uPVC or timber sash windows for a Victorian or Edwardian house?
Sliding sash windows are one of the things that make a Victorian or Edwardian house look right. When they start to rattle, stick or let in the cold, most owners face the same question: replace them in timber, or choose a uPVC sash that looks the part? Both can be the right answer. Here is how we explain the difference to customers in Southgate, Palmers Green and Winchmore Hill.
How they look
A well made timber sash is the traditional choice and has the authentic detail that some houses and some councils call for. Modern uPVC sash windows have come a long way from the flat, chunky frames of the past. Good designs now have run through horns, decorative glazing bars and a woodgrain finish option, and from the street they are hard to tell apart from timber. Our uPVC vertical sliding sash windows are made to keep the proportions of the original windows.
Upkeep
This is where the two differ most. Timber needs regular repainting and attention to keep water out and keep the sashes running smoothly. uPVC does not need painting: an occasional clean and a check of the hardware is usually all it asks for. For busy households and for high windows that are hard to reach, that difference is often what decides it.
Warmth and noise
Both timber and uPVC sash windows can be made with modern double glazing and good seals, which is where most of the gain over old single glazed sashes comes from. Our windows are A to A+ rated, with argon filled 28mm sealed units and black Swiss spacers, and better sealed windows also cut street noise. If you want to understand the ratings, see our guide to what A and A+ window ratings mean.
Security
Old sashes are often held by a single catch. New windows come with modern locking as standard: shoot bolt locking is built into all our windows, and hinge restrictors and laminated or toughened glass are available. More on our security page.
Conservation areas and listed buildings
If your house is in a conservation area with an Article 4 direction, or is listed, the council may expect a particular type of window, and some will ask for timber. It is worth checking before you decide. We explain the rules in our guide to replacing windows in a conservation area in Enfield or Barnet, and we check your address at the survey.
For houses with casement windows rather than sashes, our flush sash and Residence 9 windows are designed to look like traditional timber joinery while keeping the low upkeep of a modern frame.
Our view
Choose timber if the council requires it, or if authentic material matters more to you than upkeep.
Choose uPVC sash if you want the traditional look with far less maintenance, and planning allows it.
Either way, keep the pane pattern and proportions of the original windows. That is what makes a period house look right.
You can see our sash windows at the showroom at 4 Hampden Square, Southgate, open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm and Saturday 9am to 1pm. To book a free home survey, call 020 8361 0128 or request a quote online.