You may have just purchased your new Victorian property and started looking for inspiration on Pinterest. You come across some references featuring sash windows painted black, and you like how it looks.
However, please read our thoughts about black sash windows before you make your decision about which colour to paint your windows.
As sash window specialists, we’ve seen numerous instances of rotten and damaged windows. For windows that our clients ask us to paint in colour, we offer a 5-year guarantee instead of our usual 8-year guarantee, and there’s a good reason for this.
Dark colours, including black, tend to absorb more heat, leading to greater expansion and contraction of the timber window frames.
This could cause the paint to crack sooner, letting moisture in more readily than would be the case with frames painted white.
A sash window painted black tends to absorb more heat, causing the paint to crack and peel more quickly due to the constant expansion and contraction of the timber.
This means the window will require more frequent repainting, which leads to a shorter maintenance cycle.
In addition to the inconvenience of regular repainting, this also increases the overall cost and time involved in the upkeep, making black sash windows a more labour-intensive and expensive choice in the long term.
Over time, black sash windows are prone to fading and discolouration due to exposure to sunlight and weather elements. This can result in a less appealing appearance and may require repainting or refinishing to restore their original look.
Opting for black sash windows can limit your design choices for both the interior and exterior of your home.
Black windows may not complement all architectural styles or colour schemes, making achieving a cohesive and harmonious look challenging.
Anything that deviates from classic design can potentially reduce the number of interested buyers for your property in the future. The reduced demand often corresponds to a decrease in the property’s value.
Black sash windows, while commonly seen in pubs, are less frequently found in residential properties.
Moreover, black is not traditionally considered a classic colour for original wooden windows. Hence, choosing it might limit your pool of potential buyers, affecting the resale value of your home.
The same logic applies to black window sills as well.
If your property isn’t a listed or protected building, you have the flexibility to change the colour scheme of your windows. By switching from black window sills to a lighter colour, like white, you can reduce these maintenance and repair needs.
This decision doesn’t only save you money on repainting costs and potential repair work, but it also saves you the hassle of dealing with these issues more frequently.
Over time, these savings can be significant, and the reduced maintenance can make for a more pleasant homeownership experience.
Conclusion: White windows require less maintenance compared to black windows. The latter is not only more expensive but also demands higher levels of maintenance and repairs.
