Anyone replacing windows, or fitting out a new build, ends up choosing between two materials. Which of them suits a property depends on what matters most for that particular job, whether that is appearance, how long the windows will last, energy performance or the budget available.
We manufacture timber windows every day at our factory in West Yorkshire, so the comparison below is written from that experience, and it covers the points customers raise with us most often.
Appearance
Timber has a natural warmth and depth to it that uPVC has never quite replicated. Most of that comes down to the grain, the texture and the way a wooden frame sits within the opening. On period and character homes especially, synthetic materials tend to read as synthetic.
uPVC has improved a good deal over the years. Profiles are slimmer than they were and woodgrain foil wraps are widely available, though a wrapped plastic frame is still easy to pick out at close range.
On stone and brick properties in particular, wood suits the building, which is one of the reasons it is still specified so often on renovation work across West Yorkshire.
For listed buildings and in conservation areas, planning officers require timber as a condition of approval, and uPVC is regularly refused in these settings. We can manufacture windows that sensitively replicate the original, though approval itself always rests with the local planning or conservation officer.
Durability and Lifespan
The reputation wood carries for being high-maintenance comes from older windows made from untreated softwood and then left without maintenance. Those could be prone to rot, warping and swelling. A modern timber window is a different product.
We use Accoya timber as standard. It is a modified wood, engineered to resist rot, warping and insect attack. Combined with factory-applied coatings and traditional joinery techniques, it is what allows us to offer a 50-year guarantee on every window we manufacture.
A good quality uPVC window will last 20 to 25 years before the frames begin to discolour, the seals degrade and the mechanisms wear out. At that stage the whole frame has to come out, because a uPVC frame cannot be brought back once it has gone. A wooden window can be sanded and recoated, and one that has been looked after will serve a building for generations.
Energy Efficiency
Both materials perform well here, and the gap between them is narrower than it is often made out to be. The glazing unit does most of the insulating work in any window, whatever the frame is made from.
Wood is a naturally insulating material in its own right. It does not conduct heat the way metal does. Our windows are double glazed as standard.
The difference between the two materials shows up over time. uPVC frames can warp as the plastic expands and contracts with changes in temperature, and that compromises the seal. Wood is more dimensionally stable, and Accoya in particular shows 75% less swelling and shrinkage than conventional timber.
Sustainability
Timber is a natural, renewable material, and the Accoya we use is FSC and PEFC certified, sourced from responsibly managed forests. It is also carbon negative over its lifecycle, because the carbon stored in the wood outweighs the carbon produced during manufacturing.
uPVC is a petroleum-based plastic and manufacturing it is energy-intensive. Some recycling programmes exist, though most old uPVC windows end up in landfill, and they are not biodegradable.
The Accoya timber we manufacture from is 100% recyclable at the end of its life, and a timber window lasts a good deal longer than a uPVC one in the first place, so that difference adds up over the life of a building.
Maintenance
uPVC has the advantage here, and it is a fair point to raise, because uPVC frames need very little beyond an occasional wipe down.
Wooden windows do need periodic maintenance. With modern factory-applied finishes we recommend an inspection and a light maintenance coat at least every 5 years in extreme weather locations and on average after 8 years, with south-facing and exposed windows wanting attention sooner.
The trade-off comes when something goes wrong. A wooden window can be sanded back and recoated rather than replaced. A scratch, a dent or discolouration in uPVC is permanent, and once a uPVC window fails the only option is a full replacement.
Cost
Timber windows cost more upfront than uPVC. Bespoke, made-to-measure windows are a premium product, and the price reflects the materials and the craftsmanship that go into them.
Across the life of a building the arithmetic looks different. A set of uPVC windows might last 20 years, while a set of timber windows, properly maintained, could last 50 years or more. Over that period the wooden set works out cheaper, because the windows are replaced far less often.
There is also the question of property value. Wooden windows are widely seen as a premium feature, particularly on period and character properties, and they add value accordingly.
Which Should You Choose?
uPVC is a reasonable choice on a modern property where the budget is tight, appearance is less of a priority and you want as little maintenance as possible.
Timber is the better choice if you value craftsmanship, want windows that will last decades, care about environmental impact, or own a period, listed or character property where appearance and planning rules apply.
We manufacture bespoke timber windows at our factory in West Yorkshire, including sliding sash windows, flush casement windows and stormproof windows, all made to measure and all covered by our 50-year guarantee. We supply nationwide and install across West Yorkshire and the surrounding areas.
To talk through your project or get a quote, call us on 01274 911 316 or use our contact form.
