You’ve decided to upgrade your old wooden casement windows and are examining your options. Many people simply assume that UPVC is the best option and replace all their wooden windows with a modern plastic version. However, this is not always the best option and if you live in a period home, a wooden casement window will certainly look more authentic. But are they better than UPVC in other ways too?
Common assumptions around wooden casement windows
Let’s look at the main factors when replacing windows, specifically any assumptions that tend to be made around wooden casement windows.
Performance
We’ll look at two aspects of performance – thermal efficiency and longevity. There’s no argument that modern UPVC windows will reduce heat loss compared with single glazing or older double-glazed units. However, what might surprise you is that a wooden casement window can offer better thermal efficiency thanks to the naturally insulating and warm property of the wood.
Wood also does better in terms of longevity, which goes against what you might think when comparing a natural material with robust plastic, especially if you have old wooden casement windows that have seen better days. When properly maintained, wooden casement windows outlast UPVC versions by many years. At Woodcraft we guarantee our wooden casement windows for 30 years, but we know that if they are properly maintained they will last longer than this. Plastic windows tend to need replacing after 15 – 20 years and if you develop a problem, they can’t be easily repaired, unlike wood.
Cost
There’s no getting round the fact that wooden casement windows cost more than their UPVC equivalents, and if budget is tight, you’ll be better going for plastic windows. However, when you take the longer term in account and that you’ll need to replace your UPVC windows before the wooden versions, you’re spend a similar amount, if not less in the long run. It’s down to whether you have the budget now to benefit from the longer term investment.
Maintenance
Maintenance is essential with both UPVC and wooden casement windows. UPVC needs to be kept clean to prevent permanent discolouration and brittleness. Quality wooden windows will need painting every 5-7 years or so to keep them in good working condition. Clearly painting your windows is more work than simply wiping them over, but the trade-off is the superior appearance, and you can change the colour if you want to give your home a new look.
Other benefits of wooden casement windows include more colour choice – it is possible to buy UPVC in other colours than stark white, but palettes are limited. Also, if you have irregular shaped windows, it’s much easier to accommodate this in wood, UPVC tends to come in less available forms and sizes.
Therefore, if you have the budget, you’ll benefit from choosing wooden casement windows in the long run, especially if you’re intending to stay in your home for more than 20 years as you won’t have to replace the windows again.
At Woodcraft Windows, we specialise in wooden casement windows for heritage and period properties. They are guaranteed for up to 30 years and all handmade to order in our own workshop.
