Engineered pine · Made to measure · Supply only
Softwood Windows in Engineered Pine
Softwood windows are timber windows made from coniferous wood. Ours are slow-grown Scandinavian pine, engineered in three bonded layers so the frame stays straight — the most-ordered timber in our range of bespoke timber windows. Made to measure, factory finished and delivered UK-wide from £449+VAT, typically within 20 working days.
From £449+VAT
3-layer engineered pine
Double glazed as standard
~20 working day lead time
5-year warranty
UK-wide delivery
The basics
What Are Softwood Windows?
Softwood windows are made from coniferous trees — in UK joinery that almost always means pine, also sold as European redwood. “Softwood” is a botanical label, not a measure of hardness: good joinery pine is plenty strong enough for frames, sashes and casements.
What separates a good softwood window from a poor one is the grade of the timber and how the frame is built. We use slow-grown Scandinavian pine with tight growth rings, selected and graded for window manufacture — not construction-grade timber with knots every 200mm and resin pockets that bleed through paint. Every section is then engineered from three bonded layers, the single biggest factor in how long a pine window stays true.
Choosing the timber
The Best Softwood for Windows
The best softwood for windows is slow-grown pine (European redwood) used in engineered form: it machines cleanly, takes paint exceptionally well and, once preservative-treated, performs reliably outdoors. Here’s how it compares with the other softwoods used in joinery.
| Softwood | Stability | Paint finish | Natural durability | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scandinavian pine / European redwood | Good — very good when engineered | Excellent | Moderate; needs preservative treatment outdoors | Most UK timber windows and doors |
| Spruce (whitewood) | Fair | Good | Low; difficult to treat with preservative | Interior joinery, budget products |
| Douglas fir | Good | Good | Moderate | Joinery needing long, straight sections |
| Larch | Fair — can move and weep resin | Fair | Moderate | Cladding, some external joinery |
| Modified (acetylated) pine | Excellent | Very good | High | Premium windows at a premium price |
We build in engineered Scandinavian pine because it gives the best balance of stability, finish and cost for painted windows. Spruce is cheaper but resists preservative penetration, and modified timbers perform very well but cost considerably more — on a painted window you’d be paying for performance the factory finish already provides.
Construction
Engineered Wood Windows: Why Laminated Pine Stays Straight
Engineered wood windows are built from timber sections made of several bonded layers instead of one solid piece. Ours use three layers of pine, each roughly 22–28mm thick, bonded under high pressure with waterproof adhesive, with the grain direction alternating between layers.
That matters because wood moves as its moisture content changes — it swells when wet and shrinks when dry, mostly across the grain. In a solid section the movement adds up in one direction: frames distort, joints open and sashes start to stick. In an engineered section each layer restrains its neighbours, so the profile stays stable.
We’ve seen the proof. A set of our windows came back to us after 10 years for a reglaze — a blown sealed unit, nothing to do with the timber — and when we checked the frame with a straight edge, it was still dead true.
Engineering also brings consistency. Solid timber varies plank to plank, and a knot can land exactly where a mortise joint needs to go. Engineered sections are assembled from defect-free laminations, so every profile we machine comes out to the same dimensions and takes the same finish.
Sash windows
Softwood Sash Windows
Our softwood sash windows are traditional vertical sliders, made to your measurements with a choice of two balancing mechanisms.
Sash on weights uses lead or steel counterweights hidden in the box frame, running over pulleys on cord — the historically authentic choice for period properties. Sash windows on weights start from £449+VAT, and the Georgian sash on weights from £649+VAT.
Sash on hidden springs balances each sash with a concealed spiral spring, allowing a slimmer box frame and lower maintenance — a practical choice for new builds. Sash windows on hidden springs start from £449+VAT, and the Georgian version from £699+VAT.
Both are double glazed as standard, reaching a U-value of 1.4 W/m²K, and each sash is balanced for the weight of its glazing. For glazing bar layouts, see our guide to Georgian windows.
Casement windows
Softwood Casement Windows
Softwood casement windows are side-hung and open outward like a door. Ours are flush casements: the opening sash closes flush with the frame for a flat, clean face that suits cottages, Arts and Crafts houses and modern builds alike.
Prices start from £449+VAT for a flush single casement, £599+VAT for a flush double casement and £799+VAT for a Georgian triple flush casement. Casements are mechanically simpler than sashes and easier to clean from inside. For what drives the final figure — size, glazing, colour and hardware — see our timber window prices guide.
Pine or hardwood
Softwood vs Hardwood Windows
Under paint, softwood and hardwood windows look the same. The real differences are durability, how the timber takes a stain, and cost.
| Timber | Best finish | Expected life* | Relative cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engineered pine | Paint | 25–35 years | Lowest | Painted windows, whole-house projects |
| Meranti (hardwood) | Paint or stain | 35–45 years | Mid | Stained finishes, exposed elevations |
| Solid European oak | Stain or oil | Around 50 years | Highest (≈2.5× pine) | Natural timber on show, where oak is specified |
*With proper maintenance in UK conditions.
Pine is the right choice for painted windows on elevations with moderate exposure, for whole-house projects where budget matters, and for most homes where the finish hides the timber. It isn’t the right call for stained or oiled finishes, severely exposed coastal sites, or listed buildings where the conservation officer specifies hardwood — there, hardwood windows in meranti or solid oak windows are the better buy.
Finish & care
Finish, Lifespan and Maintenance
Every softwood window is vacuum-impregnated with preservative — forced into the timber under pressure, not a surface dip — then given a multi-coat microporous factory finish: preservative base, stain, intermediate and topcoat, with UV stabilisers in the top layers. It’s spray-applied in controlled conditions rather than brushed on site; our guide to weather-resistant timber windows explains how each layer protects the frame.
Pine takes paint exceptionally well: the first coat soaks into the open grain and bonds with the fibre, giving a smooth, even finish that’s indistinguishable from painted meranti or oak. Where pine shows its limits is under stain or clear finishes — it absorbs unevenly, so if you want the grain on show, choose a hardwood.
Expect 25–35 years from engineered pine with full treatment and factory finish, based on what we’ve seen since we started manufacturing in 2013. Sheltered elevations push towards the upper end; fully exposed south-west-facing windows in wet regions sit closer to 25 years.
Maintenance is light. Inspect every 3–5 years, paying most attention to sills and bottom rails. If the finish looks thin or chalky, sand lightly with 240-grit and apply one coat of a compatible microporous exterior wood finish — Sikkens, Osmo and Teknos all work. Allow about an hour per window; most of our customers do the whole house in a Saturday. Unlike uPVC, timber can be refinished and repaired rather than replaced.
Our Best-Selling Timber Windows:
Softwood Windows — Frequently Asked Questions
Are softwood windows any good?
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Yes — if the timber is the right grade and the frame is engineered. Our softwood windows use slow-grown Scandinavian pine in three bonded layers, vacuum-treated and factory finished. Under paint they look identical to hardwood, and with light maintenance they last 25–35 years, at the lowest price of our three timbers.
Do softwood windows rot?
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Untreated softwood will rot outdoors, which is why treatment matters. Every frame we make is vacuum-impregnated with preservative and sealed with a multi-coat microporous finish. Rot starts where water sits on bare timber, so keep the finish intact: check sills and bottom rails every 3–5 years and refresh any thin or chalky areas with one coat.
Can softwood windows be stained instead of painted?
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They can, but we don’t recommend it. Pine’s grain is coarser and more variable than meranti or oak, so it absorbs stain unevenly and the result can look patchy. If you want natural timber on show, choose meranti or solid oak; if the windows will be painted, pine gives the same finish for less.
How long do softwood windows last?
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Engineered pine with full preservative treatment and a factory finish lasts 25–35 years in UK conditions. Sheltered elevations reach the upper end; fully exposed south-west-facing windows in wet areas sit nearer 25 years. For comparison, meranti lasts 35–45 years and solid European oak around 50 years with proper maintenance.
Is engineered timber better than solid timber for windows?
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For pine, yes. Bonding three layers with alternating grain stops the movement that makes solid softwood frames twist, open at the joints and stick. Engineered sections are also made from defect-free laminations, so every profile is consistent. Oak is the exception: our oak windows are made from solid European oak.
Can I use softwood windows in a listed building or conservation area?
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Often, provided the design matches the original. Many conservation officers accept painted timber whatever the species, but some specify hardwood, so check before ordering. We can supply specifications and profile drawings for your application. Our guide to listed building windows explains how the consent process works.
Get a Quote for Softwood Windows
Send your window sizes and specification and we’ll return a detailed, itemised quote within 48 hours. Every order is backed by a 5-year warranty and delivered anywhere in the UK.
