builders, provided plenty of information

and profile drawings for each type of win-

dow.

Most of the upvc window firms made

use of historical terms to describe their

products, what Dr Steven Parissien of the

Georgian Group calls the “hijacking of

historical terminology by the replacement

window manufacturers in order to give

poorly designed modern products and rel-

atively untried modern materials the

veneer of historical respectability”.’ The

words Georgian and Regency are used

generously. Patterns of leaded light win-

dows (usually strips stuck on or between

the sheets of glass) are referred to as Tudor,

Elizabethan or Edwardian. This must be

intensely misleading to customers who

wish to do the right thing by their houses.

Of the small joinery firms, Mumford &

Wood of Ongar, provided good details of

all its windows - plans, elevations, mea-

surements and lists of options available

but the star catalogue was undoubtedly

that produced by the Original Box Sash

Window Co. Here the timber window

trade is fighting back at last: putting argu-

ments as to why owners should use the

original timber, backed up by isometric

drawings of their products which are easy

to understand. Double-glazed windows

are offered at five percent more than single

and draught proofing measures are includ-

ed in the specifications. Maintenance

instructions are also given. This five star

service is reflected, of course, in the price.

RESULTS:

SASH WINDOW

The prices of the specially commissioned

timber windows compared favourably

with those in plastic and aluminium

regardless of whether they were made

locally or some distance away. Glasnost

and the OBSWC were considerably more

expensive than the rest of the field. The

aluminium window was cheaper than the

plastic and purpose-made timber win-

dows.

Using the Boulton & Paul and John Cart

catalogues, the nearest in size and type was

found, and proved to be much the cheapest

option by far, but of course glazing bar

mouldings would be standard as would

thicknesses. Since they were standard win-

dows, the brick openings might have to be

adapted to the new window which would

involve extra cost.

Since some included glass, weights, pul-

leys, stays, cords etc and some did not, it

seemed only fair to estimate what the full

cost might be. This was a relatively easy

task as the joiners’ quotations were so clear

and detailed.

RESULTS:

CASEMENT WINDOW

For this rather simple type of window,

purpose-made j oinery was substantially

cheaper than upvc or aluminium probably

because of the extra labour involved in

making and fitting glazing bars. The off-

the-peg catalogue prices were cheaper still

but extra expense would have been

incurred in trying to fit them into a non-

standard sized aperture.

Most of the upvc window firms made

follow-up calls after the visit. When

informed that unauthorised alteration of a

listed building was a criminal offence, they

seemed surprised.

SECONDARY GLAZING

Whilst installing upvc windows will elim-

inate maintenance in the short term, and

lack of draughts will undoubtedly increase

comfort, DIY plastic or glass secondary

glazing adding another layer to existing

windows would appear to be a cheaper and

more effective alternative.

A quotation was obtained for secondary

glazing both windows using a single sheet

of glass each, framed in a plastic channel

and held in place by turn-buttons screwed

into the surrounding frame. It amounted

to £30 including VAT and delivery

charges.