CLOSER LOOK: HIGH-PERFORMANCE TIMBER

Thermal efficiency If you’re keen to achieve the best possible energy performance, timber windows and doors could be the perfect fit. Wood is innately more insulating than alternatives such as metal and plastic – so it can offer great bang for your buck. Good quality double glazed timber windows will easily hit a U-value (a measure of thermal performance, where lower numbers are better) of 1.4 W/M2K. That’s an instant improvement on Building Regulations standards. What’s more, the very best triple glazed wood units can achieve as low as 0.68 W/M2K.

Paints & stains While coating the units on site may appear an attractive money-saving option, in reality the labour requirement makes it pretty much a no-brainer to buy fully factory-finished timber windows and doors. This will also give you access to the manufacturer’s warranty, which may run for as long as 10 years on the paint or stain (provided you use an approved installer). Many suppliers offer the full gamut of RAL colours, an internationally-recognised system comprising over 200 hues. Look for high-quality microporous finishes for the best results, and ensure the frames are properly protected during any follow-on works.

Security Under Part Q of the Building Regs, all doors and windows in new build homes must be designed and manufactured to meet the PAS 24 standard. But even if you’re taking on a smaller project, it’s still worth going for products that achieve this level of performance. In fact, some manufacturers now only provide PAS 24 compliant products, in anticipation of the standard being rolled out across the board.

Maintenance Choose the factory-finish option and it should be a long time before you need to get involved with maintenance cycles. There’s no doubt some upkeep will be required over their lifespan, but in the long run timber units represent great value for money, partly because they are much easier to repair than materials like PVCU. After all, some centuriesold fenestration is still in top condition today. You can aid durability by designing in protection for key components – for instance, going for a deep setback will protect the frames against excessive sun and rain exposure, while a timber entrance door could be located in a covered porch. You can also consider opting for alu-clad timber; combining the benefits of a wood frame with a low-maintenance metal finish.