A checklist for installing timber windows and doors in your South Wales home

Whether you have a period South Wales home or a character conversion, timber windows offer an unmistakable, timeless appeal that is hard to beat.

Traditionally this beauty meant high maintenance, but chosen carefully, today’s timber windows and doors can combine classic looks with minimal maintenance and modern energy efficiency.

To make the right choice, it’s important to understand the design features that make the difference between a sound investment and a high maintenance liability.

Securahome believes this starts with the timber. To prevent any warping or swelling, timber windows and doors must be made from best quality, FSC-sourced, sustainable, engineered timber.

Long used on the continent, engineered timber is the hardwearing choice for windows and doors. Its multi-layer structure helps windows resist warping and twisting as the opposing grains even out natural moisture movement.

If you don’t like painting, then fortunately modern micro-porous paints and stains are actually absorbed by the wood so that they don’t blister or flake.

Also, knowing the South Wales weather, opt for weather-treated timber windows and doors and there will be no need to re-paint for at least eight years.

When it comes to glass, thermally insulating, argon-filed, double-glazing offers 80 per cent better energy efficiency than single glazed units and a 45 per cent improvement on normal double-glazing.

Best of all, this kind of glazing will maximize the natural light into your home – essential for period cottages and conversions.

To further improve energy efficiency, opt for windows that offer low conductivity spacer bars, which have the added benefit of reducing condensation levels on the inner pane.

Security is vitally important and for added reassurance, always look for internal beading to show that the glass is fitted from the inside.

Securahome has a wide range of timber windows on display at its Swansea showroom.