House Windows: UPVC or Wood?

CornishRob

Senior member
Some advice needed here.

My partner and I have recently completed and moved into our first house. Its about 115 years old Victorian style semi, with one bay downstairs and two sash upstairs at the front. There are a further 6 sash windows throughout the house. These are all original single glazed wood windows.

The windows have not been looked after for a long time by the look of it, and are in desperate need of sorting out. (We knew this before we purchased the house). Lots of pains have cracked glass, lots of putty dropping out, or missing, rotten sills, broken sash cords etc. You get the picture!

Now what to do. We ideally want to double glaze because they are in such a mess, and we will need to be re-glazing a fair few anyway even if we just keep single glazing due to the broken glass. I had a local joiner round to see if he could just make the sliding sash casement and we could replace that, and keep the original box, going through and replacing sash cords, draft proofing etc. But he said they are too narrow, and there isn't enough space to fit double glazing in.

This brings us to the next question point. He said due to some being rotten etc, it would be better just to replace with new ones which can house double glazing etc. So I have an initial quote which isn't cheap as you would expect.

Next point we could do is replace with uPVC sash double glazed jobbies, to replicate the originals. All modern, no maintenance etc, but the first quote we had (which was a national firm who I wont be going with, but just wanted to see their prices etc) was nearly the same price as the wood ones.

Im getting a local window firm in on Thursday for another quote, but im a bit confused at the moment with what to do.

I love the wood windows, but the estate agent said if I replace with wood which is a lot more expensive than uPVC, I probably wont get that difference in money back come resale. Further confusion comes with the rear kitchen extension, as its had uPVC windows put in, so if I went wood, there would still be a mismatch etc or I would have to swap them out at some point.

For reference, the street is all mixed. Some original wood in OK condition, uPVC sash replacement, the cheapest horrible uPVC replacements etc.

So can anyone offer any opinions of what to do. Maybe when I get some more prices in, it might become clearer.
 
I think wood looks nice and as you know, you can have DG units made of wood to retain the period look. Some of the new look UPVC units now match the look of wood very closely and you get the best of both worlds... better draft proofing, no maintenance, just clean them, good security. It all comes down to money and your choice.
 
To stay with a traditional look i would go mock sash UPVC woodgrain
Ask for price with woodgrain outer / white insides & also a price for woodgrain both inside & out ( the white insides should be a good bit cheaper /roughly 10/20% ish ?
If you go down that route check the glazing beads are "ovlo" mould profile as opposed to"splayed" or "bevel " as its small details that make the difference to the overall look
If you think you are being stiffed PM a typical window size & i'l throw a figure at it , depending where you are the supplier i use would probably supply & deliver if you got your own fitter to install :thumbsup:
 
I would strongly recommend triple glazing as the price difference is negligible but the sound reduction, heat retention are brilliant. We have a 1911 house and replaced the wood windows with PVC but specialised so they look the same style as the outgoing wood. They have aged very well over the past 20 years and dont look out of place at all. As above comes down to money and choice.

I just did 22 windows for the whole house on a 3 bed end of terrace in triple glazing for just over £6k (local company) the big boys wanted £15-18k for the same job...
 
Wood is top trumps in an ideal world. But in reality uPVC is more affordable and practical. When I last looked at replacing windows, wood was much narrower and therefore let more light in.

In a previous property I had aluminium double glazing put in. It was a happy half way house between uPVC and wood.

I hope you can see the wood for the trees!!

Finally, if the existing wooden windows lasted 115 years, I think you shouldn't worry about how long wooden windows last!!
 
Get 5 or 6 quotes if you go down the upvc route, then sit back and watch them all drop their pants. I think i was originally quoted £15k and by the time i got them fitted it was down to £6k. The only downside is they will have your number on file and will continue to bug you for years to come!

Only other word of advice would be to get soffits (sp) and fascias done at the same time. I didn't and now im kicking myself as it would have been a load cheaper.
 
mr wilks said:
To stay with a traditional look i would go mock sash UPVC woodgrain
Ask for price with woodgrain outer / white insides & also a price for woodgrain both inside & out ( the white insides should be a good bit cheaper /roughly 10/20% ish ?
If you go down that route check the glazing beads are "ovlo" mould profile as opposed to"splayed" or "bevel " as its small details that make the difference to the overall look
If you think you are being stiffed PM a typical window size & i'l throw a figure at it , depending where you are the supplier i use would probably supply & deliver if you got your own fitter to install :thumbsup:

Thanks for the info, I will look into this. Once I get some decent quotes in, I will send you a PM to see what you think. Thanks
 
bluestreak56 said:
I would strongly recommend triple glazing as the price difference is negligible but the sound reduction, heat retention are brilliant. We have a 1911 house and replaced the wood windows with PVC but specialised so they look the same style as the outgoing wood. They have aged very well over the past 20 years and dont look out of place at all. As above comes down to money and choice.

I just did 22 windows for the whole house on a 3 bed end of terrace in triple glazing for just over £6k (local company) the big boys wanted £15-18k for the same job...

Do they do sash style uPVC? I haven't seen it yet, and no one has tried to upsell it yet. Will ask the question.

Interesting the difference between quotes. The national company is at about £16k (started off at £35k before the discounts!!!). Im hoping some of the local guys will be more reasonable.
 
DumfriesDik said:
Wood is top trumps in an ideal world. But in reality uPVC is more affordable and practical. When I last looked at replacing windows, wood was much narrower and therefore let more light in.

In a previous property I had aluminium double glazing put in. It was a happy half way house between uPVC and wood.

I hope you can see the wood for the trees!!

Finally, if the existing wooden windows lasted 115 years, I think you shouldn't worry about how long wooden windows last!!

Ha, I love a pun!

So is Aluminium a half way house then? What's the difference between it and uPVC?

Im not worried about new wood windows. Im sure they will outlast everything else. Im sure the double glazing units will last longer than 20 years though!
 
simonlpearce said:
Get 5 or 6 quotes if you go down the upvc route, then sit back and watch them all drop their pants. I think i was originally quoted £15k and by the time i got them fitted it was down to £6k. The only downside is they will have your number on file and will continue to bug you for years to come!

Only other word of advice would be to get soffits (sp) and fascias done at the same time. I didn't and now im kicking myself as it would have been a load cheaper.

Yes, im getting a few quotes sorted at the moment. Do they all just start around £15k as that's where I am at the moment for uPVC (£16.5k), with wood being a few hundred more. I know from this fact that the uPVC have a long way to come down!

Cheers for the heads up on the facias
 
CornishRob said:
Do they do sash style uPVC? I haven't seen it yet, and no one has tried to upsell it yet. Will ask the question./quote]

The street I live in was built circa 1885 - most have now been converted into student houses :evil: but recently one conversion included replacement UPVC Sash Windows, so they do exist, and look very nice :thumbsup:

I assume you're not in a conservation area.
 
Went through this debacle a few years ago. Although our house is 80's it had wooden frames and individual diamond glass panes joined with lead.
Beautiful but a rotting, warping cold drafty mess. Like living in a national trust property

Several quotes and replaced the lot with upvc wood outside, white inside.

+ proper double glazing and it's draftproof, no maintenance (read bi-annual staining), looks identical from 20' away. White inside is way better with the contemporary interior

- miss the real wood front door. frames slightly fatter than wood

Comments:
The difference between top end and budget extrusions is staggering.... See some actually fitted and try them.
Ask what manufacturers extrusions and system they use. Some have more than 1.
Right fitters make a world of difference, not the seller. We waited a couple of months until a recommended team were free as most contract in.
 
CornishRob said:
bluestreak56 said:
I would strongly recommend triple glazing as the price difference is negligible but the sound reduction, heat retention are brilliant. We have a 1911 house and replaced the wood windows with PVC but specialised so they look the same style as the outgoing wood. They have aged very well over the past 20 years and dont look out of place at all. As above comes down to money and choice.

I just did 22 windows for the whole house on a 3 bed end of terrace in triple glazing for just over £6k (local company) the big boys wanted £15-18k for the same job...

Do they do sash style uPVC? I haven't seen it yet, and no one has tried to upsell it yet. Will ask the question.

Interesting the difference between quotes. The national company is at about £16k (started off at £35k before the discounts!!!). Im hoping some of the local guys will be more reasonable.

Yes they do, when we bought them between 15 and 20 years ago there were very few people selling them, these days I think its quite common?
 
If it's sash windows. Then it would be wood for me. May cost a bit more to maintain. But they will last another hundred years, if looked after and generally the frames are a little finer than UPVC ,so you get more light and view. :thumbsup:
 
bluestreak56 said:
I would strongly recommend triple glazing as the price difference is negligible but the sound reduction, heat retention are brilliant. We have a 1911 house and replaced the wood windows with PVC but specialised so they look the same style as the outgoing wood. They have aged very well over the past 20 years and dont look out of place at all. As above comes down to money and choice.

I just did 22 windows for the whole house on a 3 bed end of terrace in triple glazing for just over £6k (local company) the big boys wanted £15-18k for the same job...

This.

I went quatity triple glazed wood effect from a local guy. Fitter is all important. The quality is to good that even my mate who is a carpenter thought it was 'a nice but of timber' until he got 6 feet away.

best bet is to go a see a house that has been done by one of your short listed suppliers :thumbsup:
 
No ones mention soft or hardwood ?
My cheap pine frames rotted in about 10 years due to lack of maintaince before I brought the house.
All my frames are hardwood now, but it is a hassle to keep them maintained over time.
I wanted to keep the wood look as that's why we brought the property.
 
I had the same dilemma 6 years ago. I wasn't sure that replacing the (tatty) wooden sash windows with double glazed uPVC would look right (the house was built in 1899 over 3 floors so not easy access for refreshing paintwork)

After obtaining a number of quotes I went for uPVC and still happy with the decision. More so as my next door neighbours had wooden sash windows installed the following year and the paint has already started to flake.
 
Just had wooden sash and French doors fitted throughout our flat, which is the ground floor of a Victorian terrace. Went with Allan Brothers in the end. We scoured the Earth for uPVC equivalents that looked as good but nothing came close - not cheap, but they are works of art!
 
thepits said:
Do they do sash style uPVC? I haven't seen it yet, and no one has tried to upsell it yet. Will ask the question./quote]

The street I live in was built circa 1885 - most have now been converted into student houses :evil: but recently one conversion included replacement UPVC Sash Windows, so they do exist, and look very nice :thumbsup:

I assume you're not in a conservation area.

Sorry, I meant do they do triple glazed sash uPVC? I haven't seen them!

Yes, I have been getting quotes for the uPVC double glazed sash windows, just no one has yet mentioned upgrading to triple glazed uPVC sash.

No, we are not in a conservation area, but I have seen some uPVC sash windows online that are automatically certified to change in a conservation area without any permission required. I haven't looked into it as it doesn't apply to me, but that's what they advertise.
 
Rob_benton said:
No ones mention soft or hardwood ?
My cheap pine frames rotted in about 10 years due to lack of maintaince before I brought the house.
All my frames are hardwood now, but it is a hassle to keep them maintained over time.
I wanted to keep the wood look as that's why we brought the property.

Good point. The joinery who quoted said they would be hardwood sills and softwood boxes. They said around £3.5k for a bay window and about £1600 for a sash, but waiting for the final quote to find out for sure. He said fully hardwood would be a lot more.
 
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