Entries by Michal Plonski

Trickle Vents in Timber Windows: Building Regulations Explained

In this article, you’ll discover: Introduction Nobody gets excited about trickle vents. They’re not glamorous, they don’t feature in design magazines, and most homeowners would rather they didn’t exist. But Building Regulations require them in most new and replacement windows — and understanding the rules helps you comply while minimising visual impact. Since June 2022, […]

Conservation Area Window Replacement: The Complete Planning Guide

In this article, you’ll discover: Introduction Replacing windows in a conservation area isn’t like replacing windows anywhere else. What would be straightforward permitted development elsewhere often requires formal planning permission, heritage impact assessments, and careful material specification. Get it wrong, and you face enforcement action, mandatory removal of non-compliant windows, and significant financial loss. Get […]

Timber Bay Windows: Types, Costs and Design Considerations

In this article, you’ll discover: Introduction Bay windows transform rooms. They flood interiors with light, create usable window seats or display areas, and add genuine architectural presence to otherwise ordinary facades. Done well, they’re one of the most impactful home improvements you can make. But bay windows are also among the most complex window projects. […]

Arched Timber Windows: Gothic, Romanesque and Curved Designs

In this article, you’ll discover: Introduction Arched windows make statements. Whether it’s a Gothic pointed arch in a church conversion, a Romanesque curve in a Victorian villa, or a subtle segmental arch adding character to a cottage, curved windows create architectural interest that rectangular openings simply can’t match. But arched windows are genuinely challenging to […]

Hardwood Windows: The Complete Species Comparison Guide

In this article, you’ll discover: Introduction “I want hardwood windows” is something we hear weekly. But hardwood isn’t a single material — it’s a category containing dozens of species with dramatically different properties. Oak and meranti are both hardwoods, yet they differ in durability, appearance, workability, cost and environmental impact. Choosing the wrong species wastes […]

Timber Windows: Everything UK Homeowners Need to Know

In this article, you’ll discover: Introduction Here’s a question we hear constantly: “Are timber windows worth the extra money?” The short answer is yes — but the full picture is more nuanced than most websites will tell you. Timber windows have been the backbone of British architecture for centuries. From Georgian townhouses to Victorian terraces, […]

Wooden Frame Windows: The Complete UK Construction Guide

In this article, you’ll discover: Introduction Here’s something that might surprise you: the frame accounts for roughly 70% of a window’s overall performance. Yet most homeowners spend hours researching glazing options and barely glance at what’s holding that glass in place. We’ve seen it countless times. A customer invests in triple glazing, only to wonder […]

Georgian Windows: The Definitive 6-Over-6 Design Guide

In this article, you’ll discover: Introduction Walk down any Georgian terrace in Bath, Edinburgh, or Dublin, and you’ll notice something striking: the windows. Tall, elegant, perfectly proportioned — they’re as much a part of Georgian architecture as the symmetrical facades they sit within. But here’s what many homeowners don’t realise. Those beautiful six-over-six sash windows […]