English Heritage:New article on Sash Windows

[essexbearhunter]

Although preaching to the converted here, this article on the performance of secondary forms of insulation/glazing as an alternative to plastic double glazing, could be of use when meeting the Local Planning Dept.

The PDF file link on the Web Page gives a summary of the Research Results.

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.21479

 

[Lime]

Excellent!!!!!!

What a pleasant change to see and read what I've thought all along.

Well worth looking at the link, downloading the PDF (roller blinds with reflective outer surface 57% saving!!!!!!) and visiting the website on the video.
http://www.climatechangeandyourhome.org.uk/live/

 

[wobs]

I agree with everything about the first article apart from:

only expected to last for around 20 years. When broken, most go to land-fills.

Times change, and placcy window recycling is on the rise. Its also claimed by many that they will last for longer these days.

Sorry for batting for the source of evil, but if we repeat such notions when they are incorrect, we discredit ourselves. Yes many will end up in landfill, but many won't now.

 

[Lime]

I agree with everything about the first article apart from:

only expected to last for around 20 years. When broken, most go to land-fills.

Times change, and placcy window recycling is on the rise. Its also claimed by many that they will last for longer these days.

Sorry for batting for the source of evil, but if we repeat such notions when they are incorrect, we discredit ourselves. Yes many will end up in landfill, but many won't now.

To some extent I agree.
Landfill would be inappropriate for plastic with poisonous material within them.
However the majority of plastic windows will be replaced sooner rather than later because repair is not easy (yes they do break) and appearance deteriorates quickly.
Cleaning brand new plastic is relatively easy.
After 10 years the surfaces develop pits and scratches that do not clean well.
Bluntly, they look dirty and old.

 

[JoceAndChris]

Surely there must be some sort of plasticy paint you can paint them with at that point?

 

[Lime]

Surely there must be some sort of plasticy paint you can paint them with at that point?

Indeed there are plastic paints that can be used.
However how many owners of plastic windows that are weathered and worn would paint them?
I haven't seen any myself.
Often the reason the wooden windows were ripped out in the first place was to avoid any painting so I doubt many would choose that route.
From my experience the major reasons plastic windows are chosen are many but common
i.e.
1. Price. (wooden window replacement is expensive)
2. Maintenance-free.(no painting)
3. They work. (for a time)
4. The beguiling sales talk of the person selling the plastic double glazing.
5. the speed in which the job can be done.
(My neighbour had "special" plastic covers placed over the wooden frames of their old windows... so the old frames are still underneath!!!.... and the plastic windows fitted in the gap that was left. But all done in a day which was what they wanted.)

 

[JoceAndChris]

Hmm, well, in 15 years time when I'm lovingly painting Mum and Dad's placcy windows I'll post pics!

You know I'm on the side of wooden windows, but I have to say that their extremely unattractive 70s house was only made marginally more unattractive by the addition of plastic windows - whereas the difference it's made to the warmth and comfort inside is sensational.

Anyway, I'm off to the chippy. :wink:

 

[LadyArowana]

Hmm, well, in 15 years time when I'm lovingly painting Mum and Dad's placcy windows I'll post pics!

You know I'm on the side of wooden windows, but I have to say that their extremely unattractive 70s house was only made marginally more unattractive by the addition of plastic windows - whereas the difference it's made to the warmth and comfort inside is sensational.

Anyway, I'm off to the chippy. :wink:

Who are you and what have you done with Joce ? :lol:

 

[Nigel Watts]

You know I'm on the side of wooden windows, but I have to say that their extremely unattractive 70s house was only made marginally more unattractive by the addition of plastic windows - whereas the difference it's made to the warmth and comfort inside is sensational.

My mother has draughty Crittall windows, with leaded glass at the front of the house. She recently had secondary glazing installed in her drawing room. Surprisingly it doesnt look at all bad and it's certainly made her warmer.

Anyway, I'm off to the chippy. :wink:

A nice carpenter?

 

[lou]

Wow! I'm pretty sure that the street this was filmed in was where my children were born (they were actually born in hospital, just to be clear, but you get my drift). London Fields. LOVELY little terraces - very chi-chi now but a little less so 25yrs ago, though a peer bought off us when we left - lib dem variety - so was obviously on the 'up' then.

The houses have wonderful partition shutters between the two main rooms which made the space really flexible and really nice, if small, proportions in all the rooms. Decent size gardens too. Not listed when we were there but looks like most original windows are still in place.

 

[jocelyn plummer]

What a breath of fresh air! The only problem is that there is littlle or no control over homes outside the Conservation Area , it is too late when you suddnley notice that the original sashes have gone and been replaced by placcy as recently happened in our street, almost overnight.

 

[AMc]

Wow! I'm pretty sure that the street this was filmed in was where my children were born (they were actually born in hospital, just to be clear, but you get my drift). London Fields. LOVELY little terraces - very chi-chi now but a little less so 25yrs ago, though a peer bought off us when we left - lib dem variety - so was obviously on the 'up' then.

If it IS London Fields then it's a conservation area and has been for some time. London Fields is now properly posh but in common with most of London there are tracts of social housing that keep the cultural mix interesting. Also a lot of the truly decrepit tower block housing on the other side of Queensbidge Road was refurbished or replaced which made it seem a lot better for the residents and their neighbours.

We used to live nearby and then further up the road in Stoke Newington. If you left 25 years ago then I wouldn't recommend looking at what your old house is worth now let alone in 2007.