Replacement windows - frame colour

[Birthdayhat]

We're building a new porch soon and need to decide on the colour of the window frames. We have noticed a lot of people putting in grey window frames - they look really nice and smart but do you think they are a fad? If we put in grey frames in the porch we would need to replace at least rest of the front windows (currently white uPVC).

I wouldn't put grey. They will date so quickly.

We just got a new kitchen window. It's white aluminium with a huge glass panel.
We discussed grey but it would have looked out of place with all the other white frames. I believe dark grey is a fad, especially upvc.

It's a fad and it will date.

I think the grey colour is only a coating. So if it gets scratched or wears off the white will show through.

A few people have put in grey near to me. I think they are already looking dated. Perhaps it's just me though because I'm really not a lover of grey.

I love the grey window frames I'm seeing around and they may even tempt me away from the wood I currently have. They may be a fad, but, sorry white upvc is pretty horrid isn't it? No one actually likes it, surely. Practical, yes, but not very nice. I also don't get the need for your house to fit in with the neighbours'.

I love sage or blue-grey windows. They give a really french vibe which I love. You can even get washed out pink frames which I think look fantastic against white painted exteriors. Don’t not go for what you like just because it’s a fad

Always better to stay with white unless the house is particularly old or the whole street has another colour.

Yes definitely will date the house in the not too distant future. A fair few around here have done the grey window thing and/or the grey roof tile to match and grey front door. I like a bit of grey but it's overkill and already looks 'of it's time' (2018).

I love the grey window frames. I don't think it'll date. Just because we've always had white, why should we stick to it? It's because white is a cheap colour .
However, I would only do grey if it matches, just 1 window will look odd

I think it's already started to look dated. One of the big problems is that it doesn't go with most brick colours. Modern white rendered buildings it looks OK with, but imho it clashes horribly with red bricks.

Grey is lovely if you have a period property

Thanks all, plenty to think about. I think you're right about them not always looking right with the bricks. Part of what I dislike about the current uPVC is how chunky they are so will look at other options there.

The grey roof tiles I agree are way too much!

I think they're like the wood-effect windows of the 80s -90s, even though I do like them. They will date badly.

Definitely not period - 1980s!

Go white. It is like a bathroom suite, only white is always acceptable when you come to sell.

If you can find a property up for sale on rightmove with brown or grey windows and look at the interior photos in a standard home i.e. not a super modern, expensive property with massive windows I find I don't like them as it darkens the room.

They tend not to be so bad from outside but someone near me in what is probably a 60s house has put in grey windows and it looks wrong with the brick colour.

@GOODCAT

Go white. It is like a bathroom suite, only white is always acceptable when you come to sell.

If you can find a property up for sale on rightmove with brown or grey windows and look at the interior photos in a standard home i.e. not a super modern, expensive property with massive windows I find I don't like them as it darkens the room.

They tend not to be so bad from outside but someone near me in what is probably a 60s house has put in grey windows and it looks wrong with the brick colour.

Good point! I'm having the same dilemma and never thought of the interior view

@Jogrighton where I am quite a few houses have the grey frames but they’re usually white on the inside. I think a lot of people are using aluminium frames rather than than upvc too as the frames are slimmer and less intrusive.

I quite liked the grey until my DS said they looked institutional.

I think they will date. Also if the rest of your house is white I would go with that.

It's more common to have black in the us and that always looks nice.

I really like white with chrome handles. Might you like that if you feel you would like to update a little?

I quite like the look of black aluminium window frames, like Crittall. I live in a mid century house so I'd love to get rid of the white upvc and have some narrow frames.

I don’t like the anthracite grey windows at all, they look really depressing to me. Much prefer white.

Going against the crowd but white looks cheap (because it is the cheapest option). Grey or black for me every time.( I’m an architect if it makes any difference)

Coloured upvc frames are usually white on the inside. Unless you pay extra to have the colour on the interior too.

I think white frames are dated and nasty. And they turn grey with dirt and pollution and age.

Houses with wooden frames have them painted in all kinds of lovely colours other than white. I don't see grey frames that complement the house and think they date it.

White upvc is ubiquitous because it's cheap not because it's superior.

I think it depends on the colour of your house, someone near me has replaced theirs with grey but the houses are yellowish stone. It looks clashy and actually quite depressing with a grey door as well.

I don't mind the grey if it's a white house or similar.

I'm not sure I'd want to change all the windows just to match the new porch, unless you are looking for an excuse to get rid anyway. I'd love to get rid of my white PVC, they are quite old and never look clean. I've seen some grey windows that look great, but there's a house near me, red brick, dark grey frames, that looks, like a pp said, institutional. Choose carefully!

I think grey windows already look naff, another 5 years they will look so dated but if that doesn't bother you, just choose the style you like!