casino/sunray avenue double glazing - council insisting on wood

[sarahsouthlondon]

Hi

Is anyone else living in a privately-owned house on casino/sunray/red post hill incredibly frustrated by southwark's insistence that any new windows installed must be in wood? We moved in here a year ago, the house is freezing and gets terrible condensation because of the ancient windows. We want to get them all double glazed and are perfectly happy with uPVC but council have sent out a new edict that any new windows must be wooden.

This seems totally unreasonable for several reasons. 1) initial costs much higher - 1/3 higher? more? 2) upkeep costs of wood much higher - non existent with PVC 3) so many houses on the sunray estate ALREADY have uPVC windows so what on earth is the point in banning further ones. I know it's a conservation area but they look fine.

Anyone know why southwark have a thing about this? Any way to challenge it? And ideas at all? Thanks!

[Townleygreen]

Well I can tell you we replaced our plastic windows with wooden sash double glazed and they are far better.

Look nicer too!

So if I were you I wouldn't worry.

[bodsier]

Afraid since last year, no more pvc windows are permitable? The permitable double glazed windows are wooden windows that have a plastic p/vinyl coating covering which saves in maintenance costs. Not sure how they would know the difference?

[Uncomplex]

I recently tried to get permission retrospectively on windows my parents put in 6 years ago but was refused on a number of counts and now have to put new windows in order to get a decent selling price and to sell the property quickly. Looking for a company to fit new windows that has worked on the estate and knows what the council want. I could sell to a property developer but they will push the price down or a family without a mortgage but they are few and far between,

[Lowlander]

I wouldn't bet on no-maintenance UPVC - having spent close to ?1000 fixing and cleaning the windows in a place I bought some years ago (hinges/handles/misted units/cracked rendering on the outside).

Within the industry the expected life-span is 30 years.

Wood will last for 100+years. Yes, capital expenditure is more expensive but the maintenance costs are probably outweighed by the longevity.

Even with UPVC the payback in terms of energy saving is about 7 years.

[Loigal]

I'm sure the council will allow you to double glaze the existing windows - you'll just need to change the glass to conservation double glazed glass ie thinner and get council permission. Also how about refurbishing the existing window frames? It's amazing what good joiners can do to old windows and how much warmer it can make it. It's also substantially cheaper than new windows. I've been there and done that ... happy to recommend a wood window joiner / refurbisher

[malumbu]

PVC doesn't have an infinite shelf life, can deteriorate, can be fitted poorly.

Wood ditto, but if you go the the right place it will last a long time, with limited maintenance. We had a hard wood window made by Oak Joinery in Lee. Installed it myself and painted it once eight years ago. It's brilliantly engineered and has seals in-built so close nice and tight.

My other replacement windows by were some geezers in Kent, they rot, and shed paint.

Do PM me if you want the recommendation. It will cost (the windows not me), but seriously it will enhance the house, and only need repainting every ten years or longer. Wood is pretty insulating too - you can get thin unit double glazing that makes it look original or the standard stuff if you are not in a conservation area. And it wont look naff. So people like me will pay more for your home.

Admired the estate for years.