When it comes to picking the right type of windows for your home there are lots of things to take into consideration. The first thing people usually think about is the aesthetic, but energy efficiency ratings, insulation and soundproofing are all features that can make or break a deal, and this often leaves people scratching their heads as to which way they should turn.
The first thing to consider is the age of your property. For many, it’s not simply a case of getting new sash windows fitted, sometimes it’s a case of repairing or maintaining existing structures to preserve the look and feel of the property. This is the case for many homeowners around Yorkshire who have character rich period homes and are interested in preserving some of that heritage. If preservation is top of your list, or you’ve got a new home that you’d like to give a traditional feel to, then wooden sash windows are for you. The one thing that still holds many people back, particularly those in new builds or old homes with poor insulation, is how energy efficient they can be.
uPVC sash windows have got a reputation for being energy efficient, but they’re often considered unsightly by many. Still, they’re synonymous with double glazing, draught proofing, sound proofing and being water tight – all things that are understandably desirable for many homes. What many home owners don’t realise, is that you can have energy efficient wood sash windows with all the benefits of modern uPVC ones. They can be double glazed and completely sealed, and if you get the right people in for the job and they’re fitted in an expert fashion, they’ll still slide open nice and easily during the summer months while remaining completely sealed and virtually sound proof in the winter.
If you’re struggling to decide whether to get wooden sash windows or uPVC sash windows, the best thing to do is think about the type of property that you live in and what would work best for what you’re trying to achieve. If you live in a traditional area with lots of old properties, there’s every chance that repairing your current wood sash windows or getting new ones installed could actually add to the value of your property, while uPVC might lower it. In other situations, such as cities or large urban sprawls, the opposite might be true.