Changing windows in a listed house

[TartanPyjamas]

I was wondering if anyone could offer any insight please. We're house hunting, and I've seen a lovely looking semi-detached house however it is Grade 2 listed and has single glazed windows. Would these be prohibitively expensive and difficult to replace sympathetically with something warmer and double glazed? I'm imagining it would be. I grew up in an old house and no longer have any tolerance to cold houses!

You might be allowed to replace the single glass panes with thin double glazed ones using the existing frames and put a ventrolla draft proofing system in. Completely new windows are unlikely to be approved. Tbh if you like being warm then living in a listed building is probably not for you. We have insulated the crap out of ours and put new heating in and it costs a fortune to heat and is still cold between October and march every year.

We were not allowed to change some of our windows not even the glass. We could install secondary glazing but went with a Ventrolla system instead. Others we could install new wooden ones subject to design, council worried about thickness of panes and wood. Yet others at the rear upvc allowed (ours is nothing special at all, heavily converted at different times) so we went with that. In other words not easy for anyone to advise you.

We are currently making the listed building consent application to replace the original single glazing with replica wooden sash and case double glazing.

Each unit is pretty expensive and we could have done the entire thing in secondary glazing for a literal fraction of the cost.

The process to get double glazing is expensive and lengthy, and even if you manage it your house will still be cold!

I grew up in a 500-600 year old cottage and the windows were the least of our cold worries.

Good luck. My Listed Building consent application was refused outright on three occasions, despite massive windows and real heat issues.

I also had problems with the siting of a replacement boiler, replacement of a kitchen floor and rebuilding of a garden wall.

I gave up in the end and sold the house.

Depends on your council's planning regs probably whether or not they allow replacements or insist on secondary glazing.I have put in replacement sash n case windows and it was expensive. Looked great though and the windows were fairly good at keeping heat. Replacing the internal shutters however made the biggest difference to heat loss. Old buildings are always drafty despite insulating anything that stands still long enough.

We put on a side extension to our grade 2 listed building (existing footprint) but we were not allowed to install double glazing either front or back. This was about 12 years ago, but listed building rules trumped building regs.

We weren't allowed to put double glazing in, we even have to keep the super thin glass. We've had like for like repair work done on sections, and insulated where we can with those window strips etc.

We've removed boxy secondary glazing as it's hideous in all respects.

I've made peace with my beautiful but chilly windows.

Like one of PP's, ours was nothing special, heavily converted and updated internally but we sruggled to get listed building consent for double glazing. We did in the end, it was for replica timber casement windows, with slim double glazing. Took us almost a year to get the paperwork sorted by which time we decided to sell the house and move on (not because of the windows, just outgrew the house ).

We have secondary glazing. Get it done properly and it can be absolutely fine.

We managed to get permission to change the upstairs windows but they had to be made of oak and cost a bloody fortune.

The above thread is a pretty accurate reflection.

Listed buildings are tricky. Very much down to the local officer and their guidance. Things like energy efficiency etc do not come into it.

It's about retaining original features. Or maintaining it as listed. Or removing modern additions (even those prelisting) and replacing sympathetically. However you define sympathetically.

If you want to buy a listed building, be sure you want to live in it as it is. Never assume you can do anything other than maintenance.

Saying that, on various houses I have been given permission to replace windows with double glazing. Remove a fire place. Change a layout. Change roofing and rainwater goods. Replace bathrooms and kitchens. Replaster including ornate work. Rewire. Replace and move heating and hot water systems.

So it can be done. Depending on the property, the officer, how you apply. I certainty would not have done all that in every house I have lived in.

I think secondary glazing looks pretty clunky and takes away from the beauty of the original windows. We recently saw a huge place with huuuuge windows where fugly secondary glazing had been used, totally ruined it.

I’m sure it can be done sympathetically and properly but no doubt that means $$$$$

We weren't allowed (Tudor cottage).

Presumably both halves of the semi are listed. You could ask whether the neighbour has had any luck applying for permission.