Buyer’s guide to replacing windows
Windows are key in setting the overall tone for your home’s appearance, harmonising with roofing materials and other exterior finishes to establish its architectural character. If you’re embarking on a renovation scheme, it’s worth exploring the potential for repairing old units — especially if you live in a heritage building with original fenestration. However, it’s not always cost-effective to go down this route, so switching old windows for modern replacements may be your only option. Here, we explore the key issues to think about when specifying new windows.
Planning know-how
In most cases, switching old windows with like-for-like replacement products falls under Permitted Development (PD) rules, so you won’t have to apply for planning consent. “What you can install depends on whether the property is listed, in a conservation area or subject to any other local planning conditions,” says Steve Brattle, divisional sales director at Anglian Home Improvements. Some local authorities are more flexible than others, however, so it’s worth checking with your local council regarding the style, frame material and opening method of your new units before going full
