Monday 6 September 2010

Back to work

Work started again this week on the gate lodge, with new windows being the first on an ever lengthening to do list. The new windows whilst faithfully copying the originals( badly rotted) are double glazed which should help reduce both heat loss and the amount of noise from passing traffic. I can never quite figure out why people buy plastic windows when with a bit of effort wooden windows can be procured and with a little attention will outlast the supposedly long life plastic alternatives. The original windows here had survived 150 years and if they had been not so neglected would probably have been good for at least another 50. If upvc windows are so great why do builders merchants sell upvc paint and frame restorer?...maintenance free? I think not.

11 comments:

Sen. C.R.O'Blene said...

I'm with you 100% Thudders.

I just cannot abide PVC windows at all, I just think of a blowlamp and the few seconds it'd take to get through one, and that's before I even consider how bloody ugly their sections are as well.

I used to work in the commercial metal window industry years ago, (not Crittalls but their biggest competitor), and we did the big W20 sections as well as the first 'Stylus' aluminium casements. Even sliders were frowned on, but plastic windows were just about unheard of in the seventies, and no small wonder either!

The first domestic ali sections were pretty dire as well, and it seems that they just had to be chucked into the original window openings, flush with the brickwork, just to make them even more ugly than they already were...

I still remember seeing a double sash timber window being re-made in a joinery worshop, and marvelled at the skill in operation, as well as the practicality, as you pointed out! They could last for years - as long as they didn't rattle too much that is...

Thud said...

Scrobs...I'm glad you saw the light (sorry!) We had a young lad here a few months ago refurbing sashes in oldest part of house, after a couple of days he had them good to go for another generation or two.

Affer said...

Where do you stand on plastic doors then? I feel I have committed a serious faux pas by ordering an expensive composite door, carefully designed to look like a wooden one......

Thud said...

Affer...each to his own but I'd have to ask why? How will a composite door outperform a solid wood door? I do use modern materials when a genuine benefit is gained but in the matter of doors the solidity and relative permanence of a wood door wins hands down.

Affer said...

I knew I should have asked you first!

haddock said...

I'm sure your readership will vote for keeping the rustic post box just as it is......
or perhaps it's a new one you have just put up ?

Thud said...

Haddock...it will be on ebay any day now,

redjade said...

I cried when we had our hall box sashes replaced, unfortunately our budget didn't run to refurbishment and the previous owners had already fitted some dg so we matched up...boohoo sniff, however I am holding on to my large front window (15st high ) with a lot of wood filler, putty and hope>
p.s what do you think of mock georgian bar double glazing Thud. ( that will set him off!)

James Higham said...

Those placky windows definitely do deteriorate - wood can be treated and painted.

Thud said...

Rj, the less said about the fake Georgian the better.

Electro-Kevin said...

I know of so many people who've gone the other way and put in hardwood windows because "...they last longer."

True enough. But why not let the plastic ones deteriorate first ?