Wooden windows
Wooden windows in Watermael-Boitsfort
It is the material the commune recommends, and the only one described in the heritage management plan for Le Logis and Floréal. A well-chosen wooden window, properly fitted and maintained in good time, will last for decades. Neglected, it deteriorates quickly. Here is how to stay on the right side of that line.
Wood replaced with wood
Same material, same divisions, same colour: in a house with no heritage protection, this is the situation where an exemption from planning permission can apply. Changing the material, on the other hand, means applying for planning permission.
The exact rulesThe commune’s view
Why wood is favoured here
Watermael-Boitsfort makes no secret of its preference. On its page about replacing windows, it advises you to always favour wood, and devotes a paragraph to the reasons for being wary of PVC: chlorine, dioxins, additives.
There is a more down-to-earth reason too. Many façades in the commune were designed with wooden joinery in mind: the profiles, the glazing bars, the mouldings. Replacing wood with wood keeps the façade the way it was designed, and it is also what makes the formalities simpler.
What really matters
A good wooden window, in four points
- The type of wood and its treatment. A wood that is naturally durable, or one treated to make it so, depending on how exposed the façade is.
- The profile section. It must take the thickness of the chosen glazing, without slimming the uprights down so far that the opening sash is weakened.
- The finish. A paint or wood stain that lets the wood breathe, applied to every face, edges included.
- Water run-off. A weather bar at the bottom of the opening sash, and a sill that throws water clear of the wall. That is where wood suffers first.
The look
Keeping the original glazing bars
On an old façade, the divisions in the glass account for much of the charm. There are two ways to keep them with insulating glazing. True glazing bars split the glass into several separate glazed units. Applied glazing bars are stuck on either side of a single glazed unit, often with a spacer bar inside the double glazing to fool the eye.
Up close, you can see the difference. For the planning rules, what matters is that the visible divisions stay the same.
Maintenance
What a wooden window needs
A quick look every year, especially on façades exposed to sun and driving rain. Paint that turns chalky, blisters or flakes is telling you it is time to act, before water reaches the bare wood.
Sanding and repainting in time costs far less than replacing a rotten rail. And a window whose wood is still sound can often keep its frame, with just new glazing.
Just replace the glazingFrequently asked questions
Wooden windows: the questions we get asked
Does replacing wood with wood need planning permission?
Not necessarily. In a house with no heritage protection, a like-for-like replacement can be exempt if the visible divisions, the opening sashes and the fixed frames are kept, in the same colour. In Le Logis and Floréal, it is the heritage management plan that applies.
Do wooden windows insulate well?
Wood conducts little heat. But how well a window performs depends mostly on its glazing, its seals and the quality of the fitting. A modern wooden window, properly fitted, holds its own against other materials on this point.
Which colour should I choose to avoid complications?
The one already on the façade. A different colour is a change in appearance, which requires planning permission. In Le Logis and Floréal, the colour is the one the management plan sets for the neighbourhood.
Is my old wooden window beyond saving?
Not always. If the wood is sound and the joints are holding, a repair or new glazing may be enough. Coming to check the state of the window costs you nothing. If we then carry out a repair, the call-out appears as a separate line on the quote.
Did a rule change at the commune, or do you see a mistake on this page? Let us know and we will fix it.