Sash Windows UK: Sash windows provide a sophisticated, period look to any home in the UK and can improve your property's value with their authentic style and charm. If you have a need to replace existing sash windows, the modern equivalents will be just as good as the original windows, and if you're living in a period property, a listed building or your home is situated within a designated conservation area, sash windows may be your only option for replacement due to local regulations.
In some cases replacement sash windows will be custom-built by your choice of professional window company in the UK, to make certain they accurately match your requirements, and any guidelines with regards to conservation area and listed building status. The skilled craftsmen will use timber from sustainable sources in hard or soft wood varieties, which are renowned for their durability and anti-rot characteristics. Unless your property in the UK has a more modern look, in which case you might prefer elegant uPVC, composite, aluminium framed sash windows, instead of classic timber ones.
SASH WINDOWS VS CASEMENT WINDOWS
The primary distinction between casement windows and sash windows, is that sash windows do not use a hinge to open, they slide instead. Two windows are involved with one, or both, able to slide vertically up behind the other. To keep the window in place there are counterweights and sash cords that permit the window to be opened to any size of gap for varying ventilation requirements. The original sash windows did not move in any other direction than up and down, but modern day versions support vertical or horizontal (known as Yorkshire Sash) movement, in addition to tilting designs which are easier to clean.
Outstanding room ventilation is one of the chief benefits that sash windows have over their casement counterparts. You can produce a convection air flow within your home, with warm air exiting through the top gap, and cooler air entering through the gap at the bottom, in sash windows where both the top and bottom sashes can be moved. In the summer months in the UK, this is especially beneficial, helping to improve your personal comfort levels.
To provide additional reassurance for the householder in the UK and prevent any potential intruder from opening your traditional sash windows, security can be increased by the addition of locks, stops, reinforced or double glazing and threaded bolt screws. Fitting a frame to frame sash lock is one of the most effective types of security for a sash window in the UK. This style of lock involves the fitting of a bolt or bar which fixes the top sash to the bottom frame, stopping the opening of either window. As would-be intruders have no way of accessing it from the outside, security is further enhanced.
REPLACING OR RESTORING SASH WINDOWS IN UK
If your home in the UK has sash windows installed and they no longer work properly (sticking in place or difficult to open), it's a good time to consider either restoring or replacing them. Your local UK sash window fitter will be able to advise you on whether it's preferable to replace them or if it is possible to refurbish your current sash windows.
In order to repair and refurbish your current sash windows in the UK, they will normally have to be taken out of their frame so that the restoration work can be carried out successfully. Some sash window repairs may not be that complicated and might just involve removing a few layers of paint that have accumulated over time, or perhaps the frame may require tightening up in a purpose built jig if the panes of glass are draughty and rattling. Any respectable sash window company in the UK will be willing to offer you a survey of your frames and windows, and give their expert guidance on the best possible way to remedy your issues. In most cases sash windows can be refurbished or repaired, whether they are affected by snapped sash cords, rotting frames, cracked glass or faulty mechanisms. You should bear in mind though, that in reality there is often something of a balancing act between what is actually achievable and what is the most cost-effective in the long run.
TYPES OF SASH WINDOWS IN UK
Looking through the many different styles of sash windows that are available on the internet and in sales brochures can be a little baffling. To make the entire process easier, you should note that there are basically 3 main designs: Victorian, Georgian and Edwardian, to consider. Each of these three designs has their own variants which can be customised for the layout your house in the UK.
Georgian - With traditionally six independent panes in the top sash, over six independent panes in the bottom sash, the "six over six" Georgian style sash window is easy to spot. There's a Georgian-variant in the form of a sash window which can have different size panes in the upper and lower, provided that one half of the sash window has 6 panes, whilst a Half-Georgian is a modification of the Georgian with 6 panes in one half, and a single pane in the other.
Victorian - Featuring a two over two design that may also include a central bar, the Victorian sash window has also got variants like asymmetric (two over three, three over two etc).
Edwardian - With a 6 over 2 arrangement, the Edwardian has a very similar look to the Half-Georgian style of sash window.
To determine which is the right style for your property in the UK, you should speak to a local window company, rather than racking your brain over all these different versions.
All these sash window versions can be adapted to different types of window, i.e. couple or bay windows, and also for all sizes of windows. There's a 4th important form of sash window which is referred to as the Yorkshire Sash. This pattern of sash window slides horizontally, and can incorporate any of the main elements and variants of the other 3 types.
TRADITIONAL SASH WINDOWS AND PROTECTED BUILDINGS
One disadvantage of older style sash windows is that they were only fitted with a single pane of glass, which to prevent heat loss isn't that great. You might have to replace your current sash windows with some having a similar arrangement if your house is a listed building or your property is situated in a protected conservation area. Modern developments allow for toughened glass with enhanced thermal qualities over the original glass, to be employed. This enables you to replace all your sash windows yet retain the appearance of the building as a whole.
A specialist UK sash window installation company will provide you with the correct and most economical materials that are needed to complete the job, whilst giving advice and guidance on ways to adhere to legislation for your local area. When the refurbishment of existing materials is needed, because of requests by a conservation official or your local council, a window by window inspection may be necessary to minimise any negative impact on the structure. An experienced company will able to inspect and prepare the report and any technical drawings, for your planning officer, including information about your restoration project, and if any replacement work is required.
An upgrade to your sash windows in the UK could be possible by using a secondary glazing solution. If you wish to improve thermal efficiency, stop condensation and reduce noise transmission, you can add a vertical sliding secondary glazing panel inside your sash windows. The installation of secondary glazing enables you to maintain the traditional character and appearance of the building and can generally be implemented even where you're limited by planning constraints on a listed building.
CHOOSING A SASH WINDOW INSTALLER IN UK
If you want sash windows that will last for the foreseeable future, there are a choice of companies in the UK area who can provide you with expert installation of sash windows. Ask neighbours and friends for recommendations, and make sure you get a minimum of three different price quotes for your sash window project . Membership of either the Fenestration Self-Assessment Scheme (FENSA), the GGF (Glass and Glazing Federation) or the Glazing Arbitration Scheme, should pretty much guarantee a company's experience and skill in glazing and sash window installations. Employing a local UK sash window contractor which is a registered member of at least one of these specialist bodies will also mean you will be able to get help in the unlikely event that there are any disagreements over faulty products, poor workmanship or building regulations infringements.
uPVC Sash Windows UK
Sash windows have been widely used UK for four hundred years or more. The earliest examples that still survive in Great Britain, date from about 1670. The traditional material for sash window manufacture is timber and it's only in recent times that a number of different materials have been used in their fabrication. Oak was the traditional timber used in all areas of construction, and that includes sash windows, although ash was also widely used. Lasting for years and years when properly maintained, these timbers are known for being durable and strong.
Thanks to global deforestation, the use of such hardwoods is now discouraged, and they have become extremely expensive to use and harder to source. Timber these days is supposedly meant to originate from completely sustainable sources, yet according to recent estimates it is thought that approximately 60 percent of UK tropical timber imports come from places where illegal logging is endemic.
For this and other reasons, quicker growing softwoods such as douglas fir, European redwood and Scots pine are now being used for creating modern sash windows. Softwoods mainly come from renewable sources, and are considerably cheaper than hardwoods. The downside with softwood is that it is not as long lasting as hardwood, and needs more regular maintenance and treatments.
Over the last 40 years, different materials have been used in the making of sash windows. In the mid-80s the first uPVC sash windows were created. Incorporating modern technology with traditional design, these were able to accurately emulate conventional sash windows. The early uPVC sash windows were typically manufactured in white, but a whole host of different colours have since been added.
uPVC sash windows have the following advantages:
- Virtually maintenance-free.
- A-rated for energy efficiency.
- High weather resistance.
- Very easy to clean.
- No sanding or painting.
- Can be made to order.
- Improved home security.
- Available in wood grain effect.
Sash Window Trickle Vents UK
Making sure that all your rooms have some form of ventilation is important if you're installing sash windows in your property in the UK. These days we all seem to concentrate on well insulated homes, yet a degree of ventilation is essential to eliminate issues such as mould, condensation and dampness.
Without constantly opening your windows, the installation of trickle vents is the ideal way to enable ventilation. These vents sometimes come as standard with uPVC windows, but if you've got windows made from wood or some alternative material, you might need to get them fitted by a window specialist.
Installed at the head of a sash window, a trickle vent permits fresh air to flow in from outside and "trickle" straight down the window panes, which helps to stop condensation collecting on the glass surface, and minimise the issues which are linked to this occurrence.
You should try to get flush fitting low-profile sash window trickle vents if you can, so that you don't detract from the clean lines of your windows. These are far less obtrusive than other trickle vents on the market and appear much tidier once in place.
Sash Window Related Tasks
There is a variety of work that can be conducted by your local UK sash window specialist including sash window soundproofing, Georgian sash windows, industrial sash windows, sash windows UK, Edwardian sash windows, sash window renovation UK, sash and case windows UK, sash window advice, the installing of sash windows UK, Edwardian sash window installation UK, sash window trickle vent installation in the UK, window sash replacement, sash windows not opening, sash window catched UK, sash bay windows, Victorian sash window installation in the UK, sash window mouldings, sash window installations, Georgian sash window installation, box sash window parts, sash window stops, sash window cord replacement UK, sash window replacement UK, sash window repairs, sash window removal, casement windows in the UK, traditional sash windows, triple-glazed sash windows, and more. If there are other UK sash window requirements that you want but cannot see here, you can list them on the QUOTE FORM provided.
Sash Window Services UK
- UK Wood Sash Windows
- UK Sash Window Installation
- UK uPVC Sash Windows
- UK Cheap Sash Windows
- UK Bespoke Sash Windows
- UK Sash Window Soundproofing
- UK Industrial Sash Windows
- UK Residential Sash Windows
- UK Sash Windows
- UK Sash Window Estimates
- UK Sash Window Refurbishment
- UK Sash Window Restoration
- UK Sash Window Replacement
- UK Double-Glazed Sash Windows
Other Useful Trades in the UK
Obviously, whenever you're doing home improvements and repairs in the UK, UK, you will probably be in need of all sorts of different tradespeople and apart from a sash window fitter in the UK, UK, you might also need rendering in the UK, brick & stone cleaning in the UK, pebble dashing in the UK, tilers in the UK, repointing in the UK, a carpenter in the UK, a locksmith in the UK, an electrician in the UK, a building contractor in the UK, SKIP HIRE in the UK, a conservatory installer in the UK, bricklayers in the UK, a plasterer in the UK, scaffolding in the UK, plumbers in the UK, a painter and decorator in the UK, a metalworker in the UK, a handyman in the UK, damp proofing in the UK, waste removal in the UK, and other different UK tradesmen.
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