New PVC-u windows - MOE?

[Mike Myers]

Hi,

My house was built in 1993/1994 and has wooden double glazzed windows, they are starting to break down, and have not really been maintained well before I bought the house.

I want to replace them with PVC-u windows, with an internal bead(s) to make the windows look similar to the ones I am removing, as they are quite in keeping with the look of the house.

Problem is, NONE of my windows upstairs are means of escape (MOE). If I have to make one MOE then I wont be able to keep the design plan, and internal bead option to make the windows look like the ones I am replacing. I will need a side opener which will spoil the look of the windows in my opinion.

So if I am replacing the windows, am I compelled to have a side opener for a MOE upstairs? The top openers are only about a foot wide. I have

3 rooms upstairs, my bedroom, office and bathroom.

At present all my windows are top openers. The house is two bedroomed, about 60 msq area. (if that makes a difference)

Thanks,

Mike

[Stuart Noble]

AFAIK if you keep the current frames i.e. you don't fix anything new to the brickwork, it's not classed as replacement. Depending on the rebate of the frame, you may have to look at stepped units to get the 28mm gap

[Christian McArdle]

Personally, I wouldn't care what the law said. If the only way out of the top floor with a fire downstairs is in a box a day or two later, I would ensure that the windows were escapeable from.

As for replacing wood with uPVC, well whatever floats your boat. To me uPVC looks about as classy as plastic jewellery. In our area, it knocks about

5-10K off the house vale. On council estates it improves it.

Christian.

[Grumps]

Can you not get a full top-opener? That's what we have for our MOE. As for maintenance issues, our windows (uPVC/PVC-u, whatever) were installed before we moved in 16 years ago, and they are still bright white (comparing with some extras we've had recently fitted) and working fine. I think Christian lives in an expensive part of town, and although we don't live in a cheap area, replacement windows (typically PVC around here) are a selling point.

[Lobster]

What's the issue with using internal beading? AFAICS all that will do is give you very thick, clumsy frames and openers - certainly much more so than the wooden ones you're replacing. Also, paradoxically they are inherently more burglar-proof. External beading permits the frames to be thinner; other than that it's hard to tell without close examination whether uPVC windows are externally or internally beaded.

With uPVC windows, you can specify whatever you want as an opener. I had a similar situation to yours once, where I was replacing a window with a top opener - what I did was have the bottom section opening (as an MOE), and the small top section fixed. The overall look from outside was therefore unchanged. (long-term readers with good memories may recall this sorry saga!)

See here: Before:

your bottom section is too small to be an MOE on its own, you could make the whole window an opener, but have the opener split with a cross bar, which again would give the same look from outside.

Having said that, as you're doing this to a modern house, not a period one, and assuming you're replacing all the windows not just one or two, then I don't really see what the issue is with fitting whatever pattern of window you want.

David

[Hugo Nebula]

On 18 Jul 2006 01:29:46 -0700, a particular chimpanzee named "Mike Myers" randomly hit the keyboard and produced:

Under the Building Regulations (in England & Wales), provided you do not make the building any worse in terms of means of escape than it was prior to the work, then you can replace the windows with ones of similar openings.

IIRC however, there is a clause in a British Standard (don't know which one) for replacement glazing that recommends at least one 'escape' window on the first floor of a house. I have heard that glazing companies have been prosecuted by Trading Standards for breaching this guidance. If you're using a reputable firm to replace your windows, you may find they will include this.

If you're doing the work yourself, or using a company that's not FENSA-registered, you will have to submit a Building Notice to your local Council's Building Control section. Document the fact that the existing windows do not have openings adequate for means of escape in case of fire (take photographs & measurements). You do know, I hope, that the size of the double-glazed units will need to be 24mm-28mm thick?

[Mike Myers]

Thanks for all the replies, looks like most companys seem to want me to have a bottom opener on the back, which is a fair compromise. I dont like full openers, I want the windows to look similar to the ones already installed.

Cheers,

Mike