Wooden windows - repair or replace?

[MiniMum97]

I've posted about this before, looked into both and got quotes but I am still unsure what to do so would welcome views.

We are looking to repair/replace 3 original sash windows, plus replace back door and front door, and are definitely replacing 5 other windows with wooden as they are not original and are off the shelf wooden that don't fit properly and don't look very nice.

It's the 3 original sashes I am debating over. Two of them are in a very bad state and will require wood being cut out and replaced. So my thoughts are:

• I have read that it is better to repair if you can rather than replace as old wood was seasoned and therefore is better and more long lasting. Apparently you can't buy wood like this any more.
• I emotionally feel sad about ripping out the old windows - they are the only original bits of the old house left (other than the walls of course!)
• Restoring is cheaper than replacing and may need less ongoing maintenance due to the seasoning?
• I am concerned how well the spliced wood will last - I am considering keeping the windows partly due to the quality of wood but will the new wood, split and need filling/repairing etc regularly as the wood contracts and expands?

Please help me decide! Thank you!!

Completely unhelpful, but watching this thread as I have a similar decision to make.

Replacing can be cheaper then refurbishing... if not a very similar cost.
Obviously you could go for upvc sashes, cheapest option by far
New wood about double upvc price
Aluminium clad about 3 times the price of upvc
Depends on size too, eg if you are talking 2m x 1.2m 2indows then restoration will be cheaper
Also I assume currently not double glaze which new ones would be.

Are they currently single glazing?

Repair! They are an asset to a house, it's usually cheaper, it's better for the environment to repair.

To me is a no brainer!

Hi sorry - yes currently single glazed. Will be replacing with wooden if replacing. Refurb is less than half the cost of replacing. It may be possible to replace the glass with double glazing but the refurb we got out doesn't do that so we'd have to get someone else to quote for this which we've not done yet.
Thoughts?

Thanks @OliviaBenson If we replace we will be replacing with like for like - the joiner will copy what we have. Have you refurbed having wood spliced in? If so, how has it lasted and how much maintenance is needed to maintain?

Noted the environment point - good call, hadn't considered that.

@OliviaBenson Sorry meant to say re my like for like point - does that change your answer at all?

We replaced Victorian sash windows because they were pretty bad. We had a local firm and the joiner had won the Joiner of the Year for Scotland earlier in the year. He made an amazing job, made double glazed and came out to fit them himself. Our house is much cosier since. I too felt sad about taking out the original windows but I have got photos and I have got over it now. I don't get woke by the windows rattling in a storm either. I think it depends how bad they are.

Splicing in- it can be excellent if you have a good joiner and then get them painted up properly (and maintained). I'd always do that.

Also I'd recommend draft stripping if you can't do the double glazing- it makes a huge difference.

Are you using a window company or a local joinery?

I prefer joiners

but

near me is a joinery workshop that specialises in restoration of quite grand homes and charges ££££££

Also near me is a college that trains joiners. By the time they finish they will have shown they can build doors using nothing but handsaws, planes, rulers and a pencil so quite capable of restoring or replicating victorian work, and they mostly use modern tools. I had an external door made, he constructed it in his garage in a couple of evenings after dinner, brought it round unassembled (mortice and tenon joints) and adjusted it to fit the gap, hung it, fitted lock etc in an hour or so. Don't know what it cost as part of wider building works, but I think about the same as buying a factory-made one in cheap softwood from a shed.

The difficulty is finding a good skilled craftsperson.

If you find one, they will probably know and recommend other tradespeople of the same class of work. Good workers know other good workers. Bad workers know other bad workers.

Both companies we are looking at - both refurbish and replace are joiners. The refurb company specialise in sash window repair.

I repaired all the single glazed Sash windows at my previous house, some original arched, others original large stabdard shape other replacements for Coachouse doors. Most were rotten in the corners or on the ledges due to the previous owners not maintaining them properly.

I had a joiner work on them (16 windows) for three weeks splicing in replacement wood where necessary, at an overall cost of £3k.

I then painted the outside of the house and therafter kept up a 5 year repainting process.

The windows were all perfect when I sold. The surveyor complimented me on how sound they were.

It is the ongoing maintenance that really matters !!

@bowerbird5 Where in Scotland are you? We're looking to do similar (West Fife) and your joiner sounds like he'd be perfect...

Thanks @Flyingsouthwiththeswallows that's really helpful xx

Sorry for the kisses! Auto pilot! Oops!