UPVC windows replacement after 20-30 Years

Modern windows will be moremthermally efficient, the design and performance has improved significantly in that time, especially for the glass units. I'd replace.

Just replaced ours, 22 yes old. I live on South Coast so Salt and wind has destroyed the hinges, rubbers etc.
The glass for the new ones are supposedly much better at regulating heat, than the 22yr old ones.

If the frames are OK, these are all replaceable parts......depends on budget and overall state of them.

We've got 1999 wooden windows. We had all glazing units replaced as well as some hinges and handles.
New cheapest replacement windows quote was £8.5k.
New glass and refurb was £1350 plus a weekend up a ladder for me to repaint them.

Need to deal with this as well, late 90s UPVC starting to fail, modern ones would be much better.

We had three c. 25-30 year old upvc windows replaced last summer.

The new frames were hugely thick compared to the old ones. They have multiple chambers running through them to insulate better.

The units are much thicker too. Took one guy to take them down the ladder, but two of then to struggle back up.

The rooms in question are noticeably warmer now. No empirical data, but they are lots better. The only real problem with the old ones was the rubber gasket shrinking. The frames were sound.

We've got a mid 90s Anglian conservatory, the roof is an issue so had someone around. He used some gadget on the glass to check its efficiency and said the windows are fine and we just need a new roof.

My point might be that there was a range of quality of windows in the 90s and age might not automatically mean they are rubbish.

We changed our old UPVC frames as the new ones support triple glazed units which as others have said are thicker and far more thermally efficient.
Better to swap the lot out and know that you are good for the next 25-30 years

Depends on the gap I'd have thought. Some old units are very small compared to new glazing

Yeah but... If the example above is typical (£8k vs £1.3k), you've got to go a long way to get the £6.7k back in fuel savings (assuming no leaks, drafts etc).

The manufacturing and fitting presumably represents the biggest eco costs so like cars, the cheapest/greanest one is the one you already have.

Unless they're shagged or you want a style/colour change, replacement isn't necessarily the best for £££'s or the environment.

90's windows, nah, their only a few years old. 1995 was only, like 5 years ago or something.

We have just replaced all of ours, plus back door and patio doors. 4 bed detached house was a new build in 2002, so 20 yr old cheap windows as part of a new estate build out. They were drafty and 2 units were blown. Came to about 12k incl decoration, vat etc.

They are noticeably quieter and draft free. Also interesting that, in common with other houses in the estate who have also replaced, they get external condensation some mornings, so must have decent thermal properties. The old ones were warm enough on outside surface to clear the condensation …

Modern windows will be more thermally efficient,

Curious, is this actually the case?

Eg all our 20+ year old windows are Pilkington K glass etc

Curious, is this actually the case?

Also interesting that, in common with other houses in the estate who have also replaced, they get external condensation some mornings, so must have decent thermal properties. The old ones were warm enough on outside surface to clear the condensation …

Also interesting that, in common with other houses in the estate who have also replaced, they get external condensation some mornings, so must have decent thermal properties.

We get that on our 20+ year old ones....

They were pretty high end when we got them e.g. the UPVC has minimal signs of UV fading, all rubber seals are intact etc. They've stood up to the elements very well.

Only maintenance, so far, is one window has had new hinges and a new locking mechanism - but the actual window unit itself is fine.