The Essential Spring Inspection Guide for Timber Windows and Doors

This article was published on May 23, 2025

It’s that time of the year again to get those jobs done we’ve been putting off in the winter, which is why we’re writing our essential inspection guide for timber windows and doors this spring! It’s important to check on your timber windows and doors from time to time, particularly if they’re older, as you may find that their quality is affecting the performance of your home.

It’s not always straightforward to identify any performance issues with your windows, especially without knowing how to conduct a proper inspection. Outdated timber windows and doors will not only impact the aesthetic of your home, but the performance. As a result, your energy bills may be higher than they need to be due to the poor thermal insulation of your old timber windows and doors.

Follow our essential spring inspection guide for timber windows and doors to find out whether your windows are due an upgrade.

Step 1 – Initial Inspections

Starting off simple, your first course of action is to observe your windows for any clear faults. It’s important not to underestimate the importance of a quick once-over inspection, you may find that you’re unaware of any performance issues that might feel obvious.

Visual Inspection

Sometimes the obvious eludes you, a quick visual inspection can help you to identify any clear issues with your windows and doors. There are several signs that you should look out for, and if any of the following apply to your windows, it may be worthwhile taking action:

• Cracking of the glass or timber frame
• Clear damage
• Peeling paint
• Gaps around the frames
• Rotting of the wood – E.g. discolouration, softness
• Condensation and moisture

Temperature and Draughting

You should also take note of the temperature around your windows and doors, a few key questions to ask yourself would be:

• Can I feel any drafting?
• Is it colder near the windows and doors?
• Can you see any damage or faults with the window / door seals?

A top tip is to check your energy bills if you find that it is particularly cold around your windows and doors. If you think your energy bills are higher than they should be, and the temperature is low around them, there is likely a link between the two meaning that your home is poorly insulated.

Functionality Check

While it may sound simple, you should also check to see how smoothly your timber windows and doors are operating. This can be quickly checked by opening and closing your timber windows and doors, and checking that you can lock them both without trouble.

If you’re noticing that your timber windows and doors are struggling to function the way that they’re supposed to, this should be addressed. Things to look out for would be sticking, creaking, or binding. While it may be a simple fault, there is potential that the wood may be swelling, due to built up condensation, in this instance, it may be worthwhile replacing your timber windows and doors.

Step 2 – Thorough Checks

Even if your timber windows and doors didn’t pick up any faults initially, we’d recommend investigating further to be sure. Sometimes, it’s not always what you can see, or feel, when it comes to faulty timber windows and doors. We’d always advise conducting thorough checks to get a closer inspection of their health and performance. 

Also, if you’ve found that there are faults with your windows and doors, thorough checks can help you get to the bottom of the issue.

Timber Health

The health of timber can be difficult to identify if you’re not used to dealing with it. However, through our inspection guide for timber windows and doors, you should be able to conduct a thorough investigation into the health of your timber windows and doors.

Firstly, you should use a blunt tool to press gently along the timber frame, or door. The timber should feel strong, sturdy, and shouldn’t move as you touch it. Soft timber indicates rot, which will need to be addressed quickly. Cracks, gaps, and moisture should also be looked out for, as these signs indicate unhealthy timber. 

If you’ve noticed any of the aforementioned findings, you’ll likely need to replace your timber window or door. If you’re looking for expert advice, get in touch with us here.

Coating Condition

Your next task is to check the condition of your coating. You should be searching for paint adhesion, meaning that the paint, or varnish is still adhering to the wood. You should be checking for flaking, and that the entirety of the wood is coated, with no wood being exposed, which is particularly important for water damage.

Glass Health

The health of your glass is also vital to check up on, whether that be your door’s glass panelling, or your window panes. You should be looking for cracks, chips, or anything that may be hindering your home’s performance. Assuming that your property is double, triple, or vacuum glazed, you will have a seal, which you should check for any built up condensation.

If you’ve found that the issue lies with your glass, instead of the timber, we can help assist you. If keeping your existing timber frame is a priority, we can repair your windows through our renovation process. If you’re looking to learn more, click here. 

Ironmongery Checks

Lastly, you should check any ironmongery of your timber windows and doors. These may be the cause of any operational faults, which hinder the usage of your doors and windows. Check for any tightness, or corrosion, and make sure that you take the necessary action to tackle these issues. If needed, you may need to apply lubrication, such as WD-40, to hinges, locks, and handles so that they’re able to operate properly.

Step 3 – Taking Action

If you’ve noticed any issues after conducting all the aforementioned checks, now it’s time to take action. It may be that you’ve only noticed a minor issue, or you’ve noticed a key issue that is hindering the performance of your property, but we’re here to help you take your next steps.

Minor Repairs and Maintenance

For the smallest issues, you likely won’t need to replace your timber windows or doors. Alternatively, we’d advise giving them a good clean, or lubricating any ironmongery affecting opening issues. If you’ve found that any minor tweaks you’ve made are still not improving the performance of your timber windows and doors, it may be worthwhile getting in touch with us to discuss the best plan of action. Click here to get in touch.

If you feel that you’re not confident in your ability to resolve your issue, or if you have any other concerns over your windows and doors, you can still consider replacing them. It is ultimately your choice, and if you’re unconfident in your windows and doors, you may feel peace of mind, and satisfaction in replacing them!

Renovation

Particularly when it comes to your windows, you may have the option for renovation, rather than searching for replacement timber windows. Whether you’re looking to repair the frame, add a layer of secondary glazing, there are multiple options available to you to help restore the performance, and beauty of your timber windows.

Particularly for owners of period properties, sometimes your timber windows cannot be replaced due to planning restrictions to exterior renovations. With vacuum glazing, you don’t have to worry about replacing them, as we can restore your windows to perform at an outstanding level, bringing excellent thermal insulation to your heritage building. If you’re interested in finding out more about vacuum glazing, click here.

Finding a Replacement

Either your timber windows and doors are irreparable, not worthwhile fixing, or you’re likely just due a change, and now you’re looking to find a replacement. If you’re looking to reinvent the performance of your home, we’d recommend choosing modern, energy efficient windows and doors in order to suit your needs.

That’s why we craft our timber windows and doors with industry leading performance measures, helping you as a homeowner save on your energy bills, whilst embracing comfortable living. To pair with performance, we let you customise our beautiful timber windows and doors to your desires, giving you the home you’ve dreamed of. 

Summary

Now that you’ve followed our spring inspection guide for timber windows and doors, it’s time to get a greater idea of how your home can be improved when you view our bespoke timber windows and doors in person! There’s no way to understand the quality of a product than to see it with your own eyes – head down to our Middlesbrough showroom, and we’ll be at hand to show you around.

If you’re looking to book your visit to our showroom to view our timber windows in person, please arrange your visit before arriving and contact us at 01642 456167 or email sales@erwltd.co.uk, and a member of our team will be in touch.