Replacing old wooden sash windows with new upvc double glazed ones

If your home isn't the subject of building regulations or conservation status that prevents you from replacing old wooden sash windows with a upvc double glazed counterpart, then you're in luck.

Whilst it should be pointed out that it should be possible to replace your wooden sash's with a new wooden window that incorporates double glazed glass units, or even have your old sash's restored to their former glory, upvc replacements are a hard act to beat for insulation and energy saving performance.

After recently moving, we're now living in a lovely old 1890's town house etc with some very large old sash windows. As it approaches Winter, you can easily understand why our thoughts have turned to replacing them.

But having walked around the town, it's obvious the majority of properties similar to ours have already opted for replacement upvc at some point and the results are a bit varied on the aesthetic appeal front.

Different styles, different frame profiles by different installers over the evolutionary life of upvc double glazing haven't helped. Styles come and go. Newer production methods are introduced and frame designs to incorporate the latest thinking in energy saving are under constant development.

Some houses 'wear' more than one style - obviously an installation of two halves, as budget or necessity demanded. They may even be flats of course.

All is not lost though - I've spotted a style that I think will suit our home much better - Cream upvc windows.

Now I know it's all down to personal choice and there are some of you already pulling a face I daresay but just bear with me for a moment and I'll explain.

You see, walking around, the problem with a lot of the upvc installations is they're just too 'white'. It's true. In the dark, overhanging tree lined streets, the white frames seem to positively glow. Trouble is, they're a little too 'brilliant white' next to the weathered stone surrounding them.

Now I've seen a couple of houses with cream coloured upvc and the first thing I noticed is that you don't actually notice the windows. Rather your eye is drawn to the beauty of the stonework.

I'm not saying white upvc windows are dead or look 'plain' - in modern houses and other properties they look great - they really do.

But perhaps if you've got an older or more period property, then it's worth bearing in mind that white isn't the only colour and with new colours like cream becoming more readily available, including some textured wood 'effect' finishes (sometimes referred to as foil finishes), then it's surely got to be worth exploring your options?

After all, you're going to have your new windows for a very long time.

Getting an online quote will give you a rough expectation of cost (before offers etc.) but to get a firm price on double glazing for your home, that incorporates different colours or styles, you need the best local companies to call round and leave you with a written, no obligation quote. WindowQuoter can give you that instant online price without having to talk to a salesperson, and should you wish, our own customer advisers can discuss your needs in a little more detail.

This story first appeared in our weekly homeowner newsletter - week beginning Monday 13th December 2010 - click here to read the newsletter in full.

Any upvc frame colour you like - as long as it's white?

Not so long ago, if you were choosing upvc double glazing to replace your old windows, then the frame colour choice was usually limited to white, white or… White.

You can’t keep a good plastic extrusion manufacturer down, though, and they quickly caught onto the fact that us homeowners quite like wooden windows – and that if they could make their plastics look a bit more like wood, they might just get a few more sales.

And so it was, that wood grain finish uPVC frames were born, and in the last few years, they have flourished. Nowadays there’s a huge variety of frames and fittings for your fenestration.

White.

White is the original, and is still the most popular colour choice by far. White upvc frames rapidly underwent major improvements soon after they were first developed to battle dis-colouration problems, and modern white frames keep their appearance for many years after manufacture.

White frames, whether they’re casement, bow, bay or sash style continue to look good in any property.

Hardwood.

Cherry – The darker wood colour particularly suited to fascia uses (as it doesn’t show the dirt so much) is a ‘foil’ layer that’s applied at the extrusion manufacturing stage rather than applied by the window company themselves. This makes for an extremely durable finish.

Light Oak – with the look of a more traditional timber frame colour, Light Oak is proving to be very popular and not just in windows. This frame colour looks great on conservatories and doors. Again, the coloured ‘foil’ layer is applied at the extrusion manufacturing stage so it’s a very durable finish.

It is possible to now specify either a colour finish on the outside to blend in with existing brick or stonework, whilst opting for white on the inside to brighten up the room.

Expect to pay around 15% more (than white frames) for one sided colours and around 20% more for 2 sided colours (Oak outside, white inside etc).

Cream.

A newer frame finish that’s quickly found favour with home building developers is Cream.

To our knowledge, it’s not available as a dual-sided colour, rather the colour (like white) runs through the whole of the extrusion from which the frame is made.

It certainly looks distinctive though and if you’re looking for something to really set your property off then cream may be the finish you’ve been looking for. I’ve seen them in period properties as well and they look very good indeed – they don’t have the starkness that white windows sometimes have.

Cream is a relatively new colour and at present will cost around 20% to 25% more than standard white upvc frames.

Black and White.

You don’t see them very often and not every window company deals in them but there are two other frame colours worth mentioning here – black, which has been around for a few years now and a much newer ‘foil white’ and it’s that I want to tell you about.

Like its colour foil counterparts, the white finish is applied at manufacturing so it’s extremely durable. Why choose white ‘foil’ on a white frame? Well one of the advantages of the white ‘foil’ finish is that it gives your frame a very realistic woodgrain finish and unless you’re up close,can easily be mistaken for wood.

Hopefully, as this product becomes more and more available, it will find uses in period buildings etc that were previously unsuitable for upvc frames because of planning constraints.

Expect prices to be around 20% more than standard white frames

Whatever frame you colour or combination of colours you prefer, you'll find instant online quotes at Windowquoter - double glazing quotes without the need for a salesman to call.