Should I replace my windows with UPVC

Absolutely agree GSM. We have lived in our Listed home for 25 years and apart from our recent hiccup never had a problem with doing anything we wish to do. But we both have a lifetime preference for older properties, have owned several 19th century properties and understand the construction and maintenance of older buldings and understand how listing works

Shortly after we moved in a young couple bought a small listed house down the road and went at the renovation as if it was any old house.

We needed the then Conservation Officers assistance and he was telling us he was there almost daily telling them to undo what they had done the previous day. They were expecting to take structural timbers out and they painted, or rather varnished all the carved oak window frames, which were one of the reasons the house was listed and then had to strip it all off. They sold within a year and the new owners understood what they were doing. They renovated carefully and have since extended the property.

New windows are very expensive so I wouldn't replace them if you might move. When I moved, my windows needed replacing but the Estate Agents advised me not to do anything with them. I could just have afforded upvc and buyers might have taken them out and replaced with wooden, so wasted my money. Where I live now, most people have upvc and many have dark windows.

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

This thread is from February 2023. Think the windows would have been done by now .

Reactivated by a spammer Whiff

Reported.

We had white upvc windows to replace our dark framed ones a few years ago. Immediately the house looked brighter and our house became warmer by two degrees. The white has remained white and we are really pleased we changed. Our house was built just before World War 2.

Ps the new double glazed windows were more effective than the previous double glazed ones.

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

We fitted dark hardwood windows 35 yrs ago, painted them every 5 yrs Antares replacing them now on the weather - west with UPVC, you have to look really hard to tell the difference. Whether they will last any longer is an open question

and now replacing

Reported

I wonder what Maybee70 did about the windows?🤔

Firstly having new windows is not a chore
I’m 67 and just had 2 windows and back door last week
There were in and out done & dusted in half a day 2 guys

I have upvc rosewood outside and white on the inside for brightness
I’ve had thinner upvc to made them look traditional as the old wooden ones
If you only have them single glazed it will be cold and draughty
The white on the inside is so easy to clean now and looks much much better than rosewood and you can design them to suit you ie put the openers where you can reach to open the window plus lock them if your going away

It’s a winner from me , go for it

1980s house; replaced old wooden casements 2 years ago with CR Smith Lorimer pvc dark brown outside to match neighbouring houses, white inside with engineered oak framing to match our floors. They look fantastic inside and out and so much warmer. Installed during a gale, finished and inside varnished same afternoon (3 coats). I had one put in at the back because painting the window needed scaffolding. Looks like new 6 years later. I was always a fan of wooden windows but really these look just as good and recycling is part of the programme.

As for people not liking brown windows? They match the house design and imo windows should suit the house style. 2 younger neighbours have painted theirs black and dark grey/brown. Also look good as matched with rest of exterior paintwork and door.

Oreo

I wonder what Maybee70 did about the windows?🤔

I’ve replaced several of them. White inside and brown outside as the huge living room windows will have to remain. I’m still worried that the UPVC is not as structurally strong as the solid wood. I’m still having problems; the walls surrounding the new windows are cracking and I have to keep filling the cracks. The kitchen window needs replacing but I can’t reach it to fill any cracks as it’s behind the sink. The white frames inside totally lift the room. All the blinds have had to be replaced because they were screwed into the wood and I have to have blinds that screw into the plaster. So it’s still a work in progress.

We had some sash windows, neo Georgian type with a lot of little panes, replaced by ‘replica’ original style in a particular type of UPVC. Until you get really close up, you can’t tell that they’re not painted wood. The fittings are all antique style brass. They were from a co. called Bygone Windows - whether it’s still going I don’t know - and IIRC they were approved for listed properties.

The windows had previously needed repainting about every 3 years, and I’d spent an entire week painting (properly) just the inside of the double sashes in our bedroom.

They weren’t cheap, but to us they were well worth it.,

Our house in a conservation area has wooden windows facing the street and white UPVC to the rear which is not visible from any public space. We recently had the wooden windows repainted and the painters did a lot of repairing using a very effective epoxy resin: they now look very good. The UPVC ones were installed more than 5 years ago and just need wiping over. They don't seem to deteriorate. I wouldn't replace them with wood.

I used to hate plastic windows and doors. Now I envy the owners because my old sash windows are rattle, draughty and expensive to paint every few years. My house is Listed and, quire rightly, no plastic or double glazing allowed.
I can’t wait to move into a modern, warm, insulated, maintenance-free retirement flat.