroom would be better.

But windows will improve your time in the house at the moment. So windows wins for me.

Squirrel thanks for the advice. 2 large bays and a smaller front flat window and the traffic noise is worse in their due to the opening not closing tightly. Initially thought about having the seals and hinges looked at / replaced but in view of what it might cost if that is not the solution that would be an added expense. Regarding the bathroom I thought I could live with, now not sure I can for however long I remain here and hence my conundrum with not enough funds for all jobs.

When you say bays are they proper bay windows? As in brick/stone build as if they’re bow windows then new windows may not help as bow windows are pretty bad for noise reduction unless they’ve been upgraded with more insulation.

I’d still do windows if it annoys you enough to think about doing them.

Would doing the windows make the house warmer in winter? That's what I'd go for.

So the bathroom, is it a bit dated, the grouting is a bit grubby or does the shower leak etc?

We had a similar windows vs bathroom dilemma recently and grudgingly chose windows.

I'm so glad we did. The difference is amazing and it's made the whole house more pleasant.

Not sure about the bay / bow window thing?
Manky narrow shower, white suite but ancient and bath panel is horrid, love baths but cant be tempted. Horrible dark blue tiles and disgusting thin stone coloured cheap thin tiles on the floor.
If I were to sell in a couple of years wondering which would attract more buyers, new windows or bathroom? That may sway my decision.

New windows = kerb appeal

If you're thinking about selling soon that's what I'd go for, as from what you've said even if you put a new bathroom in the kitchen would still need doing, making the house more of a project. And the type of people attracted to projects would want to do both the kitchen and the bathroom.

By the way I'm a landlord and have over 100 houses

As a buyer a done up bathroom wouldn’t especially appeal if the kitchen still needed doing. Windows possibly, unless the road is so noisy you really need triple glazing or you go for really cheap upvc ones that don’t suit the house

New windows, you can easily do a quick makeover if you plan to sell by l relaying the floor and changing the bath panel in the bathroom. You may find your heating bills reduce if your windows are replaced.

New windows, whenever I look round a new house to buy, I look at the windows as closely as anything else, and needing new windows means every room in the house will need redecorating. Which makes it a much bigger job.

The internet is full of idea to renovate your bathroom on the cheap.

New windows most certainly. Your house will be quieter, warmer and be more sellable. Give the bathroom a good clean, change the bath panel, put some nice new flooring down over the grotty tiles. Re seal the bath. Buy some nice accessories to put in there.

Get a glazier out to look at the windows - not a window company per se. You might find that for considerably less than £3k they can significantly improve the windows.

Thank you to all for your advice, it seems that the consensus is to go for the windows. I have another firm coming out in a couple of weeks, my friend used them and they were significantly cheaper. They are really busy hence the wait, but that can only be a good sign.
Another issue is the original windows and porch are brown and I want to replace with white as I am sure that would improve the overall appearance as the brown against the bricks makes the property look very drab. Hoping this will not be an issue going forward, as the side and back windows will remain brown on the upper floors. Considering purchasing specialist uvpc white paint and tackling the porch. I have found an old thread discussing it and it certainly seems doable.

You could paint them yourself, but there are lots of companies these days who spray paint upvc windows for little money. I've used them a couple of times recently for houses with new ish windows that weren't the right colour for me

New Windows will make the most difference to the livability of the house. Leaky ones cause all sorts of other expensive problems.

You can cover the horrid bathroom floor with inexpensive vinyl.

Hi wowfudge,

Does the glazier apply to uPVC too? Thanks so much.

Yes - I've had various bits and pieces replaced on upvc windows over the years. Sometimes the weight of the glass pulls the hinges out of alignment or the espags need replacing. If you get a window replacement company out, it's not in their interest to offer a repair if they think you'll pay for a replacement window.

Thanks all again, Reed88 will take a look at that link.
Clearview and Fairview, local North West firms. I shall await a third quote.

No worries :-) I think all you can do is get a few quotes and compare really.

Also I think once you have a quote you are happy with you can then say to other companies, well so and so have offered me this.

Good luck!

We had a quote for £50k to replace our windows (they are odd-sized and large) so after we had gulped, we got the frames refurbished and improved double-glazing panels for about 10% of that. Windows are usually the second most expensive part of a house. And you can improve a bathroom on the cheap for now as other posters suggest above.

If you're in the northwest try affinity glass. They've just done some work for me and did a really good job

Will do thank you.