Old windows are a drain on your wallet. Heat escapes. Drafts creep in. Noise from the street keeps you up at night. It’s money out the window, quite literally.
The Scottish market has been busy lately. Edinburgh and Glasgow have both posted strong sales figures over the past year. Aberdeen’s market has been slower but activity is picking up.
Buyers are pickier now though. They want warmth. They want low bills. They want kerb appeal.
The right windows and doors tick all those boxes.
Aberdeen’s Granite Terraces
Aberdeen has a look all its own. Grey granite everywhere you turn. Row after row of it. These homes have character but they need windows that match the period style or they end up looking odd.
Sash windows tend to do well on Victorian and Georgian properties in the city. White timber frames pop against the stone. They look sharp and suit the era.
Out in the suburbs, newer homes suit casement windows. They swing open to catch the North Sea breeze and don’t need much upkeep.
Edinburgh’s Mix of Old and New
The capital has a bit of everything. Tenement flats stacked four storeys high. Grand Georgian townhouses on the New Town grid. Modern blocks sprouting up around the city fringe.
Planning rules in the Old Town and conservation areas are tight. Timber sash windows are often the only option. That’s no bad thing. They suit the buildings and protect the city’s famous skyline.
Elsewhere, homeowners have more choice. Tilt and turn windows are catching on in flats. They pivot inward so you can wipe down the glass without hanging out the window.
Glasgow’s Red Sandstone Character
Glasgow’s housing stock is all over the map. You’ve got red sandstone tenements in the West End. Art Deco villas in King’s Park. Pebble-dash semis stretching out to the suburbs. Sleek waterfront flats down by the Clyde.
Bay windows are a signature of the city’s tenements. Fit them with double or triple glazing and you’ll notice the difference straight away. Less heat lost. Lower bills. Quieter rooms.
Composite front doors have taken off in Glasgow. People like that they look like timber but last longer. No rot. No warping. No fading every few years. They’re harder to force open as well which matters in a city.
Matching Windows to Property Type
Not every window suits every house. Pick the wrong style and it’ll jar with the rest of the building.
Sash windows belong on Victorian and Edwardian homes. That’s what the builders fitted back then and it still looks right today. Newer sash designs have a tilt function so you can clean the outside pane from indoors.
If you’ve got a 1930s semi, casement windows with glazing bars are a solid bet. That cottage-style look was common in that era.
Post-war properties often have larger openings. Picture windows work well here and bring in plenty of light.
New builds go for clean lines mostly. Anthracite grey frames are everywhere at the moment. White still sells well too.
Front Doors That Stand Out
A tired front door drags down the whole house. A fresh one lifts it.
Composite doors have taken over from timber and uPVC. Homeowners like the strength and the fact the colour doesn’t fade. Navy blue has been popular lately. Racing green too.
Round the back, French doors or bi-folds open up a kitchen or living room to the garden. They blur the line between inside and out.
Worth the Spend
New windows and doors won’t go unnoticed. Estate agents report that upgraded homes sell faster. Buyers see them as move-in ready.
Energy bills fall. Comfort goes up. Street appeal improves.
For homeowners in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and beyond, it’s an upgrade that pays back.
