Sash Windows

Sash Window Installation and Repair

Sash Windows: Sash windows add an elegant, period aesthetic to any UK home, enhancing its value with their classic charm and timeless style. Should you find yourself in the position of needing to replace your current sash windows, you'll discover that modern iterations maintain the beauty and appeal of the originals. Particularly if your residence is a listed building, a property of historical significance, or located within a conservation area, local regulations may dictate that sash windows are your exclusive option for replacement. This ensures that the architectural integrity and aesthetic continuity of your home are preserved, while still benefiting from advancements in window technology and efficiency.

Frequently, your chosen professional glazing firm in the UK will custom-make replacement sash windows to match your specific needs and to comply with any constraints related to conservation areas or listed building status. A skilled craftsman will meticulously fashion your new sash windows, employing sustainable types of softwood or hardwood known for their durability and resistance to decay, thus ensuring their longevity. These materials are chosen both for their environmental credentials and their capacity to maintain the character of traditional sash windows. Alternatively, should you prefer a contemporary aesthetic, modern materials such as aluminium, uPVC, or composite frames can be used for sash windows that blend effortlessly with your property’s design in the UK, offering both style and performance.

SASH WINDOWS VS CASEMENT WINDOWS

Sash windows differ from casement windows in their mechanism of opening; they do not pivot on hinges. Instead, a sash window consists of two panels, either or both of which can move vertically, sliding one over the other. This movement is facilitated by cords and counterweights, which ensure the window stays open at any desired gap without the risk of it slamming shut on its own. While traditional sash windows are restricted to vertical movement, contemporary models offer the added flexibility of both vertical and horizontal sliding. Moreover, newer versions include tilting features, making the cleaning process significantly easier and more convenient.

A leading advantage of a sash window over a casement window is its enhanced system of ventilation for a room. When both sashes can slide it's possible to leave a gap both bottom and top, which generates a convection air flow within the room with cool air entering through the lower gap, and warm air exiting through the gap at the top. This helps to increase your levels of personal comfort and is particularly helpful during the hot summer months in the UK.

To prevent any potential intruder from opening your windows and improve security for traditional sash windows, reinforced or double glazing, stops, threaded bolt screws and locks can be used to give peace of mind for homeowners in the UK. The fitting of a frame to frame lock is an excellent kind of security for a sash window in the UK. This sort of lock involves the use of a bar or bolt which fastens the upper sash to the bottom frame, stopping the opening of either window. As it cannot be accessed from the outside by potential burglars, security is increased.

REFURBISHING OR REPLACING SASH WINDOWS IN UK

If your current sash windows in the UK have incurred damage or no longer work effectively, then it's probably time to think about either replacing or refurbishing them before they get worse. A professional UK sash window installer will be happy to offer you advice and guidance on whether it's worthwhile to repair and restore your current windows, or would perhaps be better to swap them for nice new sash windows.

In order to repair and refurbish your existing sash windows in the UK, they'll typically have to be removed from the frame so that the restoration work can be completed successfully. The frame might need to be put in a specialist jig and tightened if the window glass is draughty and vibrating, or it could be as simple as removing a few layers of paint which have built up over time. You will most likely find that a local sash window contractor in the UK will offer a free assessment of your windows to determine any issues, recommend solutions, and provide a quote for the work involved. Whether your sash windows need attention because of loose corner joints, worn out cords, rotten frames or broken glass, there's a fair chance that they can be successfully refurbished or repaired. Nevertheless, you must weigh up the pros and cons in terms of what is possible and what is actually worth doing from a cost viewpoint.

TYPES OF SASH WINDOWS IN UK

It can be confusing if you look online or in a sales catalogue at all of the various different designs of sash windows which are on offer. If you just consider the 3 principal designs, that is to say: Edwardian, Victorian and Georgian, it will be easier. Each has their own individual variations which can be adapted for your design of property.

Georgian - The traditional design of the Georgian sash window is "6 over 6", which means it comprises 6 individual panes in the top sash, over 6 individual panes in the bottom sash. The Half-Georgian is an adaption of this design with a single pane in one half, and 6 panes in the other, while another Georgian-variant sees a sash window which can have different sized panes in the top and bottom, provided that one of the sashes counts six panes.

Victorian - The Victorian sash window is commonly a 2 over 2 panel grid design which may also incorporate a central bar, or variations such as asymmetric (two over three, three over two etc).

Edwardian - Featuring a six over two arrangement, the Edwardian is very similar in appearance to the Half-Georgian style of sash window.

Instead of racking your brain thinking about all of these different designs, you might find that it's easier to just get in contact with your local UK sash window installation company, and ask their advice about which would be the appropriate model for your home.

Various window sizes, as well as coupled and bay windows, can be obtained in all these designs. The Yorkshire Sash is the 4th and final main type of sash window. This style of sash window slides in a horizontal direction, and can incorporate any of the main elements and variants of the other three designs.

TRADITIONAL SASH WINDOWS AND PROTECTED BUILDINGS

One problem with sash windows in the past, is that they only had a single pane of glass, which to stop heat loss isn't great. If your property is in a protected conservation area, or is listed, it might be necessary to replace your sash windows with some having a similar arrangement as your current ones. However, now it's feasible to replace the original type of glass with modern toughened glass, which has much improved thermal properties. This means that you can retain the all round look of your property, despite the fact that you are replacing all the sash windows.

A skilled UK sash window installer will supply you with the optimum and most economical materials that are needed for the work, while offering advice on ways to observe the local regulations for your area. It may be required to undertake a window by window inspection report to reduce any impact on the structure, where a local authority or conservation official insists on the restoration of existing materials. A specialist company will ready to do this inspection and prepare the report together with any necessary technical drawings, required by the planning department, including full details of your restoration project, and if any replacement work is required.

An enhancement of your sash windows in the UK might be feasible by using a secondary glazing option. If you'd like to reduce noise levels, stop condensation and improve thermal efficiency, you can add a vertical sliding secondary glazing panel to the inside of your sash window. Even where you are restricted by planning constraints in the case of a listed building, secondary glazing can typically be implemented to help preserve the original character and integrity of the building.

CHOOSING A SASH WINDOW INSTALLER IN UK

For professional sash window installation that will last for many years to come, you will need to locate a reputable sash window installer in the UK area. You should try to obtain a minimum of three different estimates for your sash window project, and consult friends and family for recommendations and testimonials where appropriate. To be certain of a company's experience and skills in glazing and sash window installations and refurbishments, check for membership of either the GGF (Glass and Glazing Federation), FENSA (the Fenestration Self-Assessment Scheme) or the TGAS (Glazing Arbitration Scheme). There are numerous advantages to using a sash window installer in the UK who's a registered member of one of these leading organisations, including warranties in cases of poor workmanship and methods of getting mediation in case of legal procedures because of defective products.

uPVC Sash Windows UK

The sash window design has been popular in buildings for 400 years of more in the UK. Throughout the United Kingdom there are still surviving examples of sash windows from the latter part of the 17th century. Customarily they were constructed from timber, but just recently various different materials have been used. In all aspects of construction oak was the timber of choice, but as well as oak, ash was also often used for building these windows. When correctly maintained these hardwoods are durable, strong and guaranteed to last for many years.

Since their widespread use is one of the main causes of deforestation around the world, hardwoods are now very expensive. Although modern timbers are meant to be responsibly sourced, it has been estimated that over 60% of the UK's tropical timber imports still come from illegal logging.

For this and several other reasons, rapid growing softwoods such as deal, Scots pine and redwood are now used in the manufacture of today's sash windows. Softwoods tend to come from renewable sources, and are less expensive than hardwoods. The downside is that if they are not regularly treated and maintained, softwoods do not last as long as hardwoods.

The construction of sash windows has been transformed over the last 30-40 years, as alternative materials have been used. The production of uPVC sash windows started in the mid-1980's. Merging modern technology with traditional design, these units were able to accurately emulate conventional sash windows. When they were first produced, most of the uPVC sash windows were made in white, but as the manufacturing procedure was improved, more and more colours were offered.

uPVC sash windows have these benefits:

Available in traditional wood grain effect.
High weather resistance.
Simple to clean.
Virtually maintenance-free.
No need for sanding or painting.
A-rated for energy efficiency.
More secure.
Custom made for your needs.

Sash Window Repairs UK

If they aren't properly looked after and maintained, there's no doubt that traditional timber sash windows can get pretty scruffy. The fact that your windows are draughty, rotten and noisy and letting in water, might not be your fault, since they could have been in a sorry state for years before you even acquired your home or office in the UK.

Rest assured, there are thousands of sash windows out there which are desperately in need of repair, but at a quick glance most homeowners wouldn't even recognise the issues that exist and are worsening underneath all those layers of gloss paint. It's not a wise idea to call on any old odd job man or wood bodger for this sort of project, it requires the attention of a qualified joiner or sash window specialist.

Unless they have been genuinely mistreated since time immemorial, then the majority of timber sash windows can be renovated with a bit of hard work and effort, so never be duped by a sharp intake of breath and an attempt to sell you replacements - try a different person if that is all they can offer.

Professional sash window experts will seek to perform a full assessment of your windows, at which point they'll put forward all the possible solutions, including what will have to be replaced and what components can be mended during the refurbishment. So you're able to consider the pluses and minuses of the project, they'll supply you with a fully itemised quote for all of the suggested work. Sash window repairs that are common include:

The replacement of pulleys & sash cords
Minor repairs & repainting
Sill replacement
The replacement of decayed timber
The replacement of furniture & accessories
Replacing single-glazing with double-glazing
Replacement sashes (in an existing frame)
Draughtproofing & re-sealing
Sill splicing
Stile replacement

(Tags: Sash Window Maintenance UK, Repairing Sash Windows UK, Sash Window Repair UK, Sash Window Repairs UK).

Yorkshire Sash Windows UK

There is a fourth form of sash window that is perhaps not so widely recognised as the classic Edwardian, Victorian and Georgian designs, and this is termed the "Yorkshire Slider" or "Yorkshire Sliding Sash Window". Some folks refer to this style as the "Horizontal Sliding Sash Window", as it perfectly describes the mechanism of this window, with the sashes sliding from side to side (horizontally), in contrast to the other designs which all slide vertically (up and down). These windows were originally designed for use in workers cottages, as they were cheaper to make, and are now frequently observed in period cottages and listed buildings. As the name suggests, they're believed to have originated in the North Yorkshire area. (Tags: Horizontal Sliding Sash Windows UK, Yorkshire Sliding Sash Windows UK, Yorkshire Sliders UK).

Sash Window Related Tasks

There is a wide range of work that can be carried out by your local UK sash window specialist including sash windows not closing, sash window advice UK, bespoke sash windows, wood sash windows in the UK, sash windows not opening, mock sash windows UK, double-glazed sash windows, sash and case windows UK, sash window installation, Victorian sash window installations UK, the installation of sash windows, Edwardian sash window installation, box sash window installation, casement windows, traditional sash windows, cheap sash windows, Georgian sash window installation, sash window glazing in the UK, sash window trickle vents UK, sash window draught proofing, sash window renovation UK, flush sash windows, sash window condensation problems in the UK, aluminium sash windows, Victorian sash windows UK, triple-glazed sash windows UK, sash window soundproofing UK, residential sash windows UK, sash window locks UK, sash window weight replacement, and more. If there are different UK sash window requirements that you want but don't see here, you should list them on the QUOTE FORM provided.