Full House Window & Door Replacement guide: 1930s semis in Cardiff

Every 1930s semi-detached in Cardiff has its own quirks, but the recurring six are: cavity brick construction with a rendered or pebble-dashed upper; curved or angular front bay across two storeys; a small canopy or porch over the front door, often with a stained-glass toplight; along with the usual interwar-property reveal detail. When full-house replacement land on this spec, we default to A+ uPVC or aluminium frames, one consistent foil/RAL across every elevation. External foil cills are colour-matched to the frame — replace as a set or the elevation reads two-tone. The two-storey bay carries loading from the roof valley — reinforced steel corner cores accept it without deflection. Listed status is documented on the deed pack — we check before quoting anything other than like-for-like heritage spec. Gable-end glass panes are often 2.4m+ tall; we deliver on a dedicated glass lift rather than by hand. Post-war doors sat on a raised timber threshold; a Part-M part-plate replaces it cleanly at composite door install. Stone cills usually project only 40mm — the frame drip has to clear the projection without over-hanging. Sash cord pulleys behind the timber lining come out clean if the paint layers haven't fused them to the box. Wind-driven rain finds sealant gaps that inland elevations tolerate — bead depth matters more than usual. External timber cladding at the head of the window is easily matched to modern PVC trim in a coordinated foil. Developer window frames are typically low-spec multi-chamber uPVC — the profile is fine, the hinges and glass are the fail point.