New windows or New bathrooms

[Confusednewmum1]

Just that really, moved to house and the place needs a lot of work. We have a smallish budget so can’t go mad. There is 1980’s ugly silver aluminium crap windows, which we have had a quote to replace with sash windows which would look amazing. Or should we replace our bathroom and add en-suite, I have attached a picture of the bathroom. It’s orange 1970s style. Both the windows and the bathroom work and are clean ect just look really ugly. Both quotes are roughly the same. The house needs loads of decor and carpets ect but we are looking to extend next year so don’t want to risk things being ruined. In order to extend we will have to borrow more in our mortgage so need to really add value. What would you do?

Can’t see picture but I think I’d do the windows. It will give the whole place a lift, whereas the bathroom is just one room which you aren’t in for long. Also the new windows will save you money on heating (assuming the old ones are a bit leaky and/or single glazed). So best to get that done asap so the saved heating bill money can start stacking up and go towards other work.

Will the extension affect windows or bathroom? For example will the pipework for the bathroom be affected?

I don't see any pictures either but the windows sound ugly so I would do them first, you'd add kerb appeal and hopefully get a warmer more efficient home. If the bathrooms would then take years and years to get to you could try to spruce them up with white bath enamel, tile paint, new taps etc though this is perhaps only worth it if it's so gross you have nothing to lose.

We had a similar scenario with the vile aluminium double glazing & lovely blue bathroom suite 😬 we opted for windows.I am so grateful we did this! House looks so nice from outside & opening the windows is much easier/safer now.

Also we are looking to extend in a couple of years. We'll be doing an extension downstairs, under the bathroom. We don't know the impact of the extension on the upstairs so it makes a lot of sense not to do bathroom until this is complete or do at the same time. Hope that makes sense 👍🏻

if you have recently moved, do the windows first. There will be damage to the decoration, and builders dust in every room. This will be more tiresome after you have put down carpets and redecorated, so get it over with.

Would do bathroom on grounds would be using it everyday and if its been there since 1970s needs a revamp.

Hmm bathrooms would be my vote I think. Although windows make a big impact and seen by the outside.

Thanks all still no closer to choosing! If only money grew on trees. I have added pictures of the windows, they look better in pics that in real life . The bathroom well it’s bad. Just really need the extension financed so have to add as much value as possible.

Is that your only bathroom? I would go with bathroom unless extension would alter bathroom at all.

Windows, we had them done a couple of years ago, lived here a long time and each room had plaster damage from getting the windows out. They tried really hard not to do any damage because they have to make good which they did with filler but my gorgeous dark blue walls had to be touched back up with paint.

Luckily, no wallpapered walls in my house.

Yes the bathroom is ugly, but if it functions as a bathroom and doesn't leak do the structural stuff first (windows) then the pretty pretty. I say this as someone who had gold wallpaper in their bathroom when we moved in here, terracotta tiles and gold wallpaper.

It’s the only bathroom but it has crap windows as well. The windows seem the sensible option but then there is nice weather and too embarrassed to have people over because of the bathroom. Need to remember I live in Glasgow and I will need good windows come winter.

I’d change the windows now and save up for the bathroom.

While the tiles aren’t the best of colours and are very dated, it looks clean, the bath is white, so presuming same for toilet and whb. It’s liveable. No need to be embarrassed about it, it’s there but will be renovated in time.

New windows will transform the whole house and no doubt provide better insulation.

Definitely windows, as soon as we moved into our last house, a Victorian semi, we replaced the aluminium windows (the same as yours) with sashes and it made a huge difference to the house. It transformed the house from ugly duckling to swan overnight!

Definitely windows! You will smile every time you lay eyes on your house.

Tile paint and fresh vinyl flooring for the bathrooms until you can afford to do them properly.

Agreed re. windows.
We will be saving up to do ours.
In our bathroom we've replaced the toilet seat, blinds, and have redone the vinyl flooring ourselves. Made loads of difference and total cost just £58.

Windows for me too, they will improve every room. I'd never judge anyone for an ugly bathroom (had a pink one for nearly 10 years).

If you do windows now and are likely to be able to do bathroom in a couple of years or before I would maybe try white tile paint (and possibly new flooring if dated and easily replaceable) and then few accessories.

Windows (and I say that as someone who has just made this decision - my new sashes are gorgeous, and we'll be so much warmer this winter!)

I’d do the bathroom but if do the windows you could paint over the tiles in the meantime.

I don’t think the windows too bad.

The having people over, just tell them you’ve gone for the retro vibe. I’ll bet there’s people who’d pay good money to get that sort of bathroom! My parents have the quintessential 70s avocado one. They did paint over the accompanying green and black tiles though.

I actually think your retro bathroom is pretty cool. Does everything work? If so I'd definitely live with it until you can afford to do the ensuite (if you do the ensuite first, then the main bathroom after, you won't be left without a working loo!)

Windows. Your bathroom is so far out it's back in again, I love it!

Change the windows and save up for bathroom.

I project managed our bathroom

Total - included new suite shower all times and flooring, some pipe work to move taps
£3000 it’s cheaper with a builder rather than a plumber

Going against the grain I would go for the bathroom. I couldn’t live with a bathroom like that! The windows I could just ignore until I was ready to do them.

If you're having more building work done next year, I'd hold off doing anything!
Then have all the internal work done first and finish with the windows. We did this, lived in the house without touching it for a year (telling anyone who came round what our plans were 😂). Had kitchen bathroom and living room done plus new flooring everywhere, upgraded bedroom furniture last summer and finally have just had new windows all round. The roof is being reslated as I type!
The only problem is we had lovely blinds made to measure last summer, and when the new windows were fitted a couple no longer fit so we've had to have new ones made!