Timber Windows

WHY TIMBER WINDOWS?

Leading supplier of windows, doors and stairs, JELD-WEN, has seen a significant increase in demand for timber windows and glazing over the last year. Consumers are spending more time researching the options available for decorating, renovating and building and, as a result, have been recognising the huge importance of choosing products that stand the test of time, are crafted sustainably, and will enable future energy savings.

On top of this, lockdown has placed a spotlight on the impact our environment can have on mental health and wellbeing, and as a result, consumers have been looking for smarter glazing options in order to fill their home with more natural light and enjoy the mood-boosting effect. Homeowners and renovators are often spoilt for choice when it comes to designing the exterior of their property and building the ultimate kerb appeal, but understanding how different windows will perform and impact the interior of a home is paramount to ensuring they offer the maximum efficiency, security and aesthetics. Visually, timber frames offer a unique character and charm in comparison to uPVC alternatives, which is particularly important for period or design-led properties. Wooden windows carry a natural warmth and style, and JELD-WEN’s vast timber offering caters to a range of style preferences, with frames that can be easily customised and freshened with new colours over time.

The superiority of timber fittings can also influence the desirability of a building, so thinking long-term and making the up-front investment in high-quality and distinctively stylish windows, could make a significant difference to the asking price when homeowners eventually come to sell.

LIVING SUSTAINABLY

With homes ranked as the third largest producer of carbon emissions in the UK, it has never been more important to ensure the fundamentals of a property will meet future efficiency requirements. Research by Savills found that 47% of houses built prior to 1900 have a failing EPC rating, and with the government committing to a 100% reduction in net carbon emissions by 2025, there is a lot of work to be done in order to reduce any future costs or hurdles when making product replacements, or even coming to sell a property. As this becomes a more urgent issue on the global agenda, there is also plenty of evidence to suggest that plastic windows are significantly worse for the environment than their wooden counterparts. Research by the Wood Window Alliance has suggested that, for those looking to make the minimum impact on the environment while improving the performance of a home, you should choose wood windows. Taking around eight times less energy to produce than uPVC windows, timber frames have a much lower carbon footprint, are recyclable, renewable and a natural insulator, taking cash off the annual heating bill and waste out of landfill. JELD-WEN windows are available in a range of styles and colours, which compliment the natural beauty of the wood, and come with marketleading guarantees of up to 40-years, so that homeowners can have the confidence that their windows are built to last.

In terms of sustainable impact, JELDWEN’s timber windows also come with either double- or triple- glazing. Although the extra pane means it comes at a greater cost than double-glazed glass, homeowners can enjoy vast benefits in comparison. Designed to provide greater heat retention, triple glazing can, in the long term, actually be a smart one-time investment, by minimising the annual cost of energy for years to come. With improved sound insulation, triple glazing also creates a more effective noise barrier for homes that are closely located to a busy road or public transport – perfect for those in more suburban settings or directly exposed to extreme climates.

JELD-WEN’s Stormsure Energy+ casement timber window is the highest energy rated design in its range, offering premium energy performance and unrivalled sound insulation. Crafted from FSC-certified softwood timber and premium glass, StormSure Energy+ carries a U-Value of 0.8W, energy rating of A+ and STC rating of 40 (double-glazing is typically 29 – 37). The timber frame comes with a 40-year anti-rot and fungal guarantee, while the tripleglazing is covered for 10 years. However, that’s not to say that high-quality double-glazing isn’t entirely sufficient, especially if the window has an energy rating of A or B. With lead times from four weeks, all JELD-WEN windows are available in a variety of styles and obscurity, with ‘low emissivity’ coated units helping to further reduce internal condensation, whilst retaining more heat within the home.

THE BENEFITS OF MORE LIGHT IN THE HOME

The right glass and glazing can help maximise transmission of natural light and heat from the sun around the home, with optimum insulating qualities to keep rooms warm and bright throughout the day. The last 18 months have demonstrated how important it is to spend time outside, with people’s mental and physical health reaping the benefits from exposure to vitamin D, so the incorporation of more glazing in the home is expected to be a key feature in the future of home design as they allow natural light to flow through rooms. While it’s important to choose the right windows to let the light into the home initially, it’s also worth replacing solid internal or external doors with glazed doors or panels, to allow a greater flow of natural illumination through the home. JELD-WEN has a range of interior and exterior glazed doors, which offer maximum daylight penetration whilst creating the feeling of a larger, more open plan space. Sometimes, even painting existing door and timber window frames in a bright, light-reflecting colour can have a lightening and spacious effect on a room, whilst glazing panels in exterior doors can transform what was once a dark hallway into a light, airy and welcoming space. Using frosted, textured or patterned glass can ensure the balance between allowing scattered light in and retaining privacy where needed.

For more information, visit www.jeld-wen.co.uk.