At Lockwood Windows, we have extensive experience of making replacement windows and doors with a traditional look for period properties.

The area around our Huddersfield manufacturing base features towns such as Holmfirth, Glossop, Delph and Penistone where many of the houses are either old or have the traditional stone-built look.

As such, we have manufactured and installed PVCu windows and doors, and composite doors for hundreds of homeowners who wanted a period style. So we know the sort of issues customers need to consider before making a final choice.

Here are a few tips:

1) If you live in a conservation area, check whether there are any Article 4 Directions (restrictions on standard permitted development rights) in force before thinking about any kind of external work to your home. The Directions are designed to stop the character of the conservation area being changed and can include restrictions on the type of doors and window frames that can be fitted.

2) It is not necessary to change style in order to take advantage of the energy efficiency and security benefits of modern windows and doors. PVCu frames with a traditional wood look can be manufactured for sash, casement and bay windows, while both PVCu and composite doors are available in a range of period designs - so a like-for-like swap will almost certainly be possible.

3) Colour is always a big part of the choice of new window frames and doors, but it is particularly important when trying to maintain a period look for a traditional stone-built house. Understated heritage colours, such as Chartwell Green and Duck Egg Blue, work particularly well in homes built from Pennines sandstone, as do Irish Oak and Black.

4) A Victorian or Edwardian style front door is a great feature and adds an authentic feel to a traditional red brick semi or terrace. There are lots of composite doors available in period designs, which can be enhanced with the addition of glazed panels.

5) While your choice for the front of the house will be influenced by the surrounding area, you can often be a bit more imaginative at the back. A stable door is a simple way to add light and air to a kitchen, while aluminium bi-fold doors can help to create a lighter living space with better views of the garden.

For more information about windows and doors for period houses, or to arrange a no-obligation survey for your home, please contact Lockwood Windows.