Holywood has its own timber window specialists and we’re called Woodfellas. We produce, renovate, and install wooden windows from our workshop, serving residential properties and commercial properties across Central Scotland.
Every window that we make is made to measure from responsibly sourced treated pine or hardwood, and double glazing and improved security come as standard.
Tenement, extension, any property. Sash and case, casement, or a complete replacement set: we produce ourselves and put them in ourselves.
Our timber window range
Two types. Two different requirements. We make one for older properties, one for modern ones, but both are available in treated pine or hardwood, and both include double-glazed sealed units as standard.
Sash windows
The traditional Scottish window style.
Sash windows operate by sliding vertically within a box frame, via a system of cords and counterbalance weights. They represent the historic window type on most of Holywood’s period tenements, and they’re the only accepted replacement for listed buildings and conservation area properties where sash and case was the existing design.
We restore, sort, and build custom sash windows that nail the original profiles and proportions while giving you modern thermal and acoustic standards.
If your original frames are in good condition, restoration, draught-proofing and double glazing upgrades, is usually the best route. We carry out full assessments before recommending replacement, so you know exactly where you are.
Hinged windows
Casement windows are hinged and open out to open, creating a bigger opening for airflow and making access from inside straightforward. They’re standard on Holywood properties dating from the 1920s onwards, as well as rear extensions, dormers, and newer builds.
Side hung. Top hung. Fixed. We produce custom timber casement windows in all three. Every one custom-built. Fitted with double glazing as standard.
For more on styles and choices, our timber casement windows section has all the detail you need.
Wood windows, why they’re the best choice
There’s a good reason people have been fitting timber windows in homes for generations, and it’s not just because they always have. Timber genuinely outperforms UPVC and aluminium in a number of areas that count to households.
Natural thermal performance
The frame counts, not just the glass. Timber transfers heat far less quickly than aluminium and outperforms UPVC at the comparable frame thickness, giving better thermal efficiency from the frame itself, before the double glazing even gets involved.
Scotland depends on central heating. A timber frame’s thermal qualities make a tangible effect to what you pay, and that saving shows up over the years.
Repair, don’t replace
The key thing about timber windows is that if something gets damaged, you can sort it.
Got rot in a sill or bottom rail? You take it out and splice in fresh timber. Damaged section of frame? Rebuild. With UPVC, you don’t have that option. When it breaks, the entire thing ends up in landfill and you’re starting again.
Think about it: over the life of a property, being able to maintain and repair timber windows rather than replacing them cuts serious cost and reduces a lot of material waste.
The sustainable choice
Every bit of timber we select is sourced from ethically managed forest.
Timber is a renewable material that sequesters carbon for its entire life and breaks down cleanly at end of life. UPVC is a plastic derived from oil, and aluminium manufacturing is highly energy-intensive, worth knowing if the environment is important to you.
For people for whom the carbon footprint of their home is a consideration, timber is the obvious choice.
Beauty and appeal
Weight. Depth. Grain. No artificial alternative can match it.
On a traditional sandstone tenement, a pale stone villa, or a traditional Scottish cottage, timber windows just fit in a way UPVC never quite manages.
And they contribute real value to a property, especially period homes where period features are what buyers look for.
Double-glazed timber windows
Whether sash or casement, all the windows we manufacture come with double-glazed sealed units as standard. It’s always fitted.
The sealed unit fits within the timber frame and works with two layers of glass separated by a sealed cavity. The effect is less heat transfer and improved sound insulation.
Combined with the natural insulating characteristics of the timber frame, a double-glazed timber window gives you strong thermal and acoustic performance across both sash and casement types.
Need a traditional divided-light look? We fit glazing bars.
If your older timber windows are still solid but single glazed, we can in many cases convert them to double glazing as part of a restoration. This preserves the original frames and improves performance without a full replacement.
It happens a lot on Holywood’s older properties, existing sash windows that are well-constructed, but the single glazing admits cold and road noise like it’s not even there.
Every sealed unit we install complies with the latest building regulations for thermal performance.
Timber windows for conservation areas
There are more than 600 conservation areas across Scotland, a significant total.
Where a property falls within one of these areas, UPVC is not an permitted window material, and the local planning authority may require replacements to mirror the original window in material, design, and profile.
Twenty years of producing timber windows for conservation areas and listed buildings throughout Scotland. The council requirements? We’ve been through all of it. We understand what’s required.
We can advise on consent conditions and build windows that tick every planning condition while still giving you modern standards. Our sash and case windows page covers the regulations in more detail if you want to read up.
Wood types we use
Across all our window products, we work with two types of timber.
Treated pine: most popular option. Pressure-treated against rot and decay. Takes a painted finish well. Works reliably in Holywood’s damp climate.
If you want a natural timber look, or if you need something more durable, hardwood is the one, it’s inherently more resistant to deterioration and it takes stains and oils really well.
We recommend the right timber for each project, based on the property, its exposure, and the finish you need. Just let us know and we’ll guide you.
Timber windows FAQ
What styles of timber windows do you offer?
We manufacture sash and case windows and casement windows, both made in treated pine or hardwood. Sash and case: the traditional Holywood style, moving vertically in a timber box frame. Casements: hinged, swing outward. Fixed panels made too, for any opening configuration.
Are timber windows worth it over UPVC?
Yes, for performance, longevity, and looks, timber is the better choice. It insulates more effectively at the equivalent frame width, lasts significantly longer when looked after, and can be restored rather than replaced. It’s also the only material accepted for listed buildings and is strongly favoured in conservation areas.
Can you replace single glazing to double glazing in existing timber windows?
In many cases, yes! If your current frames are in sound condition, we can switch to double-glazed sealed units as part of a restoration, keeping the original frames and appearance while boosting thermal and acoustic performance.
No-obligation estimate for timber windows in Holywood
Whether it’s a single window repaired or a complete house of custom timber windows, call us on 07920 057592 or fill in the form on our contact page and we’ll be in touch within 24 hours.
We also build custom timber doors, bi-fold doors, and timber shop fronts, serving Holywood and Central Scotland.