Should I replace my windows with UPVC

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.

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.

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.,

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.

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.

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

I wonder what Maybee70 did about the windows?🤔

Reported

and now replacing

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

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

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.

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Reported.

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

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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.

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.

MayBee70

It’s a game changer realising that I can replace with windows that are brown outside and white inside. It means that if I need to I can replace the odd one. I don’t mind still having brown windows outside but couldn’t bear the thought of having mixed colours outside.

Does seem a good solution!

We like having old, well maintained, brown wood on old stone front and sides of our home and white PVC on the back of our home (stone being covered by conservatory, extensions and additions, loft conversion, etc) which makes white wide-view windows appropriate.

My husband planned/ engineered each side view quite well.

It’s a game changer realising that I can replace with windows that are brown outside and white inside. It means that if I need to I can replace the odd one. I don’t mind still having brown windows outside but couldn’t bear the thought of having mixed colours outside.

MayBee
You’d have to keep him wined and dined. That could be more expensive that finding someone local😂

Casdon, I do my own adjusting - but find it so annoying and there's a lot of expansion on the south facing windows. What I should have done (I believe) is repair and paint them white - then add secondary glazing. I don't think they are very good quality. A couple I had installed later are much better. The aluminium window and doors in the porch are the best, but were expensive, of course.

Local authorities vary. Some will not countenance double glazing at all in listed buildings, despite the obvious benefits. Others will agree subject to approval of style and materials . They may refuse UPVC. Each is a law unto itself. Never buy a listed building without checking if any proposals you have are acceptable, and that anything already done has the appropriate consents.

*Blondiescot, our local authority insists on wooden frames. The whole of the back of our listed house at ground level is now double glazed. Replacing horrible 1960s georgian style glazing, with 'cottage' style wooden frames with double glazing.

Having a listed building doesn't necessarily mean you can't install uPVC windows. Our house is listed and we were able to have them, although the local authority did impose quite strict criteria, which meant we couldn't have the ones we had initially thought of and had to go for a more expensive design. However, they are far more energy efficient than our old windows although they look virtually identical.