Replacing your windows is one of those jobs where the practical decisions and the appearance of your home tend to go hand in hand.
You might want warmer rooms, better security and windows that are easier to maintain, but that doesn’t mean you want to lose the character of your house in the process. This is particularly true in Carshalton, where there are plenty of Victorian and Edwardian homes alongside 1930s properties and more contemporary houses.
For many period properties, timber has traditionally been the natural choice. It looks right, can be made with traditional details and has a character that is difficult to reproduce.
Timber alternative windows have come a long way in recent years. Modern designs can replicate many of the details associated with traditional timber windows while offering the lower maintenance and modern performance that homeowners often want.
At Elwyns, we supply Evolution timber alternative windows, alongside genuine timber, uPVC and aluminium. So, if you’re considering new windows for your Carshalton home, how do you know whether timber alternative is the right choice?
What are timber alternative windows?
Timber alternative windows are made from modern materials rather than natural wood, but are designed to recreate the appearance of traditional timber windows. A convincing timber alternative isn’t simply a modern window with a wood-effect finish.
The profile of the opening sash, the proportions of the frame, the joints, cill and glazing all contribute to how the finished window looks.
Evolution has focused heavily on these details. Its two main window ranges are Storm and Evolution Flush. Storm is based on the appearance of traditional stormproof timber casements, while Evolution Flush is designed to replicate the flatter appearance of traditional flush-fitting timber windows. Both are available with timber-style joints.
That gives homeowners more choice when replacing existing windows, particularly if the original windows have a distinctive traditional appearance.
Why consider timber alternative windows in Carshalton?
The style of a replacement window can have a surprisingly large effect on the appearance of a house.
On a period property, the windows aren’t just functional. Their proportions and detailing form part of the architecture.
If you have a Victorian or Edwardian home with traditional casement windows, for example, replacing them with a modern-looking window may make the house feel very different. It doesn’t necessarily mean the replacement is a bad window, but it may not be the right window for that particular property.
Timber alternative windows offer another route.
You can retain traditional-looking profiles and details while choosing a product designed for modern living. This can be particularly appealing if you like the look of timber but don’t want the ongoing work that comes with maintaining painted wooden frames.
Of course, every property is different. Genuine timber may still be the better choice for some homes, particularly where authenticity is the main consideration.
Evolution timber alternative windows
Evolution is the timber alternative manufacturer we work with at Elwyns.
The company has built its window range around traditional window design rather than treating heritage styling as an afterthought. Its Storm and Flush windows are designed to retain features associated with timber joinery while incorporating modern window technology. Which works best depends on the house.
If you’re replacing existing windows, it’s worth looking closely at what you already have. Sometimes a small detail, such as the profile of the opening section or the arrangement of the glazing bars, makes more difference than you might expect.
Timber or timber alternative?
Genuine timber remains a beautiful material and is still the right choice for many homeowners. It has a natural warmth, can be repaired and redecorated, and allows for a high level of traditional detailing.
Our timber windows are supplied by Timber Windows, and they are worth considering if natural material and traditional craftsmanship are particularly important to you. The downside is maintenance.
Painted timber needs to be looked after. The exact amount of maintenance will depend on the finish and exposure of the property, but eventually the frames will need decorating.
That’s not necessarily a problem. For some homeowners, it’s simply part of having a traditional timber window.
For others, particularly those replacing a large number of windows, it is something they’d rather avoid.
Evolution windows are designed to provide a timber-style appearance without the regular sanding and repainting associated with painted timber. Evolution describes its products as low-maintenance and long-lasting, with routine care largely involving cleaning and looking after the moving parts.
So the decision comes down to what matters most to you: the natural material of timber, or the reduced maintenance of a modern alternative.
Storm or Flush?
If you’ve started looking at Evolution windows, you’ll probably come across both terms.
A Storm casement has a more pronounced profile, with the opening sash overlapping the frame. It is based on the traditional stormproof timber casement. Whereas a flush casement is flatter and when the window is closed the sash sits level with the frame.
Neither is automatically more traditional or more appropriate. It depends on the property and the look you’re trying to achieve.
There are other details to consider too. Evolution windows can incorporate timber-style joints, traditional glazing bars and decorative glass, while a range of colours and finishes is available.
If you’re replacing existing windows, we’d always recommend looking at the old ones carefully before choosing a replacement. The details may give you a good starting point.
What about lipped casements?
Lipped casements are another style worth knowing about if you’re looking for traditional-looking windows.
The opening section has a more defined profile, rather than sitting completely flush with the outer frame. This is a familiar detail on many traditional timber windows.
Evolution’s Storm range is designed around this type of traditional stormproof casement, while the Flush range offers the flatter alternative.
It’s a relatively small difference, but it can change the character of the finished window.
This is why we don’t think choosing windows should come down to looking at a product photograph and picking a colour. The profile, glazing and proportions all need to work together.
What do Evolution windows look like?
This is often the first concern homeowners have when considering a timber alternative.
Nobody wants to replace beautiful old timber windows with something that looks out of keeping with the property.
Evolution has tried to address this by putting a lot of emphasis on traditional details. Its windows feature timber-style joints and are available in both traditional and more contemporary configurations.
There’s also plenty of scope to change the overall appearance through the specification.
You can choose different glazing arrangements, colours and finishes, while traditional glazing bars and decorative glass can be used where appropriate.
That means the same basic window system can look quite different depending on how it is specified.
This is particularly useful for period properties, where a simple change in glazing pattern or colour can make the difference between a window that looks right and one that doesn’t.
How much maintenance do they need?
One of the main reasons people choose timber alternatives is the maintenance.
Traditional painted timber windows need to be periodically prepared and redecorated. Timber alternative windows are designed to avoid that routine.
Evolution describes its windows as low-maintenance and recommends straightforward cleaning and routine care to keep them looking and operating properly.
You will still need to clean the frames and glass, and the hardware and moving parts should be looked after. But there is no regular cycle of sanding and repainting the frames.
If you’re replacing ten, fifteen or twenty windows, that difference can become quite significant over the years.
Are timber alternative windows energy efficient?
Improving energy efficiency is often one of the reasons homeowners decide to replace older windows in the first place.
Evolution’s windows combine their traditional styling with modern glazing and frame technology. Elwyns currently states that its Evolution timber alternative windows can achieve U-values as low as 1.2 W/m²K, depending on specification. The range can also be specified with modern double glazing, warm-edge spacer bars and triple glazing options.
The exact performance will depend on the specification you choose.
It’s also important not to look at the glass or frame in isolation. Installation, seals and the condition of the surrounding building will all have an effect on the finished result.
If your existing windows are draughty, difficult to operate or suffering from failed glazing, replacing them with a modern system can make a noticeable difference to the comfort of the house.
What about security?
Modern replacement windows can also offer considerably more security than older windows.
Evolution’s systems incorporate modern locking hardware, while the overall design is built around current performance requirements. The precise security specification will depend on the window and hardware selected.
This is worth discussing when you’re choosing your windows, particularly for easily accessible ground-floor openings.
It is another example of why replacing windows isn’t just about how they look. The right specification should work for the way you actually live in the house.
Can they be used in conservation areas?
This is particularly relevant when replacing windows on older properties.
Timber alternative windows can be suitable for some conservation-area properties because they are available with traditional detailing and profiles. Elwyns regularly works on period properties and can advise on appropriate specifications and provide drawings where required.
Conservation areas have different requirements, and listed buildings can have additional restrictions. You should always check what applies to your property before ordering replacement windows.
If planning approval or other consent is required, the design and appearance of the proposed windows may need to be considered as part of that process.
Are timber alternative windows right for a 1930s home?
1930s houses are particularly interesting because they often sit somewhere between traditional and modern design. Some have simple casement windows, while others feature more distinctive glazing patterns or period details.
Evolution’s Storm range can work well where you want to retain a more traditional casement appearance, while the Flush range offers a cleaner alternative.
There’s no need to make the windows look artificially old, either. A simple profile and carefully chosen colour can work very well on a 1930s house without turning it into a pastiche.
The same principle applies to extensions. If you’ve added to an older property, timber alternative windows can help the new and old parts of the house feel more connected.
How much do timber alternative windows cost?
There isn’t a standard price for timber alternative windows.
The cost will depend on the size and number of windows, their configuration, glazing, colour, hardware and the installation itself.
A straightforward casement will naturally cost less than a more involved design with decorative glazing, Georgian bars or other bespoke details.
It’s also worth comparing quotations carefully. Make sure you’re looking at the same specification rather than simply comparing the headline price.
A cheaper window may have different glazing, hardware or installation included, so it isn’t always a direct comparison.
For something you’re likely to live with for many years, the quality of the product and installation matters just as much as the initial price.
A real Elwyns project
One of the best ways to understand where timber alternatives work is to look at a finished project.
At Weald Cottage, a 1930s property in Woldingham, the owners were carrying out an extensive renovation and needed to replace all of the windows and doors.
They had originally considered timber but were concerned about the cost. After visiting the Elwyns showroom, they chose Evolution alternative timber-look casement windows instead.
Twelve windows were installed alongside French doors with sidelights and a timber entrance door. The homeowners were particularly pleased with how closely the windows fitted the traditional character of the cottage, commenting that they had received many compliments on the finished result.
It’s a good example of why the choice doesn’t have to be simply ‘timber or uPVC’. There is another option for homeowners who want traditional styling but have different priorities when it comes to maintenance and budget.
Why choose Elwyns?
We’ve been established in Carshalton since 1963, so we’ve spent more than six decades working with homeowners on replacement windows and doors.
We don’t think there is one material that suits every property. That’s why we offer a choice of timber, timber alternative, uPVC and aluminium.
Alongside Evolution, we work with Timber Windows, Whiteline, Everglade, Sheerline and Aluco, allowing us to look at the house first and then recommend products that suit it.
That experience is particularly useful when you’re working on an older property. Sometimes the right answer is genuine timber. Sometimes a timber alternative is a better fit. And sometimes another material makes more sense altogether.
Our Carshalton showroom is also a useful place to compare the different options before making a decision.
Most importantly, we’re still here once the installation is finished. We’ve been around for over 60 years, and we intend to continue looking after the customers who have trusted us with their homes.
Visit our Carshalton showroom
If you’re considering timber alternative windows in around Sutton or Surrey, we’d recommend seeing the different options for yourself.
Our showroom at 112–114 High Street, Carshalton gives you the chance to compare Evolution windows with other materials and look at the different profiles, colours, glazing and hardware in person.
You can talk through your property with our team, bring photographs or plans if you have them, and get a better idea of which options might suit.
You don’t have to know exactly what you want before you come in. That’s what we’re here for.
Visit Elwyns in Carshalton or get in touch to arrange a home visit and discuss your replacement windows.