The wooden windows in pre-war buildings were made from slow-grown timber that is denser and more rot-resistant than most of what is sold today. Before you replace them, it is worth knowing what you have.
When restoration wins
If the frame is sound — probe the corners and sill with a screwdriver; healthy wood resists — restoration is usually the better investment. A restored frame with new seals and modern glazing performs close to a new window and keeps the building’s character.
What restoration involves
We strip failed paint, cut out and splice any soft sections with matching timber, re-glue loose joints, replace the glazing beads, and fit brush seals into the casement. The result is airtight, smooth-running and ready for another few decades.
When replacement is honest advice
Rot in more than a third of the frame, twisted casements that no longer close square, or single glazing you want to upgrade beyond what the rebate can hold — at that point replacement is the sounder choice, and we say so in the quote.
The hybrid option
In many renovations we restore the street-facing windows (often protected, always characterful) and replace the courtyard-facing ones where performance matters more than looks.
Every window gets its own line in our quote, marked restore or replace, so you decide with the full picture.