Period Features For Your Home

Traditional period features have surged in popularity in recent years, with homeowners looking to bring a touch of character back into their homes.

Period homes are properties that were built during a certain period of British history, each with their own defining styles that have stood the test of time. Some commonly mentioned period styles are Georgian, Victorian, and 1930’s. 

While new homes offer more benefits in the way of energy efficiency and security, they often lack the character of homes from these eras. Adding period features to your property can restore some of this character and make your home unique to you.

If you want to add personality to your home with period features but don’t know where to start, we can help. Read on to find out how.

Front doors

As the first feature people see when they’re welcomed into your home, sprucing up your front door can be a great option to change the feel of your property.

If you currently live in a period property, you may have an original period front door that keeps in line with your home’s architectural style. Upgrading your door allows you to keep the charm of your original style, with the added benefits of modern-day features to keep your home insulated and secure.

We offer a range of traditional front doors to keep the charm of your period property without sacrificing any of these benefits. Our composite doors come in a range of designs that can give your home the wow factor you’re looking for, with added security, warmth and durability.

Our composite doors are made from a multitude of materials including PVC, insulating foam and GRP (glass reinforced plastic). These materials ensure your door will stand the test of time, being both weather resistant and secure, as well as easier to maintain than traditional door materials.

We offer a variety of colours and decorative glass, so you can design your new door to suit your style.

Door styles for every era

Georgian (1714-1837)

Spanning from 1714-1837, the Georgian era saw panelled doors start to gain popularity, making a move away from the simpler style of two panels.

Georgian style doors generally contained 4-6 panels, to form a classic, symmetrical look. These would typically be made of wood, but towards the end of the period glass was often added to the two upper panels.

Try our Muirfield doors to bring the Georgian look to your home.

Victorian (1837-1901)

Front doors were of high importance in the Victorian era, as they made a statement about the wealth of a home’s occupants. During this era, six-panelled doors were replaced by four-panelled designs as they grew in popularity, and stained glass was introduced with varying colours and patterns.

They were often panelled and carved, and included stained glass or brass furniture to enhance their look. These features would make the doors look more expensive to passers by.  

Colour was also a big feature in the Victorian era, and brighter colours became more common during this time. 

The doors were typically surrounded by a matching frame, and sometimes contained a hood above the door to protect from the weather.

To achieve a Victorian look, take a look at our Carnoustie, Birkdale and Penina doors. 

1930’s

Door styles saw another significant change in the 1930’s. 

In this era, the placement of letterboxes was moved up to become one-third above and two-thirds below. Stained glass windows were often included in the top panel, with two or three vertical panels below the letterbox.

The Art Deco style was gaining popularity in this period, with bold colours and shapes becoming the norm, so many 1930’s doors would contain large stained glass panels with floral patterns painted in bright colours.

To reflect the 1930’s door styles, our St Andrews doors come in both solid and glazed options.

We also offer a range of composite sidelights for all doors, to allow more light into your home.

Windows

Another key feature of period properties that can give your home a traditional feel is your windows. Windows are often referred to as the ‘eyes of the house’, and play a vital role in determining the appearance of your property.

Older windows in particular can be prone to decay, so updating old windows is recommended to protect you from the elements, but this doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice the traditional feel of your home.

We offer both box sash and mock sash windows to suit your needs and add an element of character to your property. Our windows come in a range of styles; you may choose to add arch-top inserts or sash horns to add a Victorian element to your home, or give it a Georgian feel with a Georgian bar layout. 

Our range of window colours and finishes means you can customise your windows to suit your preferences.

Box sash windows

Box sash windows provide the classic look of a period home alongside the strong energy/heat retention, sound-proofing and high-security of PVC-U. The grid bar layout is reflective of the Georgian era, when windows were built up of multiple small panes of glass set in their own small frames.

These windows are characterised by their sliding sashes, which slide up and down to open or close. This sliding feature is beneficial to homes which may have limited space outside the window.

The two sliding sashes also make these windows easy to clean and maintain as the panes tilt inwards, so they can be cleaned from inside the home.

Mock sash windows

If you’re looking to get the appearance of a traditional sash window without the vertical sliding functionality, a mock sash window could be the right choice for you. 

When installed in your home, these windows reflect the style of traditional period features but function like a normal casement window, meaning they are attached to the frame with hinges and open outwards like a door.

These can be a good option for people who want to keep a casement function, but enjoy the character of a sash window. 

Restoration

If you have original period windows or doors in your property and want to preserve the existing stained glass, we’ve got you covered.

We can extract the stained glass from your windows or doors and use this to embellish your new piece. This is a great way to ensure you can keep your original period style, while gaining all the benefits of installing a new feature.

Once removed, your stained glass will be meticulously cleaned and restored to its full glory, before being reinstalled in your new door or window.

Alternatively, why not design your own stained glass? We can fit this into any door or window you choose, so you can personalise your period features and add character to your home.

If you would simply like to choose your own stained glass, we offer a wide range of designs to suit every style of home. You can find out more about these on our website.

Commonly asked questions

Why should I replace my original period windows or doors?

While original period features can add real character to your home, they often don’t provide the benefits of the materials we use today. Replacing your windows and doors with traditional-style upgrades can help ensure your home stays warm and secure while maintaining its character.

All of our doors and windows come with exceptional energy efficiency, keeping your home warm and comfortable in all seasons and helping you save on energy bills. They also come with robust security features, designed to keep you safe in your home.

As a testament to their quality, we offer a 10-year guarantee on all of our products.

Are PVC-U sash windows worth it?

Yes! PVC-U is a sturdy and durable material which helps you improve the security and energy efficiency of your home at an affordable cost. The thermal efficiency of PVC-U means you could save money on your energy bills, and it requires no maintenance other than a wipe down with a damp cloth.

If you opt for a PVC-U sliding sash window these offer excellent fire safety, as they create a large enough opening to escape through in the event of a fire.

Your PVC-U windows can also be customised with multiple style and colour options to match the architectural aesthetic of your home.

Is PVC-U sustainable?

PVC-U is recognised as a top choice for sustainability, achieving the highest rating possible in the Building Research Establishment (BRE) Green Guide to Specification (June 2008).

The material is designed to last upwards of 35 years (and much longer unofficially), and research shows that 95% of end-of-life PVC-U windows can be recycled.

Eurocell, our window frame components supplier, reuses almost 100% of its waste product and buys waste product from other sources for recycling, which means you can feel comfortable knowing your windows are good for the environment as well as your home. 

To find out more about our range of products, get in touch with us. 

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