Updated August 2024
Originally written by David Brown
There’s a common misconception that timber windows are high maintenance, but that hasn’t been my experience at all.
Over 12 years ago, Gowercroft manufactured and installed new hardwood windows and doors in my former home in Derbyshire. I wanted to share a real-world look at how they performed over time and how little I needed to do to keep them looking great.
In over a decade, the answer is: not much! I haven’t repainted any of the windows. The only maintenance tasks I did were:
Greased the back door lock keeps
Replaced a weather strip on the threshold (thanks to the kids’ prams and pedal tractors)
Touched in some scuffing from the window cleaner
Touched up a few knocks and scratches around the frame and door
That’s it. And if I had chosen to repaint the windows at any point, they would have looked as good as new.
While the original product was solid, our design and specification have improved significantly since then.
Here’s what we do differently now:
Timber: We now use engineered hardwood or Accoya for greater stability, longevity, and sustainability.
Paint system: We’ve moved to Sirca microporous paint, which carries a 10-year guarantee and needs no repainting during that time.
Testing: This paint system passed the equivalent of 12–15 years of QUV weather testing in Italy.
Glazing method: We now use internal wet glazing with silicone instead of pins or external beading. This eliminates weak spots and allows the coating to last longer.
The original windows came with a 5-year guarantee. They performed flawlessly for 12 years with no repainting or major care.
Today’s products come with a 10-year no-maintenance guarantee, and customers can extend this indefinitely through our TimbaCare maintenance programme. That means true peace of mind.
Unlike uPVC, which tends to yellow and degrade after 10–15 years and cannot be refinished, our windows are built to last—and still look great decades later.
For a clear visual example of our product’s longevity, take a look at our 12-year success story in Wimbledon, where the timber sash windows are still in excellent condition over a decade later.
I no longer live in the Derbyshire house featured in this blog, but Gowercroft is now quoting to install windows and doors in the renovation of my current home. That kind of loyalty says everything about the quality and performance of our products.
If you’d like to explore timber windows and doors for your project, contact our team today. We’re always happy to share honest advice and help you find the right solution.
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Written by David Brown, founder of Gowercroft Joinery. David now serves as our Special Projects Director and continues to develop award-winning solutions for complex timber window and door projects across the UK.