postheadericon Sash Window Refurbishment Achieving A Timeless Look And Elegant Historical Home Facade



by Nathan Thompson


These timeless windows were designed and made by craftsmen who were meticulous in the execution of their trade. They speak of another era when people appreciated beautiful things and therefore made them to last. Now after centuries of working well these historical treasures are showing signs of wear and tear and are in dire need of a sash window refurbishment.

A wooden frame and runners allows two sashes to move freely up and down with the use of cords pulleys and counterweights. Centuries ago pane glass was very thick and windows clumsy and heavy and difficult to operate.

The entire design made it possible for sashes to be opened easily and window cleaning an effortless exercise. With the two sashes moving up and down past one another individual panes are easily reached even on the upper floors. The pulley system allowed for sashes to be opened partially at the top and the bottom to aid air circulation in and out of a room.

With decades of wear and tear daily use and being open to the elements the wood has swollen and shrank and weathered. Some have not been treated as well as they should have been and one of the resulting problems is ill fitting sashes and frames. This in turn leads to loss of warmth from a room adding to additional heating costs and draughts blowing in.

Today with the many new advances in building materials and accessories these windows can be restored to their former glory or if a person so desires replaced with a modern type of frame. However if one wishes to keep the character of the original historic design one may wish to consider refurbishment.

Many problems associated with upkeep of sliding sashes can be fixed on site as replacement of the entire frame is a rare occurrence. By upgrading an existing frame with draught-proofing and double glazing one is already improving the effectiveness of this window style and will save on heating bills. Sashes and pulleys often need replacing but this is a relatively quick and easy task which can be completed with the minimum disruption to the household. When refurbishing a person can also make use of new technology and install security latches.

The original frame concept was designed during the seventeenth century and many of these are still to be seen on historic heritage buildings today. These building are listed with a national Council and no restoration or alterations may be done without their approval. The unique system of cooling a room by use of these sashes was designed in a time when there were no electric fans or air conditioners and was nevertheless very effective.

One need not have sleepless nights trying to decide between either doing restoration or whether to replace those sashes that are in dire need of repair. The answer is simple if a person wishes to retain the original ageless beauty of old wooden frames then sash window refurbishment is the only answer. Keeping and restoring that elegant facade will add great value to a person's home not only in monetary terms but aesthetically as well.




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