Windows. UPVC or wood?

[Swedes]

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?

And inside too, come to think...?

outside yes

dp is pot in hand right now indoors tho'!

Wood. Without a doubt.
Why would you have to pay someone to paint the inside of the windows. Isn't particularly hard to do, and certainly doesn't have to be done at all regularly. Ditto the outsides.
Actually, I think wood is infinitely more durable than UPVc. Our windows in our old house were 150 years old, still in good nick, having been DIY maintained not more than every 5-10 years. Insides repainted when the room as a whole was decorated (i.e. skirting and doors refreshed).
I bet bet bet that the UPVc windows will not be in good nick in 150 years time!
OUr current house is edwardian and as we do each room (replastering needed and general building work and updating here and there, we are having the windows refurbished. Is reasonably inexpensive. I know for a fact that the last time the windows were maintained was more than 35 years ago because we bought the house from my mother. They look fantastic.

What are the prices? That's the first thing I'd ask. Aesthetics are nice but they won't pay my bills.

If you ahve sashes it is actually not too hard to paint the outsides - have done it in one of our previous houses.

Wood used to be seasoned - they knew how to do it 150 years ago.

I would be stunned (only I'd be long dead already ) if new windows in 2008 were still going strong in 2160...

Have you ever personally painted any sash windows, pooka...?

Yep - see previous post.
Have painted plenty of timber windows in my time.

As well as having spent a fair amount of time trying to make UPVc frames look less grubby and old and yellow (the first flat we lived in).

Oh, I see you have - in a previous house!

Oh well - wait till you're pushing 60 and see how keen you are!

Well I'll come back in 2160 and gloat
Or will make it one of the terms in my will, that all money dependent on descendants to do so.

Isn't that what children are for? The crap jobs round the house I mean.

We don't have a period house. It was built in the 20s and has been added to over the years. We have a large orangery/conservatory at the back which is timber and painted a lovely sludgey green (Farrow and Ball - Ball Green). The windows at the rear are not terribly noticeable therefore - as they are mostly upstairs and standing at the back of the garden your view is mostly of the lovely green conservatory and door from house to garden which are all timber and painted in same sludge green.

DP is very pro uPVC. He should work for Anglia as he is selling them to me!

They;ll be yeller in ten yars, you mark my wurdz, Swedes.

We moved from a house with original wooden sash windows to this with pvc monstrosties. I hate thme but will, grudgingly, accept that it is rather nice to live draught-free. We've got horrible mildew on the seals as well which you can't remove.

Thing is, there are draughts and then there is ventilation. I'm told (by dp who knows about this stuff because it's his job) that older houses are just not designed to be hermetically sealed with these kind of windows. You're just asking for mildew.

He's right.

I have just had the timber quote and it will be £15,648 excluding VAT and excluding window furniture (handles, locks etc) and excluding decoration. The soon to be yellow uPVC will cost about £9,000 all in.

OMG help. I can't believe I'm going over to the dark side.

Onebat help me.

Iorek - You can open uPVC windows - isn't it better to be able to have that draft of fresh air when you actually want it rather than all the time? I am repeating Mr Anglian Windows (DP) almost verbatim.

H E L P

just do it

get UPVC

make sure it's a reputable company

it is much easier and at back of house doesn't matter

it's not worth the extra 10+k

DON'T GO OVER TO THE DARK SIDE!

READ MY BLOG.

DO TWO OR THREE WINDOWS AT A TIME, OVER A LIFETIME IF YOU HAVE TO.

I'M SHOUTING BECAUSE I CARE.

DRAUGHTS ARE GOOD.

UPVC IS VERY VERY BAD.

Draughts are shit

The older you get, the more you realise

1920s is a period house IMHO...

You could, for example, get a local joiner in to build windows for you and will perhaps be much cheapeer than a big firm (esp a double glazing firm who also happen to do upvc who will ALWAYS prefer upvc) - less than 300 quid per window outside London I reckon...

At least, please, give us a bit more time to work on your DH.

Metal windows. That's what I'm after. They're horribly expensive. But I have them already so they're in keeping. And lovely architectural powder coated ones need NO (I'll repeat that) NO maintenance.

I'm thinking of it in a kind of 'cost per wear' way - you know like you do with really expensive shoes that are actually cheap because you love them so much.

Cheeky, I am old...

It's true, draughts are shit. But upvc is shitter.

I know what you mean Swedes, but I think the problem is that the windows are bound to be closed for a large proportion of most days (certainly in the winter), during which time there is no ventilation at all coming through, and this is why you get problems with mildew/damp etc.

But that is stretching the extent of my knowledge on the subject. Maybe we should get our respective dp's on here to battle it out.

Have just walked home from dropping off DD wondering if this is it for me now. Marks and Spencer Classics range here I come.