Windows from pane to frame
Windows add essential character to any building. Their shape, size, position and framing material will alter the look of the house for the better or worse, and repairing or replacing windows will have an impact inside and out. As such a highly visible part of the snug envelope that protects the house, new or replacement windows must deliver looks, economy and performance. So, is it time to replace or repair?
Well maintained, well detailed wood windows can last centuries. It’s a testament to the character and tenacity of wood, that softwood Georgian sash windows survive in many cities, hemmed in by synthetic pretenders. Modern solid wood window frames are engineered to last, but wood for all its charm as a naturally degrading material will always demand more attention than PVCu (polyvinyl chloride-unplasticised), clad and composites.
It takes a seasoned DIY warrior to handle a seriously rotting wood window frame and it’s vital that no area of a window or a wooden sill is left open to water. To ward off rot, sanding and refinishing of a solid sill is a matter of patience and technique and within the reach of most houseowners.
Period wood windows once made sound can even be double glazed, but this is an expensive route that leads many period purists to insulate their curtains. Slimlite double-glazed units suited to wood sashes are a squeaky slim 7mm in depth and available from firms including SashWindows.ie.
A specialist firm can address just about any window frame in a state of mild collapse. Still, with modest, failing mid-century teak or early metal frames holding up draughty single glazing, the pressure to replace with the economy of PVCu and warm glazing will be hard to resist.
Before automatically going to PVCu, take the time to compare prices with solid wood, wood-clad, aluminium, and new contenders such as Marvin Architectural’s new fibreglass range. Aluminium is a recyclable material with a strong character, but was dogged by cold bridging problems in the past.
Today’s metal lovelies shield a wood core, and are snug, efficient window choices, making them first choice for Ireland’s first certified Passive House retrofit project.
No one can argue against the economy of PVCu. The sturdier profiles and many other aesthetic improvements and variations in the framing have kept alternative, sustainable materials on the market well in check. Many renovated period houses, boast timber windows for the street side of the house and PVCu units tucked away on the rear facing windows.
Generally speaking PVCu needs no maintenance and should last a decade without problems. In theory, certain types of PVCu can be softened and recycled, but this is not normally attempted, so it’s up to you to choose a responsible supplier.
As with any frame choice, try as far as possible to match the design of windows to the architecture of the house. If you’re living in a semi-detached home, and the neighbours have a certain style of PVCu, marrying their appearance will be more harmonious to the eye. Wood clad in PVCu, allows for the option of a wood face indoors with a more weather resistant material outside, so you really can have it all.
Catches, hinges and components can be replaced by a specialist, and the worst you may have to face is getting white frames clean from time to time. If soapy water doesn’t shine them, PVC cleaner is easy to use — sprayed onto the frame and sill and wiped off with a clean rag. Plastic scratches cannot be repaired if badly gouged. Try a non- scratch kitchen cream such as Cif, gently rubbed on with a non-abrasive cloth. Twice a year, give your hinges a light spray of WD40 to keep them supple.
Fifteen per cent of our heating can drift out badly insulated windows. BER assessors will take a keen interest in the quality of your windows’ construction, tacking those results onto your property’s overall energy rating. Glass covers a large area of our homes protective envelope and with low emissivity (low-e) glass as standard, and cold bridges designed out with clever spacer technology, we’ve come a long way in terms of performance.
Many replacement windows boast an energy rating similar to that on appliances that runs from A-G. This system was put in place by the British Fenestration Rating Council to make it easier for consumers to judge. Don’t be over excited immediately by an A rating. Look at the U or heat retention value which reflects the performance of the glass and frame complete (1.4 W/m2K for an A rated window).
The building regulations demand a minimum U value of 1.6 W/m2K for all new windows. The lower the U value the better. A triple-glazed timber window will eke down to 1.2 W/m2K or better, breaking the standard A-G ratings. If you’re replacing wood sash windows with wood, specialist companies including Carey Glass Joinery offers products with all the joys plus good energy performance as standard with the frame and glazing.
Replacement windows where needed in wood, PVCu, aluminium, or fibreglass offer more benefits than energy efficiency. It’s a lot harder to break a double or triple- glazed window. Multiple locks pull the moving sections flat to or even inside the frame in highly secure sections difficult (but not impossible) to pry open.
With heat insulation comes sound insulation. If you live on a busy road with single pane glazing, noise pollution can be unbearable. A larger air space with an Argon or Krypton gas fill between the panes will dull sound.
So, is triple glazing just fit for Scandinavian climates?
The jury is still out in the professional building circuit, but it’s important to look ahead to energy and comfort expectations when putting any money into your home.
Apart from a better U value, the surface of the glass on the inside of a triple-glazed window is warmer than that of a double glazed window and there is a minuscule but important difference in comfort levels (less condensation potential or cold spots). The windows are cooler than the surrounding walls, which even in a standard build must deliver a U value of .21 W/m2K, so they are a good bit cooler.
For passive standard homes, the glass and its frame must be highly detailed with both insulated, and triple glazing is obligatory to reach the magic U value of 0.8 for heat retention on the glass and frame complete.
As we move towards passive homes as standard with little if any auxiliary heating, triple glazing makes sense.
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