Tue Feb 24
Timber window specification is rarely straightforward. Performance requirements, compliance standards, acoustic criteria, thermal efficiency targets – the variables involved in selecting the right window for a given project can quickly multiply.
For architects, designers and contractors working under programme and cost pressure, getting specification wrong at an early stage carries real consequences.
That’s why TRC Contracts developed its online Product Selector: a practical digital tool designed to support clearer, more confident decision-making from the outset.
Whether you are working on a sensitive heritage scheme, a large residential development or a commercial refurbishment, the selector helps you identify the right timber window solution quickly – and with the accuracy that complex building specification demands.
Why timber window specification matters early
Specification decisions made early in the design process have a disproportionate influence on programme, cost and compliance outcomes. A product chosen without full consideration of the relevant performance factors – thermal efficiency, acoustic performance, durability, weather resistance – is far more likely to require revision further down the line.
That kind of late-stage change is disruptive and expensive. It can affect procurement timelines, delay sign-off from building control and, in some cases, compromise the overall look and integrity of the finished building.
Getting timber window specification right at RIBA Stage 2 or 3, rather than revisiting it at Stage 4 or beyond, reduces risk for everyone involved in the project.
How the TRC Contracts product selector works
Our Product Selector is structured around the variables that matter most in professional specification. Rather than presenting a straightforward product catalogue, it guides users through a series of criteria to help narrow down the most appropriate solution.
Key factors you can filter by include:
- Window type – casement, sash, tilt and turn, or fixed
- Thermal efficiency – helping you meet current building regulations and Part L requirements
- Acoustic performance – particularly relevant for urban, commercial or high-density residential projects
- Durability – considering exposure rating, finish and the demands of the installation environment
- Glazing configuration – including single, double and triple panes where required
This structured approach allows architects and contractors to make an informed decision based on the specific requirements of their project, rather than working from general assumptions about product performance.
Navigating performance and compliance with confidence
One of the most common challenges in timber window specification is understanding how various performance factors interact – and how the final product selection will hold up against building regulations and industry standards.
TRC Contracts manufactures timber windows to the most exacting standards, with product specification supported by decades of experience in the sector. Our windows are designed to meet demanding performance thresholds across thermal efficiency, energy efficiency, weather resistance and acoustic performance – ensuring that the products specified are fit for purpose in real-world conditions.
For UK projects, compliance with Part L of the Building Regulations remains a central concern. Thermal performance values, in particular, are subject to increasingly stringent requirements as part of the drive towards lower-carbon buildings.
The Product Selector takes these requirements into account, helping specifiers identify products that deliver the right thermal and energy efficiency performance from the start.
Does the product selector work for projects of all sizes?
Yes. The TRC Contracts Product Selector is designed to support projects of all sizes, from individual property upgrades to large-scale residential and commercial schemes.
Whether your specification requires a single bespoke window or a coordinated supply across multiple building types, the tool provides a consistent, reliable starting point.
Design criteria: More than just performance
Performance is critical – but it’s not the only consideration in detailed design. The overall look of a timber window, and how it integrates with the architectural character of a building, is of equal importance in many projects.
TRC Contracts offers timber windows in a wide range of colours and finishes, allowing architects and designers to match the window specification to the visual language of the scheme.
Whether the requirement is for a traditional painted finish on a period property or a contemporary stained profile on a new-build, the Product Selector helps identify options that satisfy aesthetic as well as technical criteria.
This balance between craftsmanship and performance is central to what TRC Contracts offers. Our timber windows are manufactured using premium materials and are built to reflect the quality and attention to detail that professional specification demands.
Reducing risk at specification stage
Poor product specification is one of the most avoidable sources of risk in a construction project. The most complex specifications demand the greatest care – and the consequences of a mismatch between specified and installed products can be significant, both in terms of compliance and client satisfaction.
The Product Selector helps reduce this risk in several practical ways:
- Clarity – it presents performance data in a format that supports direct comparison between products
- Accuracy – it narrows down options based on your specific project criteria, reducing the likelihood of an unsuitable selection
- Speed – it shortens the time needed to reach a confident, well-evidenced specification recommendation
- Confidence – it supports specifiers in demonstrating that products have been selected against the correct standards
Used early in the design process, the selector supports a more robust and defensible specification – which is in the interests of every party on the project.
Start your specification with confidence
If you are at the early stages of a project and need to identify the right timber window solution, the TRC Contracts Product Selector is a good place to begin.
Explore the tool or get in touch with the TRC Contracts team directly to discuss your project requirements. With decades of experience supporting architects, designers and contractors across the UK, we are here to help you specify with clarity and confidence.
