Should I keep my old sash windows?

The short answer is Yes.

Simple and routine care of your windows will prolong their life and reduce costs. Many troublesome windows frequently require simply repairs such as  a sash cord to be replaced or excessive paint removed.

Where windows have lacked attention in the past, such as paint or putty, water may have caused rot. In many cases modest 'fillet' repairs can provide a cost effective repair.

Window inevitably need to be replaced and if you are in this situation, please consider the following.

 

Here are some reasons why not to replace your timber windows with PVC:

What is PVC?

  • Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is not a new invention. It was first created in 1835 by Henri Victor Regnault but due to it's inherent brittle nature, the polymer wasn't readily used until the 1920's when various chemicals were added as plasticisers.
  • In Europe, Unplasticized polyvinyl chloride (uPVC) is used in the manufacture of windows.

 

Property Value

  • Surveyors and other professionals involved in valuing property will frequently comment that well maintained original timber windows - be they sash, casement, lead light etc - will lend a property an original and cared for appearance.
  • The appearance of Plastic windows looks inappropriate in older properties.
  • Plastic windows are often installed by large companies with highly efficient (fast) semi-skilled installation teams. All to often the lack of skill is apparent.

New windows allowing water ingress. 2008

 

Legal Issues

  • There are various incidents where home owners have installed plastic windows unwittingly in contravention in laws governing listed buildings and/or conservation areas.
  • The above situation may lead local authorities to issue owners with an legal order instructing them to reinstate authentic timber windows.
  • Plastic window suppliers will exempt themselves from any liability in this situation. The onus being with the home owner.

 

Longevity

  • Traditional timber windows regularly last in excess of 100 years.
  • PVC windows usually have a 10 year warranty.
  • If you are fortunate, they may last 20 years.
  • Many PVC manufacturers claim to recycle windows. This isn't very confidence inspiring given the relative short history of PVC windows.
  • PVC often becomes yellows with age, stains, is difficult to paint and warps as a result of thermal movement.

 

Value

  • See longevity.
  • Fancy replacing several thousand pounds worth of PVC windows every 10 - 15 years?
  • Poorly fitted PVC windows frequently may rely on little more than expanding foam and builder's caulk to stay in place.
  • There is a perception that timber is more expensive. This should be challenged more often:

The National Housing Federation, for example, finds softwood cheaper both in terms of initial capital costs and life cycle costs over a period of 30 years. Figures from its June 1998 report, 'Standards in Quality and Development', put the cost of buying, fitting and maintaining a softwood window frame at between £149 and £199 over 30 years.

In contrast a PVC frame will cost between £257 and £275.

In April 1998, Carlisle City Council did a cost comparison between PVC and high performance, softwood double-glazed units, and it found that PVC windows were 25% more expensive initially, with negligible differences in cost over a 30 year period.

  • The "negligible differences in cost over a 30 year period" is largely because where timber windows can be painted, repaired and cared for. Plastic windows require whole sections to be replaced should there be a problem.

How to reduce the value of your property

How to reduce the value of your property.

 

The Environment

'Old' PVC windows.

Old PVC windows

 

 

 

 

Call us:

0777 614 9787    -   01698 826 941

 

 

PVC::pvc windows::sash window repairs::traditional windows::double hung windows