- What are the most popular door styles?
- What is multi-layer timber?
- Are timber windows expensive?
- How do our prices and service compare to the 'local joiner'?
- What is the guarantee?
- Will replacement timber windows and doors add value to my home?
- Can I buy unpainted windows and doors?
- How often will my windows need to be re-decorated?
- Are timber windows good for the environment?
- What is the normal delivery period?
- Where can I view the product range?
frequently asked questions
What are the most popular door styles?
Choosing a design for your front door is a difficult decision! Here are some popular choices:
What is multi-layer timber?
The use of multi-layer timber is long established in Britain for long span timber structures in demanding environments such as swimming pools and bridges. In common use on the continent, but very rare in Britain, is the use for window and door sections. This multi-layer structure is particularly effective in resisting warping and twisting as the opposing grains even out natural moisture movement. And It is the twisting of timber during wet weather, more than the swelling itself, which causes windows and doors to stick. Multi-layer timber sections are used as standard throughout our range.
Are timber windows expensive?
Timber windows and doors may cost up to three times the price of PVCu frames. As a very rough rule of thumb replacing all windows and doors in a property often works out to cost the equivalent of 5% of the property's retail value. This is an interesting statistic when you consider that more than 25% of a building's external fabric is windows! Furthermore one needs to bear in mind that timber replacements windows and doors that combine character and performance will almost certainly add value to your home; It is likely that the value of your property will increase over and above the cost of having your timber windows and doors installed, making timber an excellent investment.
How do our prices and service compare to the 'local joiner'?
Your local joiner (if he is worth his salt) will be able to make you a reasonable quality timber window although, that said, there are a huge number of technical innovations designed into our range that your joiner will be simply unable to replicate. More fundamentally, many joinery companies will not factory finish (i.e paint) the frames for you, neither will they glaze them.
Our range of timber windows and doors, sealed double glazed units, hardware and workmanship are covered by comprehensive guarantees.
What is the guarantee?
Many traditional timber windows in Britain have lasted for centuries and are still in good working order. We are confident that with minimal maintenance our timber windows and doors will provide a lifetime of high performance. We are proud to endorse this claim with our industry leading guarantees as follows:
30 Years - Rot & Fungal infection
10 Years - Double glazed units
10 Years - Hardware
8 Years - Paint finishes
5 Years - Stain finishes
Will replacement timber windows and doors add value to my home?
Timber window and door replacements that combine character and performance will almost certainly add value to your home. Whereas PVCu windows, inappropriately specified, can detract from the value of a property. Naomi Cleaver of the Daily Telegraph writes:
"While uPVC windows might be cheaper upfront... if you live in anything other than a new building in a contemporary design those uPVC windows can cost you dear. Taste might be subjective, but it still has a price... a quick call around to agents up and down the country - from Peter Shaw in the Fulham office of Kinleigh Folkard & Hayward to Mark Rimell of Strutt & Parker, nationwide specialists in country properties - indicated this overwhelming view: the majority of buyers find uPVC windows a turn-off and typically when making an offer on a property with uPVC windows will reduce it by the several thousand pounds it will cost to replace all those "ghastly windows" with "nice timber ones".
Can I buy unpainted windows and doors?
No! For the simple reason that this is highly likely to cause performance problems with the products. As soon as untreated timber is exposed to the elements it spells trouble – water will penetrate the frames, leading to problems of swelling and warping and early decay. We therefore insist that all painting is carried out in a controlled environment on our production lines before the products leave the factory. Every item receives a base coat of timber preservative, followed by two coats of micro-porous paint. Factory finishing also greatly improves the quality of these processes and, of course, makes for a much quicker and less disruptive installation in your home.
How often will my windows need to be re-decorated?
Broadly speaking one should expect our coatings to last for 5 to 8 years without the need for re-decoration. The precise cycle will depend on a number of environmental factors such as the geographic location of your property and the particuar aspect and amount of exposure to the elements the window receives. Re-decoration itself is a very simple task and on average a window should take 30 minutes to re-decorate!
Are timber windows good for the environment?
According to Greenpeace "As long as timber is sourced from properly managed forests...timber windows are by far the best environmental choice" (Greenpeace Briefing: Installing New Windows 1997).
We take our environmental responsibilities very seriously. Please visit our sustainability page for details.
What is the normal delivery period?
Our normal delivery is 6 weeks from sign-off and final approval of your order.