All types of windows require regular maintenance to avoid the need for repair or replacement. 

Ideally, windows should be inspected every year to check for typical problems.

 Many windows have been discarded unnecessarily because they have not opened properly, whereas some basic maintenance or minor repair would have restored them to working order. 

The loss of traditional windows from our older buildings poses one of the major threats to our heritage. 

Traditional windows and their glazing make an important contribution to the significance of historic areas. They are an integral part of the design of older buildings and can be important artefacts in their own right, often made with great skill and ingenuity with materials of a higher quality than are generally available today. 

Windows are particularly vulnerable elements of a building as they are relatively easily replaced or altered. Such work often has a profound affect not only on the building itself but on the appearance of street and local area.