It Is Not Really About Choosing the Windows The decision that keeps a homeowner awake during a renovation is rarely just which windows or doors to choose. It is the possibility of reaching the end of a long, demanding project and discovering that the finished home does not feel quite as they imagined. The glazing […]
Tag Archives: period property renovation
21
Sep
Sep
Why Do New Windows Feel Colder After Sunset? New windows can feel noticeably colder after sunset, even when they are performing exactly as intended. During daylight hours, sunlight passing through the glazing can contribute warmth to a room, while solar radiation may also increase the temperature of the glass and surrounding surfaces. As daylight fades, […]
21
Sep
Sep
Is Replacing Windows One Room at a Time a Sensible Approach? Replacing every window in a property at the same time is not always necessary, nor is it necessarily the most appropriate approach to a renovation. For homeowners managing a limited budget, living through building work or improving a property over several years, replacing windows […]
18
Sep
Sep
Making a Window Bigger Is Not the Same as Replacing It Replacing a window and enlarging a window opening may sound like variations of the same project. Architecturally, they are quite different. A straightforward replacement generally begins with an opening that already exists. The proportions of wall and glass remain broadly established, and the new […]
15
Sep
Sep
Your House Is Already Giving You Clues Most homeowners begin a renovation by noticing what they dislike. A room feels colder than the rest of the house. Condensation appears somewhere it did not before. A window seems draughty, an opening feels awkward, or an extension never quite delivers the comfort that was expected of it. […]
14
Sep
Sep
A Bigger Opening Is Not Automatically a Brighter Room When a room feels dark, making the window larger seems like the most logical response. More glass should mean more daylight. In some buildings, that is exactly what happens. But the size of an opening is only one part of the daylight equation, and increasing it […]
27
Jul
Jul
Matching Doesn’t Mean Copying When planning a new-build wing alongside an older property, many homeowners assume the safest approach is to make every window and door identical. If the original house has traditional timber casements, should the extension copy them exactly? If the existing façade follows a particular pattern, should the new addition simply repeat […]
27
Jul
Jul
Windows Influence the Design From Day One Many homeowners begin a renovation believing that windows are one of the final decisions to make. The assumption is understandable. After all, windows are installed relatively late in the construction process, so it seems logical to choose them once the structure is taking shape. Architects approach renovations very […]
23
Jul
Jul
Sympathy Begins With Understanding the Building The word sympathetic is used frequently in discussions about period homes, yet it is often misunderstood. Many homeowners assume it simply describes a window that looks traditional, perhaps with glazing bars, timber frames or historic detailing. Architects use the term rather differently. For them, a sympathetic window is not […]
23
Jul
Jul
A Traditional Façade Is More Than Its Windows When homeowners begin planning improvements to a period property, attention often focuses on the windows. Because they are among the most visible elements of a building, it is easy to assume they alone define the character of a traditional façade. Architects, however, see something much broader. The […]
22
Jul
Jul
Older Homes Deserve Honest Design, Not Historical Imitation Replacing a door on a period property often feels like an exercise in finding the most traditional design available. Decorative mouldings, antique-style furniture and historic colour palettes can all appear reassuringly authentic, leading many homeowners to believe that the closer a replacement resembles the past, the more […]
22
Jul
Jul
“Like-for-Like” Means More Than Copying the Original Few phrases are used more frequently during period home renovations than like-for-like replacement, yet few are as widely misunderstood. Many homeowners assume it simply means installing a new window that looks exactly like the one being removed. While appearance certainly matters, architects tend to view the concept in […]