Those who own period homes and listed buildings know the troubles that come with redecorating and refurbishing a property of this type. Building regulations must be taken into account when choosing new fixtures and fittings, whilst taking into account their own personal taste in interior design. It's a tricky task, as many people feel that must do their period home justice, retaining all the original features whilst leaving their own mark on the place.
It is often said that windows are the eyes of the home and the eyes are a window to the soul. Windows are one of the most aesthetically important features of a home's exterior and can either totally ruin or greatly improve the overall look and feel of a home. But no matter how beautiful they are, antiquated period windows have a definite lifespan, regardless of how well they are looked after, they will get to a point when they cannot be restored to their former glory.
Replacing period windows is a potential minefield for homeowners. The only way to guarantee a great refit is by choosing a specialist joiner, one with previous experience of such projects. The procedures involved with replacing period windows can be delicate and time consuming. However, an experienced expert can create stunning wooden windows for a period home that can sometimes even improve the look of the property.
The best joiners will not only be able to replace period windows, but to replicate the window exactly. There's no better way to stay true to a building's original style then to replace the original features with an exact likeness. On top of this, there are other benefits to replacing windows in your home.
Modern, matured timber is conditioned so that it is incredibly energy efficient when worked with correctly. Often, older homes suffer from deep rooted heat loss problems, with ancient windows a prime cause of the issue. In tests, timber has proved to be a far better insulator than aluminium, uPVC and other types of wood. And when ethically sourced, using timber leaves less of a carbon footprint when compared to the vast majority of possible window joinery materials on the market.
However, regulations on listed and older properties in the UK mean that usually, only single pane windows can be installed, as opposed to double glazing. Inefficient windows and doors are responsible for as much as 25% of a property's heat loss, and this number can be greatly inflated in period properties. This could leave a homeowner paying excessive heating bills in the winter, especially if there is a large, antiquated house that needs to kept warm. But an ingenious modern solution has made this problem a thing of the past.
Intelligent glass comes in many forms and has many applications.Low emissivity glass (often referred to as Low-E) amongst the best glass for homeowners. This is because the glass is applied with a coating of metal oxide, which is invisible to the human eye. This specialised coating allows heat and light in, but prevents a huge amount of heat escaping through the panes, greatly improving the energy efficiency of a home.
Retaining the majesty of a period property is the number one priority for those looking to make any improvements to a period home. But with the right guidance and expertise, replacing period windows can be a relatively painless experience. Look for a great joiner, ask for examples of previous work and rest assured that your beautiful home is in good hands.
Article submitted by Jonathan Hey, Managing Director of Westbury Windows & Joinery. Westbury Windows & Joinery has over 20 years experience in building bespoke windows and roof lanterns.
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