Two new fact cards have been published by the British Woodworking Federation (BWF) Timber Window Accreditation Scheme.

Card numbers 4 and 5 are on maintenance and redecoration of timber windows respectively. Intended as a simple guide, they contain essential advice on best practice.

Fully factory-finished BWF accredited timber windows already carry a guarantee of up to eight years for paints and five years for stains, but the BWF says that carrying out the first redecoration around one year before the recommended time significantly improves the longevity of the coating system. A supplementary chart lists the time scale for subsequent essential maintenance.