Timber Windows in London
London's housing stock was built in timber, and it looks right in timber. AMB Joinery manufactures bespoke timber windows london homeowners can rely on for the long term — sash, box sash, casement and cottage styles, all designed to your property and made in our workshop. We do not stock standard sizes. Every window we produce is drawn to your exact opening, your building's architectural character and the finish you want. Whether you are replacing deteriorated originals in a Grade II listed townhouse or specifying new windows for a rear extension, we have the expertise to get it right.
Why Choose Timber Windows?
Longevity That Justifies the Outlay
A well-built timber window, properly finished and maintained, will outlast most other materials available on the market. Many original Victorian and Georgian timber windows in London are still performing after 120 years. uPVC windows, by contrast, typically carry a manufacturer's guarantee of ten to fifteen years before colour fading, seal failure and frame distortion become an issue.
Repairable, Not Disposable
When something goes wrong with a timber window — a dropped sash, a failed section of sill, paint that has peeled — the affected component can be repaired or replaced without touching the rest of the window. This is not the case with uPVC or aluminium: once a sealed unit fails or a chamber cracks, the entire frame is often uneconomical to repair. Timber's repairability makes it the lower-cost option over a building's lifetime.
Authenticity and Aesthetic Quality
Period London properties were built with timber windows because that is what was available — but also because timber profiles have a precision and warmth that no extruded material can match. The sight lines are slimmer, the moulding detail is sharper and the finished look sits in harmony with the surrounding architecture in a way that other materials rarely achieve.
Accepted in Conservation Areas and Listed Buildings
Most London conservation areas and all listed building consent regimes strongly prefer or require timber windows. Conservation officers routinely reject uPVC replacements in protected streets and buildings. Timber is not just an aesthetic preference — in many of the properties we work in, it is the only practical choice for a compliant planning outcome.
Our Timber Window Range
Sash Windows
The single-hung or double-hung sliding sash window is the defining feature of Victorian and Edwardian terraces across London. Our sash windows are made with mortise-and-tenon joinery, draught-sealed meeting rails and the exact glazing bar pattern your property requires. We offer painted and stained finishes, and can incorporate slim double-glazed units where the reveal depth allows.
Box Sash Windows
The authentic Georgian solution: a double-hung sash window operated by concealed weights and pulleys running in a box frame built into the reveal. Box sash windows have slimmer visible profiles than spring-balance alternatives and are the correct specification for pre-Victorian properties. We manufacture to original profiles and can match neighbouring elevations on terraced streets where consistency matters.
Timber Sash Windows
Our timber sash window range covers a broader specification palette for homeowners who want the sash aesthetic in a contemporary or non-listed setting. This includes wider glazing arrangements, custom stain finishes and modern hardware options. Suitable for new-build extensions and refurbishments where the brief calls for a timber window without a strict heritage specification.
Casement Windows
Casement windows — side-hung on traditional butt hinges — are the appropriate choice for many property types outside the Georgian and Victorian sash tradition, including Arts and Crafts houses, inter-war semis and contemporary extensions. We manufacture single and double casements, with or without a fixed top light, in softwood and hardwood. A dedicated casement window page is coming shortly; contact us in the meantime to discuss your requirement.
Upgrade & Repair Services
Not every window needs to be replaced. If your existing timber frames are structurally sound, we offer a range of services to improve their performance without the cost or disruption of full replacement.
Double Glazing Upgrade
We can often reglaze existing sash or casement windows with slim double-glazed units, significantly improving thermal performance and reducing noise.
Sash Window Repair & Restoration
Dropped sashes, broken cords, failed putty glazing, decayed sills and draught problems are all repairable. We assess the condition of your windows on survey and give an honest recommendation.
Sash Window Replacement
When repair is no longer economic or the frames are beyond saving, we manufacture direct replacements to match the original profile and glazing arrangement.
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Repair Before You Replace
There is a strong sustainability case for repairing timber windows rather than replacing them. A timber window contains a significant amount of embodied carbon — the energy used to grow, dry, mill and work the timber. Throwing away a structurally sound frame to replace it with a new product, however good, wastes that embodied carbon.
We take a genuinely impartial view at survey. If your existing windows can be repaired to a satisfactory standard, we will tell you so — even if the commercial outcome for us would be better as a replacement. In our experience, London homeowners appreciate this honesty, and it tends to be the beginning of a long-term relationship rather than a one-off transaction.
Repair typically makes sense when: the main frames and linings are sound; the decay is limited to sills, beads or glazing putty; the sashes themselves are intact and not racked; and the existing glazing bar profile is worth preserving. Full replacement makes sense when: the frames are structurally compromised; extensive previous repairs have weakened the joinery beyond further remedy; or the existing windows are a non-original replacement of poor quality.
Areas Served
We install timber windows across all London boroughs. Our team regularly works in Hackney, Islington, Camden, Kensington & Chelsea, Wandsworth, Southwark, Greenwich, Lewisham, Barnet, Haringey, Ealing, Richmond and beyond. If you are within Greater London, we can reach you
Frequently Asked Questions
Are timber windows more expensive than uPVC?
The supply and installation cost of bespoke timber windows is typically higher than standard uPVC. However, when you factor in lifespan (50+ years for timber versus 15-20 for uPVC), repairability and the avoided cost of repeat replacements, timber is frequently the more economical choice over a building's lifetime. For period properties, the comparison is also somewhat academic: in many conservation areas, uPVC is not a compliant option.
Can timber windows be double glazed?
Yes, in most cases. We use slim double-glazed units (typically 4-6-4mm or 4-8-4mm sealed units) that fit within traditional sash and casement profiles without requiring an excessively deep reveal. Where the existing reveal depth is very shallow, secondary glazing is an alternative that achieves a meaningful thermal improvement without altering the external appearance at all.
How long do timber windows last?
With correct installation, an appropriate paint or stain system and routine maintenance (painting every five to eight years, checking putty and draught seals periodically), a bespoke timber window should give fifty years or more of service. The original timber windows in many London Georgian townhouses are now over 200 years old and still functioning.
Are timber windows suitable for conservation areas?
Yes — in practice, timber windows are the preferred specification for conservation areas and listed buildings across London. Conservation officers consistently accept timber like-for-like replacements, and many will refuse uPVC alternatives. If you are in a conservation area and unsure what is permissible, we can advise based on experience with your local authority's approach.
Discuss Your Windows With Us
Speak to our joinery team about your project. A free survey is the first step — it costs you nothing and gives us everything we need to produce an accurate, detailed quote.
