UPVC sash windows

Sunbed · 11 Mar 2016 at 12:54

Has anyone had UPVC sash windows installed? Happy with them?

Our house has had replacement, single-pane, top opening style windows and I'm jealous of some of the neighbour's houses that still have the original wooden sash windows. However, I acknowledge the benefits of double glazing and UPVC, so I'd ideally like the best of both worlds.

I have got quotes from two reputable, local installers (one of them manufacture their own) and I was quite shocked how much they cost. It would be a massive outlay to do the whole house so I’m just wondering if anyone else had been in a similar position.

In general, do you think they look good? Worth spending the extra?

a1ex2001 · 11 Mar 2016 at 13:12

they age badly and the mechanisms are not hugely robust in my opinion/experience seriously look into wood it is nothing like as expensive as you fear and can be double glazed giving similar performance to UPVC then you just need to have it painted every few years.

Sunbed · 11 Mar 2016 at 13:28

You mean wood sash or casement?

Johno please? · 11 Mar 2016 at 14:05

Sunbed said:
In general, do you think they look good? Worth spending the extra?

No, id take a good PVC window over wood anyday, the cost of decent wooden windows is absurd.

Sunbed · 11 Mar 2016 at 14:24

Johno please? said:
No, id take a good PVC window over wood anyday, the cost of decent wooden windows is absurd.

Sorry I meant PVC sash over a decent PVC casement.

Timber sash is out of the question. I imagine it would be about £30k!

kiteloopy · 11 Mar 2016 at 16:46

I had a quote from Everest to replace my existing (original) wooden single-pane windows with new, wooden double glased and they came out at about £10k each. Windows measure 1.5m by 2m.

A sash window refurb cost me about £300 each.

Even if I wanted to, the council would not let me replace them (grade 2 listed) as they wernt in a terrible condition.

the_r_sole · 11 Mar 2016 at 17:00

everest prices are probably more than timber windows!!

I have used them a couple of times (due to budget)
one company was quickslide which are ok quality but can be ballsed up by an incompetent fitter - the one put in by a local joiner had to be taken out and replaced as it wouldn't open/close properly - the ones I did myself were absolutely fine.
The more recent ones I got from a local small firm, not sure of the profile, but they look ok - went to about 5 different companies until I found a decent looking window...

you'll never get one that looks as good as a timber window, but a blind man running for a bus wouldn't notice the difference in mine