Timber Windows Wimbledon

Two types of Wimbledon homeowner end up looking for timber windows. The first owns a Victorian terrace with original sash windows that rattle in the wind, pool condensation every morning from October to April, and push the gas bill to somewhere painful. The second fitted our uPVC vs timber comparison sash-look windows 15-20 years ago and now regrets it — the frames are yellowing, the proportions never looked right, and the Merton Council conservation officer has been in touch. Different starting points. Same destination.

We build timber windows to your spec for Wimbledon properties — pine, meranti, or oak, factory-painted with a microporous system, delivered to your door. You choose a local joiner for the install.

For information about the wider Merton borough — Mitcham, Morden, Colliers Wood — see our Merton borough page. This page focuses specifically on Wimbledon.

Wimbledon sits within the London Borough of Merton borough page, and the area’s conservation zones are taken seriously. Wimbledon Village, the streets around the Common, and parts of South Wimbledon all have protection. Merton Council expects timber windows that match the originals in material, profile, and proportion.

But walk along Church Road, Lingfield Road, or the streets off Wimbledon Hill, and you’ll see the evidence for timber beyond planning rules. The properties with original or correctly replaced timber windows have a presence. The ones with uPVC look flat. It’s the difference between a window that was designed for the building and one that was designed for a catalogue.

SW19 has both Victorian and Edwardian properties, often on the same street. They look similar at a glance but the window specifications differ more than most people expect.

Victorian sash windows (roughly 1840-1901): Tall and narrow. Typical opening: 700-900mm wide, 1400-1800mm tall. Glazing pattern: two-over-two or one-over-one (post-1860). Glazing bars: 18-22mm face width. Horns at the bottom of the upper sash are functional — they strengthen the joint. Meeting rail sits at roughly one-third from the top.
Edwardian windows (1901-1910): Wider and squatter. Edwardian houses had wider frontages and lower ceiling heights. You’ll often see a wider central pane with narrow side lights. Glazing bars tend to be thicker — 25-30mm face width. The margin-light pattern (small panes surrounding a larger central pane in the top sash) is distinctly Edwardian.
Why this matters for ordering: If you replace Victorian sash windows with Edwardian proportions — or vice versa — the result looks wrong even if no one can immediately explain why. The dimensions sit in the unconscious pattern of the streetscape. Conservation officers definitely notice. When you order, specify your era as well as your measurements.

This is happening more often in Wimbledon than anywhere else we supply. Homeowners who fitted uPVC windows in the early 2000s — sometimes because it was cheaper, sometimes because they didn’t know about conservation requirements — are now switching back to timber.

The triggers are usually one of three things: the uPVC is visibly deteriorating (yellowing, warped seals, failed double-glazing units); a neighbour has installed beautiful timber sashes and the contrast is embarrassing; or Merton Council’s conservation team has written to point out that the uPVC doesn’t comply.

And here’s something that surprises people: the cost difference between mid-range uPVC sash-look windows and our engineered pine timber sashes isn’t enormous. uPVC sash-look windows from a decent supplier run £300-£450 per window. Our genuine timber sashes start at ££449+VAT. For maybe 20-30% more, you get a window that’s the correct material, lasts three times longer, and actually increases your property value instead of undermining it.

Sash windows — the primary product for Wimbledon. Spring-balanced or traditional weighted. Double glazing with slim cavities. From £449+VAT.
Flush casement — for properties where the original windows were casements, or for rear elevations.
Georgian style — for the grander properties around Wimbledon Village and Southside Common.

Energy efficiency matters here — our double-glazed units deliver U-values around 1.4 W/m²K, roughly three times better than single-glazed originals. That cuts heating bills noticeably on a draughty Victorian terrace.

Assuming all sash windows on your house are the same size. Ground floor windows are taller than first floor. First floor taller than second. Bay sashes differ from flat-wall sashes. Measure every opening individually.
Ordering springs when conservation requires weights. In conservation areas with strict like-for-like conditions, Merton might insist on traditional cord-and-weight mechanisms. Check BEFORE ordering — the frames are completely different.
Forgetting bay window angles. Victorian bays in Wimbledon are usually canted at roughly 135° per side — but after 130 years of settlement, “roughly” is the operative word. Measure the actual angle with a digital angle finder.
Skipping the draught-proofing specification. Our brush pile draught-stripping is routed into the frame as standard. Some competitors treat it as optional. On a Wimbledon terrace facing the Common, where wind exposure is real, it’s the difference between a comfortable house and a cold one. Air permeability on our windows: 1.5-2.0 m³/h/m², well inside Part L limits.

All planning goes through Merton Council (merton.gov.uk). Wimbledon Village and Wimbledon Common are the key conservation areas in this part of the borough. Check your postcode on the council’s portal for your specific status.

Adjacent areas: Wandsworth, Richmond upon Thames, London hub. Common questions. Listed building guidance.

Quote online — five minutes, real pricing, no callbacks.

Q1: What’s the difference between Victorian and Edwardian sash windows in Wimbledon?

A1: Victorian sashes (pre-1901) are tall and narrow — typically 700-900mm wide with 18-22mm glazing bars. Edwardian sashes (1901-1910) are wider with thicker bars (25-30mm) and often feature margin-light patterns. Specifying the correct era matters for conservation approval.

Is it worth switching from uPVC back to timber in Wimbledon?

If you’re in a conservation area, it may be required. But even outside protected zones, timber sashes cost only 20-30% more than uPVC sash-look windows, last three times longer, and add value to your property instead of reducing it.

What’s the price range for a Wimbledon Victorian terrace window set?

A typical Victorian terrace with 6-8 sash windows costs £3,500-£6,500+VAT in engineered pine with double glazing. The quote tool runs on your measurements and gives you a real number — not a range that shifts later.

Does Merton Council manage Wimbledon planning?

Yes — Merton Council is the planning authority for Wimbledon. Conservation area enforcement, listed building consent, and planning applications all go through merton.gov.uk.

What draught-proofing is included with your sash windows?

Brush pile draught-stripping routed into all four contact faces as standard. Our tested air permeability is 1.5-2.0 m³/h/m² — well within the Part L Building Regs requirement of 3.0 m³/h/m².