Many people prefer wooden window frames to frames made from aluminium or uPVC because wood is a natural material and timber window frames have a beauty that is hard to replicate or match.
However it is becoming increasingly difficult for homeowners to justify purchasing wooden windows because they are consistently more expensive than similar quality uPVC windows. Windows made from uPVC are also maintenance free with regard to the frame and are known to be quite secure, given that the window locks are usually set into the frames.
| SLIDE-CO PL 14042 White Frame 3/4"x7/16"x94" |
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Strangely enough it is more expensive to get timber, which is natural product, to the factory than it is to produce uPVC, which is not natural. There is more labor involved in the growing, harvesting and transport of timber and this makes the finished product more expensive in many cases.
Environmentally aware homeowners sometimes avoid the purchase of wooden products because they feel that they are stripping the earth of a natural resource, whereas the opposite is the truth. If the timber is purchased from a manufacturer who sources it from managed forests, then other trees are planted to replace the harvested crop and this improved the amount and quality of the trees that are planted.
Timber windows may also be the preference of a planner or conservation officer if a property has architectural merit that might be damaged if uPVC windows are installed. Many homeowners might prefer to install pVC windows but there are many areas where uPVC windows are frowned upon by the authorities.
In these situations it is possible to install secondary glazing instead of replacing the existing timber windows that may be under-performing and other options could include the hanging of heavy drapes inside the windows in order to help improve the insulation of the room.
Wooden window frames have come back into fashion more than they were a decade ago, but as in many cases it is the market price that will decide which windows homeowners will install and at the moment uPVC windows appear to be better value.