Tips and inspiration for your windows

If you’re a fan of TV homebuilding shows then you’ve probably seen the VELFAC system being installed in some of the UK’s more interesting self-build projects.

A firm favourite with architects across the country, VELFAC windows and doors are also a popular choice for self-builders and renovators, who like the system’s clean lines, contemporary design, and composite frame construction. They also appreciate the system’s eco-friendly performance, and the VELFAC commitment to sustainable manufacture. Here are just a few of TV’s ‘grand designs’ which feature VELFAC:

Choosing the right type of window for your project can make a big difference to the comfort of your home, your energy bills and your ongoing maintenance costs.

Here’s a quick guide to the different window materials currently available, to help you start the decision making process.

Wood

Advantages:

Warm, natural wood has always been a popular choice of window frame. It adds character and style, inside and out, and has great design flexibility as wood can be painted, stained or varnished, and can be used in both traditional and contemporary projects. In terms of window performance, wood is a good insulator, and is also an environmentally friendly, renewable building material.

Disadvantages:

Wood has a naturally short lifecycle, and wooden window frames need regular repainting or repairs, especially in exposed locations, such as on the coast. Timber frames often feature thicker sightlines (frame width) which reduce the amount of natural light entering a room, and also reduce acoustic insulation.

Summer holidays, Easter breaks, Christmas with the family – popular times to go away are also popular with burglars. So don’t make it easy for thieves to target an empty home by taking a few sensible precautions before you start your journey: