Windows provide an outlook on the world. They help set the tone and character for a building and the area in which it stands. Windows define natural lighting levels and thermal comfort essential for the wellbeing of residents. They offer sound protection and keep homes safe from intrusion. Windows are an essential part of the building fabric and as such contribute to a development’s overall energy performance.
Modern factory-finished timber windows have a better environmental performance than any other window material. They have a longer service life and lower whole life costs than uPVC windows. Wooden windows can be repaired and recoated throughout their lifetime and are the best option for achieving zero carbon buildings. They can be sourced from local manufacturers using home-grown timber and support economic recovery in Wales.
The multiple benefits wooden windows deliver over their life-span in terms of maintenance, durability, embodied carbon, and other social and environmental aspects make them excellent value for money.
This document provides information for specifiers and procurement specialists working on social housing projects. It is designed to help with the specification of low-carbon timber windows in a social housing context. It provides performance criteria and indicates what needs to be considered to achieve these in practice. Windows are an essential element of the building fabric and should not be discussed in isolation. They should be considered very early in the design process when deciding what build system to use.
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Maintenance
Timber Cladding—Specification Guidance for Social Housing
Timber cladding has become increasingly popular, mainly for its sustainability credentials and low environmental impact: It has a low carbon footprint as it requires less energy to produce than any other construction material and helps lock carbon into the building fabric. It is made from renewable material – wood – and can be reused, recycled or used as fuel at the end of its service life. Timber cladding is widely available from sustainably managed forests and can be sourced locally.
With correct detailing, proper installation and appropriate materials, timber cladding will provide a long lasting decorative and functional façade to any type of development, new build or existing stock.
This document provides information for specifiers and procurement specialists working on social housing projects. It is designed to help with the strategic selection of timber cladding as an external rainscreen in a social housing context. It provides performance criteria for specifying timber cladding and indicates what needs to be considered to achieve these in practice. The document highlights performance benefits across a range of intended design outcomes and is designed to help ensure that timber cladding is used appropriately. Timber cladding should not be viewed in isolation and should be considered very early on in the design process when specifying details and deciding on what build system to use.
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