Is It a Problem to Leave Old Windows in Place? Leaving old windows in place is not necessarily a problem. A window does not become unsuitable simply because it has been installed for many years, and age alone provides little indication of how well it continues to serve the building. Its condition, construction, exposure to […]
Tag Archives: Period Property Windows
21
Sep
Sep
Can You Change the Colour of Existing Windows Without Replacing Them? Changing the colour of existing windows is sometimes possible without replacing the frames or glazing. Where a window remains structurally sound, operates correctly and has a surface suitable for refinishing, a new colour may offer a way to alter its appearance while retaining the […]
18
Sep
Sep
Winter Is a Season, Not an Installation Condition Winter sounds like a single condition. In reality, it describes several months in which the weather can vary considerably from one day to the next. A settled winter morning and a period of severe wind or persistent rain belong to the same season, but they do not […]
18
Sep
Sep
First, Decide What You Mean by “Add Value” When homeowners ask whether new windows add value to a house, they are usually asking a financial question. If I spend this much, will the property eventually be worth more? It is understandable, but it compresses several different kinds of value into a single number. There is […]
17
Sep
Sep
The Window Is Visibly Deteriorating — or No Longer Works Properly Some reasons for questioning a window are difficult to ignore. Its condition may have visibly changed. Frames or finishes can begin to show deterioration, components may no longer appear as they once did, or the window itself may have become increasingly difficult to use. […]
15
Sep
Sep
Matching Feels Like the Safest Design Decision There is an understandable comfort in deciding that every window in a house should match. Choose one style, repeat the proportions and maintain the same visual language throughout. The result should, in theory, feel ordered and coherent. Sometimes it does. Repetition is one of architecture’s most useful tools. […]
14
Sep
Sep
We Became Obsessed With Making Windows Disappear Contemporary residential architecture has become remarkably good at making glass feel almost absent. Panes have grown larger, frames have become visually quieter and fixed glazing can create the impression that the building simply stops where the landscape begins. Used well, the effect can be exceptional. It is easy […]
11
Sep
Sep
Black Became Contemporary — Then Became Automatic Black window frames did not become popular by accident. Against pale render, brick, timber or glass, a dark frame can give an elevation clarity and definition. It became closely associated with aluminium glazing, contemporary extensions and a particular kind of restrained modern architecture. Used deliberately, the effect can […]
01
Sep
Sep
The Return of the Curve Is Bigger Than Glazing Curved and arched glazing is becoming more visible in contemporary residential architecture. But the change is not really about windows. The curve itself is returning to architecture. Arched doorways, rounded corners, curved walls, sweeping staircases, softer joinery and sculptural kitchen forms are appearing within homes that […]
01
Sep
Sep
Steel-Look Is an Aesthetic. Steel Is a Material. The phrase “steel-look glazing” can make a complicated design decision sound surprisingly simple. It is often used to describe dark-framed windows and doors with narrow-looking profiles, strong glazing divisions and the distinctive geometric character associated with traditional metal glazing. But there is an important distinction to make […]