Replacement and repairs to Sash Windows in Leamington spa

History and facts

 

The oldest sash windows to be known to go back to 1670. Some are still in existence in Ham House in London. Some believe without any conclusive evidence that they were designed in England. By a guy called Robert Hooke a philosopher architect and polymath. Others believe they are a Dutch invention. Now let’s not get into a debate about the cultural appropriation of a Sash Window here in this very safe space.

 You will find Sash Windows in Georgian and Victorian houses. The classic arrangement has three panes across by two up on each of two sashes, giving a six over six-panel window. Although this is not always completely the rule.  Late Victorian and Edwardian used a standard sash about four feet wide. Also, older hand made windows could be any size.
Also sometimes referred to as box sash windows in the trade. This is referring to the box on the sides that contains the weight to counterbalance the weight of the window. Original weights usually being led.
Also if your lucky enough to have old Sash Windows in your house you may notice some imperfections in the glass called “ream”. The glass used to be much thinner called plate or broad glass.

  Advantages of Sash Windows

The advantages of traditional Sash Windows or a double hung window where two sashes can move up and down in the window frame:
1. You can clean the outside of the window from inside
2.(not a lot of people know this…) if you open the top sash and the bottom sash at the same distance, on a hot day, the hot air will escape out the top sash letting cooler air in through the bottom sash. This was air conditioning back in the 1600s
3. Although there is no proof of this or tests, it’s only my personal professional opinion. If there’s a fire in your house, God forbid! You will not have too much trouble getting out a sash window. Even if the woods on fire. I don’t know if you ever have seen upvc burn or melt should I say. At a much higher temperature than wood and taking a lot longer to start burning. This leaves the structure of your plastic window pretty solid until it’s probably too late.

  Fire Escape

  Even if your wooden window is not on fire or weakened. One small table or large ornament preferably in the middle of one sash at force would definitely leave a human-sized escape. If you could not open the window. If you can open the window your whole family could probably jump out at the same time.
Now you may be thinking ok then traditional Sash Windows are not that secure from the outside. Well, you still have to break glass pretty much the reverse of what you would have to do to get out of one if there was a fire. Which means a lot of noise. Don’t believe what any upvc double glazing salesman tells you! I could get into any new upvc window a lot easier and with a lot less noise, and this is from experience when people lock themselves out or a locking mechanism breaks.
Aluminium windows are a different story, probably the worth of a blog.

 

Issues and Maintenance of Sash Windows

 Don’t blame the windows but wood rots if not maintained. It also can shrink leaving your window rattling around in the frame on a windy night. The cords on the counterbalance can fray and snap. Painters can have a nasty habit of painting the sash shut! When replacing a pane of old glass on a sash. The new glass will weigh more meaning you will have to add weight to your counterbalance. Ok Sash Windows are fairly high maintenance but you have the above-mentioned benefits. Also the aesthetics style and a natural resource. Not to mention the fact if you live in an older house those windows are more often then not are listed. Meaning you cannot replace them with plastic or a different style, which I will talk about later.

 

Resolves

  There are lots of products on the market to date that can help solve some of the old problems. Draft strips being one of them, stick on strips, some that slot into a small rebate or groove. There are many different types but the purpose they serve is they stop the Sash rattling around in the frame, also they stop the draft.

Hardwood sills are also used on any new windows made or if we are repairing a cill on a Sash Window we replace it with Hardwood. As all the water runs down the window and sits on the sill. This will be where your rot begins and Hardwood takes a lot longer to rot then softwood.
There are chains instead of sash chords better weights, locks etc in fact just too many extras to mention here.

 

Spindle actuators

These guys are especially useful if you cant reach a top opener too easily, or for elderly people. At the moment with have availability to two types. A hidden system that would be inside the Sash Window box at the side that would usually house the weights.
Or a face mounted system which is easier to install, but for the actuators to work best the window has to be shutting perfectly and weighted precisely. 

 

 

  Replacement Sash Windows

  We offer a massive range of replacement Sash Windows, Upvc, double glazed, Hardwood and softwood. Not to mention all the finishes and paints available today.  We supply and fit or supply only, but our speciality really is listed buildings. Where you will need to meet the council’s requirements of a listed Sash Window, also custom built one-off windows. That we produce ourselves in our workshop.

 Here is a new double glazed replacement sash from our range

 

 

  Windows are the eyes to a building

 Like our eyes are a window to our soul, you should consider how important your eyes are to you.  You should also consider how important your windows are to your home. Even if your, not a listed building and you have old wooden Sash Windows that drive you crazy.  Your thinking about a plastic replacement, or even a more modern wooden sash. My advice would be don’t. The customers always right of course and we will gladly do whatever you wish. However Original Sash Windows will improve the value of the house. Restored or replaced like for like, it will retain its character and keep alive a traditional window that’s been around for quite some years…

Any advice or queries please don’t hesitate to contact us
Thanks, Martin