FENSA Registered·Checkatrade 10/10 (279 reviews)·£5m Public Liability sales@swiftltd.co.uk·01322 221010 Swift Home ImprovementsAboutServicesAll services→ WindowsBi-fold DoorsComposite DoorsAluminiumWarm RoofsSkylightsuPVC DoorsConservatoriesRoof LanternsOrangeriesTimber WindowsSecondary GlazingFire Doors AreasAll areas→ LondonKentSurreyEssexGreenhitheDartfordBromleyBeckenhamChislehurstSevenoaks Our WorkReviewsContact01322 221010Request Free Quote - Home - Services - Timber Windows Timber Windows # Timber and timber-effect windowsfor period homes acrossKent, London and Surrey Traditional sightlines that satisfy conservation officers and keep the character of an older house, with modern thermal performance and a fixed price agreed in writing before we start. Request free quote 01322 221010 FENSA registered · Conservation-area experience · 10-year workmanship guarantee Since 1998 Family-run installer FENSA Registered installer 10/10 Checkatrade · 279 reviews 10 years Workmanship guarantee £10m Employers' Liability Overview ## What we do, timber windows 01 Older houses were designed around slender frames, deep reveals and putty-line glazing bars, and they look wrong the moment those proportions are lost. We supply and install timber windows and high-specification timber-effect systems that reproduce those details properly: correct sightlines, run-through horns on sash windows, authentic glazing bars and finishes that read as painted joinery rather than plastic. 02 This service is for owners of Victorian, Edwardian, Georgian and inter-war properties across Kent, London, Surrey and the South East, and particularly for homes inside conservation areas or under Article 4 directions where the council has a view on window appearance. It also suits anyone who simply prefers the look and feel of timber-style windows over standard modern profiles. 03 The choice between engineered timber and a timber-effect system is a genuine engineering decision, not a sales preference. Engineered timber gives the most authentic depth and can be repaired and repainted indefinitely, but wants redecoration on a cycle. Modern timber-effect systems in uPVC or aluminium give sash horns, ovolo or chamfered profiles and woodgrain foils with near-zero maintenance. We will tell you honestly which is appropriate for your property, your budget and, where relevant, your planning position, and we will say so if we think your street needs true timber. Our work ## A snapshot of recent Swift installations Real photos from projects across Kent, London, Surrey and the South East. Tap through to see the full gallery. Close-up of a white uPVC sliding sash window with Georgian glazing bars and brass fitch fasteners in a red-brick wall Two-storey white uPVC bay windows with leaded glazing fitted to a mock-Tudor semi-detached home Close-up of a white sliding sash window fitted into a period London brick facade New white uPVC bay and casement windows with Georgian glazing bars fitted to a red-brick Kent home Interior view of a white uPVC bay window with slim glazing bars in a period reception room See all recent work Product write-up to follow Why it matters ## What happens if you leave it Original single-glazed timber windows on a period house are usually draughty, hard to open, and losing a significant share of the room's heat through the glass and around the sash. Rot at the cill and the bottom rail is common, and once water is tracking into the frame the repair cost climbs each year the work is deferred. The bigger risk is replacing them badly. Standard modern profiles fitted into a Victorian bay flatten the elevation: thick frames eat the glass area, stuck-on glazing bars sit flush and catch the light wrongly, and the house looks visibly cheapened from the pavement. In conservation areas that work can also be unlawful, and enforcement means removing windows you have already paid for. We have been asked to put right exactly this situation more than once. The other frequent mistake is assuming nothing period-appropriate can meet modern performance standards. It can. A well-specified slim-profile double-glazed unit in a timber or timber-effect sash gives the appearance the street needs and the thermal and acoustic performance the household wants. Our process ## From first call to sign-off - STEP 1 ### Sales representative visit One of our sales representatives comes out first to look at the elevation as a whole, discuss timber versus timber-effect, sash versus casement, colours and glazing bar details, and outline indicative pricing. No pressure, no time-limited discounts. - STEP 2 ### Surveyor & fixed written quote Our surveyor then attends separately to measure every opening, record existing sightlines, cill and reveal details, box depths on sash windows, and confirm the specification. You receive a fixed written quote you can compare like-for-like. - STEP 3 ### Conservation and planning check Where the property sits in a conservation area, under an Article 4 direction or is listed, we identify what consent is required before anything is ordered, and specify to match what the council will accept rather than discovering the problem later. - STEP 4 ### Manufacture Frames are made to survey dimensions with the agreed profile, horns, bars and finish. Timber-effect systems typically take three to five weeks; engineered timber joinery takes longer, and we confirm the programme in writing. - STEP 5 ### In-house fitting team install & sign-off Our employed fitters remove the old units carefully, install and pack the new frames level and plumb, seal the perimeter, make good the internal reveals and external mastic, then register the installation with FENSA and issue your 10-year Swift guarantee. Benefits ## What you actually get ### Period-correct proportions Slimmer sightlines, run-through horns and authentic glazing bar profiles keep the elevation looking as the architect intended. ### Conservation-area experience We have supplied timber-look sash and casement windows that satisfied planners in Sevenoaks, Chislehurst and Beckenham, and we flag consent requirements up front. ### Modern thermal performance Slim-profile double glazing with warm-edge spacers brings a period window up to modern comfort levels without changing how it looks. ### Quieter rooms Acoustic-laminate glass options are worth specifying on busy period streets near the A2, the M25 corridor and under London flight paths. ### Security that suits the age of the house Modern multi-point locking, sash restrictors and anti-snap cylinders can all be specified discreetly within a traditional frame. ### Honest specification advice We will tell you when timber-effect is the sensible choice, and equally when your property genuinely warrants true timber joinery. Specification ## Timber Windows, how we specify Timber windows cover several different products and a lot of small details that decide whether the finished elevation looks right. This is how we approach the specification. ### Engineered timber versus timber-effect Engineered timber is laminated softwood or hardwood, factory-finished, with genuine depth to the mouldings and the ability to be repaired and repainted for decades. Timber-effect uPVC and aluminium systems use woodgrain foils, ovolo or chamfered profiles and mechanically-jointed corners to imitate joinery closely with almost no maintenance. Both are legitimate; the right answer depends on the property, the planning context and how much upkeep you want. ### Sliding sash detailing On a sash window the details are everything: run-through horns, correct meeting-rail alignment, deep bottom rails, putty-line or ovolo external profiles, and a box that suits the existing reveal. We specify spiral balances or a traditional weight-and-pulley arrangement depending on the system, and we match the vertical rhythm of the existing bays so the frontage stays even. ### Casement and flush-fit options Many Kent cottages, inter-war semis and country properties used flush casements rather than sashes. Flush-fit systems sit level with the frame face as joinery does, instead of standing proud like standard modern casements, and they are usually the single biggest improvement available on a cottage elevation. ### Glass, bars and glazing options Slim-profile double-glazed units suit period frames where a standard unit would be too deep. Georgian bars can be through-bars for authenticity or bonded bars where the budget or system dictates. We also specify obscure glass for bathrooms, toughened or laminated glass where regulations require it, and acoustic laminate on noisy roads. ### Colours and finishes Traditional off-whites, cream, heritage greens, greys and black all suit period elevations better than bright modern white. Foiled and sprayed finishes are available in the RAL range and in woodgrains, and we can finish internally and externally in different colours where the interior scheme calls for it. ### Planning, conservation areas and listed buildings Conservation areas and Article 4 directions restrict what may be installed, and listed buildings need listed building consent for window changes. We check the position at survey, tell you plainly what is and is not likely to be acceptable, and specify accordingly. We will not quote for work that we believe will fall foul of the council. FAQ ## Common questions ### Do you install real timber windows or timber-effect? +Both. We supply engineered timber joinery where a property or its planning position calls for it, and high-specification timber-effect uPVC and aluminium systems where the appearance can be matched with far less maintenance. We advise honestly on which suits your house. ### How much do timber windows cost? +Every home is different, so we do not publish rates. Price depends on the system, the number and size of openings, sash or casement, glazing bars, glass specification, colour and access. Request a free survey and we will issue a fixed written quote before any work starts. ### Will timber-effect windows be accepted in a conservation area? +Sometimes, and it depends entirely on the local authority and the specific designation. We have had timber-look sash and casement windows accepted by planners in Sevenoaks, Chislehurst and Beckenham. We check the constraints before anything is ordered and tell you if only true timber is likely to be approved. ### Do I need permission to replace windows on a listed building? +Yes. Window changes to a listed building require listed building consent, and the specification is usually tightly controlled. We will tell you what is involved rather than fitting first and dealing with it later. ### How much maintenance does engineered timber need? +Factory-finished engineered timber typically wants inspection and touching-up every few years and redecoration on a longer cycle, depending on exposure. South and west elevations weather faster. Timber-effect systems need only cleaning and occasional hinge lubrication. ### Can I keep the original look but get double glazing? +Yes. Slim-profile double-glazed units are designed for exactly this: they fit period sightlines where a standard unit would look too bulky, and give a substantial improvement in comfort over single glazing. ### How long does installation take? +Manufacture is the longer part: three to five weeks for timber-effect systems and longer for engineered timber joinery. On site, a typical house of eight to twelve windows is completed in one to three days once the frames are in. ### Do you handle FENSA certification? +Yes. We are FENSA registered and self-certify each installation for building regulations, with your certificate issued to you after completion. You will need it when you sell. ### What guarantee do I get? +One 10-year Swift guarantee covering workmanship, frames, sealed units and hardware, with any manufacturer cover included inside those 10 years. Swift Home Improvements Ltd, company number 03679915, installing since 1998. ### Can you repair my existing windows instead? +We only carry out repairs on windows and doors we originally installed. For older windows fitted by someone else, we quote for replacement rather than repair. ### Do you cover my area? +London, Kent, Surrey, Essex and the wider South East, from our base at 215 London Road, Stone, Greenhithe. Call 01322 221010 if you are unsure about your postcode. Related ## Explore related pages Windows Secondary Glazing Aluminium Windows & Doors Areas we cover Contact Home Next step ## Get a fixed price for your timber windows in writing Director-level survey, no pressure, and a written fixed price you can compare like-for-like. We get back to you promptly. Request free quote 01322 221010 FENSA registered·10-year workmanship guarantee· London · Kent · Surrey · South East Family-run installers of bespoke windows, doors and conservatories. Serving London, Kent, Surrey & the South East since 1998. - Checkatrade 10/10 CompanyAbout - Our Work - Showroom - Trade Enquiries - Reviews - Contact Services - Windows - Composite Doors - Bi-fold Doors - Aluminium - Conservatories - Warm Roofs - Skylights & Lanterns - Orangeries - Timber Windows - Secondary Glazing - Fire Doors Get In Touch - 215 London Rd, Stone,Greenhithe DA9 9DQ - 01322 221010 - sales@swiftltd.co.ukMon–Fri · 9am–5pm Sat · By appointment © 2026 Swift Home Improvements Ltd · Company No. 03679915 · FENSA Registered Privacy Policy·Terms & Conditions·£5m Public Liability·£10m Employers' Liability CallRequest Free Quote