Crittal windows?

[saltyseadog]

I was just wondering whether anyone else has these in their house? We were thinking of replacing our in our late 30s house, but had an architect around today who said that we should be conserving them as in about 20 years time they will be considered 'period' and that they should be kept to maintain the feel of our house. If you have them why did you keep them?

Keeping them would save a LOT of cash, which we could use for doing up the rest of the house - however would you be put off buying a house with Crittal windows (they are in good nick)?

One word: insulation - they are beautifully authentic but I guess they have practically zero insulation with the metal frames/single glazing and are probably quite draughty. Once the home energy ratings come in they might not score well, although it's hard to say how much this affects the house as a whole.

It would be great to keep them as windows are a big part of a house's character. Can you fit some kind of unobtrusive secondary double glazing to remedy the situation? Or maybe super-insulating Roman blinds? Ask your architect for some good ideas.

I had a colleague who had to actually replace the Crittall windows in his flat as the previous owner had illegally removed them (listed building).

There's a question similar to this on the 'problem page' of one of the house magaziones this month - think it is House Beautiful. worth cehceking it out if you can. can't remember the details but basically said they're a valued design feature so keep them if you can and wrok on other insulation measures like heavy curtain etc.

Oh, I love them! The real 1930s ones? You've got to keep them. Are they the sort that look as though they're inspired by a cruise liner? It's so sad when you see the houses with those taken out.

I'd put in the secondary glazing liked tootootired suggests - we have this, plus thick double lined curtains in our (listed) house and it does make a difference. Actually, just the curtains makes a difference!

our neighbour has them & they look awful. Sorry, but they are not asthetically pleasing at all & she has secondary glazing as they are so draughty. Our house's are post war.

Another house I looked at before we bought this one also had crittal windows, different shape house to ours, but still post war. I remember wincing at the thought of the cost of replacing them. Still we didn't buy the house, but the new owner has replaced then with DG. Looks so much better .

Grendelsmum, your windows sound lovely, but quite different to the non-cruise liner windows I am describing.