Wood Replacement Windows
Wood replacement windows are primarily used when the home owner wishes to retain the exact look of the original wood windows on the home. Wood replacement windows do have many modern features that will make them superior to the original wood windows. However, they will degrade over time and the exterior window sills and window casements will need periodic painting.
Wood Windows produce higher R-values, are unaffected by temperature extremes, and are less prone to condensation, but they require considerable maintenance in the form of periodic painting. If wood frames are not properly protected from moisture, they can warp, crack, and stick.
Another factor regarding replacing your windows with wood windows is that they are generally more expensive than other types of replacement windows. In fact, high end wood replacement windows will be fairly expensive.