Woodfellas started in Thornliebank producing timber windows, and that’s what we’re still doing. We produce, refurbish, and install timber windows from our Thornliebank base, working across houses and commercial clients throughout Central Scotland.
Every window we produce is custom-built from ethically sourced treated pine or hardwood timber, with double glazing and improved security fitted as standard.
Sash and case for a tenement? Casements for a contemporary extension? A full new set for any property? We produce them all ourselves and put them in ourselves.
What timber windows we make
Two types of timber window. Each suited to different properties and needs. Both made in treated pine or hardwood. Both with double-glazed sealed units as standard.
Sash windows
Scotland’s original window style.
Sash windows move up and down within a timber box frame, with a system of cords and counterbalance weights doing the work. They’re the historic window type on most of Thornliebank’s Victorian and Edwardian tenements, and the required replacement for listed buildings and conservation area properties where sash and case was the existing design.
We restore, fix, and make custom sash windows designed to match original profiles and proportions. The result is modern thermal and acoustic results in a window that fits right in.
A lot of the time, restoring the existing frames, draught-proofing and double glazing, is the better call if the frames themselves are still in good shape. We do a full inspection before recommending full replacement.
Outward-opening casement windows
Casement windows open out on hinges, wider opening for airflow, easy cleaning from inside. You’ll find them on Thornliebank properties built from the 1920s onwards, and on extensions, dormers, and new builds.
Side hung, top hung, fixed, we produce custom timber casement windows in all three setups. Like our sash windows, every single one is built to order and double glazed as standard.
Our timber casement windows page has more detail on all listed options and choices.
Why timber is the right choice for windows
Timber windows have been around for generations, and there’s a good reason they’ve stayed the first choice. It’s not just tradition, timber actually outperforms UPVC and aluminium in a number of areas that matter to property owners.
Natural insulating properties
Timber conducts heat far less quickly than aluminium. Outperforms UPVC at equivalent frame thicknesses. Better thermal performance from the frame itself, before the double glazing even gets involved.
In Scotland, where heating bills are a real issue, the thermal properties of a timber frame make a genuine impact, and that adds up over time.
Repair before replace
Things get damaged. With timber, that’s not the end of the story. You can fix it.
Rot in a sill or bottom rail? Cut it out and fit fresh timber. Damaged part of frame? Replace in section. UPVC isn’t repairable. When it fails, the entire unit goes to landfill and you’re back to square one.
Over the lifespan of a property, maintaining and repairing timber windows rather than going for full replacement saves money and cuts material waste. It’s a simple calculation.
Timber sustainability
The timber we work with is sourced from ethically managed woodland, every bit of it.
Timber is a renewable material, it holds carbon as it works and biodegrades naturally when it’s done. UPVC is plastic made from oil, and aluminium manufacturing takes a significant amount of power.
Concerned about your home’s environmental impact? Timber. Clear choice.
Character and property value
Weight. Depth. Grain. No man-made alternative can match it.
On a traditional sandstone tenement, a light stone villa, or a period Scottish cottage, timber windows belong in a way UPVC just can’t. Worth noting if aesthetics count to you.
Timber windows also add measurable value to a property, especially period properties where original or sympathetic features constitute part of the overall appeal.
Double glazing in wooden windows
Every window we build, sash or casement, includes double-glazed sealed units as standard. No add-ons needed.
Two panes of glass. A sealed cavity between them. The sealed unit fits inside the timber frame and manages the rest, cutting heat transfer, improving sound insulation.
The timber frame does its bit. The double glazing does its bit. Together they deliver excellent thermal and acoustic results across both types, sash or casement, same standard.
Need glazing bars for a traditional divided-light look? We can add those too.
If your older timber windows are still in good condition but single glazed, we can often switch them to double glazing as part of a restoration programme. This keeps the existing frames and lifts performance without a full replacement.
This is a frequent project on Thornliebank’s older properties. The existing sash windows are well-built, but the single glazing allows in cold and street noise, and converting to double glazing addresses both.
Every sealed unit we install complies with current building regulations governing thermal standards.
Conservation area timber windows
Scotland has over 600 officially recognised conservation areas, and if you’re in one, it matters.
In a conservation area? UPVC is not an acceptable window material, and your local council will often require replacements that replicate the original in material, design, and profile.
Over 20 years making timber windows for conservation areas and listed buildings throughout Scotland, we know what the council requires.
We can advise on consent requirements and make windows that satisfy every planning condition while giving you modern thermal standards. Our sash and case windows page covers the relevant regulations in greater detail.
Timber options
Woodfellas works with two types of timber across its full window product range.
Treated pine is what most people choose, pressure-treated to resist rot and decay, accepts a painted finish well, and holds up in Thornliebank’s wet climate with no a problem.
Want a natural timber look? Need extra hardwearing performance? Hardwood. Naturally more immune to damage. Accepts stains and oils really well.
Property, exposure, finish, three things we consider before advising on the right timber for each project. Get those right and the rest follows.
Wooden windows, frequently asked questions
What types of timber windows do you make?
We make sash and case windows and casement windows, both made in treated pine or hardwood. Sash and case are the traditional Thornliebank style, moving vertically within a timber box frame. Casement windows open out. We also make fixed window panels for any window opening setup.
Timber or UPVC, which is the better window?
Yes, for results, lifespan, and looks, timber is better. It insulates more effectively at the equivalent frame thickness, lasts significantly longer when maintained, and can be fixed rather than fully replaced. It’s also the only material permitted for listed buildings and is highly preferred in conservation areas.
Can you upgrade single glazing with double glazing in existing timber windows?
In most cases, yes. If your existing timber frames are in solid condition, we can switch the glazing to double-glazed sealed units as part of a restoration. That keeps the original frames and look while lifting thermal and acoustic performance.
Get your free timber window quote in Thornliebank
Whether it’s a single window fixed 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 get back to you within 24 hours.
We also produce custom timber doors, bi-fold doors, and timber shop fronts, serving Thornliebank and Central Scotland.