WINDOWS, COMPOSITE DOOR, PATIO DOOR AND ROOFLINE | DRAYTON NR8
A FULL EXTERIOR REFRESH FOR A BRICK FAMILY HOME NEAR NORWICH
In August 2026 we fitted replacement windows in Drayton, NR8, as part of a full exterior refresh for this brick family home a few miles north-west of Norwich. The owners’ rotting timber window frames, tired roofline and old front door have all been replaced in one contract: 8 white uPVC windows, a deep red composite front door, a white woodgrain uPVC back door, a white uPVC sliding patio door, new fascias, soffits and guttering, and new cladding on the porch gable.
The Brief
The timber window frames on this Drayton home had started to rot, the roofline was weathered and peeling, and the front door was showing its age. The owners wanted to:
- Replace the rotting timber window frames with low-maintenance white uPVC windows
- Renew the full roofline: fascias, soffits and guttering
- Replace the old front door with a new composite door
The same contract also covered a new back door, a new sliding patio door to the garden and new cladding on the porch gable, so the whole outside of the house was finished in one project.
What We Did
Gavin talked the owners through their plans, suggested some alternative options and drew up the specification. Scott and Dean from our own installation team then fitted everything. Both have been with Amber for 20 years.
Windows
- 8 replacement windows in white uPVC, front and rear, in a casement style
- Thicker transoms and astragal bars, chosen to mimic the look of the faux sash sliders the house had before
- Only the old vertical bars were not kept, giving clearer views while keeping the sash-style character
- Double glazed throughout
- Includes the wide ground-floor front window under its arched brick head
- uPVC frames that won’t rot and need little upkeep beyond an occasional clean
Front door
- New composite front door in deep red, in a white frame
- Tall vertical glazed panel with decorative glass
- Long bar handle and a letterplate
- Fitted under the existing porch, which now has new white cladding, fascias and soffits
Back door and patio door
- White uPVC sliding patio door from the dining area to the rear garden, double glazed
- White woodgrain uPVC back door with a glazed top panel
- White frames to match the new windows
Roofline and cladding
- New white fascias and soffits on the main house and the porch
- New black guttering
- New white cladding on the porch gable
As a FENSA-registered installer, we registered the replacement windows and doors with FENSA, so the owners have a FENSA certificate for their records. FENSA covers the windows and doors only, not the roofline or cladding.
The Result
The front and back of the house now have a consistent white finish, with casement windows whose thicker transoms and astragal bars keep the sash-style look of the old timber frames, minus the old vertical bars. The deep red composite door gives the front some colour against the red brick and the white porch, and the new fascias, soffits and cladding mean there is no more peeling paintwork to deal with. At the back, the white uPVC sliding patio door and back door match the new windows.
See more of our uPVC windows, composite front doors, sliding patio doors, roofline and cladding, or compare frame colours, door styles and roofline samples at our Norwich showroom.
Gallery: Before and After
BEFORE Front of the house
AFTER Front of the house
BEFORE Rear of the house
AFTER Rear of the house
Project Specification
- Location: Drayton, Norfolk NR8
- Property: Brick family home with a front porch
- Windows: 8 white uPVC casement windows with thicker transoms and astragal bars, replacing rotting timber frames
- Glazing: Double glazed
- Front door: Composite door in deep red, white frame, tall glazed panel with decorative glass
- Back door: White woodgrain uPVC door with a glazed top panel
- Patio door: White uPVC sliding patio door to the rear garden
- Roofline: New fascias and soffits in white, new black guttering
- Cladding: New white cladding on the porch gable
- Certification: FENSA certificate for the replacement windows and doors
- Guarantee: 20-Year Product Guarantee
- Project cost: Approximately £17,251 inc VAT for the full contract
- Fitted: August 2026
- On site: Under 4 days (the owners’ own account in their review)
- Design and advice: Gavin
- Installed by: Scott and Dean, Amber’s own installation team, both with Amber for 20 years
What the Owners Said
The owners of this Drayton home left us a 5-star Google review after the installation:
From start to finish everything was excellent. Gavyn listened to everything that we wanted and suggested some alternative options, which fitted our needs better! Nothing was too much trouble.
When it was time for installation Scott and Dean did an AMAZING job – there was no mess and the standard of workmanship was exceptional. The whole job was done in less than 4 days for everything – and, bearing in mind we not only had windows and doors, but also fascias, soffits and guttering – we were very impressed!
We are VERY happy and would definitely recommend Amber to anyone without hesitation!
Thank you Gavyn, Scott, Dean and the whole Amber team!
PS – I am a little bit in love with my Very Berry beautiful front door!!!!
Fiona & David P. – 5-star Google review, September 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why replace windows, doors and roofline at the same time?
Doing everything in one contract means one survey, one specification and one installation team, and the new frames, doors and roofline are chosen to match. On this Drayton home it dealt with the rotting timber window frames, the weathered roofline and the old front door in one project.
How much did this Drayton project cost?
The full contract came to approximately £17,251 inc VAT. It covered 8 uPVC windows, a composite front door, a uPVC back door, a uPVC sliding patio door, new fascias, soffits and guttering, and the porch gable cladding. Every home is different, so we give a written quote after surveying your property.
What does a roofline replacement include?
A roofline replacement usually covers the fascias, soffits and guttering along the eaves. On this home we also replaced the cladding on the porch gable. See our roofline and cladding pages for colours and options.
Are uPVC windows a good replacement for rotting timber frames?
For many homes, yes. uPVC frames won’t rot, and they need little upkeep beyond an occasional clean. On this home, double-glazed white uPVC casements with thicker transoms and astragal bars replaced the old timber frames, mimicking the faux sash sliders the house had before. Only the old vertical bars were not kept. See our uPVC windows.
Should my front and back doors be composite or uPVC?
A composite door has a solid core and a weather-resistant outer skin, which gives a solid, timber-like door, so many owners choose one for the front of the house. A uPVC door is lighter and usually costs less, and it suits back and side doors well. Here the front door is composite and the back door is white woodgrain uPVC. See our composite front doors and uPVC doors.
Do I need planning permission to replace windows and doors?
Replacing windows and doors on a house with similar ones usually doesn’t need planning permission, but listed buildings, conservation areas and homes with restricted permitted development rights can be different. Replacement windows and doors must meet Building Regulations, and a FENSA-registered installer can certify this for you. The Planning Portal guidance on doors and windows has more detail.
Will I get a FENSA certificate?
Yes, for the windows and doors. As a FENSA-registered installer, we register replacement windows and doors with FENSA, so you receive a FENSA certificate for your records. FENSA doesn’t cover roofline or cladding work.
What guarantee comes with the new windows and doors?
The windows and doors on this project come with our 20-Year Product Guarantee. Our guarantee page explains what is covered.
Do you cover Drayton and the surrounding area?
Yes. Drayton is a short drive from our showroom off Drayton Road in Hellesdon, and we survey and fit across Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire, including Taverham, Thorpe Marriott, Horsford, Costessey and Hellesdon. See our windows in Norwich and doors in Norwich pages.
Who is Amber Home Improvements?
We are a family-run, Norwich-based installer and GGF member, serving East Anglia since 1996. We’re FENSA registered for replacement windows and doors, and our own team surveys and installs every job.
Related Projects
- Garage conversion with cladding and bi-fold doors, Drayton NR8
- uPVC roofline replacement in Norwich
- Windows, doors and roofline for a school in Horsford NR10
- Composite front door in Shropham NR17
- Exterior transformation with modern cladding, NR29
Looking for doors in Norwich or windows in Norwich? Our local pages show the full range, with prices and more projects near you.
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