Windows and doors that respect Chester's older streets and suit its newer suburbs

A city of contrasts

Few places on our patch show as much contrast street to street as Chester. Close to the centre you find Victorian and Georgian era houses with tall sash proportions, decorative glazing bars and, in some cases, original timber joinery that has lasted well but is now draughty or hard to open. Further out the city gives way to comfortable suburban semis from various decades, and beyond that newer estate housing with modern openings and simpler frames.

Because we cover Chester as part of our roughly 30 mile radius from the Wirral, we are used to moving between these very different jobs, often in the same week, and pricing each one on what the house actually needs rather than a one size fits all approach.

Working with older, more traditional homes

For period properties near the centre, a straightforward uPVC casement rarely does the house justice and can also run into local planning considerations. We offer timber and timber effect windows, including sash style options, designed to keep the character of the original joinery while giving you proper modern performance behind it.

• Timber and timber effect frames for period proportions
• Sash style replacement windows where the original character calls for it
• Slimline glazing bar patterns to keep the original look

Checking planning and conservation status

Some parts of central Chester fall within conservation areas or have other local designations that affect what can be fitted. We are not the local authority and would never claim to know the status of a specific street, so our advice is always the same: check with Chester's local planning department before ordering, and we are happy to supply the product details they usually ask for.

Straightforward upgrades for suburban and newer homes

Away from the centre, most Chester homes are suburban semis or newer estate builds where a well specified uPVC or aluminium window does the job without any of the conservation considerations above. These jobs tend to be quicker to price and fit, and are where a lot of our composite door and bifold door work in the city happens too.

Handling older joinery on site

On period properties near the centre, removing old timber frames often reveals things a quick look from the street would not show, such as a lintel that has moved slightly or a reveal that is no longer square after decades of settlement. Our installers are used to working through these issues on site, fitting packers and adjusting the new frame so it sits correctly rather than forcing a standard size into an opening that has changed shape over time. On newer estate housing this is far less of an issue, since openings tend to be more consistent and standard sizes usually fit without much adjustment.

Doors, conservatories and warm roofs across the city

Whatever the era of the house, front doors and conservatories come up regularly in Chester. A composite door suits both older townhouses and suburban semis well, and where an existing conservatory has become too cold or too hot to use, a warm roof replacement is often a simpler fix than starting again.

Asked on Chester surveys

Do I need planning permission to replace windows in Chester?

It depends entirely on the property and whether it sits within a conservation area or has other restrictions, so please check with the local council before ordering. We can supply any product information they need.

Can you fit timber windows that match a period property?

Yes, we offer timber and timber effect options, including sash style windows, designed to suit older Chester properties while giving modern performance.

Do you cover the whole of Chester or just the centre?

We cover the whole city and surrounding suburbs as part of our roughly 30 mile radius from the Wirral, from central period property through to newer estates.

Is it more expensive to fit windows on an older Chester property?

Timber and sash style options generally cost more than standard uPVC casements, but we always give a fixed written price after survey so there are no surprises.

How far do you travel to reach Chester for a survey?

Chester sits well within the area we regularly cover from our Wirral base, so travel is not an issue for a free survey or for fitting, and we schedule central and suburban jobs around the same working week without any extra call out charge.