uPVC Wood Effect Windows

uPVC wood effect windows are ordinary uPVC frames wrapped in a textured, printed foil that copies the colour and grain of timber, so from the street they read as painted or stained wood while inside they behave like any modern uPVC window. They suit houses where plain white looks too stark, and they need far less upkeep than real joinery.

We fit and respray uPVC windows across Devon, Cornwall, Dorset and Somerset from our base in Cranbrook near Exeter. This page explains how the finish is made, where it works well, where real timber is the better answer, and what to do if an older woodgrain window has started to look dated.

How the wood effect is made

The frame itself is the same extruded uPVC used for white windows. In the factory a thin decorative film is bonded to the visible faces under heat and pressure. The film carries a printed grain pattern and a lightly embossed surface, so it catches the light in a similar way to planed wood. Some products are foiled on the outside only, with a white face to the room; others are foiled on both sides for a consistent look throughout the house.

Because the colour sits in a film rather than in paint, there is nothing to sand or recoat as part of normal care. The trade off is that the choice is limited to the foils the profile maker produces, and a damaged foil is repaired rather than simply touched up.

Where wood effect uPVC looks right

Profile choice matters as much as colour. A flush casement or a slim sculptured frame carries the timber look far better than a chunky chamfered frame, which can make the foil look like exactly what it is.

• Cottages and older terraces where white frames jar against stone, render or brick
• Barn conversions and rural homes that suit a darker, natural tone
• Houses where one elevation already has timber and the rest need to blend in
• Owners who want the look of wood without a repainting cycle

When real timber is the better choice

On a listed building, and often in a conservation area, uPVC of any finish is unlikely to be accepted, and the planning authority will expect timber made to the original pattern. The same applies where the character of the house depends on fine glazing bars and putty lines that uPVC cannot reproduce. In those cases our timber casement and double glazed timber windows are the honest recommendation, even though the upkeep is higher.

Looking after a woodgrain finish

Wash the frames with warm water and a mild detergent a few times a year, rinse and dry them. Avoid abrasive pads, solvent cleaners and pressure washers held close to the surface, because they can lift the film at edges and joints. Keep drainage slots clear and check gaskets for shrinkage, particularly on elevations that face the sea or the prevailing weather.

Darker foils absorb more heat in direct sun. That is normal for good quality systems, but it is one reason fitting tolerances and proper packing matter on south facing walls.

Changing the colour of existing wood effect windows

Brown woodgrain frames from earlier decades are one of the most common reasons people call us. If the frames still open, lock and seal properly, they do not have to be replaced to look current. We clean, key and prime the surface and apply a 2-pack coating on site, taking dated brown or golden oak to a modern colour such as anthracite grey without removing a single window.

If the frames are failing, replacement is the better investment, and new windows can be supplied in a factory foil or a sprayed finish so they sit comfortably alongside any frames you keep.

Questions people ask