Timber Windows Hillingdon

Hillingdon is London’s westernmost borough — and it feels it. Step off the Metropolitan Line at Ruislip or Eastcote and you’re in classic Metroland: tree-lined streets of 1930s semi-detached houses built for the London commuter who wanted a garden and a sense of space. These homes have a charm that’s distinctly suburban, and their windows — often original Crittall metal casements — are finally due for replacement after 90 years.

Our windows come built to your exact dimensions in engineered pine, meranti, or oak — each one factory-painted and delivered ready for your joiner to fit.

Ruislip, Eastcote, Ickenham — the Metroland heartland. 1930s and 1940s bay-fronted semis with casement windows, some with leaded lights in the upper panes. The Ruislip Manor area has conservation area coverage. Flush casement windows in timber are the natural replacement — they match the original casement proportions while delivering modern thermal performance.
Uxbridge — the town centre has a conservation area around the High Street and Windsor Street with older period properties. Georgian and early Victorian buildings here need sash windows. Outside the conservation zone, Uxbridge has a wider mix including 1960s and modern developments.
Hayes and Harlington — mixed stock, more post-war housing. Casement windows dominate. Properties near Heathrow share the same acoustic considerations as Hounslow (see our Hounslow page for acoustic glazing detail).

This is a question we get asked a lot from Hillingdon homeowners, particularly those replacing original Crittall windows with timber for the first time. Three options, each with genuine differences:

Engineered pine (Scandinavian redwood)

Best for: painted finishes on 1930s semis. The most popular choice across Hillingdon.

Why: dimensionally stable (the finger-jointed, laminated construction constrains moisture movement to under 1mm seasonally). Takes paint well. Cost-effective.

Durability: moderate — but with our microporous paint system, that’s fine. The paint protects the timber; the timber insulates and provides structure. Expected lifespan: 60+ years with 8-10 year repaint cycles.

Meranti (tropical our hardwood vs softwood comparison)

Best for: homeowners who want extra durability without the premium of oak. Good for exposed elevations.

Why: naturally oily, resists moisture penetration. Denser than pine — noticeably heavier, which some people prefer (feels more substantial). Available FSC-certified from managed plantations.

Durability: durable to moderately durable. Takes paint or stain.

Cost: roughly 20-30% more than pine.

Oak

Best for: properties where you want visible natural timber — not painted. Grand houses, barn conversions, or where the wood itself is a design feature.

Why: beautiful grain, naturally durable, weathers to silver-grey over 5-10 years. The premium species.

But: if you’re painting it, you’re wasting money. Oak under paint is like carpeting a hardwood floor. For a painted finish, pine is the right choice.

Cost: 40-60% more than pine.

Quick decision for Hillingdon: painting? Pine. Want extra durability? Meranti. Want visible natural wood? Oak.

If you’re replacing original 1930s Crittall windows — which are single-glazed metal frames with no thermal break — the improvement from any of our windows is dramatic. But the specific numbers matter when you’re comparing quotes:

Whole-window U-value — this measures heat loss through the ENTIRE window (frame + glass + seals), not just the glass. Our standard double-glazed casement: approximately 1.4 W/m²K. Building Regs Part L compliant requires maximum 1.6 W/m²K for replacements. We beat that comfortably.
Triple glazing: drops the U-value to approximately 1.0 W/m²K. Worth it on north-facing elevations or if you’re targeting an EPC improvement.
Your old Crittall windows? Approximately 5.0-6.0 W/m²K. Four to five times worse than our double-glazed replacements. The difference shows up directly on your heating bill.
Why timber outperforms thermally: wood has a thermal conductivity of approximately 0.13 W/mK. Aluminium: 160 W/mK. uPVC: 0.16 W/mK. Timber is marginally better than uPVC at the material level — but because timber frames are solid (not hollow like uPVC), they provide more consistent insulation across the frame section.

Flush casement — the primary product for Hillingdon’s 1930s stock. From ££449+VAT+VAT. Double glazing standard.
Sash — for Uxbridge conservation area and period properties.
Georgian — for Uxbridge High Street and older buildings.

All BS 644. Part L compliant.

Choosing period sash details on a 1930s semi. Sash windows with Georgian bars on a Ruislip Metroland semi look anachronistic — the houses were built with casement windows and that’s what looks right. Respect the era.
Ignoring Ruislip’s conservation area. Ruislip Manor has conservation area status. If your property falls within it, check Hillingdon Council’s requirements before ordering.
Ordering triple glazing when not needed. On a sheltered mid-terrace position, standard double glazing delivers all the thermal improvement you need. Triple makes sense on exposed detached properties or north-facing elevations — not everywhere.
Using stain on a painted street. If your neighbours’ windows are painted white, a stained timber finish — however attractive — will look inconsistent. Match the street unless you’re detached with no shared sightline.

Hillingdon Council manages conservation areas including Ruislip Manor, Ickenham, Uxbridge town centre, and Harefield. Check hillingdon.gov.uk. Borders Buckinghamshire to the west. Ealing to the east. London hub. Q&A. Glossary. Listed buildings.

What window type suits Ruislip 1930s semis?

Flush casement windows — they match the original Crittall casement proportions with modern timber performance. Sash windows would look anachronistic on these properties. From £449+VAT.

Should I choose pine, meranti, or oak for a Hillingdon property?

For a painted finish (most common in Hillingdon): engineered pine — stable, cost-effective, takes paint well. For extra durability: meranti (20-30% more). For visible natural wood: oak (40-60% more). If painting, don’t pay for oak.

What do Crittall-to-timber replacement windows cost in Hillingdon?

Ruislip and Eastcote 1930s semis with 10-14 casement windows typically cost £4,500-£8,000+VAT in engineered pine. Uxbridge conservation area sash windows start higher due to period detailing requirements.

How much better are timber windows than original Crittall frames?

Dramatically — original single-glazed Crittall windows have U-values of 5.0-6.0 W/m²K. Our double-glazed timber casements achieve approximately 1.4 W/m²K — roughly four times better thermally.

Does Ruislip have a conservation area?

Yes — Ruislip Manor has conservation area status under Hillingdon Council. Check hillingdon.gov.uk for your specific property.