Replacing Old Wooden Windows

If you have wooden windows in your home, you know how much charm character they can bring to your home aesthetic. So, it can be sad to learn when your charming wooden windows may need to be replaced. Thankfully, there are many solutions available to help keep the decor of your home intact moving forward, or to take the leap to UPVC windows. So how can you tell when it might be time to replace your old wooden windows?

The signs

There are many signs that an old wooden window may have lost its integrity, some in obvious ways, some not so obvious. Typically you could expect to see:

• Visibly rotten wood – this can be worsened as more water manages to seep in.
• Peeling paintwork – Paint separates from wood as moisture comes between.
• Openers or sashes on a window stick or do not close properly – this is caused by moisture causing the openers or sashes to swell.
• Water directly leaking through the windows.
• A build up of mould, mildew or condensation.

Sadly, no matter the quality of the wood, all wood will eventually lose its ability to repel moisture or water where these signs will begin to emerge.

The effects

It may be tempting to leave or put off replacing your windows, it becoming part of the charm or something that “just happens” in your home. However, damaged wooden windows can have several negative effects on your home, which in the current cost of living crisis you cannot afford to ignore. These can include:

• Your central heating has to go into overdrive to compensate for heat escaping through the windows of your home, and thus even higher energy bills.
• Moisture leaking inside, which can cause a build up of damp which can be highly dangerous to your health, not just if you have a health condition. You can read all about the grizzly effects damp has on your health, even if you are happy and healthy here.
• Increase in external noise – this is caused by the seals in your windows ceasing to work properly as moisture seeps its way in.

We can help

Thankfully, help is at hand. As specialists in windows and glass, we are used to evaluating just how bad the damage is and can advise on whether moisture or damp has affected the integrity of your home, then can replace your wooden windows accordingly. Together with our sister company, Cobbydale Construction you could even take this opportunity to convert or add an extension to your home!

So, what about if you want to replace your wooden windows? There are many great alternatives to wooden windows, UPVC being one of the most popular. There are however tell tale signs for UPVC windows that it may be time to replace them. These can include:

• Frames become soft to the touch.
• Chipped or damaged frames.
• A draught in a room that was not there previously (this can also apply to wooden windows)
• Window seals stick or become difficult to close
• Increase in external sound
• Damp, Mildew or condensation

UPVC windows offer far better security than wooden windows as the integrity of the frames would take more force to break, making it less likely for potential burglaries to gain entry. Double or triple glazed windows also means that you can save on your energy bills, and will provide a greater sense of warmth to your home. Also, when installed correctly, and having ensured that damp or condensation has not seeped into the brickwork, the probability of your windows developing damp or sticking is reduced significantly.

If you would like a non-committal conversation about whether it may be time to consider replacing your windows, you can contact us today by filling in our online contact form or calling us on 01535 958 183.

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