Traditional Timber Sash Windows are huge part of your period properties aesthetic and character. If they are rattling, rotting and/or draughty, you have nothing to worry about. They can be repaired with ease, without compromising on your homes look. It will also add value to your period property.
If a window is beyond repair, replacement windows are advisable. There are very few instances where the damage and cater window cannot be fixed by a specialist joiner with the right tools and expertise. Thankfully, there are multiple experts in this field to choose from.
Draft proofing
Draft can cause a lot of heat loss, which will have an effect on energy bills. Sash windows are generally seen as being draughty, due to their rustic nature. An extremely common request is to refit all sash windows with double glazed sash windows. This will diminish the discomfort that a flow of cold air can provide. This is as the air will be caught between the sashes and the frames. The glass itself is only responsible for 15% of lost heat, the other 85% is lost through draughts. If a window can be draught-proofed. We will always endeavour to do this before we look at changing your glazing.
Commonly, sash windows will have a 3 mm gap air around the sashes which allows them to slide past each other and smoothly operate. This 3 mm gap of air is what causes draughts and causes the windows to rattle. There is a solution, however. We can fit a flexible brush between the frame and the sash. This will close the gap, and won’t affect how your window lurks or operates.
Glazing
Most experts in the timber sash industry will offer to replace single glazing with double glazing. This will instantly improve your home’s energy efficiency rating, but will also maintain your houses look and character. If your glasses ‘historic’ it cannot be replaced or removed.
Due to recent advancements in technology, newly developed glass is usually thinner than older double glazing. This means it can fit into a Windows original glazing bars without changing anything. Add squares that without changing much.
Timber in and around all glazing can be rooted out in order to allow new pains to be installed and party glazed. The reason we will always suggest draught-proofing first is because double glazing sash windows can be expensive and significantly push up costs.
If noise from a busy road is an issue, secondary glazing can be a solution. As it will be expertly installed, with a minimum gap of hundred millimetres between your pre-existing sash window, it will efficiently reduce noise pollution, allowing you to sleep easier.
Timber decay
The elements outside your home can cause a significant effect on your sash windows. It can cause it is scratch that it can cause them to rot and decay. However, even the most rotten of frame scratch that however, no matter how bad the rot is, we can fix your frames. It is most common that the lower frame, which lies above the granite sill, will suffer the most from deterioration. Original souls of flat and so water residue can sit there instead of running. Normal window sills that often at scratch that normal window sills are often tilted, meaning that water will simply run off. This moist damage can cause weakening and failure of your hidden joints, it can also cause window chords and pulleys to wear down and snap.
The most common way of fixing and repairing your damaged tinder scratch that the most common solution to repairing your damaged timber is by cutting and splicing in new pieces of wood. A coy can be used and is virtually rot proof. We can provide this with a 50-year warranty, so your sash scratch that so your repaired sash window should last a lifetime without much maintenance.
Tim decay can also scratch that timber decay can also happen behind shutters as would rot in window cases or dampness in plaster.
The costs of repair
Depending on the plan of work you need, and the manner damage your windows have sustained, your cost will vary from low to high. We offer a free, extensive, no obligation detailed survey and a quote with a complete price breakdown, of each of your windows. Full inspections will assess timber, glazing, sash cords, pulleys, weights, and even your hardware.
On average, your quotation will be between £1100 and £1400 per window for repair work and draught-proofing. If there is rot occurring the cost may be pushed up by £150 plus per bit of rot.
Protected structures
Before you can commence work on your home, if your home is historic a protected structure, you’ll need to discuss changes with your local conservation officer.
Part of your home’s historic character and rustic aesthetic will be due to your traditional Timber Sash Windows. Unless your windows are damaged beyond repair, a conservation officer will require you renovate instead of replacing. You’ll also be required to save as much of the pre-existing window as is possible.
Only the most skilled of craftsmen can restore your windows on historic properties, and it can sometimes be costly. However, you can apply for a conservation grant scheme if you are the owner of a protected structure and are commencing necessary maintenance to protect the building itself. You can get these details from your local planning authority. A small number of historic buildings might even be qualified or grant assistance from the Heritage Council or the Irish Georgian Society.
Window definitions for you. Everything you need to know.
Sash: the sash is the moving part of the window that holds in the glass. All sash windows have two separate sashes. Add scratch that every sash window has two separate sashes.
Glazing bars: these are also known as Astragal bars. These are strips of wood that will separate the panes of glass from each other.
Sash lifts: these are a pair of small hooks or handles that are used for raising the bottom sash, they are most commonly made out of brass.
Sash cord: this is the cord that assists the pulleys system by attaching to the lead weights at scratch that this is the cord that assists the pulleys system by attaching the lead weights to be sash.
Pulleys and Weights: the pulleys system is a system where bars of lead is attached to the sash with the sash cord. This will counterbalance the weight of the sash. Effectively, weights and pulleys are what help sash move at scratch that effectively, wait and pulleys are what helps the sashes move up and down.
Style: this is the horizontal outer edge of a sash.
Fitch catch: this is a type of catch that is mounted on the meeting rails in order to fasten the window in place.
Box: this is the timber frame that’s the moving sashes are housed within. It’s also where the weights hang and move in order for the window to open and close.
Horn: you will find this at the bottom corners of the top sash, it is a pointer detailing. This was our scratch that the purpose of this is to strengthen the window and stop it from being opened too far.
Meeting rails: these are the rails that come into closer contact with each other. It is the top rail of scratch that is the bottom rail of the top sash and the top rail of the bottom sash.
