Windows question (the house type, not Bill Gates)

[dds1]

We have just moved into a new house, which has metal "crittal" single glazed windows.

They need at the very least refurbing, at most new ones (hiiiideously expensive)

Now I have been told that when we come to sell on, buyers will expect these as they are a)quite typical of the house in the area it's in, and b) add "character".

Personally I think they are a bit of an eyesore, although I can see they could look good in a nice condition.

They also dont exactly retain heat very well.

A quick straw poll: renovate or bin them & get new windows in a style that will match the house (edwardian - so no UPVC)?

Ta in advance :)

[shadytree]

New windows , surely a lot cheaper and more heat efficent in the long run ?

>> Edited by shadytree on Wednesday 5th October 12:48

[XM5ER]

Bin them, unless you are a property developer you buy a house to live in.

What were your thoughts on the windows before you bought the house?

[pdV6]

Tricky. If its an investment property, maybe refurb / replacement is the way to go. If its your main residence and you're planning to be there a while, I'd suggest going for whatever will be most practical for you (e.g. PVC double glazed replacements in a similar style).

Crittle windows take a lot of TLC to keep in top condition and, as you say, aren't exactly energy efficient.

What a lot of people do to preserve the look is to secondary glaze behind the originals. Looks ok from the outside but not to my taste from inside.

{edited to add:} What have similar houses in your area/street done? If most have new replacements, your average buyer isn't going to grumble.

>> Edited by pdV6 on Wednesday 5th October 12:51

[GregE240]

My parents had this same dilemma for years.

Sadly, if you refurb them, they will start to corrode again in a few years time. My folks spent lots of money over the years.

Last year they had the lot ripped out and replacement windows fitted with the same window pattern as the Crittal ones.

Much better, the house is quieter thanks to less road noise and their heating bills are considerably less.

HTH,
Greg

[Mrs trackside]

Budget permitting, I'd replace the windows in the same style (but no UPVC)

[Davel]

Replace with similar pattern modern ones - provided the place isn't listed or anything.

Despite what others have said, I personally would consider upvc, provided they suited the property.

[pdV6]

Davel said:

Despite what others have said, I personally would consider upvc, provided they suited the property.

[minornut]

A quick google revealed the following potential solutions:

www.theheritagewindowcompany.co.uk
www.clementsteelwindows.com
www.crittall-windows.co.uk
www.harmonydirect.co.uk/crittal_windows.html

[dds1]

Before we bought the house we thought we'd see how it went with them, I was neither set on keeping them nor intent of getting rid of, but now we are "in situ" it's becoming evident something will need to be done sooner rather than later.

Thanks for the suggestions so far, I have found a company that make composite alternatives to critall windows (harmony, as minornut kindly pointed out above) so kind of a halfway house between upvc and direct replacements or going to hardwood windows.

We are intending to stay in this house for 3-4 years only, so resale is a factor.


>> Edited by dds1 on Wednesday 5th October 13:11

[minnsy]

'Crittal windows adding character' - never heard that one before! Generally they were fitted for one reason - price. They are a disaster when it comes to heat retention (as you point out), and as to renovating them - have a go - frankly life is too short.

Replace, with some decent Upvc (just remember to take the quoted price from Anglia, Zenith etc, and reduce by about 60 - 70%) If you want details of a good independent and you live south of London, let me know.

[ShanksPony]

Make sure the property is not listed or in a conservation area. Many houses with Crittal windows are now protected by legislation. In which case you may be able to get a grant to refurbish.

I think that Crittal may be doing a look-a-likee replacement windown that offers better insulation.

[parrot of doom]

shadytree said:

New windows , surely a lot cheaper and more heat efficent in the long run ?

No. Double glazing is not cost efficient in the long run.

Refurb the original windows. If you must replace them, get WOODEN windows, not plastic.

UPVC is awful stuff. Horrible, DO NOT BUY.

>> Edited by parrot of doom on Wednesday 5th October 13:39

[Pickled Piper]

We had the same problem in our 1930s house.Initially, we had the windows refurbed which allowed them all to open and close properly and to seal. However, they are still single glazed and don't offer the sound and heat insulation of modern windows. In the end we had them replaced with timber framed windows with double glazed sealed units, constructed to match the original windows. The new windows are a joy to look at and to use.

In hindsight we should have just had them replaced in the first instance rather than wasting money on refurb. IMO UPVC look and feel awful on a period property.

pp

[Tuna]

Pickled Piper said:

In hindsight we should have just had them replaced in the first instance rather than wasting money on refurb. IMO UPVC look and feel awful on a period property. pp

Yep, and uPVC does not last as long as timber frames, especially in older houses where the windows are set back a little from the face of the building.

[dds1]

as an aside, I don't know about anyone else, but I would find a home improvements forum a huge help. I know it's not exactly what the site was designed for, but I do read a lot of threads on this subject, would behandy to have em all in one place! also, there seem to be lots of knowledgeable people on this subject on the site.

[Incorrigible]

parrot of doom said:

No. Double glazing is not cost efficient in the long run. Refurb the original windows. If you must replace them, get WOODEN windows, not plastic. UPVC is awful stuff. Horrible, DO NOT BUY.

I have to disagree with you

Our house (1850) had some quite chocking replacement windows put in (we guess 60s 70s) the nice Georgian/regency replacement wooden ones were going to set us back £20k



We found some (admitedly not brilliant but very very good) plastic ones for about £4k. Not perfect but a huge improvement on the originals (we spent some time fitting proper stone cills etc)

so the choice was racing car or no racing car

[vixpy1]

Sing to tune of that annoying tune.. 'I'm a Barbie girl'

The Windows Song



Mel. Barbie Girl
Hi user, wanna go for a try?
Sure win!
Boot up!

I'm a Windows girl
In my Windows world
Life in coding
It's annoying

You can tune my files
Explore me everywhere
Imagination
Illegal operation

Come on System, let's go crashing

I'm a Windows girl
In my Windows world
Life in coding
It's annoying

You can tune my files
Explore me everywhere
Imagination
Illegal operation

I'm a prog, I'm a code
on a supermachine
when I crash,
Boot me up, and go crazy

I'm your pain,
boot me up, and start over again
Run a prog, see the fail
Just delete me

You can touch, i can hang,
like i say, just boot again

I'm a Windows girl
In my Windows world
Life in coding
It's annoying

You can tune my files
Explore me everywhere
Imagination
Illegal operation

Come on System, let's go crashing (boot, boot, bo-ot)
Come on System, let's go crashing (bo-o-ot, bo-o-ot)
Come on System, let's go crashing (boot, boot, bo-ot)
Come on System, let's go crashing (bo-o-ot, bo-o-ot)

Change my look, add some waves,
do whatever you please
I can act like a mac
I can beg for more space

Just log in,
Press the "start"
We can do it again

Hit some RAM
Swap the disk
Let's get fragments

You can touch, i can hang,
like i say, just boot again

You can touch, i can hang,
like i say, just boot again

Come on System, let's go crashing (boot, boot, bo-ot)
Come on System, let's go crashing (bo-o-ot, bo-o-ot)
Come on System, let's go crashing (boot, boot, bo-ot)
Come on System, let's go crashing (bo-o-ot, bo-o-ot)

I'm a Windows girl
In my Windows world
Life in coding
It's annoying

You can tune my files
Explore me everywhere
Imagination
Illegal operation

I'm a Windows girl
In my Windows world
Life in coding
It's annoying

You can tune my files
Explore me everywhere
Imagination
Illegal operation

Come on System, let's go crashing (boot, boot, bo-ot)
Come on System, let's go crashing (bo-o-ot, bo-o-ot)
Come on System, let's go crashing (boot, boot, bo-ot)
Come on System, let's go crashing (bo-o-ot, bo-o-ot)

Oh I feel there's so much lag!
Well user, we're just gettin started
Oooh, I love to crash

[Incorrigible]

fk of Charlie

[shadytree]