UPVC or Wooden windows?

If green is the way you,d like to go, then you would need to read this document from greenpeace on the effects of using pvc products. I think you,d need to follow up on the document as I believe it is some years old now, and may have had more relevence to the pvc in production back then. I know they are currently involved in composite material for window manufacture , that has a far less negative impact on the environment than the previous products.

Full Article.

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sabre
 
sabre said:
Facts related to pvc manufacture,

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sabre
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Good morning sabre, I had a good read of your post over the weekend and have to say all of the info used in the making of the 'facts' of the link are based on the following links


As near as I can tell these links are all connected to the PVC industry.

The two I removed were Friends of the Earth (who I would have extreme doubts about their being okay with PVC) and the Independent (because there was no info on that particular link I could find)
 

Correct, glad to see you are wide awake after the weekend.

Where,s the facts related to expected lifetimes of wooden windows having a life expectancy of 100 years plus, or is that your personel view on the subject. Maybe I could see some facts related to the life expectancy of Iroko windows, or are they estimated at 100 years plus as well.

You failed to mention the facts supplied by the School of engineering, and the National House Builders association of America. Who both estimate the lifetime of an average wooden window at far less than 100 years. Have you got any factual links that disagree with them.

Nice to know you had a good weekend, its showing in your friendly responses, I hope it lasts

sabre
 

First I had a great weekend we went down and fed swans and went for a swim in the rain (cold but great fun).

I had a good look around for the 100 year life expectancy of Iroko windows and have not been able to find my source but I do have a very good memory for such details and would bet on it.

The problem with the School of engineering, and the National House Builders association of America is they say 'average wooden window' (could be softwood or hardwood) Iroko is not an average wood so can't be put in the same bracket as average woods.

In fact if you were to walk around Dublin City and have a look at some of the wooden windows that are here you will see windows that are 250 years old and still capable of working (with a bit of tender loving care).

I have a book that mentions wooden windows that are 400 years old that are still working perfectly you would agree I'm sure that this information would make nonsense of what the Americans say.

Now if I have to I'll drag the book out find the relevant big house they are in and post the name of it.

The big thing with wooden windows is if they are painted carefully and maintained they will last a hundred years and more but Iroko should last even longer longer.

I think some of the problems with the links you provided is there is no information on whether or not the wooden windows were painted or not and if they were were they given another coat or 2 of paint while going through the tests.

That would give a much more accurate result.

Hope you have a smashing week.

S.L.F
 

I had a great weekend, thankyou. A rip on the bike, and working on my classic beetle, and turning a few yew bowls. Any way back on topic.

There is no problem with any of the links I,ve posted, if you take the information as stated. Average means average life expectancy, I dont think that needs any further clarification. Being an average window, I suspect it has an average finish on it, and is manatined in an average manner. If you regard them as unfinished Items, then I expect you will have to regard the figures as the least expected, and that in fact they will perform better.

Why should Iroko last longer than 100 years, teak maybe.

sabre
 
I quiet regularly have calls from customers whom have iroko windows 30yrs + and want to know if they can have their own windows double glazed.

The original post - As your barn is an old building built traditionally, if you want to have it looking at it's best and enhance its value you should only use hardwood windows. uPVC is a modern invention only suitable to modern buildings. Stone buildings need timber windows - all natural materials.
 
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