Window Decisions

3 years ago

Hi everyone,

What are you thoughts on the material and style of replacement windows? There are stunning views to open countryside.

The current windows, aside from IMO being truly ugly and out of keeping, have chunky profiles and cross bars that block the view for anyone looking out! We have decided on a black or dark grey.

We're deliberating between wooden/UPVC sash vs. more modern aluminum windows - but would casements with larger glass look ok?

Thanks for any inputs :)

Featured Answer

macbroom

3 years ago

I can’t quite tell from the pic but do your windows have PVC strips in the glass to try to mimic Georgian bars? I think in some houses they look fine but I absolutely hated them and they were the first thing to be replaced in my cottage. I replaced them with timber casement windows with Georgian bars. Your house looks quite traditional so I think timber casement or sash windows would work well.

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Comments (16)

Anthony (Beano)
3 years ago
I’d go for the sash style myself, not sure on the black or dark grey tbh, I’d be looking at a french grey to compliment the brick. I resprayed my upvc window ral 7039 and it’s epic looking aginst my dash, I was thinking, like yourself, was thinking along the lines of black or anthracite but did a lot of test colours and the 7039 just complimented it so well.
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keiblem
3 years ago
Definitely timber sash windows. UPVC are heavy and clunky and really don’t suit a traditional property especially not one as lovely as yours. Currently you have six over six on the top floor which looks fine but if you want more glass you could perhaps consider Victorian two over two which might work well on the ground floor too. I’d recommend you look at similar houses with sash windows to help you come to a decision. They are not the draughty rattling windows of yore. They come double glazed with draught proof brushes around the frames.

If you go for timber then I suggest you do some background reading into Accoya. It is a soft wood that has been treated giving it a lifespan of up to 50 years. It apparently stands up to our weather better than hardwoods. It is a bit more expensive but I have been so taken with it that I intend to have my windows made from it.

https://www.accoya.com/uk/
HU-317862880
Original Author
3 years ago
macbroom - yes exactly this. Strips inside the so they can't be sprayed unfortunately (which had been our first thought).

From the outside I think it's the colour mostly that makes it look naff, but inside the wide cross bar almost in the middle of the unit is right in the line of sight meaning it blocks a significant portion of the views
HU-317862880
Original Author
3 years ago
Anthony - thanks, will definately check out RAL7039 too. Really wish we could re-spray as a temporary fix to save some cash as the house is about to undergo significant re-modelling. But as mentioned the views are really spoiled by the window style with the cross bar where the 2 windows meet
HU-317862880
Original Author
3 years ago
keiblem - thanks for that. Will definitely check acccoya out. The real issue is the cross bar where the 2 windows meet as it falls right in the eye line and blocks a huge chunk of the view, hence we had thought about a more modern design with more open glass
HU-317862880
Original Author
3 years ago
macbroom - do these windows open?
PRO
9yards architecture
3 years ago
Great to see you considering window styles properly - too many people rely on the pvc window salesman to 'design' their windows for them. it wouldn't cost much to pay a designer to sketch up your elevations with a variety of window styles so youd be certain you were making the right choice. Great looking house, good luck with your project 👍🏻
macbroom
3 years ago
Hi, yes the windows open. My previous pic showed the sunroom windows and only one of those opens but I will attach a pic of open bay windows and a close up so you can see the joinery and craftsmanship. I had looked at the French Grey as Anthony mentioned but decided to go for a soft white colour as I didn’t want to be tied to a specific colour scheme internally. It is possible to have the windows factory sprayed 2 different colours for interior and exterior but this adds to the cost and doesn’t always work too well apparently. Mine are Sapele Mahogany and come with a 25-year guarantee from memory. As it’s a big spend, I’d advise looking at samples of different companies’ windows/joinery work and make sure you are happy with what they advise in terms of scale and proportion etc. They are not all equal in terms of craftsmanship!
Jonathan
3 years ago
UPVC doesn’t have to mean ugly as there are some sash styles available. In a previous house I replaced an ugly 80s second floor window with a sash window and chose UPVC to make maintenance easier.
It looked exactly the same as all the original Victorian wood windows in the house.
Daisy England
3 years ago
Might be down to budget. Timber are much more expensive than UPVC.
keiblem
3 years ago
To 9yards architecture. I couldn’t agree with you more. Windows more than anything else define a house so why do we keep getting it wrong?
Sonia
3 years ago
Looks like a lovely period property that does deserve the right kind of windows. I would avoid trendy grey which just wouldn’t sit well with the building. I think stick with white, or as Anthony suggested a lovely soft French Grey.
Sarah U-S
3 years ago
As Jonathan and Daisy have mentioned, uPVC can work too. I live in a Victorian property in a conservation area - and when we needed to replace our windows a few years ago, timber was simply out of our budget, no matter how hard we stretched ourselves. I had local window fitters to quote - and most were awful! I then did my own research and found a couple of manufacturers that made “heritage” sash windows, and then showed them to a local independent company who happily organised measuring, buying and fitting them. They weren’t cheap - but they were do-able for us. I soon became an expert on run-through horns and such like 😂. If you go for uPVC, make sure you don’t get smooth plastic - ours looks like painted wood, and the run through horns are definitely worth doing too!
HU-317862880 thanked Sarah U-S
HU-317862880
Original Author
3 years ago
Thanks for the inputs.

We replaced the sash windows in our last house with wood, but that was required as it was G2 and in a conservation area. We painted in f&b fawn which looked great.

In this house as the rear is much more contemporary - large open plan - and we like the same colour throughout we have been thinking dark, plus a lot of houses in our street have black and it looks great. But I get this might be a trend. Another tick for wood which could be easily repainted!
HU-317862880
Original Author
3 years ago
Lots to think about

Window Decisions

macbroom

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Anthony (Beano)

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