FAQs

We have a large range of door styles and choosing between them can be difficult. Below is a list of the most popular traditional and contemporary doors we sell:

• Bardwell
• Chadlington
• Chalfont
• Dowr
• Frenchay
• Staverton

You can explore our full range of traditional and contemporary doors here.

Traditional doors are a great choice if you have a period property and wish to restore it to its original features or if you wish to add an old-style door to a new-build.

Our contemporary range of doors offer clean and fresh designs that add a very crisp take on traditional joinery.

Our range of stable doors are also very popular. These are especially useful for houses with pets, or young children. They also work well in kitchens, or leading out to the side or back of the property.

Timber windows do require a larger outlay in the short term, sometimes up to three times the price of uPVC doors and windows. This cost is hard to calculate in real terms however, as they add real value to a home as well as making the property more attractive to buyers. Even though windows make up around 25% of the external faces of the house, they cost around 5% of the total house value.

Timber windows are easily spotted as they are slimmer and more elegant than the uPVC alternatives. Furthermore, while uPVC is often marketed as being more convenient and cost effective, it doesn’t age as well as timber. Research finds that plastic needs to be replaced every 35 years compared to 60 years for wood.

In some cases, uPVC can ruin the look of the home and research from BDRC finds that it can also seriously de-value the property, especially in conservation areas.

Timber windows have been long acknowledged as the most aesthetically pleasing option and we are able to tailor our products to specifically match the style of your property and make it look fantastic, all to the highest standards. Even if your property is a new build, timber adds a touch of class which uPVC is just not able to do, for all its modern functionality (which timber matches anyway).

We are pleased with our awards and achievements. They range from innovative use of technology to marketing skills and demonstrate our passion for our products and services.

• Just two years after our launch we received National Window Specialist of the year
• Finalist two years running in The Timber Trades Journal award for Excellence in Marketing
  Cranfield University Business School’s ‘Bright Sparcs’ Award for Best Use of Technology by a Business
• A Grand Designs ‘Loves’ award for our Contemporary Entrance Doors, awarded at The National Grand Designs show 2011.
• Our attention to detail recognised at the 2012 Chelsea Flower Show with an ‘Outstanding Presentation’ award for our Kitchen Orangery.
• In 2019, we were proud to be announced as ‘National Timber Window & Door Supplier of the Year’ at the National Fenestration Awards.

The local joiner will produce some beautiful windows and doors and be able to fit them for you, however, they rarely glaze windows, nor finish them with paint or wood stain. This is a very important part of protecting the wood and goes towards guaranteeing the performance of the windows and doors.

Additionally, they will not have access to many of our design and manufacture processes that really do raise the quality of our products, surpassing those of rival companies.

It is our ‘one-stop’ service and superb attention to detail that puts us above the local joiner. With no other tradesmen required, we arrange and implement everything for you. Our service is a complete package that makes choosing and installing new windows and/or doors convenient and easy for you.

Whilst uPVC double glazing can be a selling point in house details, this is mainly due to it being compared to a house with no double glazing at all. Double glazing is obviously a selling point in itself, however real wood double glazing offers elegance and can restore a house to its former glory. Retaining the good looks for many years to come with minimal maintenance. This adds real value to your home as well as increasing the likelihood of a sale.

Naomi Cleaver of the Daily Telegraph writes:

“While uPVC windows might be cheaper upfront… if you live in anything other than a new building in a contemporary design those uPVC windows can cost you dear. Taste might be subjective, but it still has a price… a quick call around to agents up and down the country – from Peter Shaw in the Fulham office of Kinleigh Folkard & Hayward to Mark Rimell of Strutt & Parker, nationwide specialists in country properties – indicated this overwhelming view: the majority of buyers find uPVC windows a turn-off and typically when making an offer on a property with uPVC windows will reduce it by the several thousand pounds it will cost to replace all those “ghastly windows” with “nice timber ones”.

No, you do not. We are a ‘one-stop’ shop, we take care of every aspect of the window or door replacement including production and installation. We have a trusted network of local installers who are exceptional craftsmen with many years of working with timber doors and windows. They have also been trained to install our products specifically, guaranteeing the best possible service and quality of install.

Wooden windows have been used in Britain for centuries, many of which are still in great condition and full working order. There is little doubt that real wood when taken care of can offer a long-lasting life. With minimal maintenance, our wooden windows and doors come with the following guarantees:

30 Years – Insect & Fungal infection
10 Years – Sealed units
10 Years – Hardware
10 Years – Workmanship
12 Years – Paint finishes
Up to 6 Years – Stain finishes*

*6 years for Meranti and Redwood, 1 year for Oak.

In addition, most showrooms will offer a 10 Year warranty on workmanship.

We do not. For the very simple reason that the key to the low maintenance and longevity of our products does rely heavily on the thorough and exact protection from paint or woodstain treatments. The factory finish involves several applications of paint /woodstain:

Firstly, the timber receives a preservative treatment. This is followed by a primer coat, then two coats of micro-porous paint. The beautifully finished timber is ultra-smooth and very resistant to the weather and elements. This ensures that your new windows and doors remain in top condition with a perfect fit for many years to come.