Optima Magazine

An investment in improving, renovating or replacing your existing doors and windows is money well spent, says Andrew Leech of the Home Improvement Council. If you make the right choices you can save energy, stop draughts – and make your home look better…

Although timber reigns supreme in retrofit doors, two thirds of all doors currently being installed by housebuilders are made from steel composites. Timber is in second place, while PVCu and other materials, like aluminium, take third. If you are going to change your front or back door there's a lot to consider. And these days you don't just buy a door – you buy a doorset. This combines door and frame in one integral unit providing maximum security and, in theory at least, faultless operation.

Up-and-coming options are thermoplastic and GRP composite doors made by bonding fibreglass ‘skins’ to a PVCu composite foam sub-frame surrounding an insulating core. They are tough, dimensionally accurate and provide optimum thermal efficiency.

Most man-made materials can be supplied with simulated wood grain or textured surfaces. There are probably as many colours available as you would wish to choose from, and some are not just skin deep but are constant throughout the material. Except, of course, steel, which may show the odd chip.

When it comes to windows there seems to be an astonishing number of PVCu units being installed in properties both old and new, but timber is still holding its own. Indeed, timber window manufacture is now a science as well as a craft. With a very few exceptions, timber window frames are all made with treated wood from sustainable forests. Factory finishing is almost standard now as is double glazing, and they carry a 15 year guarantee.

Meanwhile, PVCu window manufacturers have tweaked their production methods to provide thinner, stronger profiles, which are getting ever closer to the fine detail hitherto only possible with timber.

The major advantage with PVCu windows is, of course, that they need little or no maintenance. It’s what made them popular in the first place, and what has kept them so ever since. But when considering the material for your replacement windows don't leave out aluminium, which is making a serious come back. A street research project carried out by a leading window maker revealed that when they showed the public a range of aluminium windows alongside their PVCu equivalents, 72% of the public actually preferred the former.

Nothing can ruin the look of any home more than doors and windows that are in a bad state of repair. Old windows and doors are often draughty, difficult to open and close, and need your constant attention. There are real benefits to be enjoyed from replacement doors and windows which will not only save money on heating bills, but will be a joy to use, and increase the security of your property.

Double glazing units are worthwhile in terms of energy saving if you are replacing windows because they not only cut down heat loss, but are draught proof and reduce noise.

And don’t overlook the garage. These doors are often the poor relation when it comes to exterior maintenance, and it is surprising how replacement of these doors can benefit the appearance of the whole property. Modern garage doors are available in a variety of designs to suit the style of your house; as well as looking better, they can make life considerably easier too: nothing is worse than the performance of opening and closing sagging, ill-fitted or even rotting doors.

Whether you’re staying or selling, kerb appeal is crucial – and more than just cosmetic. Summer is an ideal time to take an audit of your external doors and windows, and invest wisely before the winter weather sets in again…