Deceuninck’s general manager, Darren Woodcock, says the smart money is on heritage projects.

Many window companies will be keeping a close eye on the housing market as we close off 2024 and look ahead to 2025, as activity is expected to pick up, according to Darren Woodcock, general manager at Deceuninck.

“The health of the housing market has long been intrinsically linked to sales of windows and doors, as homeowners look to stamp their identity on a new property,” Darren says. “And the converse is often true, with some people choosing to upgrade their homes rather than moving.

“But there is another way that housing market activity affects window and door sales, which is homeowners looking to increase the value of their properties through refurbishment before a sale – and done right, you can get a decent return on investment.”

Darren argues that after a period of reduced market activity, both in terms of house sales and refurbishment projects, the conditions are perfect for those homeowners looking to invest wisely. What’s more, the smart money is on heritage style products, he says.

“Halfway through Q4, 2024, Halifax said the average price of a home was at a record high,” Darren says. “That was after four consecutive months of growth. But after the October budget, and a modest cut in the Bank of England’s interest rates to 4.75%, there are fears that inflationary pressures will slow future interest rate cuts – slowing house price growth in the process.

“For those homeowners looking to maximise the revenue they get from the sale of their homes – maybe to make the jump to a more expensive property – they will be looking at ways to improve the value of their homes. And replacing windows and doors can be a quick win.”

On the one hand, Darren says, you can immediately improve the energy efficiency of a property, but choosing products with heritage detailing will add a charm that was previously missing.

“It could be the case that homeowners are returning a historic charm that was taken away with previous refurbishments,” he says. “So, by choosing flush windows with traditional foils, say, you help replace the historical integrity of a property, which helps to win over potential house buyers.”

It’s a trend already seen by Deceuninck, according to Darren, and sales of Deceuninck’s flush products continue to rise. They now account for more than 40% of all products sold.

Consumer research commissioned by Deceuninck and conducted by YouGov found that 62% of homeowners prefer flush windows to storm casements. In comparison, only 33% expressed a preference for a traditional storm sash, with a further 5% undecided.

Deceuninck’s Heritage flush sash window combines these subtle aesthetics with advanced thermal performance achieving WER of as high as A⁺⁺ and U-values as low as 0.90W/m²K. Airtightness is Class 4, Water tightness Class E900, Wind Resistance AE2400.

PAS24 tested and Part Q approved, the flush sash can be fully welded or mechanically jointed and comes with a night vent facility, Georgian bar option and choice of traditional ironmongery.

Deceuninck’s dedicated open-out flush door sash sits alongside its flush window offer. Fully suited with the system leader’s Heritage 2800 system, it achieves U-values as low as 1.0W/m²K and DER A rating.

It’s also PAS24 approved and can be welded or mechanically jointed, achieving Class 4 600 Pa Air Permeability, Class E1050 Pa Water Tightness (full frame) and Class A3 1200 Pa Wind Resistance.

Featuring a dedicated reinforcement there’s also no requirement to glass bond units, simplifying handling in manufacture.

And Deceuninck offers 30+ colourways in stock and 20 additional colours in just 15 working days.

“With heritage windows and doors, you are adding immediate charm to your property, and then winning home buyers on tangible modern upgrades in terms of efficiency and performance,” Darren says. “This is about leveraging the demand for heritage detailing for maximum gain, both for the seller and the buyer.”