Choosing between wooden windows and UPVC windows involves considering various factors such as durability, aesthetics, maintenance, and environmental impact. Wooden windows offer a classic, timeless appeal while providing excellent insulation properties. These windows can be easily customised to fit various architectural styles, making them popular for modern and historic homes. In some cases, timber windows are even a requirement for planning regulations for heritage properties or within certain rural or conservation areas. On the downside, some older wooden windows can require maintenance to prevent issues like rot and warping.
UPVC windows, on the other hand, are known for their affordability, durability, and low maintenance requirements. They resist weathering, do not rot, and are generally more energy-efficient. However, they can still degrade, discolour, and warp in their frames. Also, UPVC windows lack the natural charm of wooden ones.
This section explores the essential characteristics, composition, types, and benefits of the materials used in wooden windows and UPVC windows. It highlights the natural aspects of wood and the scientific components of UPVC. Both fulfil a purpose but vary massively in the finish, future versatility, sustainability, and suitability for your home.
Our MaterialsWooden windows are typically crafted from oak and mahogany or softwoods like pine. Each type of wood offers distinct benefits.
Hardwoods: Dense, durable, and resistant to wear, hardwoods provide excellent insulation and a traditional aesthetic. Oak and sappelle are popular choices for long-lasting windows and, when prefinished and pretreated, will outlast UPVC.
Accoya: Accoya is a specially modified state-of-the-art wood designed to outlast all others. It is an acetylated wood that demonstrates exceptional real-world performance and holds a 50-year warranty guarantee.
Softwoods: Lightweight and easier to work with, often treated to enhance durability.They often have increased natural grain and texture, adding a unique aesthetic that can be stained or painted. Proper maintenance involves regular treatments to prevent rot, warping, and insect damage. We don’t usually recommend this type of wood for longevity.
The choice of wood species directly affects durability, maintenance needs, and cost.
Regarding materials and science, UPVC (unplasticised polyvinyl chloride) windows are made from rigid, chemically resistant plastic.
Composition: uPVC involves the polymerisation of vinyl chloride monomers, resulting in a durable, weather-resistant, and low-maintenance material.
Properties: Offers excellent thermal insulation, reducing energy costs. Its lightweight nature makes it easy to install.
Customisation: Available in various colours and finishes, though it cannot achieve the natural look of wood.
UPVC is highly resistant to rot and corrosion and doesn’t require regular treatment or painting.
Manufacturing processes ensure consistency in quality and performance, but the material is synthetic and not environmentally friendly compared to wood.
Wood and UPVC windows offer distinct aesthetic and design advantages, making them suitable for different architectural preferences and styles. Let’s explore this further below.
Wooden windows are known for their classic and timeless design. They can be crafted in any style or finish to match traditional or contemporary homes. Wood’s natural grains and textures add warmth and a unique character to any building. Tailoring with stains, paints, and treatments provides bespoke customisation options.
Homeowners appreciate the unique ageing process of wooden windows, which can enhance their beauty over time. Wood also allows for intricate detailing, which is essential in restoring historic buildings or creating a luxurious aesthetic. Wood windows can last over 50 years with proper preparation and pretreatments, but with older styles, maintenance is required to preserve their appearance and durability.
UPVC windows offer a modern and sleek look in various designs and colours. They are available in different styles and finishes, including wood-look laminates, which provide the appearance of wood without the associated upkeep. This versatility makes them suitable for modern architectural styles and renovations.
UPVC windows’ clean lines and consistency in colour contribute to a uniform, polished appearance. They require minimal maintenance and resist weathering, retaining their look over time. Although they may lack wood’s rich texture and character, their practical benefits and adaptability to various home designs make them a popular choice.
Wooden and UPVC windows differ significantly in terms of durability and maintenance requirements. Both materials have unique characteristics that affect their lifespan and upkeep needs. Variations of UPVC can last 10-30 years, whereas certain woods last beyond half a century. More on this below.
Wooden windows, when constructed from high-quality timber and properly maintained, can last beyond five decades. For instance, Accoya wood is guaranteed to last 50 years. When pretreated and prepainted with the highest-quality finishes, they become resistant to weathering and protected from the elements. Proper sealing and protection from excessive moisture are critical to prevent rot and extend their lifespan.
Wooden windows are appealing because of their natural beauty and classic look. Plus, you can re-paint and restyle them to match your changing home. With the proper care, they continue to enhance a property’s aesthetics for over half a decade.
UPVC windows generally last around 20 years. They require less maintenance than wooden ones and are resistant to rot and corrosion, making them a budget, lower cost option.
Cleaning UPVC windows is simple and usually requires only soap and water. They are almost impossible to repaint, so you will unlikely be able to change their look. However, you can retain their appearance for their lifespan. Though they may discolour or become brittle over time due to exposure to extreme weather, their broad lifespan ranges between 10 and 30 years.
Wooden windows and UPVC windows offer different benefits in terms of thermal performance. UPVC uses air chambers for insulation, while wood provides natural, sustainable insulation. This section will delve into the insulation qualities of each material and how they impact energy efficiency.
Wood WindowsDue to its cellular structure, wood has natural insulating properties. These properties make wooden windows effective at limiting heat transfer, helping to keep homes warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.
Wood also has low thermal conductivity, contributing to its insulator efficiency. Homeowners often notice lower energy bills when using high-quality wooden windows. When properly treated and combined with energy-efficient glazing, wooden frames can also resist temperature fluctuations, making them a durable choice for various climates.
UPVC windows are known for their thermal efficiency due to their multi-chambered frames. These chambers trap air, providing excellent insulation properties.
The material is also a poor conductor of heat, helping maintain a consistent indoor temperature. Many UPVC windows come with double or triple-glazing options, further enhancing their thermal performance. Unlike wood, uPVC requires minimal maintenance and does not rot, maintaining its insulating properties over time. However, being plastic-made, it does not breathe either, so you require vents and are more likely to get steamy windows. UPVC windows are a popular choice for budget-focused, energy-conscious homeowners.
When considering environmental impact, wooden and UPVC windows have individual implications, affecting eco-friendliness and sustainability differently. A natural choice is always the best for our planet. But read on, and let’s examine this further.
Wood is a renewable resource and can be sustainably sourced. Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification ensures that the wood used comes from responsibly managed forests.
Timber windows often have lower embodied energy than UPVC, meaning less energy is consumed during production. Furthermore, wood has a natural aesthetic and offers excellent insulation properties, which can reduce energy consumption in homes. Wooden windows are biodegradable and can be recycled or repurposed at the end of their lifecycle.
Though the initial cost may be higher, the long-term environmental benefits support their use from an eco-conscious standpoint.
UPVC, or unplasticised polyvinyl chloride, is derived from non-renewable fossil fuels like oil and natural gas. Its energy-intensive production process produces higher embodied energy than wood-poor carbon footprint and low sustainability.
While UPVC windows offer durability and low maintenance, their environmental impact during production and disposal is a concern. They are not biodegradable and can release harmful chemicals if not correctly managed. Although recycling UPVC is possible, the infrastructure for doing so is not widespread, limiting its effectiveness.
Both wooden and UPVC windows have unique cost implications. Timber can have higher initial expenses, though our experience shows that the long-term savings are better. However, if an immediate low-cost or off-the-shelf solution is needed, UPVC meets more interim needs.
Now, let’s cover the reasons why.
Wooden windows often have higher upfront costs, primarily due to the material and craftsmanship involved. High-quality wood like oak or teak can be significantly more expensive than other materials. In addition to the initial purchase price, installation can also be costly. Skilled labour is typically required, which can increase the final bill. However, their lifespan is 50 years or more, which is double that of UPVC – making wooden windows a better, longer-term investment.
UPVC windows are generally more affordable in the short term, with lower initial costs but shorter lifespans averaging 10-20 years. The material is cheaper to produce, which translates to a lower purchase price for consumers. Additionally, installation costs are often lower due to the simpler process. The material offers good insulation properties, which can help save on heating and cooling expenses. However, you would need two or even three UPVC windows to cover the same lifespan as an Accoya wooden window.
Now, you can compare the benefits of wood and UPVC windows. Both have pros and cons. Where UPVC may cost less in the short term, timber will outlast and provide better long-term value. We believe that the longer-term investment that wooden windows deliver leads the way in style, flexibility, longevity, and overall affordability. Plus, you can repaint timber windows throughout the decades to recolour and restyle your home—the ultimate for home design versatility and flexibility.
If you want to discuss your windows, we have completed many uPVC to timber replacements across Yorkshire. From new-build homes to heritage estates, we have the expertise in design, planning, and manufacture to help you choose the right windows for your property.
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