1980s windows

The 1980s windows I see on a job are mostly single-glazed softwood frames, in houses built during a wave of optimism about property. Many have been replaced since, and the rest are due. What you should choose depends on the style of the house and what you want from the frame.

The houses behind 1980s windows

As I remember it, the eighties was a time of great optimism. Property values rose beyond belief for many people, and there was a scramble to borrow as much as possible to move up the ladder, even with mortgage interest rates very high. Many believed there were big profits to be made from rising prices and that you couldn’t lose.

The bubble burst with the crash at the end of the decade. A lot of people with a high loan against their home found themselves in negative equity, which came as an unprecedented shock to those who had been taught that property was as safe as houses.

A return to prettier houses

A glance around the estates that went up from the 1980s shows a clear rejection of the plain utility box. There was a strong return to Georgian and mock Tudor cottage styles. That gave the new developments real kerb appeal, and it shows that the pretty look never lost its appeal. It has influenced house building ever since.

Replacing softwood frames

On houses of this period, I have replaced single-glazed softwood frames with new uPVC windows and leaded lights. The leaded lights made a real difference to the house and added character. On the same house, a flat window at the bottom was converted to a plant-on bow, which projects from the wall and changes the whole front.

If you are thinking of a bow or a bay, our bay window calculator shows how the angled sides are worked out. Read the guide to 1960s windows too, because the bow and bay conversion was popular on houses of that earlier decade.

What to ask before you order

For a house with this kind of character, ask the installer to describe in writing:

• the style of the window and how it opens;
• the pattern of the leaded lights, if you want them;
• the glass, and the energy rating of the whole window;
• who certifies the work. The Planning Portal explains that building regulations apply to all replacement glazing.

The guide price for a single replacement window is for a standard casement, so a leaded or bow window costs more. Put any quote through our quote checker, and see the your windows hub for other periods.