Government's proposed energy gradings

[Nemesis]

See what others think about these claims?

 

[Silas]

Hi Nemesis

I wounder if there is a company that will give me the same cash for old to new on my old placcie windows for some proper oak framed windows, after having plastic windows and given a chance to get shot of them, why would anyone want the same again? it defies logic and fly's in the face of all eco and environmental aims and facts.

We are supposed to be commited to saving the planet not choking and bioling the enviroment with yet more self perpetuating rubbish!

They can try and make the plastic look as much like wood as they like, recycled or new they are still plastic and as such will never be environmentally sound.

If you stick an acorn in the ground 1000 years later you have ancient woodland, if you do the same with a bit of plastic 1000 years later you still have a bit of plastic (yellow and brittle plastic).

Such trends do wounders for our individual carbon footprints (NOT), people will be eating apples from Newzeland in October and flying to spain for £29 three times a year next.

When will we wake up and smell the coffee?

 

[thiambal]

Alas, I suspect that all the time people continue to eat apples from New Zealand and fly around the world for half a sixpence, then worrying about the environmental impact of UPVc windows will be small change.

Personally, I am against them because the look b**ody awful :wink:

 

[Johneds]

Makes me laugh. For one window you get a £20 trade in but for 10 your get £200. Wonder how much you get for 15?

Reminds me of a poster I saw a while ago in the window of a car accessory shop which said '50% off exhausts - Some at half price''

 

[Nemesis]

It almost makes me feel guilty for not doing my bit for the environment by rushing out and ordering them!

I wonder how the claims would stand up to scrutiny?

 

[lholman]

So, as Nat King Cole said, 'there may be trouble ahead'. (that was Nat wasn't it?)

I always thought Frank Sinatra did that originally?

Personally, I am against them because the look b**ody awful

Especially the ones that pretend to be sash windows, and the really cheap ones (like are installed in our potential purchase) that only have one small window on the side of each bay that opens and isn't just fixed glass. Ugly, plastic and non-functional, what a great combo, and they wonder why they have condensation problems. tsk..

 

[Penners]

So, as Nat King Cole said, 'there may be trouble ahead'. (that was Nat wasn't it?)

I always thought Frank Sinatra did that originally?

Well, if we're going to be strictly accurate, Irving Berlin actually.

 

[geoff]

I am currently renovating an old sash window, at least 50-60 yrs old (it could be older, I don't know); it has been unpainted for probably 10 years or so and most of it is now bare wood. Both sill and sashes appear to be oak. The sill, although there was some rot around the edges, was remarkably intact (considering the direct exposure to the wet for so long) and has been repaired (some two part filler was necessary to finish off I'm afraid, but it blends in nicely on painted windows).

The sashes themselves are completely intact and have very little wood damage; the joints (pegged) have parted a bit, two panes are cracked and the putty has gone and will need replacing. Total cost of repair is a few pounds and it will look a hundred times better than UVPC.

I find sash windows easy to repair - they are quite basic really and within the realms of competence of most DIYers - the big saving being that the time spent is, of course, free. I had a UVPC installer keen to give me a leaflet when he saw I was repairing and repainting my front windows - what amused me was the look of utter incomprehension on his face when I said I would never, ever, put in UVPC. Many stone cottages round here (mid wales) have put them in and my heart sinks when I see them as they look awful.

I don't believe the 'home inspectors' will be able to cope with older properties - they will be trained on, and only know about, new boxes where tick box forms can be used. Two foot thick walls and small windows are better than most modern properties for insulation properties, but I would bet they will be claimed to be poor in home reports.

Oh well, if they can't find enough home inspecting work, they will probably re-train for 12 months and call themselves 'management consultants' (don't get me started on them.....).

 

[biffvernon]

I am stuck with them until funds permit. However though these windows are an environmental crime to manufacture wont this also be the case if they are ripped out and put in the landfill.

Meanwhile try growing ivy/Russian vine/Virginia creeper etc

The software works on rounded building types

That'll be windmills, limekilns, oast houses, lighthouses and yurts then?

Nemesis - and you complain about a little smiley polluting this forum!

 

[Nemesis]

Know the enemy, Biff...

 

[biffvernon]

I just couldn't bare to look.

 

[Nemesis]

Golly - no, keep 'em on!

Winter draws on etc!


But I would like an opinion on the veracity of the claims made...

 

[NT]

Wood undoubtedly takes more energy... if you count all the sunlight falling on the leaves year after year. And make that slow growing oak. And allow for energy for manual planting of the acorns - why we're not sure but they need to make the figures work.

And of course conveniently discount the even greater energy that fell on those plants that are now fossil fuels.

Reality is the Trade Descriptions Act has cleaned things up a great deal, but theres still plenty of BS around, and people mostly dont care. We live in a society where that kind of thing is expected and seen as normal. Same in electronics, many advertising claims are simply not true, and its become the norm.


NT

 

[Juju]

I'm trying to sell my Victorian house at the moment and most of the windows are the original sashes in perfect condition and draughtproofed, etc. But I'm beginning to wonder if buyers would prefer upvc! I feel as if people come round and admire all the original features (fireplaces, stripped floors, etc) but then go off and buy the hermetically sealed house in the next street with upvc windows, wall to wall carpets, DIY-shed fixtures & fittings, etc etc. I told one buyer there was conservation area consent to replace the ugly upvc window at the front with a timber sash and he said 'why on earth would you want to do that?'. Ah well.

 

[Penners]

I told one buyer there was conservation area consent to replace the ugly upvc window at the front with a timber sash and he said 'why on earth would you want to do that?'. Ah well.

Sadly, the buyer had a point. Once timber windows have been ripped out and replaced with uPVC, it is arguably more environmentally acceptable to leave the uPVC where it is, than to throw it out and replace with a new timber window.

 

[Nemesis]

I know. We are now one of the few remaining houses in our historic little hamlet with the timber sashes, made I know in the village joinery many decades ago.

Genuine history is seen as 'quaint'.

 

[middi]

Just think Nemesis, when you depart from this world to the land of the evergreen prarie, there will be a string of developers lining up to "upgrade" your property and make a quick profit.

 

[Nemesis]

Juat like the last one, lovely sashes lovingly repaired were ripped out and replaced with placcy.

 

[Penners]

I know. We are now one of the few remaining houses in our historic little hamlet with the timber sashes, made I know in the village joinery many decades ago.

Genuine history is seen as 'quaint'.

Our windows are the most important part of our property (according to the CO), the remainder of which is just a simple oak frame East Anglian house of no great note. The 9-pane windows have an unusual moulding on the glazing bars, and a steel 2-pane opening casement with a vertically sliding fastener. As you say - quaint.

I simply do not understand why people seem to be desperate to buy period houses with "original" features, and then to replace all the windows with uPVC.

They seem completely oblivious to the fact that the windows form a massively significant part of the overall character of the building.

 

[Nemesis]

I must get out with the camera. There is a firm around here now removing six over sixes and eight over eights and replacing them with the worst placcy monstrosities I have ever seen.