WINNING WINDOWS

If there’s one thing nobody likes its wind in their willows.  Old houses have notoriously draughty windows, ours is no exception and inefficient draught-proofing only leads to higher bills.  And if there’s another thing that nobody likes it’s having a heating bill the size of a small planet.  Mercury is tolerable but if you’ve got a Jupiter sized bill then you’re in trouble. 

Like a snazzy looking front door, windows add kerb appeal to your property and with an unlimited budget you can have everything from fancy stain glass to gothic arches.  In our project, fashion and function have reached an amicable compromise replacing old plain, draughty windows with a slightly more decorative Georgian bar look.

New bedroom window

 

In keeping with the style of the original wooden front bay window, the new UPVC windows have astragal bars fitted to the outside of the glass rather than sandwiched between the panes of glass as is normally the case with Georgian bar windows.  Exterior astragal bars may be dirt gatherers but I feel these enhance the look of a window by giving it more of an authentic period feel rather than just having a plain sheet of glass.  They look classy too. 

When choosing this type of window, it’s worth paying that little bit extra to ensure that the panels have equal sightlines.  Bah another gimmick!  No, it’s not and worth every extra penny to ensure your windows have a harmonious and symmetrical appearance from the outside especially if part of the window has a section that opens such as a top fanlight.

Windows without equal sightlines may look oddly uneven, not that most people probably give this a second thought but when you’re as picky as I am, symmetry is important.  A tad annoyed that the crossing bars in the middle of the main bedroom window were not centrally aligned.  Should have gone to Specsavers – the glazers, not me!

 

Crosses in the centre panels not aligned in the middle

With the added insulated plasterboard lining the cupboards and new properly sealed windows, upstairs is already starting to feel a little less like a fridge and a little more like a cosy nest.

New window in guest bedroom

New window in upstairs hallway