Are wood windows worth the money?

Wood windows have been used in homes for centuries and there’s a good reason for this; they are undoubtedly worth the money. Of course, without knowing their characteristics, you might be wondering how exactly. So as timber window experts, we thought we’d shed some light on the situation.

Which window material will last the longest?

A good way to determine if windows are worth the money is to look at their respective lifespans. If well-maintained, uPVC windows can last around 30 years and aluminium windows for 40. However, well-cared for timber windows can last a lifetime. The expected lifespan of Accoya wood, for example, is 80 years!

So let’s say the initial outlay for a set of wooden windows is 10% higher than a set of uPVC windows. If your timber windows last twice as long, they’ll constitute considerably better value for money in the long-run.

Is wood a good insulator?

Windows with higher levels of energy efficiency are able to save you more on energy bills. Therefore, energy efficiency is another good indicator of value for money. uPVC windows undoubtedly perform very well in this aspect. Thanks to the use of multi-chambered profiles, uPVC windows are able to attain Window Energy Ratings (WER) of A and above. To put this into context, if replacing single glazing with A rated double glazing on a semi-detached home, your energy bills can be reduced by £65-70 a year.

However, wood is a natural insulator, meaning wooden windows are incredibly energy efficient too. Here at Reddish Joinery, our uPVC windows and wooden windows are able to achieve Window Energy Ratings of A.

Are timber windows good for the environment?

Because timber is a carbon negative, completely natural product, it’s considerably better for the environment than other materials. Although many companies now use recycled material for uPVC windows, lowering the negative consequences for the environment, they still have a long way to go to match timber windows in terms of eco-friendliness.

Despite many debating the extent of global warming, there’s no doubt that temperatures have risen in the past 100 years. So if you’d like to do your bit to reduce further temperature rises, timber windows are the way to go.

Can window frames be repainted?

In terms of versatility, timber is also the material to beat. Available in various natural shades of wood, timber frames can be repainted. Neither aluminium or uPVC frames can boast of such a benefit. This is important because, if you plan on owning your home for a number of years, the likelihood is that you will redecorate periodically. However, your redecoration plans may be interfered with because they clash with your current window frames. But if you can change the appearance of your window frames, future redecoration plans are less likely to be interfered with.

Expert manufacturers of bespoke home-improvement solutions

Reddish Joinery specialises in the installation and manufacture of uPVC and wooden windows and has over 50 years of home improvement experience. For more information, call our friendly team on 0161 969 7474 or contact us online.