I am sure you mean well, but please, do bear in mind that your reply might come across as a bit entitled and out of touch - in general, I would refrain from rubbishing certain cheaper options so harshly, especially if those cheaper options may well be all someone can afford after all, you don't know what my financial situation is, do you?
Back on topic: ah, the subjectivity of it all...
It has always been beyond me why construction standards can be so poor in this country, especially when it comes to thermal efficiency. Many buyers will not bat an eyelid at seeing old single-glazed wooden windows with zero insulation, but would frown upon thermally efficient PVC ones. I will never get it. I have German friends who are always saying that many British houses would be absolutely illegal in Germany (from crooked walls to extremely poor thermal insulation). And don't get me started about those areas where double glazing is not allowed...
Not buying a house just because it has PVC windows doesn't seem very logical; windows can always be replaced, can't they, and the cost factored in the offer. But of course the real estate market has never been particularly rational.
A house is always a compromise between what you like and what potential buyers will like - you want to tailor it to your likes, but not so much that no one else will like it. As with everything in life, it's a compromise.
Specifically, we were thinking of getting those kind of PVC windows which look a bit like wood. We have seen some installed and, to be honest, our untrained eyes couldn't tell the difference; e.g.
http://www.victoriansliders.co.uk/ecosl ... h-windows/
What do you think of these? I ask because I am curious about the reaction of the typical anti-PVC potential buyer.
These kind of windows could work well for the bedrooms overlooking the back garden. For the living room, overlooking the main road, I am not sure.
Our reservations about wood are not only about the cost, but also about the thermal insulation and the maintenance. As far as I know wood is not the best material for insulation - e.g. wooden doors will never insulate as much as those made with other materials. Plus wood requires more maintenance - PVC does not expand when wet, for example.
