Timber has been the natural choice for windows and doors for centuries. Some years ago, English Heritage warned against ‘a plague of plastic on England’s houses’ and said that unsympathetic windows and doors (particularly PVC-u) were the single biggest threat to property values in Conservation Areas. The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors have also cited the ‘inappropriate replacement of windows and doors’ as a top crime against period homes.

As upgrading windows and doors in listed properties or those located in a Conservation Area is a sensitive task, a growing number of our members offer heritage designs. With advancements in design and manufacture there is now the option of exact replication of existing timber windows and doors.

The sympathetic replacement of timber windows and doors

When the originals are beyond repair, or have been replaced inappropriately, WWA members will work with clients to design and manufacture an exact replication of existing windows and doors for sympathetic replacement.

Where replacement is appropriate, our members can provide:

•  Authentic Window Styles – including traditional box sash windows with cords and weights, Yorkshire sash windows and period casement windows that sit flush in the frames.
•  Design Replication – Across their heritage window and door designs our members incorporate design details from the appropriate period, including authentic mouldings such as Lamb’s Tongue, Gothic, Ovolo and Bevelled. In addition, paint and stain finishes can be matched and authentic period hardware sourced, or the originals incorporated into the new door and/or window.
•  Specialist Glazing – For exact replication with improved levels of thermal efficiency, narrow (slim) cavity insulated glazing units can be specified. Some members also offer specialist finishes to mimic the appearance of older glazing, including crown and cylinder glass. In the specification of narrow glazing, our members only source units that are CE Marked and meet the durability requirements in BS EN 1279. For further details, click here to download a copy of the Narrow Cavity Advice Note.

To help with sympathetic replacement, further information is found in Replacing Windows in Listed Conservation Areas – click here to download.