Wander any street lined with period properties and you will notice so many high level design choices at play. Their intricate brickwork will captivate you, iconic bay windows peek from colourful facades, each detail whispering stories of generations past. This timeless aesthetic stands in stark contrast to mass-produced new build properties, offering a unique charm that simply cannot be replicated.
Although often beautiful to look at, some period homes can face more maintenance issues than newly built properties. It’s common to see period homes fall victim to black mould, subpar plumbing or suffering from poor energy efficiency. To keep these properties alive and thriving, they must be adapted without compromising their character.
One way this can be easily achieved is through the installation of metal windows. As well as maintaining your property’s personality, metal framed windows can improve your home’s energy efficiency. From improved temperature regulation throughout the seasons to potentially reducing maintenance issues, they help to preserve your home’s architectural authenticity.
How do metal windows transform period homes?
When metal windows are installed, the change does not need to be drastic, unless you want it to be. The frames can easily be coloured to match the property’s original colour palette or painted in contrasting colours that elevate your home’s character. That’s not all metal windows can do either.
Preserve architectural authenticity
Alluding to their rich heritage and interior personality, the windows on a period property are often considered one of the most important features. Acting as a home’s eyes, their style, shape and design evoke key characteristics, such as charm or mischievousness. Homes with full spring line-shaped windows often have a playful charm, inviting people to cross the threshold and explore the building inside. Wider, rectangular windows, on the other hand, have a more mysterious air, suggesting complex floor plans and ample space to wander.
Despite being a change from traditional steel windows, metal windows continue to emphasise a period home’s character without any compromises. In fact, as well as freshening up the windows, you can also enhance your home’s character even further. A slight colour touch-up, or a new colour scheme altogether, could perfectly complement your home’s personality.
Improve energy efficiency
Rejuvenating your traditional steel windows comes with many perks. As well as maintaining your home’s character, you could also improve its energy efficiency. Unlike the build requirements on new homes, period properties were not privy to energy-saving features when they were first built. To maintain them, we have had to adapt their design, install energy-saving components, like double-glazing, and find ways they can adjust to temperature changes.
Alongside insulating attic spaces and introducing LED lighting, installing metal windows in your period home aids its overall energy efficiency. Cold interior walls and biting chills can be replaced by a warming ambience, enabling harsh winter mornings to feel cosy in your home. Similarly, their positively located weatherstripping keeps your home cool when the heat waves hit. For those in period properties, temperature changes can be exceptionally brutal when no energy-efficiency measures are in place.
Guarantee versatile design
The intricate window designs of a period home ensure that its unique character shines and that is why maintaining that character with suitable windows is vital. Metal windows are a highly versatile choice and can be used in any period property, from castles to domestic homes. They can also be made in any shape or size, making them ideal for preserving stained glass or special unique windows. Additionally, they are able to stand the test of time thanks to superior weatherproofing technology.
Why choose metal windows instead of traditional steel or lead?
Whilst it could feel treacherous to part with some of your property’s original features, it could be for the best. For one, traditional steel or lead windows are not galvanised, meaning they require regular maintenance and replacement. Where these windows are no longer fit for purpose, they can cause discolouration on the walls and floor, or rusting along the outer frame. Despite being cheaper to install, they are more costly to maintain.
Period properties also do not have the same level of winterisation as newer builds, meaning their features are more susceptible to the cold. This is especially true throughout the interior, where condensation can congregate on the walls and eventually lead to black mould spores appearing. Traditional steel or lead windows might keep the physical elements like rain, snow or strong gusts out, but they often fail to protect the home against dropping temperatures. Whereas new metal windows offer this level of protection, helping to regulate temperatures even during heatwaves.
Overall, installing new metal windows could be cost-effective and energy-efficient for your period property, without compromising key period features. Your home will still maintain its character, whether it is a charming or cheeky house, and it will continue to harbour its tales for years to come.
