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Windows. UPVC or wood?

193 replies

Swedes · 18/03/2008 10:59

Our windows are all currently UPVC - which I don't really like. Our rear windows need replacing and I want to change to wood. I know UPVC is maintenance free. What would you do?

OP posts:
chickytwotimes · 18/03/2008 11:02

Swedes. I also love wooden windows but they were out of our price range. We got woodgrain effect upvc in oak and it is great - much better than I ever expected. Most of the companies do it now. If yo ucan afford wood, get it, but if not the newer upvc is good too.

TheDevilEatsNestle · 18/03/2008 11:02

wood wood wood

mumblechum · 18/03/2008 11:10

UPVC are utterly horrid. Have turned down otherwise lovely houses as it would cost a fortune to replace them with wooden ones.

chickytwotimes · 18/03/2008 11:11
Swedes · 18/03/2008 11:27

What is the price difference? We are replacing only the rear windows which will means 11 windows.

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SleepIsForTheWeak · 18/03/2008 11:57

I have just had a new wood double glazed window in, it is about coudle the cost of PVC, but looks much nicer

SleepIsForTheWeak · 18/03/2008 11:58

sorry - "double"

TheDevilEatsNestle · 18/03/2008 11:58

upvc can devalue your house too.

CountessDracula · 18/03/2008 11:59

Wood

You can maintain them - UPVC will have to be ripped out and replaced when they go

lalalonglegs · 18/03/2008 13:48

If the house is pre-1950, wood every time. Agree with Devil, uPVC will devalue a really nice period property so is a false economy (plus harmful to environment and just plain ugly).

hotcrossMonkeybun · 18/03/2008 20:45

ha ha, read my blog

tissy · 18/03/2008 20:56

we have had wooden double-glazed windows put in, and we paid about £1000 per window {shock]. They are all large windows, mind, and we didn't get them all put in at once!

hotcrossMonkeybun · 18/03/2008 20:58

here

I know, SHOCKING self-publicist, but it IS relevant.

Quattrocento · 18/03/2008 20:59

WOOD
WOOD
WOOD
WOOD
WOOD
WOOD
WOOD

UPVC IS REVOLTING

onebatmother · 18/03/2008 21:20

OH my god, Swedes, you have no idea how obsessive I am on this subject!

Shocked! UPvc is ... a bad word beginning w v and ending in ulgar!

plus it's a huge con - only lasts ten years. Plus v v ugly - proportionally and materially.
Wood, if maintained, will last a hundred years. And is elegant. and not that bad word.

Is it a vict house? vandalism!

Sorry to be so .. firm. Are you back for good?

A grand for a big bay, I reckon.

castille · 18/03/2008 21:24

Oh God yes WOOD

I am constantly horrified at the number of lovely old stone houses and barn conversions here (in France) with the most vile uPVC windows and doors. I'm amazed it's allowed

Swedes · 18/03/2008 22:09

My last house was Grade II listed (Georgian) and now I live in the commuter belt with uPVC windows. How did it come to this?

Onebat - a grand for a bay sounds like an equine transaction - you mean guineas don't you?

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Swedes · 18/03/2008 22:13

OMG - before I moved, I spent a depressed morning in bed in my old house studying the agent's particulars - saying to my DP please don't let us buy this fugly house. But funnily enough it's a gorgeous house to live in!

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PaulaYatesBiggestFan · 18/03/2008 22:14

we have quite small windows on our top floor going bigger as you go downstairs

our groundfloor is bays and lots of frech door sillinesses

they are all ok condition but the top two floors are badly in need of replacing

ours are costing £1000 /window minimum

in most of our bedrooms there are two sashes witha mullion that is a minimum of £2000 a room

One of our rooms is only 11 ft by 4ft with four tiny windows - over £4000 of window in a diddy room

I WISH we could do upvc but i just cant - i am sure i will love the sashes but they are damned pricey

WendyWeber · 18/03/2008 22:18

Come and live in Lancs - uPVC is de rigueur in your average Vict house

It is soooo nice not having to worry about rot and paint and sash cords....

(NB our sash windows had been replaced with cheap nasty transoms before we moved in, but in any case uPVC does not devalue round here)

PaulaYatesBiggestFan · 18/03/2008 22:23

i know wnedy

I do say to dp ph i 'wish' we could

love it from inside all hermetically sealed and clean and the rain looks so FAR away!

AND you can get it in cream!

emkana · 18/03/2008 22:24

round here uPVC windows are actually a selling point

warthog · 18/03/2008 22:25

WOOD

can't believe you're debating this...

IorekByrnison · 18/03/2008 22:31

You must replace with wood. It will make you happy every time you see your windows, and you will know that in a small way you have acted to stem the tide of ugliness that threatens to engulf the world.

WendyWeber · 18/03/2008 22:32

Presumably all you wood fans pay decorators to do your outside paintwork?

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