PVC windows
PVC windows in Watermael-Boitsfort
Let’s be frank: the commune does not like PVC, and it says so in writing. That does not mean it is banned. Here is when it remains a defensible choice, and when it will lead you to a planning application.
The simplest case
Replacing PVC windows with PVC, like for like, in a house with no heritage protection. Same divisions, same opening sashes, same colour: that is where an exemption from planning permission can apply.
The conditionsThe commune’s view
What it holds against PVC
On its page about replacing windows, Watermael-Boitsfort advises always favouring wood, then devotes a paragraph to the question “Why not PVC?” Its arguments are environmental: the chlorine, dioxins and additives associated with the material.
We tell you this because it is how things are on the ground. If your project has to go through the commune, it is better to know its position before you choose than to find out part-way through.
The rules
When PVC needs planning permission
- It replaces wood or aluminium. The material changes. Homegrade, the Brussels Region’s housing advice centre, uses exactly this example: white wood replaced with white PVC, which requires planning permission.
- It changes the divisions or the colour. That is a change in appearance, which requires planning permission according to the commune.
- The house is in Le Logis or Floréal. The management plan describes painted wooden joinery. PVC falls outside it, and needs planning permission for a listed building.
Its strengths
Where PVC still makes sense
PVC needs no painting and stands up well to damp. For a house that already has PVC windows, replacing them with PVC is often still the most consistent choice, and the easiest one to get accepted.
The profiles come in white, in colours and in wood-effect finishes. But a colour other than the existing one is still a change in appearance in the commune’s eyes.
Where we stand
Advice, not a sales pitch
We fit wood, aluminium and PVC, and we are not tied to any brand. So we have no interest in pushing you towards one or the other.
On a façade where PVC would expose you to a long procedure for a modest gain, we will tell you. On a façade where it is the right choice, we will tell you that too.
Compare with woodFrequently asked questions
PVC in Watermael-Boitsfort: what you need to know
Can I replace my PVC windows with PVC?
Yes, and it is the simplest case. In a house with no heritage protection, a like-for-like replacement, with the same divisions, the same opening sashes and the same colour, can be exempt from planning permission, unless a regulation or a special plan for the area rules it out.
And replacing wood with PVC?
The material changes, so planning permission is required. Homegrade uses exactly this example: white wood replaced with white PVC.
Why is the commune wary of PVC?
For environmental reasons, which it sets out on its page about windows: the chlorine, dioxins and additives associated with the material.
Does PVC come in colours other than white?
Yes, in colours and in wood-effect finishes. Choosing a colour other than the one on the façade now is still a change in appearance, though, and that requires planning permission.
A frank opinion on your façade
Send us a photo of your current windows. We will tell you which material makes sense for your home, and what the commune is likely to think of it.
Did a rule change at the commune, or do you see a mistake on this page? Let us know and we will fix it.