uPVC vs wood windows

[wyx087]

Would you replace 20 year old soft wood windows that currently requires maintenance with modern uPVC windows?


I get the feeling modern uPVC are better, it seals better, it opens better and it locks.
My current window are now 20 years old (came with the house), they require repainting, they don't seal very well, they have no locks and I don't really like the way you have to prop the window open.
But my colleagues all think the wooden windows are better: repairable, adds value to the house, not sealing means no possible of mould build-up.


I grew up with really old (up-down) wooden windows, we hated it. Then later we always had uPVC windows and I liked it. Now with my own house, this is the first time I've used a relatively modern wooden double glazed window. Personally I feel uPVC are better overall. But at the same time I don't want to devalue my house.

So what do you guys think of uPVC vs Wood? Would uPVC devalue a house?

 

[StewartR]

When we refurbished our house last year we replaced 20-year-old uPVC with aluminium-clad timber.
It looks better than uPVC and should require no maintenance.

 

[realspeed]

Yes every time is the short answer. We recently had our conservatory completely done from the dwarf wall up . No problem opening and closing widows /doors. Don't go to one of these national window companies we got a quote from one advertising X percentage off ( starts with A). Did we really want to know where they got the sand from to make the glass- or how much profit they made in the last year -or how many homes they do per month ? After about 2 hours showing examples and saying pay so much up front (a substantial amount) and the rest as work was progressing.

We went to a local company who did a great job and included fanlight windows which (A) didn't for the same price.We now have double glazed windows with the correct air gap between <older double glazed windows had a much narrower air gap and not as good.

my guess it adds value to a house in prospective buyers find there is less maintenance if they notice that is. What I would say it may help selling easier

Old wood removed (rot on sills on the bottom stick finger through)




new UPVC being fitted, note white inside WOOD effect outside




New finished UPVC




Inside

 

[wyx087]

When we refurbished our house last year we replaced 20-year-old uPVC with aluminium-clad timber.
It looks better than uPVC and should require no maintenance.

They sound expensive. Non the less, I shall ask about it during the quotation...... Thanks for the suggestion.

Yes every time is the short answer.
.......

We went to a local company who did a great job and included fanlight windows which (A) didn't for the same price.We now have double glazed windows with the correct air gap between <older double glazed windows had a much narrower air gap and not as good.

my guess it adds value to a house in prospective buyers find there is less maintenance if they notice that is. What I would say it may help selling easier

I also plan to use a local company, based on recommendation from neighbours.

If I may, how much did the pictured job cost you? I am also thinking of replacing my conservatory roof, it's also almost 20 years old (original owners put it in soon after the house was built) and seems to be falling apart. I'd like a roof with an opening near the top, to let the hot air out during summer.

 

[realspeed]

Talking to the firm that does one like this from the start ( foundations up ) they said anything from £20/30,000 around here . Obviously this was nowhere near that as it was just the top bit needed replacing So around £15,000 if my memory serves me correctly but they recon it will add at least £5/10,000 on what was there before.
Replacing windows may be in a different ball park to what we had done.


AS you can see we had a complete removal with special glass for the roof which is self cleaning, none of your twin wall plastic stuff

If you have anything done photograph it before during and after else you soon forget what it was like

 

[Nod]

We used a local company to build our plastic cat house (UPVC conservatory) 4 years ago. Total cost for the job (foundations, 2' walls, double doors, bricks matched to the house originals) was 11 grand IIRC. Includes 4 opening windows as well as the doors. 3m x 3m. Worth every penny! Wood effect outside, white inside. Only extra expenses were getting a sparky mate to put a few sockets out there but he tacked that on to the job when he replaced our old fuse type distribution board with an RCD and trip switch one so was only really the sockets and cable at cost as well as a couple of extra boxes of laminate flooring to match the rest of the ground floor.

Same company did our windows about 12 years ago. Again, white inside and wood effect outside. Still look as good now as they did just after fitting. Can't remember what the cost was for them but it was so long ago as to make it irrelevant now.

 

[realspeed]

Another consideration is which part of the country one lives in as labour costs vary so much. Mine was done one year ago

 

[wyx087]

Talking to the firm that does one like this from the start ( foundations up ) they said anything from £20/30,000 around here . Obviously this was nowhere near that as it was just the top bit needed replacing So around £15,000 if my memory serves me correctly but they recon it will add at least £5/10,000 on what was there before.
Replacing windows may be in a different ball park to what we had done.

If you have anything done photograph it before during and after else you soon forget what it was like

I'm hoping my one will be cheaper, because although the conservatory is bigger in area (I think, from your photos), there's less window area. Only the garden side and roof needs replacing. But I have to say, the cost surprised me, I've only budgeted £12k including replacing the roof, so may have to save another year!

Good idea on photographing before/after.

Another consideration is which part of the country one lives in as labour costs vary so much. Mine was done one year ago

Ha! wish me luck! greater London here.

We used a local company to build our plastic cat house (UPVC conservatory) 4 years ago. Total cost for the job (foundations, 2' walls, double doors, bricks matched to the house originals) was 11 grand IIRC. Includes 4 opening windows as well as the doors. 3m x 3m. Worth every penny! Wood effect outside, white inside. Only extra expense was getting a sparky mate to put a few sockets out there but he tacked that on to the job when he replaced our old fuse type distribution board with an RCD and trip switch one so was only really the sockets and cable at cost.

Same company did our windows about 12 years ago. Again, white inside and wood effect outside. Still look as good now as they did just after fitting. Can't remember what the cost was for them but it was so long ago as to make it irrelevant now.

That conservatory sounds very nice. Is your house also UPVC window?

I ask because my house is original wood windows, but the (now almost 20 year old) conservatory has aging UPVC. Seems normal for people to get UPVC conservatories and not match their windows around my neighbourhood.

 

[realspeed]

I'm hoping my one will be cheaper, because although the conservatory is bigger in area (I think, from your photos), there's less window area. Only the garden side and roof needs replacing. But I have to say, the cost surprised me, I've only budgeted £12k including replacing the roof, so may have to save another year!

Good idea on photographing before/after.



Ha! wish me luck! greater London here.



That conservatory sounds very nice. Is your house also UPVC window?

I ask because my house is original wood windows, but the (now almost 20 year old) conservatory has aging UPVC. Seems normal for people to get UPVC conservatories and not match their windows around my neighbourhood.

yes the rest of the house is UPVC and we guess the original windows were replaced some time in the past. here all the houses have to have the brown outside for windows and doors and really keeps the area nice. One advantage we have is all the widows can be cleaned from the inside as they not only open out but also slide along when opened so the outside can be cleaned as well.

We had to get a window company to ease some off as they hadn't been moved for years and also some of the window handle gearing needed replacing a they triple bolt


The house when we got it needed some work which cost a fair bit but now everything is as it should be and added to the value in the 3 years we have owned it.

 

[Nod]

Yes, UPVC windows (and front door.) The UPVC replaced 20 year old wood single glazing which needed significant repairs and biannual painting. Conservatory faces West so catches the morning sun. No heating out there, although there is a small fan heater if we need it. TBH, we're more likely to just move indoors than use the heater - if it's that cold, it's usually dark and dingy outside so cosiness rules!

 

[realspeed]

This is the front of my humble abode






All windows and doors in browns , garage doors as well

 

[StewartR]

They sound expensive. Non the less, I shall ask about it during the quotation...... Thanks for the suggestion.

Not cheap, to be honest. My wife and I both have the mentality that we'd rather have something good that's going to last. Although at the time we were shopping around, this supplier had a special offer whereby we got a free upgrade to triple glazing. That was attractive because we have quite a lot of glass in our extension and we were in danger of having to jump through hoops to demonstrate that we were achieving the required U-values; but the double>triple upgrade made that easy. And the effect on outside noise is astonishing.

 

[realspeed]

looks nice Stewart your extn to your house, must add a lot more room , you were lucky to get planning permission
As or being quiet, around here you can even hear a snail sneeze it is so peaceful.

 

[StewartR]

looks nice Stewart your extn to your house, must add a lot more room , you were lucky to get planning permission.

Cheers. We didn't need planning permission. We kept the dimensions of the extension within the limits for permitted development. The procedure is that the council had to consult with our neighbours, but we get on well with them and the extension has a minimal impact on them, so that wasn't a problem.

 

[OldCarlos]

Don't forget you can get uPVC spray painted in virtually any colour before fitting, if you don't want the usual brown or white.
You can then re-paint them yourself in a few years if you want a change.

Re re-roofing your cons. Might be worth looking at a proper solid roof with velux/skylight, or maybe even those lightweight `tiles`, if you want it to feel more like a room.?

 

[ChrisH]

uPVC all the way. I had mine done 20 or so years ago when Rehau first came on the market and only recently have some of the panels started to lose their gas. I've not had a price to replace them again but the more modern ones should last even longer, or I might even be able to just get new panels made.

It's not just the lack of maintenance that made me do it but that was a major part of it. Better sealing, far more security, easier opening and closing. Much thought went into mine, if I moved and the house didn't have them it would be 1st job on my list.

 

[TimHughes]

When we refurbished our house last year we replaced 20-year-old uPVC with aluminium-clad timber.
It looks better than uPVC and should require no maintenance.

We built new about 9 years ago and did the same for the windows. Lasting very well so far.

 

[wyx087]

Don't forget you can get uPVC spray painted in virtually any colour before fitting, if you don't want the usual brown or white.
You can then re-paint them yourself in a few years if you want a change.

Re re-roofing your cons. Might be worth looking at a proper solid roof with velux/skylight, or maybe even those lightweight `tiles`, if you want it to feel more like a room.?

Good idea, solid roof might be an option...... it all depend on price. We are not short on space (at the moment), the conservatory is only really used for hosting dinner guests as the dining table in the kitchen is only big enough for my family.

uPVC all the way. I had mine done 20 or so years ago when Rehau first came on the market and only recently have some of the panels started to lose their gas. I've not had a price to replace them again but the more modern ones should last even longer, or I might even be able to just get new panels made.

It's not just the lack of maintenance that made me do it but that was a major part of it. Better sealing, far more security, easier opening and closing. Much thought went into mine, if I moved and the house didn't have them it would be 1st job on my list.

With those misted panels, my father tells me you can change the inner part only and it is relatively cheap. He's had it done on their previous house when selling it.

With better sealing did it cause any mould problems? How old is your house may I ask?

 

[OldCarlos]

Good idea, solid roof might be an option...... it all depend on price.

Shouldn't work out much more expensive (if any)

Our victorian style cons. is 10' x 18' & had a poli-carb roof when we moved in & we got it changed to glass about 6 yrs ago (reflective, argon filled, self cleaning etc etc)
I think it was around £5k. Defo worth it at the time for better heat retention in Winter & less noisy when it rains, but if I was replacing it now, I'd go for a more solid roof.

I've not had a price to replace them

We've had 3 DG window units replaced recently, which started misting. They were probably around 20yrs old too. They are about 36" x 30" & we were charged £125 supplied & fitted for the 3.

 

[Galaxy66]

I live in a cottage which is over 200 years old, when we moved in I ripped out the old draughty sash windows and replaced them with modern wooden casement windows which to be honest did not look right on an old stone property, with hindsight I should have had them professionally draught sealed as the timber was still good. Now 30 years on those single glazed windows are only just beginning to rot and are being replaced with double glazed sash windows.
It is not listed so we had a choice between wood and UPVC which was very tempting but none of what was on offer looked like genuine old wooden sash windows so we have decided on wood again. these are being factory painted under a process which ensures the paint will withstand weathering a lot longer than priming and painting by hand.