Sash Windows Kirkcaldy Scotland (KY1): Providing a sophisticated, period look to any home in Kirkcaldy, sash windows can improve the value of your home by bringing charm, style and aesthetic appeal. If you live in a period property, a listed building or your home stands within a protected conservation area, sash windows may be your only option for replacement due to local regulations, and modern sash window replacements will be every bit as good as the originally fitted windows.
If your particular style or size of sash window is not readily available off the shelf, a local Kirkcaldy glazing company will custom make your windows to observe any rules regarding listed building and conservation area considerations, and your own personal preferences. Skillfully fashioning your brand new windows, a qualified tradesperson will use sustainable types of hard or soft timber which are recognised for their robustness and anti-rot characteristics, which should guarantee that they last for years to come. Unless your house in Kirkcaldy has more of a modern look, in which case you may favour elegant aluminium, composite, uPVC framed sash windows, instead of traditional wooden ones.
SASH WINDOWS VS CASEMENT WINDOWS
The primary difference between casement and sash windows, is that sash windows don't use a hinge to open, they slide instead. Two window panels are involved with one, or both, able to slide vertically behind the other. Sash cords and counterweights keep the window in place allowing the window to be opened to any size gap, without automatically slamming shut. The classic sash windows didn't move in any other direction than up and down, but modern day versions allow for vertical or horizontal movement, together with tilting variants which are far easier to clean.
A significant benefit of a sash window over a casement window is its better method of ventilation for a room. When both sashes can be moved you can leave gaps both bottom and top, which produces a convection air flow within your room with cooler air entering through the gap at the bottom, and warmer air escaping through the upper gap. This gain is especially helpful in summer months and helps to improve personal comfort levels around your home in Kirkcaldy.
Extra security for traditional sash windows provides peace of mind for a householder in Kirkcaldy, by the installation of threaded bolt screws, reinforced or double glazing, stops and locks to stop any unauthorised opening of your windows. Installing a frame to frame sash lock is one of the best kinds of security for sash windows in Kirkcaldy. This employs a bar or bolt which fastens the lower frame to the top sash and prevents either window from being opened. As it can't be accessed from the outside by potential intruders, security is enhanced.
REFURBISHING OR REPLACING SASH WINDOWS IN KIRKCALDY
If your house in Kirkcaldy has sash windows fitted and they've become damaged or no longer work correctly (sticking in place, not opening etc), then it's a good time to think about either restoring or replacing them. Your local Kirkcaldy sash window fitter will be happy to give you advice on whether it is preferable to replace them or if it is possible to refurbish your current sash windows.
If refurbishment is the chosen course of action for your sash windows in Kirkcaldy, then for this work to be undertaken successfully, they'll have to be removed from their frames. Some sash window repairs may not be that difficult and might only involve scraping off several layers of paint that have accumulated over the years, or perhaps the frame might need tightening in a purpose built jig if the window glass is draughty and vibrating. Any respectable sash window contractor in Kirkcaldy will be happy to provide an inspection service of your frames and windows, and give their expert advice on the best method for remedying your current issues. Remember that, while theoretically just about any sash window can be refurbished or repaired; be it defective mechanisms, cracked glass, frayed sash cords, rotting frames etc, to all intents and purposes there's a balancing act between what's possible and what's economically the best option.
If you need to fix an existing sash window, or are trying to make a replacement, there's a wide range of sash window mouldings. Because you are able to buy the precise parts that are needed, this is particularly useful for repair work. Sash window mouldings that are commonly available include: bottom rails, ovolo glass beads, parting beads, sash stiles, staff beads, glazing bars, stiles, sash bars, top & bottom meeting rails, transom drips and step cills.
TYPES OF SASH WINDOWS IN KIRKCALDY
Looking on the internet and in sales catalogues, at the multifarious types of sash windows that you can buy can get quite confusing for the regular homeowner in Kirkcaldy. To make the entire process easier, you should note that there are basically three primary designs: Edwardian, Victorian and Georgian, to choose from. Each has got their own individual variations which can be adapted for your home's design.
Georgian - Typically features six separate panes in the top sash, over six separate panes in the bottom sash, "six over six". The Half-Georgian is an adaption of this style with a single pane in one half, and 6 panes in the other, while another Georgian-variant sees a window which can have different size panes in the bottom and top, as long as one half of the sash window has six panes.
Victorian - The Victorian sash window features a two over two design with a centre bar, asymmetric (3 over 2, or 2 over 3 etc) variations are also possible.
Edwardian - Fairly similar in style to a Half-Georgian sash window, the Edwardian features a 6 over 2 arrangement.
To ascertain which would be the appropriate type for your property in Kirkcaldy, you can contact a local sash window company, rather than racking your brain over all these variations.
Each of these types can be created in any size of window, including bay and coupled windows. What is referred to as the Yorkshire Sash is the fourth and final major form of sash window. This type is a window that slides horizontally and can incorporate any of the 3 principal styles and their adaptations.
TRADITIONAL SASH WINDOWS AND PROTECTED BUILDINGS
Sash windows up until recently, only featured a single pane of glass. If your property is situated in a designated conservation area, or is a listed building, you might need to replace your sash windows with a similar arrangement as your existing ones. To improve on the thermal attributes provided by the original glass, it is now feasible using modern solutions, to replace it with cutting-edge toughened glass. This will enable you to retain the general appearance of your building when exchanging your sash windows.
An established Kirkcaldy sash window contractor can provide you with the optimum and most cost-effective materials which are needed to carry out the work, while offering guidance on ways to stay within local legislation for your area. It may be required to complete a window by window inspection report to minimise any negative impact on the building, where a conservation official or local council insists on the refurbishment of existing materials. A specialist company will happy to do this inspection and prepare the report and any necessary technical drawings, required by the planning department, including full details of your renovation scheme, and if any replacement works are essential.
An upgrade to your sash windows in Kirkcaldy may be possible by using a secondary glazing solution. If you would like to prevent condensation, improve your thermal efficiency and reduce noise, you can add a vertical sliding secondary glazing pane inside your sash windows. The use of secondary glazing helps to preserve the integrity and authentic character of the structure and can typically be accomplished even when you are restricted by planning constraints in the case of a listed building.
CHOOSING A SASH WINDOW INSTALLER IN KIRKCALDY
For professional sash window installation that will last you a lifetime, you'll need to identify an experienced sash window fitter in the Kirkcaldy area. You should try to obtain at least 3 price quotes for your window project, and ask relatives and friends for recommendations and testimonials where possible. To guarantee a company's experience and skill in glazing and sash window installations and restorations, check for membership of either the TGAS (Glazing Arbitration Scheme), the Fenestration Self-Assessment Scheme (FENSA) or the Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF). Using the services of a local Kirkcaldy sash window installation company which is a fully-fledged member of at least one of these highly regarded trade bodies should also mean you will be able to get help if there are any disagreements over substandard products, building regulations violations or shoddy workmanship.
Sash window installation can be done in Kirkcaldy and also in: Windygates, Dysart, Cardenden, Lochgelly, Kinghorn, Methil, Auchtertool, Kinglassie, Cowdenbeath, Thornton, Burntisland, Buckhaven, West Wemyss, Aberdour, Lochore, Markinch, Coaltown of Balgonie, and in these postcodes KY1 1QA, KY1 1TB, KY1 1NX, KY1 1DS, KY1 1DW, KY1 1LW, KY1 1LL, KY1 1JD, KY1 1NR, and KY1 1RP. Locally based Kirkcaldy sash window fitters will likely have the postcode KY1 and the phone code 01592. Verifying this should guarantee you're accessing local providers of sash windows. Kirkcaldy home and business owners will be able to benefit from these and lots of other comparable services. Just click the "Quote" banner to obtain sash window installation quotations.
uPVC Sash Windows Kirkcaldy
The sash window design has been used in buildings for 400 years of more in Kirkcaldy. Around Britain there are still sash windows which survive from the end of the 17th century. Customarily they were constructed from timber, but recently various different materials have been utilised. Over the generations ash and oak were the popular timbers for building sash windows, as they were used in all areas of construction. When looked after properly these hardwoods are durable, strong and guaranteed to last for many years.
Thanks to global deforestation, the use of such hardwoods is now actively discouraged, and they have become very expensive to use and even harder to find. Even though timber today is meant to come from sources that are sustainable, it's thought that illegal logging accounts for close to sixty percent of tropical timber imports to the UK.
For this and several other reasons, rapid growing softwoods like European redwood, deal and Scots pine are now used for making modern wood sash windows. Softwood is generally more inclined to come from renewable sources, and is of course less expensive than hardwood. Nevertheless, softwoods are not as long lasting as hardwoods, especially if they're not regularly treated and well maintained.
During the past four decades other materials have been used in the construction of the windows. The first uPVC sash windows were produced during the mid-80s. Incorporating modern technology with traditional design, these were able to accurately imitate wooden sash windows. When they were first produced, most of the available uPVC sash windows were white, but as the manufacturing process was refined, an increasing number of colours became available.
uPVC sash window benefits include:
- Improved home security.
- Weather resistant.
- Low maintenance.
- Available in traditional wood grain effect.
- No painting or sanding.
- Simple to clean.
- Can be made to order.
- High thermal efficiency.
Aluminium Sash Windows Kirkcaldy
One kind of sash window that you might be considering for your home in Kirkcaldy is aluminium. If you prefer more glass area, less conspicuous frames and slimmer lines, aluminium sash windows might be just the thing. Offering a sleek modern look, in addition to strength, resistance to rot and durability, aluminium sash windows are available in an array of styles and colours.
With these sash windows being virtually maintenance free, aluminium is a versatile material which is eco-friendly, sustainable and recyclable. In contrast to the aluminium versions from the 70s, contemporary aluminium sash windows are double-glazed, fully insulated and satisfy all the applicable building legislation. (Tags: Aluminium Sash Windows Kirkcaldy, Aluminium Sliding Sash Windows Kirkcaldy, Aluminium Windows Kirkcaldy).
Sash Window Mouldings Kirkcaldy
For any homeowner building sash windows or making repairs to existing ones, there is an array of sash window mouldings available to purchase. This is helpful for repair work because you can get the precise parts that are needed. Commonly available mouldings include: bottom rails, ovolo glass beads, parting beads, sash stiles, staff beads, glazing bars, stiles, sash bars, top & bottom meeting rails, transom drips and step cills.
A quick search online for "sash window mouldings" or similar, should rustle up a few prospective distributors, with both hardwood and softwood versions available in pine, meranti, sapele, oak, and other timbers. You'll not usually be able to buy these mouldings at your local B&Q or DIY superstore, since they're fairly specialist products.
Yorkshire Sliding Sash Windows Kirkcaldy
The "Yorkshire Sliding Sash Window" or "Yorkshire Slider" is the fourth and final type of sash window, after the better known Victorian, Georgian and Edwardian styles. This is frequently referred to as the "Horizontal Sliding Sash Window", because the sashes slide from side-to-side rather than vertically as with the other types. These sash windows which are usually seen in listed buildings and period cottages, are thought to have originated in North Yorkshire. (Tags: Yorkshire Sliding Sash Windows Kirkcaldy, Yorkshire Sliders Kirkcaldy, Horizontal Sliding Sash Windows Kirkcaldy).
Sash Window Repair Kirkcaldy
There is no doubt about it - timber sash windows can get pretty shabby if they are not maintained and properly looked after. That's not to suggest that you are necessarily the one to blame for the state of your sash windows, they could have been like that years before you even bought your property in Kirkcaldy, but now you're saddled with rattling, rotting and draughty windows which are in need of a touch of love and attention.
At a quick glance most householders wouldn't even recognise the problems that exist and are getting worse underneath all those coats of gloss paint, but believe me, there are thousands of sash windows out there which are in desperate need of repair. For this type of project it requires the attention of a sash window specialist who knows exactly what they are up to, and it shouldn't be done by any old carpenter or handyman.
Unless your timber sash windows have clearly been neglected since time immemorial, they can normally be mended with a little bit of hard work and creativity, consequently if you bring somebody in to look at them and all that you get is an intake or breath and an obvious attempt to just sell you replacements (more profitable and easier for them), you should give them short shrift and carry on looking.
If you call in a bona fide craftsman, they'll complete an extensive inspection of your windows or window, put together an in-depth report concerning what needs to be replaced and what can be successfully repaired. So that you're able to assess the advantages and disadvantages of the project, they'll present you with a fully itemised quotation for all the suggested work. Typical sash window repairs include things like:
- Replacing single-glazing with double-glazing
- Full sill replacement
- Spliced sill repairs
- Replacing sash cords & pulleys
- The replacement of rotting timber
- Replacement sashes
- Window furniture replacement
- Draughtproofing & re-sealing
- Minor repairs & repainting
- Stile replacement
(Tags: Sash Window Repair Kirkcaldy, Sash Window Repairs Kirkcaldy, Sash Window Maintenance Kirkcaldy, Repairs to Sash Windows Kirkcaldy).
Sash Cord Replacement Kirkcaldy
An indispensable maintenance task for traditional sash windows is the replacement of sash window cords, essential to restore their functionality. With the passage of time, the cords securing the sashes might wear down or break, leading to windows becoming hard to operate. A skilled specialist can, to remedy this, ensure smooth and easy sliding of the sashes by replacing the worn-out cords with new, durable ones. Preservation of the authenticity and charm of their properties, along with enjoying fully functional and operational windows, is possible for householders in Kirkcaldy through sash window cord replacement. Professional sash window fitters in Kirkcaldy will be glad to replace any faulty sash cords in your property and soon have your windows operating smoothly once again. (65592 - Sash Window Cord Replacement in Kirkcaldy)
Sash Window Related Tasks
There is a variety of work that can be completed by your local Kirkcaldy sash window specialist including residential sash windows, sash window soundproofing, sash window restoration, sash windows, sliding sash window installation, sash window advice, Georgian sash window installations, double-glazed sash window installation, sash window renovation, sash window refurbishment, Georgian sash windows, cheap sash windows, the installation of new sash windows, sash window removal, sash windows not opening, sash windows not closing in Kirkcaldy, window sash replacement in Kirkcaldy, sash window stops, traditional sash windows, double glazing sash windows, industrial sash windows, sash bay windows, sash window restrictors, sash window cord replacement, sash window rates in Kirkcaldy, sash window draught proofing, sash window replacement, the maintenance of sash windows, sash window repairs, flush sash window installations, and lots more. If there happen to be different Kirkcaldy sash window requirements that you need but cannot see here, you can easily list them on the QUOTE FORM provided. These are just a handful of the tasks that are undertaken by those specialising in sash windows. Kirkcaldy contractors will tell you about their whole range of services.
Sash Windows Near Kirkcaldy
Also find: Lochore sash windows, Buckhaven sash windows, West Wemyss sash windows, Cardenden sash windows, Coaltown of Balgonie sash windows, Aberdour sash windows, Windygates sash windows, Burntisland sash windows, Dysart sash windows, Cowdenbeath sash windows, Thornton sash windows, Methil sash windows, Auchtertool sash windows, Markinch sash windows, Lochgelly sash windows, Kinglassie sash windows, Kinghorn sash windows and more. Sash window services are available in the majority of these villages and towns. Business and home owners in the area can get price quotes for sash window installation by going here.
Sash Window Services Kirkcaldy
- Kirkcaldy Sash Window Restoration
- Kirkcaldy uPVC Sash Windows
- Kirkcaldy Sash Windows
- Kirkcaldy Bespoke Sash Windows
- Kirkcaldy Sash Window Price Quotes
- Kirkcaldy Double-Glazed Sash Windows
- Kirkcaldy Sash Window Replacement
- Kirkcaldy Residential Sash Windows
- Kirkcaldy Sash Window Repair
- Kirkcaldy Industrial Sash Windows
- Kirkcaldy Wooden Sash Windows
- Kirkcaldy Sash Window Installation
- Kirkcaldy Sash Window Soundproofing
- Kirkcaldy Sash Window Refurbishment
Other Useful Trades in Kirkcaldy
Not surprisingly, when you are doing home remodeling in Kirkcaldy, you'll likely need all kinds of different tradesmen and together with a sash window fitter in Kirkcaldy, you might also need brick & stone cleaning in Kirkcaldy, a metalworker in Kirkcaldy, a handyman in Kirkcaldy, bricklayers in Kirkcaldy, tilers in Kirkcaldy, plumbers in Kirkcaldy, repointing in Kirkcaldy, a plasterer in Kirkcaldy, damp proofing in Kirkcaldy, a builder in Kirkcaldy, waste removal in Kirkcaldy, an electrician in Kirkcaldy, rendering in Kirkcaldy, and other different Kirkcaldy tradesmen.
Kirkcaldy Sash Window Fitting Jobs: View sash window installation jobs near Kirkcaldy by going here: Kirkcaldy Sash Window Fitting Jobs
If you would like to get local information on Kirkcaldy, Scotland go here
Sash window installation in KY1 area, and dialling code 01592.