I live in an old house (1800, or thereabouts) with original cast metal framed windows, set into wooden surround frames. I really like them - the glass is all wobbly and bubbled and they look 'right' for the building. But they let the cold in, cause condensation, and get mouldy in the winter. In the sitting room, the window consists of three of the steel units, with 8 panes in each, the middle one being the only one that can open. The bedroom immediately above is the same. The back rooms have smaller openings, with twin frames only.
I was thinking of getting some double-glazed wooden windows (just the opening parts) to fit inside the original windows, maybe on hinges so they work like shutters and can be put to one side in the summer, or maybe sliding, or even maybe so they can be put up and fastened in the winter and taken down completely in the summer.
Does anyone have some better ideas, or advice on possible problems with doing something like this? Also, where on earth does anyone buy windows nowadays? They don't seem to sell them in DIY stores any more...
I was thinking of getting some double-glazed wooden windows (just the opening parts) to fit inside the original windows, maybe on hinges so they work like shutters and can be put to one side in the summer, or maybe sliding, or even maybe so they can be put up and fastened in the winter and taken down completely in the summer.
Does anyone have some better ideas, or advice on possible problems with doing something like this? Also, where on earth does anyone buy windows nowadays? They don't seem to sell them in DIY stores any more...