Changing the (colour of) window frames

[Redgie]

In the house I've recently purchased, there are a total of 11 windows, all of which are rosewood on the exterior, white on the interior. 5 of these windows are old wooden ones in need of replacing, the other 6 were fitted new 1-3 years ago.

The problem is that the rosewood (brown) just looks fairly drab on the outside, it makes the whole exterior look very dark and miserable. So we'd like to replace them all with white, however this seems to be a difficult and/or expensive task.

So far the two window fitters we've spoken to have advised against painting them due to the effort required and difficulty involved, and have instead said they'd need to replace the whole window with white on white.

The total price to get the 5 old windows replaced with rosewood on white (and thus have an entirely rosewood on white house) is around £1,100.
The total price to get all 11 windows (including some fairly large ones) replaced with white on white is around £3,000-£4,500.

Obviously due to the price difference this is no simple choice, especially as it would involve discarding 6 windows in perfectly good condition. Is there an option here I'm missing? Or are we best putting up with the rosewood/wide combo for a few years until they all need replacing and then replacing them all with white on white?

Thanks !

 

[Matt-Page]

In the house I've recently purchased, there are a total of 11 windows, all of which are rosewood on the exterior, white on the interior. 5 of these windows are old wooden ones in need of replacing, the other 6 were fitted new 1-3 years ago.

The problem is that the rosewood (brown) just looks fairly drab on the outside, it makes the whole exterior look very dark and miserable. So we'd like to replace them all with white, however this seems to be a difficult and/or expensive task.

So far the two window fitters we've spoken to have advised against painting them due to the effort required and difficulty involved, and have instead said they'd need to replace the whole window with white on white.

The total price to get the 5 old windows replaced with rosewood on white (and thus have an entirely rosewood on white house) is around £1,100.
The total price to get all 11 windows (including some fairly large ones) replaced with white on white is around £3,000-£4,500.

Obviously due to the price difference this is no simple choice, especially as it would involve discarding 6 windows in perfectly good condition. Is there an option here I'm missing? Or are we best putting up with the rosewood/wide combo for a few years until they all need replacing and then replacing them all with white on white?

Thanks !

Of course a window fitter would advise against painting them and instead, for new windows! Yes it is tricky painting with lots of masking up, but easily achievable. I would get a quote from a pointer to paint them, or tackle it yourself.

 

[Kuros]

Yeah, I'd personally take my time and paint them. Obviously spending more time on the downstairs windows that people can see more...

Worst comes to worst and it looks naff, you haven't lost out on anything (because you'll still be buying new frames anyway).

 

[Maccapacca]

Ask a car wrapping firm. They can wrap lots of fiddly areas and are used to windows and seals etc.

 

[Mark M]

A quick google suggests you can get pvc primer. If youre tight on cash at the moment then I would give it a go and see what it looks like and how long it lasts until you can save up for new frames?

 

[Mark A]

I believe you can get your PVC windows sprayed professionally. If the windows are fairly new then it would be worth giving it a go depending on the cost. If they are on their way out then probably best to just replace them. You can get PVC windows in all sorts of colours these days.

 

[R.O.S.S.I]

Granted you've got a few windows that need doing but surely it's not too big of a job if you remove the glazed units from them as you do them rather than leaving them in?
No masking up etc and should be able to get it done quicker as you're not going to have to be conscious of marking the glass etc. That would be the best way to go IMO.

 

[Mark A]

You'd still have to mask up so you dont get paint on the rubber gaskets assuming they are glued into the frame.