Wood Double glazing - London flat
Discussion
Does anyone have any experience of replacing Wood DG windows in the London area, particularly Hamstead Garden suburb? The flat has been fitted with decent UPVC windows but they need to be ripped out and replaced with wood otherwise the I can't complete the sale. I need 7 windows in total
Hampstead GS are incredibly picky, they have a list of approved suppliers but they are either retired, dead or can't be bothered to quote, also been told very expensive. Any new supplier needs to supply a sample windows so they can check it, there guide is below: It's a ball ache but if someone was willing to go through the pain, I'm sure plenty of others would consider them.
https://www.hgstrust.org/documents/timberwindows.p...
Sizes:
1 - 1620x 1400 mm
2 - 1110x 1420
3 - 585 x 1410
4 -1110 x 1420
5 - 580 x 1040
6 -1110 x 1040
7- 580 x 1040
Hampstead GS are incredibly picky, they have a list of approved suppliers but they are either retired, dead or can't be bothered to quote, also been told very expensive. Any new supplier needs to supply a sample windows so they can check it, there guide is below: It's a ball ache but if someone was willing to go through the pain, I'm sure plenty of others would consider them.
https://www.hgstrust.org/documents/timberwindows.p...
Sizes:
1 - 1620x 1400 mm
2 - 1110x 1420
3 - 585 x 1410
4 -1110 x 1420
5 - 580 x 1040
6 -1110 x 1040
7- 580 x 1040
We were very happy with our DG sash windows from Whyte and Wood in our old house in the conservation area in St Albans
https://www.whyteandwood.com/
https://www.whyteandwood.com/
Thanks for the replies, they are casement windows, the one quote I got was over £30k for 7 relatively standard size windows, it's just way too much, then the added expense of maintenance for wood windows, the UPVC look identical but HGS insist they need to come out and put worse ones in.
Used to be common, it can certainly be done.
Sadly these days its hard to get good wood, let alone good wooden windows, let along good wooden windows which are well painted on installation.
People just want to throw it together, making half of it out of beading strips covering failed mastic joints, then blow a bit of pastel green satin gloss over it.
Interested in what people recommend, but its even more of a while west than upvc salemen, and they made a ten part sitcom out of that!
Sadly these days its hard to get good wood, let alone good wooden windows, let along good wooden windows which are well painted on installation.
People just want to throw it together, making half of it out of beading strips covering failed mastic joints, then blow a bit of pastel green satin gloss over it.
Interested in what people recommend, but its even more of a while west than upvc salemen, and they made a ten part sitcom out of that!
I’ve heard of the lime Nazis before but not the window Nazis! Maybe some other types of estates could set up trusts, maybe dictating what type of sofa can be left dumped in the garden, or the minimum number of England flags to have on display. Sorry for the drift OP.Don't be put off by the location as they have a very efficient delivery service countrywide:
https://www.allanbrothers.co.uk/
I've been using this firm since I started my career back in 1982 (chartered building surveyor dealing with historic property amongst other things) and they produce excellent work at a fair price and enjoy a very good reputation. They will quote you on a supply basis if you supply photos and approx dims of what you want. Fitting should not be too expensive if done from the inside (I fitted my own at the last house)
Worth looking at factory finished Acoya timber, quite a bit more expensive but is said to stay rot free for min. 60 years.
https://www.allanbrothers.co.uk/
I've been using this firm since I started my career back in 1982 (chartered building surveyor dealing with historic property amongst other things) and they produce excellent work at a fair price and enjoy a very good reputation. They will quote you on a supply basis if you supply photos and approx dims of what you want. Fitting should not be too expensive if done from the inside (I fitted my own at the last house)
Worth looking at factory finished Acoya timber, quite a bit more expensive but is said to stay rot free for min. 60 years.
My neighbours have had good experiences with Ayrton Windows in Crouch End - https://ayrtonbespoke.com/. Possibly quite expensive though.
I've also seen recommendations on a local whatsapp group for North London Box Sash - https://www.northlondonboxsash.com/ - and London Traditional Windows - https://www.londontraditionalwindows.net/
I've also seen recommendations on a local whatsapp group for North London Box Sash - https://www.northlondonboxsash.com/ - and London Traditional Windows - https://www.londontraditionalwindows.net/
Edited by LeoR on Tuesday 24th June 16:41
Thanks for all the replies, it's crazy the prices for these, just looked again at the quote and it's £30k plus £1800 extra just for ironmongery! Our family had a hardware store and the mark up on ironmongery was decent but not £1800 for 7 windows decent!!! I’d be surprised if it costs £100 trade.
HGS seem to make it really difficult for anyone new to become a preferred supplier, they don't say no but the supplier has to provide a sample to the spec and then have an inspection afterwards. they insist on things like old butt hinges etc.
https://www.hgstrust.org/documents/timberwindows.p...
I'm trying to find a supplier who might go through this pain and supply a sample, could get some decent work if they get on their list. I'm not paying £32k for 7 windows, I'll walk away from the deal!
I will call all the companies suggested, thanks for the info
HGS seem to make it really difficult for anyone new to become a preferred supplier, they don't say no but the supplier has to provide a sample to the spec and then have an inspection afterwards. they insist on things like old butt hinges etc.
https://www.hgstrust.org/documents/timberwindows.p...
I'm trying to find a supplier who might go through this pain and supply a sample, could get some decent work if they get on their list. I'm not paying £32k for 7 windows, I'll walk away from the deal!
I will call all the companies suggested, thanks for the info
Aluminati said:
Mumford and Wood will also supply casement wIndows. They supplied us with a Casement and some Box Sashes last year. We had a pretty big casement supplied last year. I’d be amazed if they’re not on the list. Casa1862 said:
HGS seem to make it really difficult for anyone new to become a preferred supplier, they don't say no but the supplier has to provide a sample to the spec and then have an inspection afterwards. they insist on things like old butt hinges etc.
https://www.hgstrust.org/documents/timberwindows.p...
Nothing wrong with butt hinges! Infact for wood I wouldn't want anything else, anything they should be cheaper than the friction type, allow the window to open properly in the event of a fire etc, and won't trap water etc. https://www.hgstrust.org/documents/timberwindows.p...
Its sad state of affairs when window firms are that untrustworthy they have to ask for samples, but I'm not surprised because the s
te people fit round here makes your skin curl.I guess you just get them to make the smallest window in your set, and submit that as a sample. And or one casement from your order in a single little frame.
But equally I also agree that £4500 per window feels like daylight robbery even in todays price world.
kiethton said:
How long have they been in?
Not my area of expertise but assuming not listed, at what point would action against the current windows be time barred?
The property has infringement order against it, would think they’ve been in ten years, the current owner can’t afford to replace them with wood. HGS will only allow the final transfer of the property once the work is done. Someone grassed them up several years after the upvc was installed, the style is the same from the outside.Not my area of expertise but assuming not listed, at what point would action against the current windows be time barred?
alabbasi said:
Do they need to be ripped out or do they just need to look like wood? You can probably get by with a wood veneer that goes over the windows which nobody will notice unless their nose is on it,
They need to come out and be mm perfect to their spec. They will come and check the install and even if a cement bead is too wide it will get rejected. Casa1862 said:
Does anyone have any experience of replacing Wood DG windows in the London area, particularly Hamstead Garden suburb? The flat has been fitted with decent UPVC windows but they need to be ripped out and replaced with wood otherwise the I can't complete the sale. I need 7 windows in total
Hampstead GS are incredibly picky, they have a list of approved suppliers but they are either retired, dead or can't be bothered to quote, also been told very expensive. Any new supplier needs to supply a sample windows so they can check it, there guide is below: It's a ball ache but if someone was willing to go through the pain, I'm sure plenty of others would consider them.
https://www.hgstrust.org/documents/timberwindows.p...
Sizes:
1 - 1620x 1400 mm
2 - 1110x 1420
3 - 585 x 1410
4 -1110 x 1420
5 - 580 x 1040
6 -1110 x 1040
7- 580 x 1040
Have you spoken to the Residents Association yet? Hampstead GS are incredibly picky, they have a list of approved suppliers but they are either retired, dead or can't be bothered to quote, also been told very expensive. Any new supplier needs to supply a sample windows so they can check it, there guide is below: It's a ball ache but if someone was willing to go through the pain, I'm sure plenty of others would consider them.
https://www.hgstrust.org/documents/timberwindows.p...
Sizes:
1 - 1620x 1400 mm
2 - 1110x 1420
3 - 585 x 1410
4 -1110 x 1420
5 - 580 x 1040
6 -1110 x 1040
7- 580 x 1040
I'd start with them as they're the buffer between the trust and you. The trust has been on a drive for the few years to remedy quite a bit of budget work that's been done to houses and it sounds like you've got caught up in that. The RA will have come across this before and should be able to give you guidance.
Casa1862 said:
Does anyone have any experience of replacing Wood DG windows in the London area, particularly Hamstead Garden suburb? The flat has been fitted with decent UPVC windows but they need to be ripped out and replaced with wood otherwise the I can't complete the sale. I need 7 windows in total
Hampstead GS are incredibly picky, they have a list of approved suppliers but they are either retired, dead or can't be bothered to quote, also been told very expensive. Any new supplier needs to supply a sample windows so they can check it, there guide is below: It's a ball ache but if someone was willing to go through the pain, I'm sure plenty of others would consider them.
https://www.hgstrust.org/documents/timberwindows.p...
Sizes:
1 - 1620x 1400 mm
2 - 1110x 1420
3 - 585 x 1410
4 -1110 x 1420
5 - 580 x 1040
6 -1110 x 1040
7- 580 x 1040
Have you spoken to the Residents Association yet? Hampstead GS are incredibly picky, they have a list of approved suppliers but they are either retired, dead or can't be bothered to quote, also been told very expensive. Any new supplier needs to supply a sample windows so they can check it, there guide is below: It's a ball ache but if someone was willing to go through the pain, I'm sure plenty of others would consider them.
https://www.hgstrust.org/documents/timberwindows.p...
Sizes:
1 - 1620x 1400 mm
2 - 1110x 1420
3 - 585 x 1410
4 -1110 x 1420
5 - 580 x 1040
6 -1110 x 1040
7- 580 x 1040
I'd start with them as they're the buffer between the trust and you. The trust has been on a drive for the few years to remedy quite a bit of budget work that's been done to houses and it sounds like you've got caught up in that. The RA will have come across this before and should be able to give you guidance.
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