Bespoke Accoya Timber Windows & Doors Near Harrogate
A major phased renovation comprising 53 bespoke timber windows, eight external doors and two barn doors for an exposed rural property in Nidderdale, North Yorkshire.
Set in an exposed rural position in Nidderdale, near Harrogate, this character property required an extensive programme of replacement timber windows and doors as part of a long-term renovation.
Many of the existing windows dated from an earlier renovation and were softwood, mass-manufactured replacements that had deteriorated considerably over time. Draughts, ageing glazing and poorly fitting frames were affecting the comfort and performance of the property, while some previous replacement windows had been fitted using standard-sized frames that did not properly suit the original openings.
The homeowners wanted a long-term solution that would improve warmth, weather performance and comfort while bringing greater consistency back to the property without losing its traditional rural character.
With 53 windows, eight external doors and two barn doors ultimately requiring replacement, this was a substantial bespoke joinery project. Following extensive research into potential suppliers, the homeowners chose James Wilding Joinery to manufacture and install their new timber windows and doors.
Bespoke windows designed around the property
From the outset, retaining the traditional character of the buildings was central to the project.
Rather than replacing the existing windows with another standard system, the new joinery could be designed and manufactured specifically around the individual openings and the character of the property.
Sliding sash windows were considered during the design process, but after looking carefully at the architecture, varied opening sizes and agricultural origins of parts of the property, traditional flush casement windows were selected as the more appropriate solution.
Their simple proportions and understated appearance suited the rural buildings while allowing us to incorporate modern double glazing, weather sealing and high-performance hardware.
Designing the joinery individually also allowed greater consistency to be brought back to a property where previous alterations had resulted in a mixture of window styles, frame sizes and glazing arrangements.
Bespoke Accoya Flush Casement Windows and Timber Accoya Door, Manufactured in Rylstone, near Skipton, fit in Nidderdale near Harrogate
Starting with a test window
Before progressing with the first major phase of manufacture, we produced and installed a test window.
Some of the existing openings had previously been altered to accommodate replacement windows, so installing a test window allowed us to establish the condition of the stonework beneath the existing frame and confirm the most appropriate detailing before committing to manufacture on a much larger scale.
Once the existing window had been removed, we could assess the opening, confirm the fit and make informed decisions about the positioning of the new joinery.
The test installation also established that the new windows could be recessed further into the property’s deep stone openings. This provided additional shelter from the exposed weather while allowing the windows to sit more naturally within the substantial walls.
Following the successful test installation, the openings were measured again and manufacture of the first phase could begin.
It’s a good example of what genuinely bespoke manufacture allows us to do: design and manufacture the window around the building rather than expect an old building to accommodate a predetermined window system.
High-performance Accoya flush casement windows
The new windows and doors were individually manufactured from Accoya timber by our experienced joiners in our Yorkshire workshop.
Material choice was particularly important for this property.
Its exposed moorland position, at almost 800 feet above sea level, means the buildings experience strong winds, driving rain, snow and rapidly changing Yorkshire weather.
Accoya’s dimensional stability and durability make it particularly well suited to demanding external joinery applications such as this. Its stability helps minimise movement within the timber while also providing an excellent base for a high-quality painted finish.
It also gives our craftsmen the flexibility to manufacture individual windows, doors and more unusual pieces of joinery using traditional skills and detailing rather than being restricted to standard factory-produced profiles.
For a substantial project in such an exposed location, that combination of stability, durability and design flexibility made Accoya an excellent choice.
Bespoke Timber Accoya Flush Casement Windows and Timber Accoya Door, Manufactured in Rylstone, near Skipton, fit in Nidderdale near Harrogate – Phase 1
Traditional appearance with modern performance
While retaining the character of the property was fundamental, the new joinery also needed to deliver a considerable improvement in everyday performance.
The windows incorporated 24mm argon-filled double-glazed units, replacing deteriorated older glazing and helping to improve thermal performance across the numerous openings.
Modern weather sealing provides further protection against draughts and the exposed conditions experienced at the property.
The joinery was also fitted with Winkhaus locking systems and Coastal BLU stainless-steel ironmongery, providing a durable hardware specification to complement the longevity of the Accoya timber.
Every element was considered as part of the complete window — from the timber, glazing and seals through to the finish, locks and ironmongery.
The result combines the understated appearance and craftsmanship of traditional timber joinery with the thermal, weather and security performance expected from a modern window.
Bespoke Timber Accoya Flush Casement Windows and Timber Accoya Door, Manufactured in Rylstone, near Skipton, fit in Nidderdale Door near Harrogate
36 bespoke windows and three external doors in Phase 1
The first major phase involved the manufacture and installation of 36 bespoke Accoya windows and three external doors.
A project of this scale requires careful planning throughout the workshop. Although the overall appearance needed to remain consistent, each piece of joinery was being made for an individual opening within an existing property.
The windows and doors were manufactured by our own team before being prepared and factory spray-finished using a Teknos coating system.
Manufacture, finishing, glazing, transportation and installation were carefully coordinated while maintaining consistent standards of detailing and finish across the complete phase.
Once ready, the joinery was transported to the property and installed by our own team.
The first phase was completed over approximately two weeks, with our installers working across the different buildings and openings to achieve the appropriate fit against the existing stonework.
It formed part of the wider programme comprising 53 windows, eight external doors and two barn doors, with the remaining joinery forming subsequent phases of the renovation.
Traditional craftsmanship on a large-scale project
Producing a large quantity of windows and doors consistently is only one part of a project like this.
Across an older rural property, individual openings inevitably vary. Stonework isn’t perfectly uniform, previous alterations have taken place and different parts of the building have their own proportions and details.
Our experienced joiners and craftsmen have the traditional joinery knowledge and practical skills required to work with those differences.
Modern workshop machinery gives us the accuracy and consistency required for contemporary glazing, weather seals and locking systems, while traditional bench-joinery skills allow individual frames and details to be manufactured specifically for the building.
This means we can maintain consistency across a project involving dozens of windows and doors without treating every opening as though it were identical.
That’s an important distinction between genuinely bespoke timber joinery and a standard window system.
Manufactured in our own Yorkshire workshop
All of the windows and doors were manufactured by our own team before being factory finished and prepared for installation.
The homeowners visited our workshop during the project and were able to see their joinery progressing through manufacture — from Accoya timber through machining and assembly to finishing and final preparation.
For a project involving this quantity of joinery, that direct relationship is particularly valuable.
Our customers can see where their windows and doors are being made, meet the people responsible for making them and speak directly to the team delivering their project.
Manufacturing in our own workshop also gives us control over the quality and consistency of the joinery before it leaves for site.
Bespoke Accoya timber doors manufactured in our Rylstone workshop for the Nidderdale renovation.
Installed by our own team
Once manufacture and finishing were complete, the windows and doors were transported to the property and installed by our own team.
Being responsible for both manufacture and installation provides continuity throughout the project — from the initial survey and design decisions through to fitting the finished joinery into the building.
That’s particularly important when working with existing stone properties.
Rather than manufacturing a window to a nominal size and passing responsibility for installation to somebody else, our workshop and installation teams can work together to achieve the appropriate solution for each individual opening.
For larger phased renovations, it also helps us maintain consistency as the project progresses over time.
The homeowner’s perspective
The homeowners have also documented their renovation independently, including a detailed account of replacing the windows.
Their article covers the project from the homeowner’s perspective — including the condition of the previous windows, their search for a joinery manufacturer, the decision to use Accoya and flush casements, their visit to our workshop and the installation of the first phase.
It makes an interesting companion to our case study: their experience as the homeowners alongside our perspective as the craftsmen responsible for manufacturing and installing the joinery.
Read the homeowner’s independent account: Replacing our Windows.
Bespoke timber windows in Nidderdale and near Harrogate
This project in Nidderdale, near Harrogate, is a good example of the larger residential joinery schemes undertaken by James Wilding Joinery throughout Harrogate, Nidderdale, Pateley Bridge and the surrounding Yorkshire Dales area.
From individual replacement windows and unusual one-off pieces to complete packages of bespoke windows and doors for substantial renovations, our joinery is designed and manufactured around the individual property.
For this project, that meant a long-term programme comprising 53 bespoke timber windows, eight external doors and two barn doors, manufactured in phases with the same attention to materials, proportions, performance and craftsmanship throughout.
Whether the priority is retaining the character of an older property, improving thermal and weather performance or finding a bespoke solution for unusual existing openings, our experienced craftsmen can manufacture timber joinery specifically for the building.
Project Summary
Location: Nidderdale, near Harrogate, North Yorkshire
Project: Major phased renovation
Joinery: 53 bespoke timber windows, eight external doors and two barn doors
Timber: Accoya
Windows: Bespoke flush casement windows
Glazing: 24mm argon-filled double glazing
Hardware: Winkhaus locking systems and Coastal BLU stainless-steel ironmongery
Finish: Teknos factory-applied coating system
Manufactured & installed by: James Wilding Joinery
Planning a renovation or looking for bespoke timber windows and doors in Nidderdale or near Harrogate?
Contact James Wilding Joinery to discuss your project.