People are sometimes sceptical about salesmen’s claims that their pre-painted wooden windows will not need painting for at least 10 years. These scepticisms are usually justified by memories of gloss painting old wood windows made from unsuitable timber – not a pleasant task every summer.

Having conducted our own real-time case study Kingsbridge are pleased to announce that our claims do, in fact, stand the test of time.

In February of 2001, Kingsbridge Joinery delivered windows and doors to Mr & Mrs Goggins who were converting an old stone stable block into 3 duplex apartments near the Hill of Tara, in County Meath. The owners designed the project with impeccable taste and appreciated the beauty and benefits of wooden windows and doors.

The window of choice was a flush casement with a Georgian type glazing bar, and doors had the top panel glazed and the bottom panels raised and fielded. All units were produced from Scandinavian Redwood and pre-finished with 3 coats of micro-porous white paint.

On a recent inspection of the project this week, in the year 2011, the evidence is clear. 10 years after the installation there is no signs of the paint cracking, peeling blistering or breaking down. The paint finish has remained in place due mainly to the quality of the initial factory finish and the use of stable timber in manufacture. What’s more, it will be some time before these units will require painting.

This is clear evidence of the durability of modern paint finishes when applied to appropriately selected timber windows and doors. Also bear in mind the site is quite exposed and the units will have received little or no cleaning.