Written by Wood Campus
Industry | News
New research from the British Woodworking Federation (BWF) reveals signs that timber windows and doors are viewed positively by homeowners, but that misunderstandings over their performance persist.
The survey of 1,500 homeowners unearthed the main factors guiding product choice. It found that, aside from cost, for both windows and doors energy efficiency was the main priority for homeowners when selecting products (50% for windows and 39% for doors).
When it came to windows, cost and energy efficiency weren’t the only significant factors for homeowners. Aesthetic appeal was most important to almost a third (32%), while the source and sustainability of timber was an important consideration for almost half (48%) of all homeowners, and almost three-quarters (73%) of period property owners.
For doors, aesthetic appeal was also a prominent factor, a top priority for 32%, with product lifespan (31%) and security features (24%) also important.
Encouragingly, 59% of homeowners felt that timber windows offered a wider opportunity for design and style options than alternatives, and 56% thought timber windows were more sustainable.
“The beautiful aesthetic of timber has always been its enduring appeal, whatever the property type,” said Helen Hewitt, CEO at the BWF. “And with timber products being designed to be repaired rather than replaced, they are a naturally sustainable choice. It’s hugely encouraging that the benefits of timber are recognised by those who may be considering replacing windows or doors in their homes or buying properties in need of renovation.”
Despite positive perceptions, research also revealed a number of misconceptions over timber windows as compared to alternatives:
- Fewer than half (40%) believed timber windows offer high energy efficiency performance
- Only 35% thought timber windows have the same U-value performance
- More than half (57%) believed timber windows cost more to purchase and install
- 70% of homeowners believed timber windows have a shorter lifespan
To read the full article visit: TTJ
More News
Learning Through Timber
The new ‘living lab’ at NMITE will act as a home for Centre of Advanced Timber Technology students to learn more about timber and a net zero approach to building materials.A new purpose built 2,500sqm ‘living lab’ for the New Model Institute for Technology and...
World’s tallest wooden building to be built in Perth after developers win approval
Artist’s impression. Photograph: Elenberg FraserDevelopers say South Perth’s C6 building will be made up of 42% timber and be carbon negative Western Australia is set to become home to the world’s tallest timber building, a “revolutionary” 50-storey hybrid design...
The UK continues to embrace timber-based construction
The UK’s three largest housebuilders (Barratt Developments, Taylor Wimpey, and Persimmon) have announced plans to open dedicated factories for timber-based construction materials. Klober is a roofing accessories provider looking to convince construction companies to...
ARUP – Seven perspectives on the use of timber in building design and construction
ARUP are a global collective of designers, consultants and experts dedicated to sustainable development. We use technology, imagination and rigour to shape a better world. For over 75 years, Arup has been recognised for its vision, talent and tenacity. Dedicated to...
Timber Development UK and Structural Timber Association sign MOU
Timber Development UK (TDUK) and Structural Timber Association (STA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to help grow and develop the timber construction market. Under the terms of the agreement the two parties have agreed to form a partnership in order to...
Worlds largest wooden city Stockholm
Scandinavian studios Henning Larsen and White Arkitekter are designing Stockholm Wood City, which will become the world's largest mass-timber development and have the "serenity of a forest". Set to be built in the Stockholm neighbourhood of Sickla, the project was...
Data & the Three Pillars of Sustainable Forestry
According to Rolf Schmitz, co-founder and co-CEO of CollectiveCrunch and the creator of Linda Forest software solutions, digitising the world’s forests is essential to understanding and fighting climate change. If a tree falls in the forest, it hardly matters if it...
FSC awareness doubled since pre-lockdown
Awareness of the FSC logo in the UK has increased 45% since 2019[1], and the proportion of those claiming both good and rough knowledge of the logo has more than doubled. With data from the Office for National Statistics revealing that nature had supported people’s...
Persimmon gets green light for timber frame factory
Planning approval has been granted by Charnwood Borough Council for Persimmon to build its new Space4 timber frame factory near Loughborough. The factory is believed to be the biggest of its kind in the UK and will produce timber frame units for up to 7,000 homes a...
Asia’s largest timber building
‘Like entering a forest’: Inside Asia’s largest timber building Singapore CNN — Singapore has long billed itself as a “garden city,” a term coined in the 1960s by the country’s founding father and former prime minister, Lee Kuan Yew. In the decades since, the island...