All You Need To Know New Windows

Whether you’re looking to replace or update, the right windows can enhance the light, character and value of your home

- Tara King

Often, it is the windows that help you determine the age of a house. For example, timber sashes were hugely popular from the Georgian to Victorian eras, while casement windows were in favour throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. With this in mind, installing the incorrect style of window in your property has the potential to reduce its value. Where restoration just isn’t possible, new designs can give you the best of both worlds: sympathetic styling alongside all the performance and longevity benefits of 21st-century technology. However, with so many options available, it’s important that you choose wisely.

IS IT BETTER TO STICK TO THE SAME STYLE WINDOWS FOR A PERIOD PROPERTY?

Not necessarily. You might want to consider treating the front and back of your period property in different ways. Helen Belton, co-founder of design practice Raum, advises: ‘Generally, the public face of a house is viewed as part of a street scene and the proportions and style of window – rather than the material (pending any specifics around conservation area/listed building consent) – should be retained as they were originally intended, while rear elevations can be more playful and use less conventional materials.’

SHOULD I KEEP THE ORIGINAL SASH WINDOWS?